AAACN NEWS

AAACN Viewpoint, May/Jun 2006

Angel Pins by Rosemary

Rosemary Trevino creates handcrafted angel pins and earrings that are unique and elegant at unbelievable prices! Her designs are created with guality materials of gold and silver plate. Rosemary specializes in custom designs, like the one she did for AAACN's Closing Ceremony. She also makes nurse angels, telephone triage angels, and more. For more information, visit www.designsbyrosemary.com or call 832-693-1020.

'On the Road" Courses Keeping Instructors Busy

E. Mary Johnson, BSN, RN, CNA, C, Candy Laughlin, MSN, RN, C, and Susan Paschke, MSN, RN, CNA, the three instructors for the Ambulatory Care Nursing Certification Review Course, were "on the road" for two consecutive weekends. These instructors taught the all-day course to prepare nurses to take the certification exam at the Ocean Medical Center, Brick, NJ, and the following weekend at the Beverly Hospital Hunt Center in Danvers, MA. These instructors will don their spurs to teach the next course at Christus St. Michael Health System in Texarkana, TX, in August.

Our Telehealth Nursing Practice Core Course (TNPCC) instructors are also keeping busy. Maureen Espensen, BSN, MBA, RNC, and Traci Haynes, MS, RN, CEN, recently taught this course to orient nurses new to the role of telehealth practice, enhance knowledge of telehealth practice, and to provide staff education and training in telehealth at the Arnot Ogden Medical Center in Elmira, NY. Schedules are also being confirmed to teach this course twice for Kaiser Permanente in Brooklyn Heights, OH, in July and again in December.

To find out how you can provide one of these "on the road" courses at your facility, contact Pat Reichart at 800-262-6877 or reichartp@ajj.com

2006 Joint Commission PTAC Conference

On March 7, 2006, the Joint Commission's Professional and Technical Advisory Committees (PTACs) convened in Rockford, IL. PTAC members assist the joint Commission in the development and refinement of standards, elements of performance, and survey processes. In addition to Ambulatory Care, there are six other PTACs: Behavioral Health Care, Home Care, Hospital, Laboratory, Long-Term Care/Assisted Living, and Network. After a stimulating general program, the 7 PTACs proceeded into individual sessions. The Ambulatory Care PTAC focused on standards review and revision in the following areas:

* Proposed Revision to the Plan of Care for Anesthesia.

* Revisions to Oversight Requirements for Contracted Services.

* Proposed Revision to the Emergency Electrical Power Testing Standard.

* Proposed Requirement for Vaccination of Staff, Students, Volunteers, and Licensed Independent Practitioners against Influenza.

* Changes to the Management of Human Resources Chapter.

The conference was very informative and demonstrated the joint Commission's dedication to utilizing feedback from the various ambulatory organizations that are represented on the Ambulatory Care PTAC.

Johnetta James, RN, MSN, is the AMCN JCAHO PTAC Representative. She may be reached at james029@mc.duke.edu