It's summertime. Time to relax, take a break in routine, and do something out of the ordinary. What is it about summer that draws us into doing something different than during other seasons of the year? Maybe in the summer we are more open to the out of the ordinary-that which would seem silly in our otherwise serious lives. In the event that you are inspired to do some out of the ordinary exploring this summer, here are a few suggestions. Summer seems the perfect time to embrace new adventures.
Discover your state board of nursing. Check out the board's Web site, learn about the members of the board, and meet the staff. Read the minutes of the board meetings. Find the language in the nurse practice act granting nursing an autonomous scope of practice-look for the key phrase "amenable to nursing interventions." While you are there, find the language granting clinical nurse specialist (CNS) title protection and scope of practice. If your state does not have title protection and scope of practice for CNSs, call the CNS members of the board. No CNS on the board? Gather your colleagues and make plans to have CNSs appointed to the board. Remember, board appointments are political appointments, so be prepared for an adventure into the political process operating in your state.
Take hold of the CNS shortage in your region. Read the help-wanted section of the news paper and talk to local hospital nurse recruiters. At a recent national meeting I visited every hospital/healthcare system recruiter in the exhibit hall-all were hiring CNSs and most had more than one opening. Recruiter responsibilities are vast; they welcomed the opportunity to understand more about factors contributing to difficulties recruiting CNSs. You can help. Look at advertisements for CNS jobs; help recruiters create advertisements that communicate that the organization understands the CNS role. Suggest targeting recruitment in areas with CNS programs. At the meeting I discovered one discouraged recruiter who was unaware that no CNS programs existed in her state!! In addition to targeting recruitment to communities with CNS programs, she decided to contact the local university about reinstating the CNS program.
Explore CNS educational programs in your area. Check out Web sites for specialty options and curricula. Meet with a program director and discuss the curriculum. If you are not already, ask how you can get involved on a community advisory committee or as a CNS student preceptor. Not only is there a CNS shortage, but a faculty shortage as well. Explore working together to maximize resources, and while you are there give some kudos to deans and faculty who support CNS education. No CNS program at your local university? The CNS program needs a little tweaking to meet national standards? Summer is a perfect time to have lunch with the Dean, you buy!!
Discover nursing from the perspective of a nurse administrator. Attend a nursing management conference. Get in touch with issues that administrators are facing. CNSs are a support system for nursing administration, a team working together to assure the best in nursing care for patients and families. It is not so easy from their side of the desk. Say thank you to a nurse administrator for supporting CNS practice.
Summer may be the ideal time to relax and read a paperback novel; however, the future of CNS practice needs your involvement. It is time to move out of the ordinary, beyond the daily work setting and into other venues. Summer is a good time to embrace new adventures. Go for it!! Send a letter to the editor about what you did on your summer vacation.
CALL FOR ABSTRACTS EDUCATION SUMMIT
CNS Education: Promoting Interdisciplinary Collaboration March 15, 2006
A preconference to the NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF CLINICAL NURSE SPECIALISTS 2006 Conference: "CNS Leadership: Soaring to New Heights"
Salt Lake City Marriott Downtown, Salt Lake City, Utah
Call for Abstracts is posted on the NACNS Web site, http://www.nacns.org
Education for CNS practice is an ongoing challenge in today's changing and complex healthcare and regulatory environment. National reports and initiatives on patient safety and healthcare quality recognize that interdisciplinary education and proficiency in performing as members of teams are central to the system changes needed to achieve safety and quality goals. It is essential that CNS curricula reflect this core area of interdisciplinary collaboration to promote quality, safety, and cost-effective care processes and outcomes for clients. This summit will focus on educational strategies that facilitate interdisciplinary collaboration.
We invite faculty members and students to present clinical, educational, or research initiatives that demonstrate or aim to improve interdisciplinary collaboration and the outcomes of that collaboration. Exemplars that integrate interdisciplinary collaboration and outcomes related to CNS practice and education, clients, nursing practice, and the health care system (eg, Clinical Projects/Innovations, Analysis of Clinical Practice/System Processes) are encouraged.
General Information
Abstracts will be considered for both oral presentation sessions and poster presentations. Abstracts that reflect the summit theme are preferred, although reports of projects of interest to a CNS education audience will also be considered. Authors may submit abstracts of completed work, work in progress, or work presented at local or regional meetings. Do not submit abstracts containing information that has been published previously or presented to national or international nursing audiences. The primary author is responsible for obtaining consent from all authors and any employer clearances before submitting the abstract. Abstracts will be blind-reviewed by NACNS Educational Committee members, and up to 3 will be selected for oral presentation.
Oral presentations will be 30 minutes in length. Authors of accepted abstracts must be available to present for the designated period during the summit. For abstracts with multiple authors, the authors must decide on the presenter. Corkboard easels (4 x 6) will be provided for mounting poster presentations. During the poster sessions, at least 1 author must be available to dialogue with participants.
Presenters are expected to register for the day of their presentation and pay all expenses associated with the presentation.
Guidelines for Submission (Exemplars will be posted on the NACNS Web site, http://www.nacns.org)
* All abstracts must be submitted online using the form provided on the NACNS website, http://www.nacns.org.
* There is a 250-word limit for abstracts.
* The abstract should contain a summary of the project, including its purpose, significance, and outcomes and implications for CNS education and practice.
* Individuals may submit more than 1 abstract. If more than 1 abstract is accepted from a single presenter, NACNS reserves the right to accept only 1 as an oral presentation session and assign the other(s) to be presented as poster(s).
* NACNS will not edit abstracts for grammatical or typographical errors.
* Institutional affiliations and acknowledgments should not be included in the abstract.
The online abstract submission process will also require the following information. this is not included when taking the abstract word count:
* The name of the corresponding author/presenter with complete mailing address, phone and fax numbers, and e-mail address. If more than 1 presenter, contact information is required for all, but only one1 will be considered the corresponding author.
* Request for the abstract to be considered for oral session or poster presentation or both. Abstracts will be selected for only 1 presentation.
* Permission to publish the abstract in the NACNS official journal Clinical Nurse Specialist: The Journal for Advanced Nursing Practice if the abstract is selected for a poster or concurrent session. (Look for an online permission form.)
* Deadline for submission of abstracts is September 1, 2005.