December  2007

In June 2003, discussions began with representatives of HPNA, NBCHPN and HPNF, and a consultant to discuss how we could collectively move forward to have a greater impact on communicating the value of providing excellent nursing care at the end of life for all Americans. Our unified vision is to ensure that all persons become aware of the impact of those with hospice and palliative nursing care knowledge and expertise and their ability to deliver high-quality end-of-life care. The desire to achieve this purpose has lead to the formation of the Alliance for Excellence in Hospice and Palliative Nursing.

 
The mission of the Alliance for Excellence in Hospice and Palliative Nursing is to serve as the unified voice in hospice and palliative nursing to integrate and coordinate end of life care with other members of the interdisciplinary team, to act as a visionary for specialty trending nursing issues, to be a primary resource fostering excellence in hospice and palliative nursing, and to advance end-of-life care for the benefit of the public at large.

2008 AAHPM/HPNA Annual Assembly
The 2008 Annual Assembly sponsored by the American Academy of Hospice and Palliative Medicine and the Hospice and Palliative Nurses Association will be held January 30 – February 2, 2008 in Tampa, Florida.   Link to Conference Information

HPNA Pre-conferences for the 2008 Annual Assembly offered on Wednesday, January 30, 2008
Register with HPNA for these pre-conferences:  Link Here to Register Now!

1) 8 AM – 5 PM Generalist Clinical Review Train-the-Trainer
2) 8 AM – 12 NOON APN Billing: The Good, The Bad and The Ugly
3) 8 AM – 12 NOON Psychiatric Illnesses and the Dying
4) 8 AM – 12 NOON From Grassroots to Inside the Beltway: Policy Advocacy for Hospice and Palliative Care Professionals
5) 1 PM – 5 PM History and Physical Findings Related to Drug Therapy Management
6) 1 PM – 5 PM Challenges with Family Dynamics in End-of-Life Care
7) 1 PM – 5 PM Implanted Cardiac Devices and End-of-Life Decisions

Additionally, a FREE pre-conference entitled Nurse Leadership Skills Development Workshop "Clinical Mentoring Matters: Nurturing Nurses" FC3 will be offered on Wednesday, January 30, 2008 from 6 PM-10 PM.  Registration for this pre-conference (#FC3) is through AAHPM.  Link here to register with AAHPM for this FREE pre-conference.

Additional Generalist Clinical Review Train-the-Trainer workshop scheduled
A Generalist Clinical Review Train-the-Trainer program has been scheduled for Saturday, June 14th, 2008 at the Sheraton Atlantic City in Atlantic City, New Jersey. This one-day workshop is for experienced hospice and palliative Registered Nurses who wish to become HPNA Approved Educators.  Presented in a Train-the-Trainer format, participants will be taught facilitation skills to prepare them to teach the Clinical Review.  Link to Application

New Corporate Education Product
The Hospice and Palliative Interactive Learning Resource: Generalist Nurse is an interactive learning activity for any nurse caring for persons with life-limiting illness in any setting. Utilizing an outline framework, this tool is a resource of the essential information on hospice and palliative nursing. The Resource’s interactive design allows the user to navigate through the program in a manner that best fits their needs.  Using Adobe Reader 7.0, the Resource is designed for agencies to place on their intranet for all staff to use. It can be purchased by calling 412-787-9301 or link here to HPNA website. Cost: $250.00.  

New Advanced Practice Nurse Text:
Advanced Practice Palliative Nursing: A Guide to Practice and Business Issues
As the specialty of Advanced Practice Hospice and Palliative Nursing evolves, so does the need for tools and mechanisms to help those entering the field. Many APNs are new APNs in practice rather than new practitioners to the specialty. The decision was made to develop this toolkit that an Advanced Practice Hospice and Palliative APN can use as a reference for business practice issues. It serves not only as a check list, but also a way to get a sense of the issues, the requirements, and the considerations of practice. In particular, it is written by APNs who are in the specialty and who have knowledge and expertise to help guide the practice of our colleagues from novice to experts.   This item is available for purchase from HPNA online or by calling the National Office at 412-787-9301.   Cost: $30.00 (HPNA members) or $35.00 non-members.

