NAME: Lisa Hopp, PhD, RN
CURRENT POSITION: Associate Professor
CURRENT AFFILIATION(S): Purdue University Calumet
AREA(S) OF SPECIALIZATION: Respiratory Nursing
PROFESSIONAL EDUCATION: BSN Rush University; MS and PhD University of Illinois at Chicago
Dr Lisa Hopp is the 2006 recipient of the Dr Sue Davidson Award for Service of the National Association of Clinical Nurse Specialists (NACNS). This award is given in honor of Dr Sue Davidson, who served 2 terms as president of the organization in its early years, facilitated the development of the first Statement on Clinical Nurse Specialist Practice and Education, and was instrumental in developing the organization's membership survey process. In the spirit of Dr Davidson, Dr Hopp is recognized for her contributions to NACNS while serving as a member of the Education Committee, for initiating the Educator's Corner feature column in Clinical Nurse Specialist: The Journal for Advanced Nursing Practice-NACNS's official journal-and for her continuing support as editor of the NACNS Web site.
What first motivated you to become a clinical nurse specialist (CNS)?
I returned to graduate school with the intent of earning a PhD. I interviewed with Dr Mi Ja Kim, whose research is related to the physiologic function of respiratory muscles. As a staff nurse in a busy medical intensive care unit, I had been interested in all things cardiovascular; however, Dr Kim won me over. Thereafter, I focused my clinical work on caring for patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and my research on respiratory muscle function.
What, if any, professional or career issues did you face early in your career as a CNS?
I think our challenges as clinical nurse specialists remain quite similar today as when I left graduate school. CNSs continue to struggle with our unique identity in the world of advanced practice nursing and demonstrating the direct and more challenging, our indirect impact on patient outcomes.
What do you perceive are the key issues for CNS practice today?
CNSs must help others understand our scope of practice, and we must continue to document our impact on patient outcomes. CNS outcomes are achieved through direct influence involving client care and indirect influence involving our ability to improve nursing practice and remove system barriers. Additionally, the regulatory arena needs attention to protect CNS practice and assure the public access to CNS services.
To date, what do you perceive as your greatest accomplishments as a CNS?
There are 3 areas where I think I have made an impact. First is as a CNS educator. I believe I've had a positive impact on CNS graduates and the powerful contributions that they are making in their CNS careers. Second, I've worked hard to contribute to NACNS's critical work in shaping CNS practice in the United States and beyond as the international nursing community is looking to NACNS for guidance. Finally, I am director of an international collaborating center for evidence-based practice-The Joanna Briggs Institute. Outreach with the Institute has resulted in increased recognition of my University, Purdue Calumet, and, more importantly, has allowed me to contribute to moving evidence into practice for the region, nation, and globe.
What advice would you give a new CNS starting out in this role?
Be clear about CNS practice and your contribution to patient care, and make sure everyone in your employing organization understands what you contribute to patient outcomes. Be sure to capture the outcomes of your practice as both direct care and indirect influence on patients and their families, nurses, and the organization.
Among other contributions, you were recognized for your work as the NACNS Web site editor. How do you see this Web site supporting the work of CNSs and meeting the needs of the NACNS organization?
As Web editor, my goal is to improve NACNS's public Web face, deliver more information in a timely manner, and connect CNSs with each other and the organization. I share this accomplishment with Jill Ullmann, a very talented webmaster. Jill is behind most of the keystrokes that created the Web site's new look with its richness in content. The Web site has come a long way, but I look forward to creating more dynamic content so that CNSs will feel the need to visit the site on a near daily basis.
NACNS has become the new home of the CNS listserv, which originated in Toronto, Canada, through the work of Pat Lyon. How can CNSs access the listserv? How can people best utilize the listserv?
Pat Lyon, who began the CNS listserv, is retiring from the University of Toronto. It is a very active list with an average of 20 messages each day. CNSs generously share their practice knowledge, resources, and projects. NACNS plans to begin managing the CNS listserv in late spring of 2006; however, there should be no change in any aspect of the listserv and the transition should be seamless. The listserv is free and open to anyone who wishes to join it, so it includes members and nonmembers of NACNS.
Using the listserv is simple, but you must first become a subscriber. To subscribe, go to http://www.nacns.org and look for the links to the CNS listserv either from the homepage or the practice page. After subscribing, you simply generate an e-mail to the listserv address by writing a short, clear query. Listserv subscribers respond the same way one replies to an e-mail. I advise that subscribers create a rule within their e-mail application to filter the e-mail into a folder. Otherwise, your e-mail will fill rapidly. Some people may prefer to see the messages in their general "inbox"; others prefer to set the listserv messages aside until they have time to read and respond.
What do you think service to a professional nursing organization like the NACNS brings to a CNS and his/her practice?
NACNS is the primary advocate for CNS practice. Before NACNS was founded in 1995, there was no national organization looking after CNS practice, regulation, education, and research. Though specialty organizations often provided excellent clinical information and support to CNSs, generally, they were not able to focus on the larger issues important to all CNS practice regardless of specialty. Clearly, current issues related to advanced practice definition, scope of practice, recognition, and regulation require a well-organized association of astute, well-prepared, and committed professionals to oversee and advocate CNS practice. I am pleased and proud to contribute to NACNS's advocacy agenda for CNSs and CNS practice. It's an opportunity to network, grow professionally, and enrich my own practice.