October  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 .   Click the following link for Registration and additional information: http://www.hpna.org/DisplayPage.aspx?Title=Annual%20Conferences

2008 Case Conference Call for Submissions will be open September 1 – October 24, 2007

Submissions are open to all levels of students of nursing and social work as well as medical students, residents and fellows.  Go to http://www.aahpm.org for the Case Conference submission information.

HPNA Pre-conferences for the 2008 Annual Assembly offered on Wednesday, January 30, 2008

Register with HPNA for these pre-conferences:  Register Now by clicking the following link:

http://www.hpna.org/DisplayPage.aspx?Title=Annual%20Conferences

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 “Clinical Mentoring Matters: Nurturing Nurses” will be offered on Wednesday, January 30, 2008 from 6 PM-10 PM.   Registration for this pre-conference (#FC3) is through AAHPM.  Go to http://www.aahpm.org/education/conf/index.html to register with AAHPM for this FREE pre-conference.

AAHPM College of Palliative Care Assembly Scholarship Program

The College of Palliative Care (CPC), created to develop and support leaders in interdisciplinary palliative care research and education, is offering $200 in scholarship funding for those who need assistance to attend the 2008 AAHPM and HPNA Annual Assembly. Qualified nursing applicants may receive this funding if they successfully apply and register for the Assembly in Tampa , FL January 30 – February 2, 2008. The deadline for applications is October 31, 2007. For more information, visit the CPC Web site at www.aahpm.org.

AAHPM College of Palliative Care One-on-One Mentoring Program

Interested in career and professional development advice, but don’t know whom to ask? The College of Palliative Care (CPC) offers an opportunity for students, residents, and junior and midcareer faculty to speak personally at the 2008 Annual Assembly with a senior mentor. Mentees will be paired with senior advisors who can help with issues related to professional development such as works in progress; clinical, educational, research, or administrative career paths; writing grants and papers; and balancing family and work priorities. The deadline for applications is November 15, 2007. For more information on this professional development opportunity, visit the CPC Web site at www.aahpm.org.

Upcoming weekly teleconferences:  Must pre-register; call HPNA at 412-787-9301 or go to http://www.hpna.org/webconf_schedule.aspx.

Advanced Practice Nurse   Self-Care for the Caregiver (Wed. Nov. 4, 2007 12 noon ET)

Clinical Nursing Case Studies in Opioid Conversions, Part 1 (Wed. Nov. 11, 2007 12 noon ET).

Journal Club Cardiac Pacemakers & Implantable Defibrillators in Terminal Care (Wed. Nov. 21, 2007 3 pm ET)

Nursing Assistant It's all about me: Self-care (Wed. Oct. 24, 2007 3 pm ET)

HPNA APPROVED EDUCATORS! It’s time to renew your HPNA Approved Educator status!

In mid-October, important information will be e-mailed to you regarding renewing your HPNA Approved Educators status.

Please be sure that your HPNA membership information is correct.  Name, credentials, address, phone numbers, preferred e-mail, etc.

1.      www.hpna.org

2.      Members Login

3.      Members Only Homepage

4.      Change my information

If you require any assistance, please contact HPNA National Office @ (412) 787-9301.

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.

Notification of Membership Expiration

Beginning with the July, 2007 renewals, notification regarding expiration of the HPNA membership will change to the following:

1)      A hard copy renewal form will be sent only to those for whom we do not have an email address on file.  There will be no follow-up mailing after the expiration date.

2)      An email reminder with a link to the Members Only area of the HPNA website will be sent to those for whom we do have an email address.  A back-up plan is in place for those email addresses that may not accept the notice.

