Quest

Volume 29, Issue 1 Spring/Summer 2014

A message from your editor... From PANAW to National Conference to our own educational offering, it has been a busy spring for VT/NH APAN! As we move into summer, we look back on these activities and also look forward to the fall and new opportunities. As always, feel free to contact me with stories, pictures, or other ideas for the next issue of the Quest! pack@vtnhapan.org --Ruth Pack, MSN, RN, CNL

National Conference: Dealing with Challenges, Winning with Power, Practice, Purpose! --By Ruth Pack, MSN, RN, CNL VT/NH APAN Communications Chair This past April I had the opportunity to attend ASPAN’s 33rd annual National Conference in Las Vegas, NV. Held at the Las Vegas Hotel and Casino (fondly known as “the LVH” to cabbies and attendees alike), the conference was attended by 2040 people, including 15 from VT/NH APAN. As a first-time attendee and second-career nurse, I was immediately caught up in the excitement of being surrounded by thousands of nurses who love perianesthesia nursing and want to do it better. The sessions (covering everything from trauma care to alternative pain therapies) were so plentiful that there was something new for everyone to learn, and the evidence-based practice and research presentations showed how the new knowledge are being put into practice. Even the ASPAN shop and exhibit hall featured useful (and fun) products! And the Las Vegas weather did not disappoint, especially for attendees weary from a long winter. Highlights included our own Amy Dooley, VT/NH APAN’s past president, being “sworn in” as the new director of Region IV, VT/NH receiving a Shining Star award (see page 7), President Twilla Shrout’s reception (I’d mention the after-party in her suite, but what happens in Vegas...), and a flash mob performance of Viva Las Vegas, complete with singing and dancing in the aisles of the main meeting room. See page 2 for photos, and visit http://www.aspan.org/Events/Past-Conference-Archives for more pictures, research/EBP abstracts, and other details from this year’s conference. ASPAN’s 34th National Conference will be held in San Antonio, TX, April 26-30. All members and friends of VT/NH APAN should consider attending the conference. Scholarships are available for ASPAN members, and many hospitals will reimburse attendees for registration and/or expenses. Visit http://www.aspan.org/Events/2015-National-Conference, as new information about the conference is coming soon.

The semiannual newsletter of the

Vermont-New Hampshire

Association of Perianesthesia Nurses

www.vtnhapan.org

In this issue: 2014 National Conference....................1    National Conference photos...............................2 Treasurer’s Corner.......3 Recap of Spring conference ....................4   Succession planning .....5 On the FourFront (Region IV) ...................6 Certification News and Events ....................... 7-­‐8   VT/NH APAN Board of Directors............................ 8 Willingness to participate form ................................... 9 Membership....................... 9

Spring/Summer 2014 Quest 2  

What happens in Vegas... (when two thousand+ nurses get together)

VT/NH President-elect Brenda Dufresne-Benda and new Region IV director Amy Dooley at Representative Assembly

Dancing at the President’s Reception, left, and with the “Viva Las Vegas” flash mob at the opening ceremony, right.

Who’s that at the Player’s Club desk?

VT/NH at Component Night! L to R: Rosanna Newton, Karen Flanagan, Pat Bouchard, Jennifer Huston, Brenda Dufresne-Benda, Anne Lewis, and Amy Dooley.

Region IV leaders

Spring/Summer 2014 Quest 3  

Treasurer’s Corner 2013---The Year in Review --By Denise Martel, BSN, RN, CAPA, VT/NH APAN Treasurer

 In the last edition of Quest, I highlighted our financial picture by presenting ‘A Year in Review’. At the Spring Conference held in Concord, VT/NH President Amy Dooley offered a power point presentation featuring VT/NH APAN’s accomplishments as well as our financials for Fiscal Year 2013. The recent edition of Breathline featured an article written by Katrina Bickerstaff, ASPAN Treasurer. She stated that “the ultimate responsibility for all nonprofit organizations lies with the boards of directors. They have the responsibility of insuring that the organizations they lead are accountable to the public and their membership. The boards of directors are also responsible to make sure their associations have the necessary infrastructure to execute their missions.” As you can see from the charts below, our main source of revenue is membership and conference income. As a component of ASPAN, we are mandated to send two representatives to the National Conference each year to vote in the Representative Assembly. ASPAN also invites components to send representatives to its 2-day Leadership Development Institute. VT/NH APAN tries to send 2-4 board members each year. Both of these activities contribute to a vibrant and well-informed Board of Directors. Consider joining us and be able to take advantage of these wonderful opportunities. VT/NH APAN is very committed to transparency. We want you to know how your component gets its income and how it spends it. Your BOD works diligently to make sure that you get the most for your money. Consider joining us. If you have any questions feel free to contact me: martel@vtnhapan.org.

