News > Past News > February 2004
2/27/04
According to the CDC report, the survival rates for cervical cancer are more than 90% if detected early and managed promptly. Of the estimated 4,100 women who die from cervical cancer each year, nearly half have never been screened for cervical cancer, and another 10% have not had a Pap test within the previous 5 years.
Read complete press release at
www.ncsddc.org/pressreleases/pr-cdc-feb04.htm 2/26/04
The report outlines a multi-level collaborative approach to the problems including an emphasis on use of new technologies to increase security, adoption of secure business practices by all participants in
the drug supply chain, education of consumers and health care professionals and collaboration with foreign stakeholders.
ANA joined other groups in supporting a stepped up communications effort, the Counterfeit Alert Network. Read Statement
HHS press release: www.hhs.gov/news/press/2004pres/20040218.html 2/25/04 2/24/04 2/24/04 2/23/04
Women in the United States can expect to live an average of 79.4 years - more than five years longer than men. The bad news is they are susceptible to a number of diseases. Pharmaceutical research is zeroing in on those diseases, as well as on heart disease, cancer, and stroke - the three leading killers of both men and women.
Additional information may be obtained from the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America, at http://www.phrma.org. 2/23/04 2/20/04
2/19/04
2/18/04 2/18/04 2/17/04
2/13/04 2/12/04 2/12/04 2/12/04 2/12/04
This effort was advanced by the Steering Committee on which ANA
President Barbara A. Blakeney, MS, APRN,BC, ANP, served as a special
liaison. ALL of the ANA measures (falls prevalence, falls with injury,
skill mix (RN, LVN/LPN, UAP, and contract), and nursing care hours per
patient day (RN, LPN, and UAP)) which went out on the ballot were
approved for endorsement. There will be a reconsideration by the NQF
membership of four measures (pneumonia prevalence (hospital-acquired),
restraint prevalence, urinary tract infection (UTI) prevalence and
nurses' educational preparation).
For the full NQF news release:
www.qualityforum.org/prnursingcarevcsFINAL1-30-04.pdf. 2/11/04
The FY 2004 NELRP application cycle closes on February 25, 2004. Please visit online at http://bhpr.hrsa.gov/nursing/loanrepay.htm or call toll free 1-877-464-4772 for more information. 2/10/04
In June of 2003, the ANA House of Delegates passed a resolution, “Providing Patients Safe Access to Therapeutic Marijuana/Cannabis,” which supports: research in controlled investigational trials on the therapeutic efficacy of marijuana/cannabis, including alternative methods of administration; the right of patients to have safe access to therapeutic marijuana/cannabis under appropriate prescriber supervision; the ability of health care providers to discuss and/or recommend the medicinal use of marijuana without the threat of intimidation or penalization; legislation to remove criminal penalties including arrest and imprisonment for bona fide patients and prescribers of therapeutic marijuana/cannabis; and federal and state legislation to exclude marijuana/cannabis from classification as a Schedule I drug. The ANA also resolved to "support and encourage the education of registered nurses regarding current, evidence-based therapeutic use of marijuana/cannabis.”
Patients Out of Time is a national non-profit organization dedicated to educating healthcare professionals and the public about the therapeutic use of cannabis. Speaker, agenda and registration information for the conference will be available later this month at: www.medicalcannabis.com. 2/09/04 2/06/04
2/05/04
2/04/04
2/04/04
Citing concerns about the negative impact on nurses as well as their patients, Patricia J. Hefner, RN, C, and Pennsylvania State Nurses Association (PSNA) member, testified on behalf of ANA against the final rule at a packed Senate subcommittee hearing on Jan. 20.
ANA and its constituent members have been outspoken opponents of the proposed revisions, citing concerns about the impact on nurses as well as their patients. ANA believes that under the new rules, employers would increase the dangerous practice of forced overtime for nurses since they would not be required to compensate them at time-and-a-half. In addition, such changes would further erode nurses' working conditions, exacerbating an already growing shortage of nurses.