Newest posts on the HPNA website:

Members Only area: Work/Life Balance: sharing from the 2007 Clinical Practice Forum, including a 5 minute guided relaxation audio file

Members Only area: HPNA Nursing Assistant Newsletters

Members Only area: 5 minute guided relaxation audiotape

One new TIPS sheet entitled TIPS for Managing Fatigue (http://www.hpna.org/DisplayPage.aspx?Title=TIPS)

Two new Patient/Family Teaching Sheets:

• Managing Bowel Incontinence

• Managing Bladder Incontinence

(For a list of all TIPS sheets, please visit http://www.hpna.org/DisplayPage.aspx?Title=Patient/Family%20Teaching%20Sheets)

This month’s HPNA Monthly Update can be seen at: http://www.hpna.org/DisplayPage.aspx?Title=Monthly%20Update

2008 NBCHPN^® Certification Recognition Event

NBCHPN^® will host its 7^th Annual Certification Recognition Event during the Annual Assembly of the American Academy of Hospice and Palliative Medicine and the Hospice and Palliative Nurses Association.  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.   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!  Visit our Monthly updates and the Certification Newsletters on our website, www.nbchpn.org for more information.

This month’s NBCHPN Monthly Update can be seen at: http://www.nbchpn.org/Displaypage.aspx?Title=NBCHPN%20Monthly%20Updates

It’s Certification Scholarship Time! 

Members who took the certification tests in September watch for your upcoming test results!  Those who pass are eligible to apply for a Certification Scholarship from HPNF!  There is one award of the entire exam fee for each level: APN, RN, LPN and NA.  Find out the details at www.hpnf.org.  Twice per year the Foundation grants up to $975 through four scholarships!  Sadly, sometimes the money goes unused.  It is up to you to apply. 

For questions, contact Laura Ristau, Director of Development, at the National Office.  This is a great member-benefit made possible in part through donations from the annual member appeal, Key to Your Heart, and the Apple Tree at Clinical Practice Forum! 

Pay for your test with funds from HPNF!  Application Deadline December 1.

Storage Room Woes

Help!  We have an overstock of shipping boxes for Key to Your Heart gift cases.  We were anticipating a large volume of orders for the holidays and boxes are tumbling off the shelves.  You can help by ordering Key to Your Heart jeweled keepsakes online or by phone.  They will be shipped to you within 24 hours and we will have more room for the new cases that are due to arrive soon.  To order online, visit http://www.hpnf.org/DisplayPage.aspx?Title=A%20Key%202%20Your%20Heart.

As many of you know, the Key to Your Heart project is an ongoing way to provide support for the Foundation as well as promote the work we do to others.  The beautiful case comes with a note about the Foundation and our logo is embossed on the bottom of the case.  It is a functional PR tool.  We encourage you to donate $20 and see for yourself!  We are coming to the end of our supply of the Original Model so if you have been delaying your purchase, now is a good time to secure your order.  We look forward to a fresh design for 2008! 

Chapter Grants Extraordinaire!

News is just in that the multi-chapter event held in Texas on World Hospice and Palliative Care Day (October 6) was a big success!  The Foundation takes great pride in this news because two of the three chapters received 2007 Grants from HPNF!  The great news for other chapters planning events is that with the $15 fee to attend and the grant money, the chapters drew an audience of 80, had two great speakers, a delicious lunch, the favorite evaluation comment, “It was incredible,”  AND each chapter made a profit!

June 1, 2008 is the deadline to submit your good ideas for your chapter.  See the website www.hpnf.org for details.  Again, there are fewer applicants than awards!  Feel free to contact Laura at laurar@hpna.org for application tips and your questions!

2007 Annual Member Appeal

The 2007 annual campaign continues through December 31.  It is easy to make your 2007 Annual Member Contribution.  You can donate online at www.hpnf.org, mail a check, or call Laura Ristau, Director of Development, at 412-787-9301.

Preparing for Certification?

The Registered Nurse Self Assessment Exam (SAE) available on AMP Web Site is a great way to enhance your preparation. Link here:  http://store.lxr.com/product.aspx?id=229

Vist the HPNF website at http://www.hpnf.org/Default.aspx