A TRIBUTE TO ALMA J. LAB U NSKI
Dr. Cheryl Anema PhD, RN, President, INF
As president of the IL Nurses Foundation (INF), I would like to Dedicate my President’s Message and this issue of the Nursing Voice to INF Board Member and The Nursing Voice Editor Emeritus, Dr. Alma Joel Labunski PhD, MS, RN. On July 2, 2022, Alma passed on to her heavenly home at the age of 88. Alma is survived by her nieces Susan (David), Laurel (Frank), and nephew Steve (Lisa) as well as several great nieces and nephews. She is also preceded in death by her husband Daniel I. Labunski. The INF presented the Nightingale Tribute to Alma J. Labunski and her family at her memorial service held on July 23, 2022.
January 4, 1934 - July 2, 2022
Alma earned a Bachelor of Arts in Language and Music (minor) degree from St. Olaf College, Northfield, MN; the Nursing Diploma from West Suburban in Oak Park, IL; the Bachelor of Science from Wheaton College, Wheaton, IL; the Master of Science in Nursing and 30 additional doctoral credit hours in Adult and Continuing Education from Northern IL University, DeKalb, IL; and she earned the Doctor of Philosophy-Education in Higher Education Administration degree from Loyola University-Chicago. Previous faculty appointments included Kendall College, Elmhurst College, DePaul University, Loyola University, and Saint Xavier University. Experiences as an educator consistently embodied clinical practice in direct or indirect patient care for older adults as professor, continuing education coordinator, staff, consultant, and/or volunteer throughout her years of professional service.
Dr. Labunski’s experience as a chief academic administrator in baccalaureate and higher education similarly spans many years. Most recently as Dean and Professor of the School of Nursing at North Park University. She led in the development of graduate and post-graduate programs.
Alma spent a lifetime devoted to nursing, nursing education, and service to others. I first met Alma in 1986 while she was the Dean of Nursing at NorthPark College in Chicago. I was in my master’s program at Loyola University
and completed my nursing student teaching at NorthPark University. When we first met, I knew this was a woman that represented nursing in the best of ways. She was compassionate, understanding, supportive, and displayed a life of leadership and service to nursing and the community. She was interested in mission work, of which I found myself later following in her footsteps by taking nursing students to do third-world healthcare. Alma and I have stayed in touch ever since, sharing our vision for nursing and the mission to use our God given talents and nursing education to promote nursing through nursing education, and service to the community. After her retirement as Dean and Professor of the School of Nursing at North Park University, she continued active service in professional organizations, including the American Nurses Association-IL (ANA-IL) and the IL Nurses Foundation (INF). She served as the President of District 18 of the IL Nurses Association for many years. Dr. Labunski was known for her nursing leadership by many. The Student Nurses Association of IL (SNAI) at one time offered the Alma Labunski Leadership Scholarship award. Her volunteerism continued in her local community. Alma was on the Advisory Commission on Aging for the village of Morton Grove, IL. Alma was a faithful member and servant for the Cornerstone Evangelical Free Church in Glenview, IL. She led the church missions committee for many years, staying connected with all the church supported missionaries world-wide. She was a regular volunteer and served the congregation. Alma was also a volunteer at Glenbrook Hospital and the Abington Nursing Home for years.
Dr. Labunski continued active service with the non-profit organization of the Evangelical Child and Family Agency
affiliated with the National Association of Evangelicals as a Director for Board. She was a Director for Safe Families for Children Alliance. She was the retired Executive Director at Nurse Educators of IL. Alma served on the Board for the Long-Term Care Advisory Board for the IL Department of Public Health and the Commission on Aging. She served as a national accreditation program evaluator for the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE) for colleges and universities.
She also served as a Director of the Board for Lydia Home. Lydia Home Association is a Christian, nonprofit organization that serves children in Chicago. Their mission is to strengthen families to care for children and to care for children when families cannot. Their programs are meant to both serve youth in care and be a blessing to the local community.
Recent memberships included the Board of Regents and the Academic Committee for Trinity International University and Board member/recorder for the Bannockburn Institute for Contemporary Culture in Bioethics.
