NAME: Kathleen Vollman, MSN, RN, FCCM, FAAN
CURRENT POSITION: Clinical Nurse Specialist/Educator/Consultant
CURRENT AFFILIATION(S): ADVANCING NURSING LLC
AREA(S) OF SPECIALIZATION: Critical Care, Work Culture, Evidence-based Fundamental Nursing Care Practice Implementation, CNS Role Development
PROFESSIONAL EDUCATION: BSN, MSN
CERTIFICATION: CCNS, Alumni Status CCRN
Kathleen Vollman is the 2008 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. Dr Davidson 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, Ms Vollman was recognized for providing visionary leadership for NACNS since its inception. Under her leadership as chair of the Membership Committee, many initiatives such as the member get-a-member campaign and the ambassador program have been developed and implemented to support the continued growth of this organization. Personal follow-up contacts with nonrenewing members were conducted to assist in identifying opportunities to better support our membership. Kathleen was also instrumental in recruiting Sage Products, Inc, as our first corporate member. Kathleen is a tireless worker for NACNS and a role model to many new clinical nurse specialists (CNSs). She is a wonderful example of a true professional leader both within NACNS and in the nursing community.
Describe why service at the professional level is important to you and what motivated you to commit to these particular aspects of service for which you were recognized?
Giving back is a key component of my value structure as a person and a professional. I work to achieve one volunteer service/role per year for my key professional organizations. I chose to be a charter member of NACNS and work with membership because it is the backbone of any organization. The larger number of CNSs we represent and support, the greater impact the role and organization can have on shaping nursing and health care.
What first motivated you to become a CNS?
I saw the CNS role as a way to impact patient care and the environment in which that care is given beyond one patient encounter at a time.
What, if any, professional or career issues did you face early in your career as a CNS?
One of the most challenging issues I faced early in my career and it continues to be critical was building the information and skill set to demonstrate the clinical and financial impact of the role in relation to staff nurse retention, prevention of complications, and reduction in unit length of stay. My CNS program back in the 1980s did not include clinical cost-benefit analysis as part of the competencies for CNSs. I took it upon myself to learn the skill through the business management group at my hospital. They were a wonderful resource. The consultation helped to set up the methodology and rules that I have used in my hospital-based role and in my current CNS consultation practice. For example, one business rule I learned was to make a project/program or product pay for itself within 2 years either through revenue generation or clinical cost savings. Financial people look for that breakeven point to be within a 2-year time frame. As leaders in clinical practice, it is essential for the CNS to help nonclinical people connect the financial dots to show the value of implementing evidence-based changes in practice.
What do you perceive are the key areas of service for CNS today in regard to patients, to other CNSs, and to the nursing profession in general?
The key area of service regardless of the clinical specialty is to cultivate safe, evidence-based quality nursing care for patients and their families. Key areas of service for CNSs include demonstrating cost-effective programs of care for patient populations that improve outcomes and reduce readmissions to hospitals. Another important area of service is the support and professional development of the register nurse and the culture of the work environment for nurse retention and safe practice. Key service areas for the profession are to ensure the viability, growth, and regulation of the CNS role in their respective states through work on components of the APRN consensus model.
To date, what do you perceive as your greatest accomplishments as a CNS?
The ability to serve as a mentor and coach for nurses to help them effectively advocate for their patients and families and grow professionally. To be seen as a nurse and CNS role model who pushes boundaries and demonstrates that stepping out of our comfort zone although scary is extremely rewarding both personally and professionally.
An example of pushing boundaries came when I invented a support frame to position patients prone as part of my master's thesis and received a patent for it in 1989. I was able to conduct studies to evaluate the safety/function of the device and the effect of prone positioning on critically ill patients. The device was licensed to Hill-Rom for worldwide distribution in 1997. I was able to develop a care procedure, consulted on additional studies, and multiple publications that set the standard for safe prone positioning worldwide.
What do you enjoy or value most about the role of a CNS?
What is most enjoyable about my journey as a CNS is the flexibility and versatility of the role that has provided many avenues in which to make contributions to patients, families, nurses, organizations, and the profession. One example of this is the creation of a virtual CNS role. The virtual CNS role extends the impact of the role beyond the walls of an institution to offer the CNS expertise, skills, and resources to staff nurses who want to make a difference but are unsure of how to get started. This role provides the CNS with another strategy to empower the bedside practitioner while advancing the profession of nursing outside the walls of a single institution.
What advice would you give a new CNS starting out in this role?
Visibility and credibility are key to the CNS's ability to influence change. A CNS makes his/her greatest contribution through affecting frontline care practitioner's practices and work culture. That can only be done by being present at the interface where care takes place.