Why Become a Member of the Alabama State Nurses ...

December 2015, January, February 2016

Volume 42 Issue 4

Quarterly publication direct mailed to more than 84,000 Registered Nurses and Licensed Practical Nurses in Alabama Alabama State Nurses Association ? 360 North Hull Street ? Montgomery, AL 36104

Inside Alabama Nurse

Why Become a Member of the Alabama State Nurses Association (ASNA)?

Clinical Corner Pre-Exposure

Prophylaxis (PrEP): Can HIV be Prevented?

Page 6

Highlights from the 2015 Annual

Convention

Pages 10-11

Carthenia Jefferson, BSN, RN, JD

First, I want to thank you for electing me to serve ASNA. I am your newly elected ASNA Vice-President and Chair of the Membership Committee. I joined ASNA in 2009 because I wanted to have a voice as a nurse in the State of Alabama on issues that affect nurses and our patients, the citizens of Alabama.

I reviewed the mission, vision and values of ASNA and they are in direct relationship with Carthenia Jefferson my values as a nurse who has greater than 25 (twenty five) years of experience.

OUR MISSION ASNA is committed to promoting excellence in nursing.

OUR VISION ASNA is the professional voice of all registered nurses in

Alabama.

OUR VALUES Modeling professional nursing practices to other nurses Adhering to the Code of Ethics for Nurses Becoming more recognizably influential as an association Unifying nurses Promoting cultural diversity Promoting health parity Advancing professional competence Promoting the ethical care and the human dignity of

every person Maintaining integrity in all nursing careers

As our Executive Director, Dr. John Ziegler has stated previously "Politics impacts policy and policy impacts practice.

We have a stronger voice when our membership numbers are stronger. We can do more work in our communities with health fairs, blood pressure screenings, healthy lifestyle educational forums, more legislation impact, more networking opportunities, and more professional development, leadership and mentorship opportunities.

Why Become a Member of ASNA? continued on page 7

Index

President's Message. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 LPN Corner. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 ED's Notes. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 Legal Corner. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 Clinical Corner . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 CE Corner. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-14 2015 Annual Convention. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-11 American Nurses Assocation . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15-17 Membership News. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18-19

SAV E the

DATE

February 10, 2016

Nurses Day at the Capitol - Montgomery, AL

April 12, 2016

Elizabeth A. Morris Clinical Education Sessions ? FACES `16 Montgomery, AL

October 13-15, 2016

ASNA Annual Convention Huntsville, AL

current resident or

Non-Profit Org. U.S. Postage Paid

Princeton, MN Permit No. 14

The ASNA Office Will Be Closed For Business

December 24, 2015 Through January 1, 2016

Our normal office hours are Monday?

Thursday 8 a.m. until 4 p.m. and Friday 8 a.m. until 12 noon

Happy Holidays

Don

Charlene

John

Betty

April

From the ASNA Staff

Page 2 ? The Alabama Nurse

December 2015, January, February 2016

ALABAMA BOARD OF NURSING VACANCIES

There will be 1 RN position open and 1 LPN position open as of January 1, 2016. The term of Amy Price, Nursing Practice will expire December 31, 2016. Applications must be in the ASNA office by July 15, 2016. RN applications ONLY are available from the ASNA office. Call Betty at 1-800-270-2762.



Published by:

Arthur L. Davis Publishing Agency, Inc.

Alabama Board of Nursing

NOTICE!

State agencies will be closed on the following dates:

Thursday, December 24, 2015

Friday, December 25, 2015

Friday, January 1, 2016.

The Alabama Board of Nursing is a state agency and will be closed on these dates as well. Registered Nurses who have not renewed should carefully note the dates. Following the Christmas holiday, the last day the Board office will be open is Thursday, December 31, 2015.

The law states that any LPN's license not renewed as of December 31, 2015 (at midnight) shall automatically lapse. Online renewal is available 24 hours per day, 7 days per week at abn.. There is a late fee for those LPN's who wait until December 2015 to renew.

PUBLICATION

The Alabama Nurse Publication Schedule for 2015-2016

Issue March/April/May June/July/August Sept/Oct/Nov Dec/Jan/Feb 2017

Material Due to ASNA Office January 25, 2016 April 25, 2016 August 1, 2016 October 17, 2016

Guidelines for Article Development The ASNA welcomes articles for publication. There is no payment for articles published in The Alabama Nurse.