2/03/04
2/02/04
If you are interested in learning more about our course and other HIPAA related products, please visit HIPAA Privacy Compliance. This course can be acquired on an individual, group or institution basis. (Members: $45, Non-Members: $65)
2/02/04
Public Health Organizations Echo CDC's Call for Increased Cervical Cancer Screening
Three leading national public health organizations - the National Coalition of STD Directors (NCSD), the American Social Health Association (ASHA), and the National Family Planning & Reproductive Health Association (NFPRHA) - echoed CDC's recommendations contained in a January report to Congress calling for the reduction of cervical cancer incidence and deaths by increasing Pap test screening among women.ANA Supports FDA's Counterfeit Alert Network
On Feb. 19, The U.S. Food and Drug Administration released its final report outlining steps it would take to keep the U.S. drug supply secure against increasingly sophisticated criminal efforts to introduce counterfeit drugs.
FDA full report: www.fda.gov/oc/initiatives/counterfeit/report02_04.html Victory for Bloodborne Pathogen Protections
The recently passed Medicare Prescription Drug Improvement and Modernization Act of 2003, Section 947 (pages 588-589), includes a stipulation that hospitals not covered by the federal Occupational Safety and Health Act, such as public hospitals in states without an OSHA-approved state plan, will be required to comply with the OSHA Bloodborne Pathogens Standard. This requirement would be in addition to any needlestick laws in these non-OSHA state plan states. For the first time, hospital workers in states such as AL, AR, CO, FL, ID, IL, LA, MS, MT, ND, NE, SD, & WI, will be covered by these protections. The requirement will be effective as of July 1, 2004. ANA Government Affairs staff have worked over five years to get this language included in the new Medicare law which signifies a significant step forward in extending bloodborne pathogen protections to those at risk for exposure. For more information, contact Butch de Castro at (202) 651-7138 or Bdecastro@ana.org.ANA Endorses Kerry for President
Nurses Say Change is Needed to Improve Health Care for All
Tonight at 6:00 p.m. at a Town Hall meeting in Cleveland, Ohio, ANA President Barbara Blakeney, MS, APRN,BC, ANP, will formally announce the ANA's endorsement of Sen. John Kerry (D-MA) for President. In addition, ANA sent out a news release today to the national media publicly announcing the endorsement. More...Free CDC Tool Kit for Health Care Providers on Mild Traumatic Brain Injury
More than 1.1 million people sustain mild traumatic brain injuries (MTBIs) each year. Health care providers can play a key role in helping to prevent MTBI and in improving patient outcomes when it does occur. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), working with a number of partners, has developed a new tool kit to improve clinical diagnosis and management of MTBI. "Heads Up: Brain Injury in Your Practice," is now available free of charge. The kit contains practical, easy-to-use clinical information, patient information in English and Spanish, scientific literature, and a CD-ROM. To order your free tool kit, please visit www.cdc.gov/ncipc/pub-res/tbi_toolkit/toolkit.htm.New Medicines in Development for Women
The American Nurses Association has joined the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America (PhRMA) in releasing the report on New Medicines in Development for Women.
Win Free Airfare and Hotel Stay to ANA's Biennial Convention June 26th-29th
If you register for ANA's Convention in Minneapolis, June 26-29, by April 1 you will be entered to win free round-trip airfare and hotel accommodations to the convention. This year's convention has something for everyone so you will not want to miss it. For more information and to register today go to www.nursingworld.org/conventionNew Needlestick Prevention Guide
ANA has created a Needlestick Prevention Guide as part of its ongoing Safe Needles Save Lives campaign. The guide is designed to educate nurses about the risks of needlestick injuries and how to prevent them—particularly through the evaluation, selection, and implementation of safe needle and sharps devices. More...
New CE Independent Study Mod Describes the Correlation Between The Professional Nursing Association and Patient Safety
The Professional Nursing Association's Role in Patient Safety is the newest ISM from ANA and The Online Journal of Issues in Nursing (OJIN). This ISM will describe the documents, activities and roles of nursing's multipurpose, professional nursing association that promote the safety of nursing care. This ISM is FREE for only a short time.
Go to the CE Catalog
Nurses - It's Time to Self-Declare Your Candidacy!
It's the open period to self-declare your candidacy for ANA national elective office. There are many open positions to fill. They include:
Complete candidate packets received by the ANA Secretary, c/o Leadership Services and Library Services, by February 20, 2004 from qualified self-declared candidates will be included in the first slate of candidates for publication in TAN in March/April. Nomination forms and other election-related information are accessible through www.nursingworld.org/about/election/ . Or, you may contact your constituent member association for information. Or, you may contact Edna C. Amador, ANA Leadership and Library Services, 202-651-7037; eamador@ana.org.
