PEOPLE-TO-PEOPLE TRAUMA AND EMERGENCY NURSING TO CHINA
The Society of Trauma Nurses (STN) has been invited by the Emergency Nurses Association (ENA) to join a delegation of professional nurses specializing in trauma and emergency nursing who will travel to China from October 19, 2008, through October 31, 2008. The delegation is being chaired by Nancy M. Bonalumi, RN, MS, CEN, 2006 president of the ENA. Nancy Bonalumi has invited members of the STN to join the delegation. This is the first time that the STN members have been invited to participate in this exciting opportunity. The goal of this unique opportunity is to provide STN and ENA members the chance to meet their Chinese colleagues face-to-face to discuss a number of issues of importance to nurses in both countries.
The issues being developed for the working sessions include discussions on how contemporary and ancient medical techniques are used today, consideration of how the Chinese healthcare system is approaching endemic/pandemic preparations, exploration of how nurses are educated to care for major trauma patients, the emergency medical service (prehospital) care system, and special education required to become a trauma or emergency nurse in China.
The delegation will combine educational activities (continuing nursing education credits are being applied for) and meetings centered on trauma and emergency nursing in China with activities that highlight the culture, sights, and sounds of the country. This is an opportunity for STN members to obtain a view of the nursing system in China and experience the culture in ways that most nurses never do.
More details about this exciting and worthwhile experience will be coming to STN members directly. For more information about the People to People Citizen Ambassador program, visit their Web site at http://www.citizenambassadors.org
ANOTHER STN MEMBER JOINS US ARMY TRAUMA TEAM AT LANDSTUHL REGIONAL MEDICAL CENTER
Elizabeth Schell, MSN, RN, has joined the trauma team at Landstuhl Regional Medical Center (LRMC), the US Army Hospital in Landstuhl, Germany. LRMC is the focal point of trauma care for injured soldiers and civilians from the conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan. Under the direction of COL Stephen Flaherty, trauma medical director and STN past-president, Kathleen Martin, MSN, CCRN, LRMC was verified by the American College of Surgeons as a level II trauma center in the summer of 2007. LRMC is the only hospital outside the United States to receive this recognition. Ms Schell will coordinate the LRMC trauma performance improvement program, a strength that was recognized by the American College of Surgeons. Ms Schell joins STN members, Kathie Martin and Michael Glenn, as the third STN member to leave the United States and assist the US Army in the development of the LRMC trauma program.
"It is with great pride that I commend my fellow STN members, Elizabeth Schell and Michael Glenn who have joined me in providing trauma care in the most distinctive trauma center on earth," said Kathleen. She further stated:
These nurses bring so much experience with them and they are passionate about providing care to the soldiers. It is a privilege that we are able to provide this care to the sons and daughters who have put their lives on the line for our freedom. It is an exceptional challenge, but I believe there are great opportunities in every challenge. Each of these seasoned trauma experts who have joined this effort are making a difference in the lives of these soldiers, their families and the trauma providers who care for them.
STN STATE CHAIR PROFILE
STN member Kelly Jung, RN, BSN, was appointed as state chair for Wisconsin in January 2007. Kelly is the trauma program manager at Theda Clark Medical Center in Neenah, Wisconsin, a position she has been holding since 1996. Kelly is an active ATCN instructor and served on the STN nominations committee in 2007. Closer to home, Kelly is president of the Wisconsin State Trauma Coordinators organization and an executive council member of the Regional Trauma Advisory Council.
I had a chance to talk with Kelly and asked her a few questions about the future of trauma nursing, here are her responses:
1. What she thought the biggest challenges for trauma nursing over the next 5-10 years?Some of the biggest challenges I see in the next 5-10 years is for the continued growth and support for trauma systems. As trauma nurses, we need to work together for support and funding of trauma systems. In my state of Wisconsin, we have been working for greater than ten years to build a state trauma plan. We have made great strides but currently find ourselves with an infrastructure that is in trouble and funding issues. I am hopeful that we can find the support within our state legislation to continue what we have started, especially while we have the momentum in an upward swing. The same support is needed for trauma centers across the nation.
2. What skills do you think will be most important for future trauma nurses to possess or excel in?Providing excellent clinical care has always been an important skill for the trauma nurse. However, with the ever changing environment in healthcare, I think it is important to key in on learning and utilizing quality and financial management skills. As Trauma Program Managers, we need to be fiscally responsible so that our programs are successful and we can keep our doors open to trauma. This is also pertinent with so many changes in financial reimbursement. When I went back to school for my master's degree, I chose to pursue the field of business. I learned management and financial skills that are needed in my TPM role but not learned in nursing school. The organization I work for, Theda Care, is teaching managers and staff about applying lean manufacturing principles to a healthcare environment. Through Lean, I am learning to obtain savings through decreasing waste. The tools and principles can help with all aspects of care from improving daily patient care processes to avoiding trauma diversion. As part of this learning, I can show our communities that trauma centers make a difference through good quality indicators/outcomes and that we can be fiscally responsible. My role has taken on a new direction that I never imagined.
I appreciate Kelly taking the time to share her thoughts on the future of trauma nursing with the Journal of Trauma Nursing and applaud the great job that she is doing leading Wisconsin's STN members. To learn more about the STN state chairs, visit the STN Web site at http://www.traumanurses.org/membership.
STN MEMBERSHIP REACHES NEW HIGH
Membership in the STN continues to grow. As of March 11, 2008, the STN had 1,322 members. In July 2006, the STN had 936 members. The gain of 386 members over the last 20 months is more than 1 new member every other day. The continuing growth of the STN is a testimony to the expertise and knowledge that the members themselves bring to the organization.
NEW MANAGEMENT FIRM BEING SOUGHT
The STN Board of Directors has been preparing to select a new management firm. The current management group, The Center for Association Growth, and our executive director, Joyce Paschall, have been with the STN for nearly 3 years. During this time, the growth of the STN has been tremendous. The increasing workload of the STN was the primary reason for moving to another management organization.
The transition to a new management firm is not a simple or quick activity. A detailed "request for proposal" was developed and a rigorous process to screen and interview potential firms was used. Interviews with the final organizations selected occurred at the Board of Directors meeting just before the annual conference in New Orleans. The transition to a new management group is expected to occur after July 1, 2008.