Fiscal Year 2014 will end on June 30th. At that time I will finalize the year’s income/expense statement and issue a year-end report to the BOD. I will also file the necessary 990 e-postcard with the IRS. And I will report this year’s financials in the Fall 2014 edition of Quest. It has been an honor to serve as your Treasurer. Sincerely, Denise Martel BSN, RN CAPA

Spring/Summer 2014 Quest 4   April Conference draws large crowd, inspires many questions --by Ruth Pack, MSN, RN, CNL, VT/NH APAN Communications Chair Ideas and connections abounded at the VT/NH APAN spring conference held on April 12, 2014, at Concord Hospital, Concord, NH. 82 people were in attendance, including 75 from New Hampshire, seven from Vermont, and two from Massachusetts. Each presentation brought up multiple questions, directed toward the speakers as well as to the group at large, and conversations continued into break times. Clearly attendees were invested in improving their care of perianesthesia patients! The first speaker was Lisah Carpenter, JD, BSN, CPHARM, speaking on “Legal Topics of Interest for Nurses.” She focused on issues such as DPOA versus DPOAH, guardianship, and competence to consent for treatment. Her case examples clarified the subtle differences between these status options for vulnerable patients who may need assistance with understanding and consenting to their health care. The second speaker was Monique Fay, CRNA, who used diagrams, sobering case examples, and her wonderful sense of humor to explain the growing technology of waveform capnography (see the Fall/Winter 2013 Quest for an indepth article about capnography). Attendees were left with a clearer understanding of this technology, and for many, this was an incentive to explore capnography at their own institutions. I presented the third talk on obstructive sleep apnea in the perianesthesia patient. The presentation included signs, symptoms, and risk factors for OSA, a review of pulmonary function, and a chance for attendees to complete a screening tool to measure their own risk of OSA. This sparked a lively discussion of how identification and treatment of OSA can be formalized through protocols being developed specifically for the PACU at different hospitals. We rounded out the day with a presentation by Julie Cole, BSN, on the implementation of the Pediatric Early Warning System (PEWS) at a children’s hospital. Julie described the process of recognizing the need for such a system, as well as the issues surrounding implementing it in their setting. Case examples from before and after implementation vividly demonstrated the benefit of using PEWS to identify children whose condition is deteriorating and to provide clear direction to nurses and others caring for them. The Board would like to thank Concord Hospital for their hospitality, beautiful meeting space, and lovely breakfast. Thank you also to the hospitals providing baskets for the raffle, listed below. Thanks also to our vendors and to Pat Bouchard for her information table for CPAN/CAPA certification. Finally, thank you to all who attended; we hope that this conference brought you timely, relevant information that will enhance and improve the care you give to your patients in the perianesthesia setting. We hope to see you in August for our certification review!

Basket Theme Donated by Winner Cinco de Mayo Concord Hospital Day Surgery Doreen Grenier Common Man GC Portsmouth Regional Hospital Janet Montecalvo Amy’s Spring Basket Lahey Clinic Janet Montecalvo Energy Basket Portsmouth Regional Hospital Sandy Stewart Stonewall Kitchen Basket Portsmouth Regional Hospital Rose Sullivan Spring Flowers basket DHMC Outpatient Surgery Sandie Watts Gardening basket Elliot Hospital PACU Trish Clark Date Night basket CVMC Carol Van Ham Free conference Sandy Stewart CPAN bracelet Janet Montecalvo CAPA bracelet Rose Newton Dual certification Brenda Dufresne-