1. Articles should be Microsoft Word using a 12 point font.

2. Article length should not exceed five (5) pages 8 x 11.

3. All references should be cited at the end of the article.

4. Articles should be submitted electronically.

Submissions should be sent to: edasna@ or Editor, The Alabama Nurse

Alabama State Nurses Association 360 North Hull Street Montgomery, AL 36104

ASNA reserves the right to not publish submissions.

Birmingham Nursing and Rehabilitation Center, LLC

Looking for qualified

LPNs, RNs & CNAs

to work in a loving environment

Contact Mattie Banks at 205-798-8780



Alabama nurse

ASNA Board of Directors

President: President-Elect: Vice President:

Secretary: Treasurer: District 1: District 2: District 3: District 4: District 5:

Brian Buchmann, BSN, RN, MBA Rebecca Huie, DNP, ACNP Carthenia Jefferson, BSN, RN, CNN, JD, ESQ Lindsey Harris, MSN, FNP-BC Debbie Litton, DNP, MSN, RN, MBA Sarah Wilkinson, MSN, BSN, BA, RN Julie Savage Jones, MSN, RN, CNE Wanda Spillers, DNP, RN, CCM Erica Elkins Little, MSN, RN Jan Wynn, BSN, RN-BC

Commission on Professional Issues: Marilyn Sullivan, DSN, RN, CPE, FCN, Co-Chair

Parlimentarian: Sue Morgan, PhD, RN

ASNA Staff

Executive Director, Dr. John C. Ziegler, MA, D. MIN Director Leadership Services,

Charlene Roberson, MEd, RN-BC ASNA Attorney, Don Eddins, JD Administrative Coordinator, Betty Chambliss Programs Coordinator, April Bishop, BS, ASIT

Our Vision

ASNA is the professional voice of all registered nurses in Alabama.

Our Values

? Modeling professional nursing practices to other nurses

? Adhering to the Code of Ethics for Nurses ? Becoming more recognizably influential as an

association ? Unifying nurses ? Advocating for nurses ? Promoting cultural diversity ? Promoting health parity ? Advancing professional competence ? Promoting the ethical care and the human dignity of

every person ? Maintaining integrity in all nursing careers

Our Mission

ASNA is committed to promoting excellence in nursing.

Advertising

For advertising rates and information, please contact Arthur L. Davis Publishing Agency, Inc., 517 Washington Street, PO Box 216, Cedar Falls, Iowa 50613, (800) 6264081, sales@. ASNA and the Arthur L. Davis Publishing Agency, Inc. reserve the right to reject any advertisement. Responsibility for errors in advertising is limited to corrections in the next issue or refund of price of advertisement.

Acceptance of advertising does not imply endorsement or approval by the Alabama State Nurses Association of products advertised, the advertisers, or the claims made. Rejection of an advertisement does not imply a product offered for advertising is without merit, or that the manufacturer lacks integrity, or that this association disapproves of the product or its use. ASNA and the Arthur L. Davis Publishing Agency, Inc. shall not be held liable for any consequences resulting from purchase or use of an advertiser's product. Articles appearing in this publication express the opinions of the authors; they do not necessarily reflect views of the staff, board, or membership of ASNA or those of the national or local associations.

The Alabama Nurse is published quarterly every March, June, September and December for the Alabama State Nurses Association, 360 North Hull Street, Montgomery, AL 36104

? Copyright by the Alabama State Nurses Association. Alabama State Nurses Association is a constituent member of the American Nurses Association.

December 2015, January, February 2016

The Alabama Nurse ? Page 3

The President's message

Is it "The View," or Our Vision?

Brian Buchmann, BSN, RN, MBA

Hello Alabama nurses! Thank you for being a nurse. Thank you for the sacrifice you make each and every day as you care for patients and; family members, educate nurses, provide leadership, and the many other roles you serve. You are appreciated!

I know most of you are aware of the controversial topic that came up on the television show "The View" about why a nurse was wearing a "physician stethoscope" and that nursing is not a talent. Many nurses were upset regarding these comments. As a nurse and someone that looks to improve the image of nursing and create excellence in nursing, it made me think about our vision for nursing. Every nurse should have a vision for his/her nursing career and every nursing organization should have a vision for our nursing profession. "When people Brian Buchmann wander aimlessly though their profession and personal lives, they tend not to accomplish the same results as those who are more focused" (Grossman & Valiga, 2013). The public's view of nursing may be directly linked to our vision(s) or lack thereof. Does our vision(s) give direction for improving our nursing image? If others have such a poor image of nursing, then as nurses we should take an active role in changing that view. We should take every opportunity to tell the public about our profession so they can be more informed. "Nurses must clearly define what they do and communicate it to the public so that consumers will be able to understand the role of the RN and APRN" (Grossman & Valiga, 2013). According to the Gallup poll, nursing has ranked #1 for the most trusted profession for thirteen consecutive years, but some people may not understand the full scope of what we do, our technical skills, competence level, critical thinking ability, communication skills, changes we make to improve patient outcomes, and what we are doing to help improve our healthcare system.

