Archived News/Announcements 2006-05
November 20, 2006
ANA Comments on the WI Department of Justice Decision to Pursue Criminal Charges Against an RN in Wisconsin
See statement below.
October 20, 2006
Genetic and Genomic Nursing Competencies Endorsed by Nursing Organizations
The American Nurses Association (ANA), the National Human Genome Research Institute, the National Cancer Institute, and the Office of Rare Diseases of the National Institutes of Health, have partnered to host a consensus panel of key experts and representatives of organizations to delineate essential genetic and genomic competencies for all registered nurses, regardless of academic preparation, practice setting, or specialty. Read Press Release...
September 27, 2006
ANA Comments on Nursing Care During Hurricane Katrina
ANA is very supportive of the nurses who stayed and cared for patients during and after Hurricane Katrina in September, 2005, as well as nurses who supported these efforts in other ways. Disasters place nurses in unfamiliar and unusual conditions within the health care environment that may necessitate adaptations to recognized standards of nursing practice. ANA is not in a position to comment on the specifics of any situation that occurred during Hurricane Katrina.
We do know that the conditions for rendering nursing care immediately after Hurricane Katrina were horrendous, and it is difficult to judge retrospectively some of the care provided under those awful circumstances. We also know that in our criminal justice system, defendants are presumed innocent unless proven guilty. A fundamental principle of the ANA Code of Ethics for Nurses is that the interests of the patient are paramount. All nurses should act to protect the best interests of their patients.
ANA acknowledges that nurses are individually accountable and responsible for their actions. All nurses should use the Code of Ethics for Nurses with Interpretive Statements (2001) as a foundational document for guiding their decisions. The Code of Ethics for Nurses is a succinct statement of the ethical obligations and duties for every registered nurse. It is what gives each of us honor and respect, dignity and authority, and what serves as the solid foundation from which we are all empowered to support our nation's health care system.
It is also the profession's non-negotiable ethical standard, and it stands as an expression of nursing’s own understanding of its commitment to society. Updated in 2001, the Code of Ethics for Nurses contains nine major provisions that reflect the issues facing nurses in the nation's current health care environment, as well as their unchanging mission to provide quality care.
Additionally, ANA strongly encourages all nurses to have in hand our other foundational documents which set the standards for the nursing profession - standards that are excellent tools for nurse empowerment. As the keystone of the ANA standards, Nursing: Scope and Standards of Practice delineates the professional responsibilities for all practicing registered nurses, regardless of setting. It discusses the scope of all nursing practice and presents a set of professional clinical practice and performance standards. It also offers a framework by which specialty organizations and ANA can co-develop practice standards and guidelines.
Lastly, Nursing's Social Policy Statement defines nursing, identifies the scope of its practice, its relationship with society, its contributions to health care and its obligation to the public.
ANA encourages all nurses to participate in the discussion about the adaptations of the standards of nursing practice necessitated during a disaster, such as Katrina. As a result, ANA is currently commissioning a major in-depth review of altered standards of care and potential adaptations of nursing practice during disasters. A panel of experts will be convened to guide policy development in this area. ANA has determined that the focus of the inaugural 2007 ANA Quadrennial Policy Conference, "Nursing Care in Life, Death and Disaster"scheduled for June 20-22 in Atlanta, Georgia will be on altered standards of care during a disaster.
September 8, 2006
Cynthia Prows Wins 2006 Scotti Award
Attendees at the National Coalition for Professional Education in Genetics annual meeting were present when Cynthia A. Prows, MSN, RN, received the third annual Michael J. Scotti, Jr. Award for contributions to genetics education for health professionals. Ms. Prows, a long time ANA member is a clinical nurse specialist and educator at the Cincinnati Children’s Hospital. The award honored Ms. Prows for "her substantive and enduring leadership in genetics education for nurses, and for her many contributions to NCHPEG’s programs and activities." NCHPEG initiated this award in 2004 to honor the contributions Michael J. Scotti, Jr., MD, a former vice president at the American Medical Association and a founding member of NCHPEG’s Board of Directors. Previous winners include Dr. Scotti and Jean Jenkins, PhD, RN, FAAN, a nurse formerly at the National Cancer Institute who is now on staff at the National Human Genome Research Institute.