Additionally, Alma published many articles, several books, and her dissertation over her years as a nurse and educator. In 1989, she published her doctoral dissertation from Loyola University entitled A Study to Determine Whether Differences Exist in Cognitive Levels of Instruction between Nursing Faculty Engaged in Clinical Practice and Those Not Engaged in Clinical Practice. Article topics included such titles as: Addressing Educational Racism; Leadership Issues; The Quest for Adult Leadership: Role of the Community College; Change is Inevitable – Do you Choose to React or Take Action; Pancreatitis; Elder Abuse: Challenges for Health Care Providers; and Honoring Ethical Decision Making in Caring for Older Adults with Alzheimer’s. She published several books as far back as 1974 - Workbook and Study Guide for Medical-Surgical Nursing, and Clinical Pediatric Surgery: Diagnosis and Management, in addition to three
Tribute continued on page 3
ETHICS IN ACTION
Professional Nurses’ Ethical Obligation in Disaster Situations
Linda L. Olson, PhD, RN, NEA-BC, FAAN
Lisa Anderson-Shaw, DrPH, MA, MSN
Healthcare professionals have been challenged these past three years with the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, gun violence, human rights violations, war in Ukraine, climate changes with intense heat, wildfires, and various natural disasters. Nurses are at the front lines when larger scale medical emergencies or situations arise, including infectious diseases leading to pandemics, and where mobilization of providers, institutions, and supplies are needed. Disasters occur unexpectedly and often without warning.
Registered nurses are counted on, and typically willing, to respond to emergency situations, whether these situations are local, national, or international. Nurses have a contractual duty as well as an ethical obligation to care for others and to respond to unexpected situations. Nurses also have an obligation to care for themselves. Provision 2 of the ANA Code of Ethics for Nurses with Interpretive Statements (2015) states that “the nurse’s primary commitment is to the patient, whether an individual, family, group, community, or population” (p. 5). This primary commitment comprises our ethical relationship to patients. Provision 5 states that “the nurse owes the same duties to self as to others, including the responsibility to promote health and safety, preserve wholeness of character and integrity, maintain competence, and continue personal and professional growth” (p. 19). This comprises the duty of nurses to care for themselves as an obligation that is equally important as providing quality care to others.
Although these two obligations can be in conflict with each other, nurses must expect to be supported in providing safe care to others, as well as to receive adequate support in terms of resources required to meet their own safety needs.
A primary ethical consideration in caring for patients with disaster-related illnesses and injuries is resource allocation. The importance of adequate resources, such as personal protective equipment (PPE) and supplies, as well as appropriate staffing and patient care equipment such as ventilators was highlighted in 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic. This lack of adequate resources led to rationing and concerns about the use of appropriate infection control practices. As a result, many clinical decisions were based on resources, rather than on evidencebased practice. An additional concern related to the volume of misinformation about COVID-19 and its spread and treatment that was reported by the media.
So, what are the lessons learned? As the threat of future pandemics looms, and as the COVID-19 pandemic still rages, it is imperative that effective emergency and disaster preparedness plans be in place. The pandemic resulted in a widespread use of telehealth as a way to provide patient care. It impacted higher education by shifting from traditional classroom instruction to online courses and further use of technology through videoconferencing and increased use of simulation learning. It highlighted the importance of focusing on the social determinants of health and on how the virus had an increased impact on the most vulnerable populations. Above all, it highlighted the importance of evidence and focusing on the scientific facts as they became known rather than on spreading misinformation and rumors. As the importance of nurses’ duty to self as expressed in Provision 4 of the Code, health care facilities recognized the value and need for providing emotional support for nurses and other health care workers through providing stress management and promotion of resilience and through providing such resources as recharge rooms and mental health resources. Whether nurses work in a hospital or another health care organization, it is essential to know the emergency response plans in place, as well as to understand the work-related expectations and responsibilities for when a disaster occurs. It is also recognized that nurses have a duty to care for themselves as well as to be prepared to care for others when affected by a disaster situation.