Benda

Spring/Summer 2014 Quest 5  

Succession Planning --By Amy Dooley, RN, MS, CPAN, VT/NH APAN Immediate Past President and new ASPAN Region IV Director Happy summer to all ASPAN members! As we wait for the summer heat to appear, the thoughts of what’s to come are foremost in our minds. As a member of the BOD we are encouraged to always look forward. The anticipated needs of the organization guide the Strategic Plan, which leads to continued success. Another piece of planning necessary to run an organization is succession planning. Hopefully you participated recently in the election for new Board of Director members. The election was the end product of this year’s search for candidates, but it does not end there. Succession planning never ends as the BOD has a continual responsibility to identify potential board members. You might be wondering where potential members come from. There are several routes to identify members; the first obvious choice is the member that volunteers. At each conference, the Willingness to Participate forms are available on the registration table for anyone to fill out. Conference attendees are potential candidates because by their action of attending they demonstrate commitment to the profession. Another source of potential board members is recommendations from other members; perhaps you have a colleague who is passionate about perianesthesia nursing and would be an asset to the Board of Directors. If you yourself or any of your nursing colleagues have an interest, please reach out to any board member. Once a potential BOD member is identified, the courting begins. One cannot expect a potential candidate to immediately agree to join the Board if he or she has not considered it before. Time involvement, requirements of the job, expectations, and obligations are some of the facts that should be shared with the potential board member before a commitment can be made. Introduction to board members and invitations to attend a board meeting are one way to begin the discernment process. A phone call or one-on-one conversation with a board member offers a personal touch for gaining that knowledge. You will find that the commitment for serving is not overwhelming and is actually fun. Alleluia! A member has offered or accepted the offer to run for a BOD position! Succession planning does not end there. Once a member is elected, the BOD must assist this new board member to feel comfortable in their new role. The steps that have been set up begin with a daylong retreat which introduces them to the Strategic Plan, the budget process, and policy and procedure update. A handover occurs between the previous board member in that position and the newly elected member. The roles and responsibilities, along with any paperwork, are shared. The BOD is creating an orientation checklist to make sure all points of the organization are explained. The new board member receives a Welcome Booklet, which gives an overview of the BOD roles, meetings, and nice-to-know tidbits. Once the full board meets for the retreat, the process begins all over again. Succession planning occurs within many scenarios. Think about membership within committees at your work; is there a succession plan to identify who will take your place? Perhaps you are on a board of directors for another organization, is your succession plan in place? Once you are elected into a position you should start looking for your replacement. Succession planning is a very important function of the Board of Directors.

Spring/Summer 2014 Quest 6  

On the “Four”Front of Perianesthesia Nursing: ASPAN Region IV --By Laura Kling, MSN, RN, CNS, CPAN, CAPA, Outgoing Region IV Director 2012-2014 January is a time when we all think of new intentions and resolutions, some personal and some professional. The Free Dictionary defines intentions as an objective or course of action that one intends to follow. Resolutions are defined as the act of answering, solving, and the act of determining². President Twilla Shrout selected “Dealing with Challenges: Winning with Power, Practice and Purpose” as her Presidential theme. I would suggest that we also consider at the beginning of this New Year, “Promise”, in the context of intentions and resolutions. Explicitly written in our organizational Envisioned Future Statement, ASPAN will be recognized as the leading association for perianesthesia education, nursing practice, standards and research. As such, ASPAN continues to provide resources, forums and opportunities in these key areas. We are over 16,000 members strong - we need to individually and collectively contribute to these efforts, lending our voices, energy, experience, and expertise validated with certification. So I am asking you to consider: What challenges have you identified? What are your intentions for 2014? What subsequent resolutions will you make? How will you actualize those promises? Do you intend to be a more active member? Perhaps increase your presence by contributing to your component or to the national organization. As professionals, we constantly assess needs and identify gaps in plans and actions. Is there one thing that we can do to meet a need? Opportunities can also present as a desire to increase your own knowledge in an area you are less sure of or less expert in. ASPAN Specialty Practice groups (SPGs) serve as a means to exchange knowledge and new ideas. Committee work, whether on the component or national level, is a network of partners who share the group work. Join a committee to learn from others and expand your knowledge. Membership is fluid, so new members bring great creativity. Resolve to strengthen our unique specialty through your active contribution. Moving an organization forward happens when members are informed and respond with their opinions. Your opinions as members of a professional organization are not only sought but expected. In April at our national conference, we had our national elections. The Representative Assembly voted upon the new 2014 – 2016 ASPAN Standards, Practice Recommendations and Interpretive Statements. The organizational strategic plan is discussed and vetted by your elected national officers and committee chairs. ASPAN can only be successful and responsive when you add your voice, either individually or through your representatives. Silence and apathy are not an option for professionals – it is our responsibility to contribute. So for 2014, I strongly recommend we think about our professional organizational intentions. We must purposefully determine how we wish to approach those intentions. Resolve to be ready to actively offer your opinion. Make a promise to follow through. Begin with small steps; garner success through positive outcomes and partnership with your perianesthesia colleagues. We must approach these challenges, as President Shrout states, with power, practice, and purpose. Only then can we realize the promise of the ASPAN organizational vision.