September 8, 2006
Plan Now to Attend the Ethics Advisory Board Face to Face meeting and The ASBH Conference and Annual Meeting in October
The American Nurses Association Ethics Advisory Board will conduct it annual face to face meeting in Denver, Colorado on Tuesday and Wednesday October 24-25 at the Marriot Courtyard Downtown prior to the start of the American Society for Bioethics and Humanities (ASBH) annual meeting. The meeting is open and interested nurses are welcome to attend. Contact Laurie Badzek at laurie.badzek@ana.org for more information and the meeting agenda. The theme of the ASBH annual meeting is "Challenging Voices". A Nursing Affinity Group meeting with luncheon that will recognize the work of Christine Mitchell will be held on Friday October 27 at 11:45 followed by a workshop entitled “A Review and Contemporary response to the 1983 Film Code Gray” at 1pm. The cost of the luncheon is $30.00 and requires advanced registration. For more information about these sessions, visit the ASBH Web site (www.asbh.org).
Online Genetics Education Opportunity
Cincinnati Children’s Hospital has posted a free Continuing Education Module for Nurses on Genetics. The module entitled “Genetics is Relevant Now: Nurses' Views and Patients' Stories” was pilot tested with a national nursing audience. The module is available for 1.5 nursing contact hours with no processing fee. To access the module, go to www.cincinnatichildrens.org/ed/clinical/gpnf/ce/skill/default.htm. For more information on the education module or the genomic core competencies contact Laurie Badzek, Director of the ANA Center for Ethics and Human Rights at laurie.badzek@ana.org.
June 22, 2006
Improving Communication—Improving Care
A new consensus report by the Ethical Force Program "Improving Communication-Improving Care" helps nursing staff within health care organizations advocate for making effective communication a priority and creating environments where staff members and patient populations can communicate better. Nurses know that effective communication is critical to safe, high-quality health care. The report approaches communication as a quality improvement project and provides guidance in six areas. It also includes specific recommendations that organizations can consider to make improvements within each of these areas. For more information about the report, “Improving Communication—Improving Care,” please visit www.ethicalforce.org. June 22, 2006
New Guide for Genetics Education: "Understanding Genetics: A Guide for Patients and Health Professionals"
A comprehensive genetics education manual for patients and community health providers in Metro Washington, DC; it can be used by others in any community based or hospital based setting. It is published by the Genetic Alliance and the District of Columbia Department of Health and is available for download at www.geneticalliance.org/ws_display.asp?filter=resources_manual
February 15, 2006
Cancer Genetics and Genomics: A Workshop for Oncology Nurses
The NCI's Center for Cancer Research is sponsoring a workshop for oncology nurses entitled “Cancer Genetics and Genomics: A Workshop for Oncology Nurses” on April 5-6, 2006 at the Lister Hill Center Auditorium of the National Library of Medicine in Bethesda, MD.
The workshop will provide the oncology nurse with pivotal information on cancer genetics and genomics and the implications for oncology nursing practice. The workshop includes a comprehensive review of basic genetic and genomic concepts; genetic technology; ethical, legal and social implications of genetic and genomic information and applications to cancer care and oncology nursing practice.
There is no cost for the workshop. Registration is now available at www.cancermeetings.org/Genetics. Registration will be on a first-come, first-serve basis. There will be NO on-site registration.
Please forward this to any staff who might be interested in attending.
If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact me at: 301-451-2179 or nesse@mail.nih.gov.
January 30, 2006
National Clinical Conference on Cannabis Therapeutics
The Fourth National Clinical Conference on Cannabis Therapeutics will be held in Santa Barbara, CA on April 6-8, 2006. This conference will present state of the art cannabis research with faculty from the US, England, Canada, Spain, Israel, and the Netherlands. Areas to be discussed include the use of cannabis for pain management, multiple sclerosis, mental health problems, cancer, glaucoma; use during pregnancy; an overview of the endogenous cannabinoids and their role in the human body; harm reduction measures and policy updates. Providing Patients Safe Access to Therapeutic Marijuana/Cannabis, which encourages the education of registered nurses regarding current, evidence-based therapeutic use of marijuana/cannabis.