Yesterday I was talking to a person riding an elevator with me. When I told him what I did for a living he stated that he was a medic in the army years ago and thought about becoming a nurse but didn't want to clean people up after they have a bowel movement. It is interesting how the public may view the nursing profession. I took the time to explain to him everything that we do. As a nurse, please take every opportunity to educate the

public and improve the image of our profession. Let's start by creating nursing visions that will help lead to this outcome. The Alabama State Nurses Association (ASNA) has the vision to be the professional voice for all registered nurses in Alabama. For years, one of ASNA's strategic goals has been to improve the image and visibility of Alabama nurses. Let's take an active role in educating others and work together to promote our profession!

As your ASNA President, I would like to keep you informed of ASNA activities and ways you can be active in ASNA and our nursing profession. Please review the following list of updates and upcoming ASNA activities:

? Nurse Car Tag ? "Nurses Save Lives" ? Car Tags are available! Remember, the money created from car tags will go to the Alabama Nurse Foundation (ANF). The ANF is a non-profit ASNA set up years ago for promoting the profession, education, and nursing scholarships.

? Nurses Day at the Capitol ? February 10, 2016 ? this annual event, hosted by the Alabama Coalition of Nursing Organizations, is the perfect environment for nurses and nursing students to promote our nursing profession and unite our voices.

I would like to encourage you to be active within your ASNA District. Your District is where you build relationships, do community-service, network, attend continuing education events, and receive more ASNA communication. I encourage you to recruit your nurse friends or co-workers that are not a member of ASNA to join. The more members we have the stronger our voice as a nursing profession. Please contact your District Presidents below regarding your District activities and involvement:

? District 1 ? Sarah Wilkinson, MSN, BSN, BA, RN ? swilkinsonrn@ ? District 2 ? Julie Savage Jones, MSN, RN ? juliesavagejones@ ? District 3 ? Wanda Spillers, DNP, RN, CCM, NE-BC ? wbspillers@ ? District 4 ? Erica Elkins Little, MSN, RN ?ericaelkinslittle@ ? District 5 ? Janice Wynn, RN-BC ? jmwynn@

References Grossman, S., & Valiga, T. (2013). The new leadership challenge (4th ed.). Philadelphia, PA: F.A.

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Page 4 ? The Alabama Nurse

December 2015, January, February 2016

LPN Corner

The E.D.'s Notes

What Has Happened to Our

Ability to Wonder?

Greg Howard, LPN

Being old school and fighting technology, to some degree, causes me to wonder if we get everything as fast as Google can share it. Will we ever research anything? Has this phenomenon crippled our power?

I believe that discovery is still a good thing and that discovery teaches us patience. On the other hand, being able to get an answer in a matter of minutes serves a very good purpose and I am sure, save lives and allow people to make quick informed decisions.

I also believe "mistakes are the building blocks for wisdom", most of the time. And that "we create reality by the choices we make".

I can imagine each of us has a story we could tell to support or discredit my way of thinking and that's alright. There is one thing we can all agree on, "If You Don't Use It, You Will Lose It" and "A Mind is a Terrible Thing to Waste".

Life is a "special occasion" and we should enjoy it. No matter what your preferences are, we are all one, we balance each other. It only takes one person with a vision of what you can do to make a difference in your life. This is why we need to support each other as much as possible. And more than that support the people we serve. Regardless of how you learn what you learn, or how you get information, the most important thing is to use it for good. Our differences are what make us unique. A very wise woman uses this quote and I would like to share it with you... "Ideology separates us, dreams and aspirations bring us together." So make a point of just wondering sometimes, to see or remember how it feels.

Dr. John C. Ziegler, MA, D, MIN

NO, YOU'RE NOT!

READER WARNING: If the beginning of this article does not grab your attention, read on...it heats up in the middle.

A SHOCK TO MANY NURSES: "You are not a member of the Alabama State Nurses Association... just because you receive this publication. I've talked to hundreds of nurses who THINK THEY ARE MEMBERS OF ASNA because they receive "The Alabama Nurse." Year after year I encounter this misconception with nurses as I travel across the state. I've tried every "polite" response. I have explained that membership and receiving The Nurse are not synonymous. However, the misconception is still widespread.