ANA Encourages CPSC to Consider Latex Petition
The ANA has submitted comment to the Consumer Product Safety Commission to seriously consider a petition to declare natural rubber latex a strong sensitizer under the Hazardous Substances Act. A decision in favor of this declaration would lead to the labeling of consumer products containing latex similar to the FDA requirement of labeling natural rubber latex examination gloves. The ubiquity of latex-containing products in and out of healthcare settings poses a true risk for many health care workers and patients with latex sensitivity. For more information, contact Butch de Castro, ext. 7138 or Bdecastro@ana.org.ANF 2004 Research Grant Applications Now Available
The American Nurses Foundation is now accepting applications for the 2004 Research Grant program. ANF provides funds to beginner and experienced nurse researchers to conduct studies that contribute toward the advancement of nursing science and the enhancement of patient care. Awards are given in all areas of nursing, including healthy patient outcomes, health care policy development, critical care, gerontology, women's health, community and family intervention. The application is available on the ANF web site. More...ANA Teams Up Again with National Partners for Cover the Uninsured Week, May 10 to 16
The American Nurses Association will again be working to make sure that the issue of the uninsured is a focus of national discussion. From May 10 to 16, 2004, events will be held from coast to coast so that more Americans can learn about this critical problem-who is affected, why they are uninsured, the consequences of being uninsured to physical and financial health-and how this issue affects every American, not just those who are uninsured. More...Registered Nurses Rank Number One In Job Growth
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) announced yesterday that registered nurses top the list of the 10 occupations with the largest projected job growth in the years 2002-2012. Although RNs have listed among the top 10 growth occupations in the past, this is the first time in recent history that RNs have ranked first. More...Three ANA Titles Awarded in the 2003-04 Society for Technical Communications Publications Awards Competition
The STC is an international organization dedicated to advancing the arts and sciences of communicating technical information. Each year, a comprehensive cross-section of corporate, government, and nonprofit organizations in the Washington, D.C., area enter their works for judging on design, organization, content, and quality of writing. The award winning publications submitted by ANA were:
All three publications are available online at www.nursesbooks.org or by calling 1-800-637-0323.
Exclusive Valentine Prices for ANA Members and Friends
Valentine's Day means Flowers, and KaBloom has made it easy by offering 20% off already low Valentine's Day prices to ANA friends and members. All rose orders scheduled for delivery from February 1st-18th include a FREE glass vase. Visit ANA's page on the KaBloom site for more information
ANA Members, Vote for Your Favorite 2004 Presidential Candidate
ANA's Government Affairs department is asking ANA members to vote for the candidate who should receive ANA's endorsement in the 2004 Presidential race. Voting ends on February 13th. Go to ANA's Virtual Voting Booth
ANA Measures Included in NQF Consensus Standards
During the recent National Quality Forum (NQF) Board of Directors
meeting, votes were taken to endorse the remaining nursing home measures
(including staffing and weight loss) and the National Voluntary
Consensus Standards for Nursing-Sensitive Care: An Initial Performance
Measure Set.
2004 Nursing Education Loan Repayment Program Deadline Approaching
The FY 2004 Nursing Education Loan Repayment Program (NELRP) cycle is now available. The program offers registered nurses economic assistance to repay their educational loans in exchange for service to the underserved in certain healthcare facilities. All NELRP participants must enter into a contract agreeing to provide fulltime employment in an approved critical shortage facility for 2 years. In return, the NELRP will pay 60 percent of the participant's total qualifying loan balance for a 2 year commitment. A participant who agrees to serve 2 years may be eligible to amend the NELRP contract and work a third year in a critical shortage facility, for which the NELRP will pay an additional 25 percent of the qualifying loan balance.
Third National Clinical Conference on Cannabis Therapeutics
Patients Out of Time and the University of Virginia School of Medicine will jointly sponsor The Third National Clinical Conference on Cannabis Therapeutics to be held at the Omni Hotel in Charlottesville, VA, on May 21-22, 2004. The theme for the conference is “Cannabis Use Throughout the Life Span.” The University of Virginia School of Nursing, School of Law and the Virginia Nurses Association are co-presenters of the conference. The educational program agenda features clinical experts and researchers from Israel, England, Canada and the U.S. In addition to presenting basic research and research from clinical trials on the therapeutic use of cannabis, the conference also will include studies of alternative delivery methods (oral spray, dermal patch and vaporizer) as well as the legal and ethical dilemmas relating to current law.