In 2003 the ANA House of Delegates passed a resolution, Providing Patients Safe Access to Therapeutic Marijuana/Cannabis, which encourages the education of registered nurses regarding current, evidence-based therapeutic use of marijuana/cannabis supports the ANA House of Delegates 2003 resolution on medical marijuana. (You must login to access the ANA position statement.) For more information on the conference agenda, faculty and registration go to www.medicalcannabis.com. Continuing Education credits will be awarded.
November 17, 2005
Read and Endorse the Essential Nursing Competencies and Curricula Guidelines for Genetics and Genomics
Following a consensus of over 50 major stakeholders at a meeting held on September 21-22, 2005 at the ANA headquarters, the minimal core competencies for all nurses regardless of academic preparation, role or specialty have now been identified. The competencies are based on the state of the evidence available at the time they were developed and reflect the minimal amount of genetic and genomic competency expected by every nurse. View and Endorse the Core Competencies Go to Genetics page for additional information.
August 11, 2005
The Center for Ethics & Human Rights Issues Update
The latest issue of The Center for Ethics online newsletter Issues Update covers the topics of Alzheimer's disease and a patient's decision-making capacity. These topics continue to create situations where health care providers often use a process of ethical decision making in determining appropriate health care. Read newsletter...
June, 2005
Plan now to attend the ASBH Nursing Preconference and Annual Meeting in October
The American Society for Bioethics and Humanities (ASBH) will hold its 2005 annual meeting October 20-23, 2005 in Washington, DC. The theme of the annual meeting is "Suffering and Justice" and will feature sessions on deadly medicine, social determinants of health, and a variety of topics examining the relationship between suffering and justice. A Nursing Preconference cosponsored by The American Nurses Association entitled "The Future and the Past: Celebrating the Contributions of the -Nursing Profession in Bioethics" will be held on October 20 just prior to the start of the annual meeting. The ASBH Affinity Group for Nurses will meet on Saturday from 5:30-6:30 as part of the annual meeting. Look for more information about these sessions in the conference brochure in early August on the ASBH Website (www.asbh.org).
March 30, 2005
ANA Receives Response Regarding Rumsfeld Letter
ANA has received a response to its Feb. 3, 2005, letter to Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld supporting further investigation into possible actions of health care professionals in the abuse of detainees at U.S. detention and interrogation facilities. In a letter dated Feb. 24, 2005, Gale S. Pollock, chief of the Army Nurse Corps, stated that, to date, there is no evidence of Army Nurse Corps members being involved in any inappropriate or unethical behavior. The letter from Major General Pollock acknowledges ANA's willingness to offer expertise and guidance and provides a direct point of contact should ANA need to have further dialogue. Read letter below... [PDF]
February 8, 2005
ANA Supports Further Investigation Into Prisoner Abuse
ANA has sent a letter to Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld supporting further investigation into possible actions of health care professionals in the abuse of detainees at U.S. detention and interrogation facilities. ANA is not aware of any specific situations that have involved registered nurses (RNs); however, it is concerned about the possible role that RNs or other health care professionals may have played in this abuse. The ANA's Code of Ethics for Nurses and other ANA policies condemn violations concerning issues of health and human rights and guide the role of U.S. registered nurses in providing services. Read letter to Secretary Rumsfeld [PDF]
Upcoming Meeting of the American Nurses Association(ANA) Ethics Advisory Board
The American Nurses Association(ANA) Ethics Advisory Board annual face to face meeting will be held prior to the American Society of Bioethics and Humanities (ASBH) Nursing Preconference and Annual Meeting. The ANA Ethics Advisory Board has scheduled its annual face–to-face board meeting for October 18-19, 2005, just prior to the start of the ASBH Nursing Preconference and Annual Meeting. The Ethics Advisory Board has been working on the revision of existing ethics position statements. The agenda and meeting place have yet to be formalized. Nurses who would like more information about the October advisory board meeting should contact the ANA Center for Ethics and Human Rights Director, Laurie Badzek at lbadzek@ana.org.