References
American Nurses Association. (2015). Code of Ethics for Nurses with Interpretive Statements NursesBooks.org American Nurses Association. (2017). Who will be there? Ethics, the law, and a nurse’s duty to respond in a disaster. https://www.nursingworld.org/~4af058/ globalassets/docs/ana/ethics/who-will-be-there_disasterpreparedness_2017.pdf
Yingling, J. K. (2021). Rationing evidence-based nursing practice: Considering a resource-based approach. OJIN: The Online Journal of Issues in Nursing, 26 (1). https://ojin.nursingworld.org/MainMenuCategories/ ANAMarketplace/ANAPeriodicals/OJIN/TableofContents/ Vol-26-2021/No1-Jan-2021/Articles-Previous-Topics/ Rationing-Evidence-Based-Nursing-Practice-Consideringa-Resource-Based-Approach.html
Full-time and part-time nursing faculty positions open now in all areas Apply at
https://academics.depaul.edu/faculty-jobs/ Pages/default.aspx
The Nursing Voice
INF Board of Directors
Officers
Cheryl Anema, PhD, RN
Brandon Hauer, MSN, RN
Karen Egenes, EdD, RN
Directors
Maureen Shekleton, PhD, RN, DPNAP, FAAN
Linda Olson, PhD, RN, NEA-BC
Amanda Oliver, BSN, RN, CCRN
ANA-Illinois Board Rep
Susana Gonzalez, MHA, MSN, RN, CNML
Jeannine Haberman DNP, MBA, RN, CNE
ANA-Illinois Board of Directors
Officers
Elizabeth Aquino, PhD, RN
Monique Reed, PhD, MS, RN
Jeannine Haberman, DNP MBA, RN, CNE
Beth Phelps, DNP, APRN, FNP, ACNP
Directors
Holly Farley, EdD, MS, RN
Susana Gonzalez, MHA, MSN, RN, CNML
Elaine Hardy, PhD, RN
Dorothy Kane, MSN, RN
Zeh Wellington, DNP, MSN, RN, NE-BC
Editorial Committee
Editor Emeritus
Alma Labunski, PhD, MS, RN
Chief Editor
Lisa Anderson-Shaw, DrPH, MA, MSN
Members
Deborah S. Adelman, PhD, RN, NE-BC
Linda Anders, MBA, MSN, RN
Cheryl Anema, PhD, RN
Ellen Bollino RN, MSN, ED, CEN
Kathryn Booth, MSN, RN, CNL, CSRN, NPD-BC
Nancy Brent, RN, MS, JD
Pamela DiVito-Thomas PhD, RN
Amanda Hannan MSN, RN
Phoebe Maholovich MSN, RN
Irene McCarron, MSN, RN, NPD-BC
Linda Olson, PhD, RN, NEA-BC
Lanette Stuckey, PhD, MSN, RN, CNE, CMSRN, CNEcl, NEA-BC
Executive Director
Susan Y. Swart, EdD, MS, RN, CAE
ANA-Illinois/Illinois Nurses Foundation
Article Submission
• Electronic submissions only as a word document attachment using current APA guidelines.
• Email: info@ilnursesfoundation.com
• Subject Line: Nursing Voice Submission: Name of the article
• Must include the name of the author and a title.
• INF reserves the right to pull or edit any article / news submission for space and availability and/or deadlines.
• If requested, notification will be given to authors once the final draft of the Nursing Voice has been submitted.
• INF does not accept monetary payment for articles.
Article submissions, deadline information and all other inquiries regarding the Nursing Voice please email: info@ilnursesfoundation.com
Article Submission Dates (submissions by end of the business day) January 1st, April 1st, July 1st, October 1st
Advertising: for advertising rates and information please contact Arthur L. Davis Publishing Agency, Inc., P.O. Box 216, Cedar Falls, Iowa 50613 (800-626-4081), sales@aldpub.com. ANA-Illinois 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 ANA-Illinois and Illinois Nurses Foundation 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. ANA-Illinois 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 ANA-Illinois or those of the national or local associations.
Lisa Anderson Shaw DrPH, MA, MSN
Linda Olson PhD, RN, NEA-BC
editions of a Medical-Surgical textbook. Her record reflects other achievements in publications, several research studies, numerous grants preparations, and over 250 professional presentations.