Spring/Summer 2014 Quest 7   CPAN/CAPA Certification News and Events Certification Review Course in Manchester NH Have you always wanted to be certified? Is your employer strongly recommending that you ‘go for it’? VT/NH APAN is offering a Certification Review course on Saturday, August 23, 2014. Presented by Maureen McLaughlin, a dynamic and engaging speaker, it will be a thorough review of perianesthesia nursing and will also include test-taking strategies. The program will award 7 Contact Hours and will include an extensive study guide for Certification Exam review.

The brochure is available http://www.vtnhapan.org/resources/August2014+Conference.pdf. If you are considering certification or want a great review, you won’t want to miss this. Registration deadline is August 9, so REGISTER SOON! Attendance is limited to 48 participants.

VT/NH APAN Receives Shining Star Award At this year’s National Conference, VT/NH APAN was one of an impressive list of components that received ABPANC’s Shining Star Award. This award recognizes a component’s commitment to certification, including offering contact hours for recertification, having one member be a certification coach, and other requirements. For more information about the Shining Star Award program, visit http://www.cpancapa.org/resources/awards/shiningstar/ to visit ABPANC’s website. Congratulations to our members!

Congratulations to our newest CPAN and CAPA certification

holders! CPAN: Kate Dubos Lucy Milton CAPA: Claire Burton

And kudos to those who have re-certified this year, too!

 

Andrea Dickson of Elliot Hospital’s PACU in Manchester, NH, created this bulletin board during PANAW to encourage colleagues to get certified.

Spring/Summer 2014 Quest 8  

CPAN/CAPA Certification Deadlines for Fall 2014

Registration window: online July 14 - September 8

Examination administration window October 6 – November 29

Period to schedule exam with Prometric Upon receipt of ATT letter - Nov. 12

Deadlines and charges to cancel or reschedule testing appointment

31 calendar days before scheduled test date: No charge

3-30 calendar days before test date $62.50

Less than 3 days before scheduled test date $66.24

VT/NH APAN 2013-2014 Board of Directors President: Brenda Dufresne-Benda, BSN, RN, CAPA, CPAN      dufresne-benda@vtnhapan.org   Vice-President/President Elect: Vacant Immediate Past President: Amy Dooley, MS, RN, CPAN dooley@vtnhapan.org Research Committee Chair: Karen Flanagan, MSN, RN flanagan@vtnhapan.org Secretary: Paula Agrodnia, MSN, RN, CAPA agrodnia@vtnhapan.org Treasurer: Nadia Kirpolenko, BSN, RN, CCRN kirpolenko@vtnhapan.org Communication Chair: Ruth Pack, MSN, RN, CNL pack@vtnhapan.org Education Co-Chairs: Trish Clark, BSN, RN, CAPA, CPAN clark@vtnhapan.org Doreen Grenier, RN, CPAN grenier@vtnhapan.org Finance Chair: Sandie Watts, RN, CAPA watts@vtnhapan.org   Governmental Affairs: Deb Bolmer, RN bolmer@vtnhapan.org Membership: Rosanna Newton, RN, CAPA newton@vtnhapan.org   All VT/NH APAN members are invited to attend Board meetings; however, only Board members have voting privileges. Please contact a Board member for more information.  

Spring/Summer 2014 Quest 9  

VT/NH APAN Willingness to Participate Form NAME:______________________________________________________________________ ADDRESS:___________________________________________________________________ HOME PHONE:__________________________CELL PHONE:__________________________ E-MAIL:________________________________ FAX:__________________________________ EMPLOYER:__________________________________________PHONE:__________________ POSITION:__________________SPECIALTY:___________________ # OFYEARS__________ ASPAN MEMBERSHIP #______________________________# OF YEARS________________ EDUCATION: Diploma • AD • BSN • MSN • Other:________________________ CPAN • CAPA • Other:_____________________________________________________ Please complete and send to: Amy Dooley RN 39 Westgate Crossing Nashua NH 03062

Not a member yet? Visit www.aspan.org to learn how to become a member of ASPAN and VT/NH APAN, your local component!

The VT/NH Association of Perianesthesia Nurses exists to promote quality and cost-effective care for patients, their families, and the community, through public and professional education, research, and standards of practice.