The Alabama Nurse is an ASNA publication, regularly circulated since 1947. In fact, as an ASNA service, it is sent FREE OF CHARGE to every licensed nurse (over 93,000) in the state. That's a lot of work and imagine, the postage costs! In the future when someone says, "I'm a member of ASNA because I get The Alabama Nurse" perhaps I should be more direct and respond, "NOT NECESSARILY!" Then politely say, "You have to join." By the way, if you are reading this...and you are not a member...please join. Membership benefits your career and your profession. Go to and click the join tab. If you are a new grad, or if you've gone back to school for a higher degree, you can belong to ASNA and ANA for ? price. That's less than $13 a month. Bottom line... you're not a member because you get The Nurse...you need to join.

YES, YOU ARE!

I am often asked, "As a member of my professional organization, am I really making a difference." My answer is, "YES, YOU ARE! In the workplace, it is sometimes hard to know if we make a difference (verses a someone else doing our job). Measuring our individual significance is even more difficult in professions such as nursing. ASNA membership helps you "stand out" and through the strength of a group, KNOW that you're making a difference. Things are heating up in our competitive healthcare system and changes are occurring so fast it's hard to keep up. THIS IS A CHALLENGING environment for nurses. To stay informed, adjust to changes, learn new software, policies, and protocols shifting team assignments and on and on... It's like driving a car at night. The faster you go, the farther down the road you need to see with brighter headlights. Not smart to go 60 mph down a dark two-lane highway with dim headlights. That's why being engaged in your professional organization makes a difference. You can drive or you can be a passenger, but rest assured, being part of ASNA not only helps you see farther down the road...it helps you significantly influence the future direction of your profession.

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December 2015, January, February 2016

The Alabama Nurse ? Page 5

Legal Corner

TO ORDER A NURSE LICENSE TAG ONLINE:

1. Swipe the QR above for a list of county tag offices.

2. Click on your county. 3. Follow your county on-line instructions.

OR Go by your county tag office and order. (You do not have to be a member to order)

A Good Reason to Join ASNA

Don Eddins, BS, MS, JD

Quite often clients have sat across the desk from me and exclaimed, "I never thought I would have to see a lawyer."

Unfortunately, even the best registered nurses can make mistakes. Negligence is something no one is immune to. And any mistake can have substantial consequences. A hospital or nursing home, for instance, normally is obligated to report a nurse practice error to the Alabama Board of Nursing, which in turn is obligated to conduct an investigation.

Often the registered nurse has not been negligent or done anything wrong. When patient outcome does not go as expected, the family seeks someone to blame and often that is the attending nurse.

That is why membership in the Alabama State Nurses Association is so important. The staff and legal counsel of ASNA have been there. We can guide you through the process to make it much less stressful.

Best part is that I as ASNA will represent you before Board of Nursing at no cost to you if an investigation is commenced against your hard-earned license. Whether it is working out an agreement with the BON attorneys or representing you at a hearing, you are covered. I have been representing nurses for more than 20 years, so normally I can tell the RN what to expect ? whether it be a letter of reprimand, probation, suspension or revocation.

The stipulation is that you must be a member of ASNA when the act or omission complained of occurs. (You cannot wait until the house catches fire to purchase insurance.)

That is the most important component of the ASNA legal program, but there's another significant one.

ASNA membership entitles members to free consultations with the ASNA attorney on any legal matter for which the attorney feels competent to consult on ? whether it be real estate, divorce or whatever. No charge for up to an hour.

Sometimes RNs call and indicate they are members because they receive this publication, the Alabama Nurse. Actually, this newsletter goes to all registered and licensed practical nurses in Alabama, whether they are members or not. You must sign up for membership in ASNA, and membership rewards are many. Savings on programs like professional liability insurance can pay the cost of membership.

Moreover, nurses who are members of their professional association just feel better about themselves and their careers, because they know they are among the elite in their profession. After all, ASNA has been the voice of nursing in Alabama for more than 100 years.

Perhaps the best way to arrange payment is to have the small amount of dues taken from your bank account each month. My wife, Nikki, who is a nurse, has dues deducted from our bank account and does not have to worry about writing a check.

So, if you're not an ASNA member already, visit the Alabama State Nurses Association website or call ASNA at (334) 262-8321 today to become a part of Alabama's oldest, largest and most respected nursing organization.

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