ANA Applauds Funding for Nursing Education Programs in President's Budget
The American Nurses Association (ANA) commended President Bush for recognizing the need to fund programs to enhance the recruitment and retention of nurses, as outlined in his proposed fiscal year (FY) 2005 budget that was submitted to Congress on Feb. 2. More...Latest OJIN Topic, Shared Governance: Is It a Model for Nurses to Gain Control Over Their Practice?
The latest Online Journal of Issues in Nursing (OJIN) topic, "Shared Governance: Is It a Model for Nurses to Gain Control Over Their Practice?," features six articles that discuss shared decision making in the structuring of professional practice. This topic includes articles that describe approaches to the implementation of shared governance, discuss actual experiences of institutions in the US and the British Trust, examine the theory and the evidence supporting shared governance, and discuss both collective bargaining and workplace advocacy as tools
for shared decision making. Go to articles
Request Packages for HHS Smallpox Compensation Program
The U.S Department of Health and Human Services has made available Request Packages for its Smallpox Compensation Program. The program provides medical and lost employment income benefits to those experiencing an injury as a result of receiving smallpox vaccination or sustaining an injury from exposure to the virus in the smallpox vaccine (e.g., through physical contact). Benefits for survivors of individuals who died as a direct result of covered injuries resulting from vaccination are also being made available. Some deadlines may begin as early as January 24, 2004. The necessary forms and more information can be found at http://www.hrsa.gov/smallpoxinjury.
Safe Patient Handling and Movement Conference
ANA will be co-sponsoring the 4th Annual Safe Patient Handling & Movement conference March 2-5, 2004 at the Wyndham Palace Resort & Spa in the Walt Disney World Resort in Lake Buena Vista, Florida. This conference, organized with the Tampa VHA Patient Safety Center of Inquiry and the University of South Florida, will offer the latest information and research on preventing ergonomic injuries among healthcare workers. Register...Congress Fails to Act on Rule to Block Overtime Pay; ANA Vows to Continue Battle
The Department of Labor (DOL) will implement a controversial final rule to change overtime provisions outlined in the Fair Labor Standards Act (FSLA) by the end of March after the Senate failed to maintain language prohibiting the rule in its final 2004 omnibus appropriations bill, which passed on Jan. 22. ANA has vowed to continue fighting the new rule and will work with Sen. Tom Daschle (D-SD) who said he plans to attach an amendment aimed at blocking it onto future legislation.
New Book Describes a Model for Nursing Home Care
Person Centered Care: A Model for Nursing Homes outlines a model and process that encourages mutual empowerment and respect of residents and staff and a greater community connection. The authors detail the struggles and solutions of the requisite transitions and the resulting clinical, financial, staffing, and regulatory outcomes. A must-read for all involved in the long-term care industry. Go to the book store
HIPAA Online Training Course Customized for Nurses
"HIPAA Privacy Essentials with Applied Nursing Exercises" was developed by ANA in response to requests for an online learning resource focused specifically on nursing concerns. This interactive, online course is designed to deliver need-to-know HIPAA privacy information and customized applied nursing exercises that begin the process of workplace behavior change. Nurses earn 3 nursing contact hours for taking this online course.
ANA President Blakeney Speaks At Press Conference on Medicare Prescription Drug Plan
ANA President Barbara A. Blakeney, was called on by House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) and Senate Democratic Leader Tom Daschle (D-SD) to join with other groups concerned with the recently enacted Medicare Prescription Drug plan at a Capitol Hill press conference on Jan. 28th. "America's nurses are daily witnesses to the desperate need for a Medicare drug benefit that provides affordable access to needed medications," Blakeney said. Rep. Pelosi assailed the measure as a "windfall" for HMOs and drug companies while leaving seniors struggling to pay for their prescription drugs. Sen. Daschle criticized the new law for prohibiting the government from negotiating with drug companies for lower drug prices for the plan. Representatives from the National Committee to Preserve Social Security and Medicare and the Alliance for Retired Americans also participated in the press conference. Read President Blakeney's statement
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