Upcoming weekly teleconferences:  Must pre-register; call HPNA at 412-787-9301

**Professional Nurse Case Studies in Opioid Conversions, Part 2 (Wed. Jan. 9, 2008 12 noon ET).

Journal Club Suffering and Dying Nursing Home Residents: Nurses' Perceptions of the Role of Family Members
(Wed. Jan. 16, 2008 3 pm ET)

Nursing Assistant No teleconference due to the Holiday (Wed. Dec. 26, 2007 3 pm ET)

**Please note:  beginning in January, 2008 the APN and Clinical Nursing teleconferences are being combined and this Professional Nurse Teleconference will be conducted on the second Wednesday of the month at 12 noon ET.  Pharmacological information will be included as appropriate to the topic. 

Additional information on your JHPN mailing label
Beginning in September, 2007 the mailing label on your Journal of Hospice and Palliative Nursing will include 'Renew mm/dd/yyyy' on the first line near the membership number. This month/day/year is your current HPNA membership expiration date. This is one more method we are implementing to inform members of the membership expiration date to encourage a timely renewal.

Newest posts on the HPNA website:

• Testimonials from current members
• Quality of Life Matters newsletter for November 2007 

HPNA Monthly Update

2008 NBCHPN® Certification Recognition Event
NBCHPN® will host its 7th Annual Certification Recognition Event during the Annual Assembly of the AAHPM/HPNA.  The luncheon will be held on Thursday, January 31, 2008 from 12:45-2:00 p.m. at the Tampa Convention Center in Tampa , FL.   Presentation will be "Certification Linked to Practice". Seating is limited to the first 250 registrants.  Registration details are available through the website at www.nbchpn.org or by calling the National Office at 412-787-1057.

NBCHPN® 2008 Computer Based Testing (CBT)
CBT is about to begin!  NBCHPN® continues to work with our professional testing company, Applied Measurement Professionals (AMP) towards CBT in 2008!  The online application will open on December 1, 2007.  Visit our website www.nbchpn.org for Announcements and the Certification Newsletters for more information.

NBCHPN Monthly Update

Year-End Giving to HPNF is Win-Win Situation!
Many members of HPNA/friends of HPNF choose the last month of the year to make their gifts to the Foundation.  As you contemplate your gift, keep in mind it is possible to reduce your income taxes while providing meaningful support to HPNF. 

Of course, the amount of your tax savings depends on your income bracket.  For example, if you are in the 33% income bracket and itemize deductions, a $100 gift to HPNF by December 31 will save you $33 in 2007 taxes.  Your actual cost of the gift would be just $67.  Likewise, if you are considering a $500 gift, the actual cost to you would be $325 because of a $165 savings in taxes.  Tax savings also occur in different tax brackets and for different gift amounts.  Contact Director of Development, Laura Ristau at 412-787-9301 for more information.

Important IRS deadline: Mail your check by December 31 or charge to your credit card in 2007!

Click here to make a donation to HPNF

Sentimental, Priceless Gifts
Key to Your Heart cases make great gifts for the Holidays!  They are decorative and from the heart!  You can place orders for Key to Your Heart jeweled keepsakes online or by phone (412-787-9301).  It is a gift that will stand out after the holidays are over because of the time and care you put into personalizing the errand and chore for the recipient.

The Key to Your Heart project is an ongoing way to provide support for the Foundation.  Orders have been so successful that we will continue to offer the cases in 2008!  To learn more about Key to Your Heart cases, click here.

Foundation Receives Support from SAE Exams through December 31
Through the end of 2007 proceeds from the Registered Nurse Self Assessment Exam benefit the Foundation.  Your purchase helps fund scholarships and grants and other member benefits.  You can find the Registered Nurse Self Assessment Exam (SAE) on the AMP Web Site http://store.lxr.com/product.aspx?id=229.  Beginning in 2008, proceeds will be directed to the Alliance for Excellence in Hospice and Palliative Nursing.

Visit the HPNF website here

 
Wishing you Happy Holidays and Happy New Year from HPNA, NBCHPN and HPNF!  

HAVE YOU MOVED?

If you are not receiving the publications included with your membership, please contact us.  The mailing lists for Journal of Hospice and Palliative Nursing, the HPNA Nursing Assistant Newsletter, etc. are all prepared from our database at the National Office.  The journals are sent second class mail and are not forwarded.  Please keep us informed of your address changes so that you receive full benefit of your membership.  The Members Only area of the HPNA website has been enhanced to permit current members to edit personal contact information: address, phone number, email address etc.  Change your contact information at Member Login or call us at 412-787-9301.  Thank you.