In 1978, Alma pioneered a five-day review program for new graduates nationwide through the American Journal of Nursing Company. From 1982–1998, she annually coauthored sections of its printed text, Nursing Boards Review (Mosby Co.) and continued providing biannual reviews for new graduates throughout the country.
The history of the IL Nurses Foundation (INF) cannot be discussed without talking about Alma. Alma was one of the Founding members of the INF in 1999. She served as the Vice President of the INF for several years and continued serving on the Board, participating in many committees such as the Holiday Gala & Fundraising Planning Committee, Nursing Scholarship taskforces, Grant Committee, Finance Committee, and most notably the Editorial Committee, writing and editing for The Chart publication and The Nursing Voice publication.
Current Board member and Founding President of the INF Dr. Maureen Shekleton shared: I served with Alma as a fellow original Board member of the Illinois Nurses Foundation. As a Board member, Alma consistently demonstrated her devotion to ensuring the future of nursing in Illinois. She graciously shared her wealth of experience in both the nursing and philanthropic communities. She was often the first to volunteer for any tasks required to conduct the business of the foundation. She was the inaugural editor of the Nursing Voice after chairing the Editorial Committee of Chart for many years. She will be missed!
Further, Board member and friend Dr. Linda Olson shared: I first knew Alma through our work with the Illinois Nurses Association, as well as with the Illinois Organization of Nurse Leaders (IONL) and the Illinois Hospital Association through the Illinois Coalition of Nursing Resources. Our professional relationship continued with the ANA/Illinois and with the Illinois Nurses Foundation. We were faculty members together at St. Xavier University. Alma and I frequently enjoyed a professional and friendship relationship during numerous meetings for lunch. I consider Alma a valuable role model for professionalism and lifelong learning, as well as for the importance of continuing to enhance the nursing profession through sharing of her time and expertise. She was always willing and enthusiastic about her continued involvement in professional, as well as social activities.
While talking to other INF volunteers, Dr. Karen Kelly INF Grant Committee Chair and past ANA-IL President shared: Dr. Alma Labunski was both a mentor and friend to me. We met in the early 1980s when I became part of a continuing education review panel. Alma was one of my mentors as I learned about the development, implementation, and evaluation of quality professional continuing education. Over the years we served together on several committees. She was always a valued colleague and a dear friend. She left her mark on nursing in Illinois. Deborah Adelman, a member of the INF Editorial Committee, described the loss of Alma to nursing: “A strong voice for nursing and nursing education is silenced now. Nursing in Illinois will be poorer for our loss. Alma will be missed.”
As a current Director of the Board for the INF, it was difficult to find a day or evening when Alma was available for regular Board meetings, Gala planning committee meetings, and Editorial Committee meetings, as she had a full calendar of meetings for different organizations for which she volunteered. Her age did not stop her from living the life guided by her strong beliefs. In recent years she struggled with multiple health issues, but you could still count on Alma to do all she could do. Pre-covid, when the INF was still meeting in downtown Chicago for our Board meetings, Alma would be right on time, taking the train in and walking to our meeting place with her cane. Many times, we offered her rides to the train station, but she always refused stating that her doctor told her “You need to keep walking,” and she did.
Alma Labunski lived by her beliefs and was a nurse advocate, mentor, teacher, servant, and leader. Many times, Alma’s volunteerism was unseen, but she continued. I cannot imagine all the individuals that have been touched by this great nursing leader over the years. I know that this tribute does not even touch all the organizations and associations of which she served. She was an amazing nurse leader and mentor to so many over the years, still serving the Board and Foundation up until days before she passed.
The best way we can honor the legacy of Dr. Alma J. Labunski is to continue to support her passion for nursing, nursing education, and service to others, through supporting those organizations for which she dedicated her life service. If you may have been touched by her, whether a student, parishioner, hospital volunteer or patient, nurse, faculty, or association volunteer, I ask that you make a small donation IN MEMORY of Alma J. Labunski to the IL Nurses Foundation (INF).
Alma was a founding member of the INF in 1999 and has served on the Board of Directors since its founding. For the past 23 years, Alma has faithfully supported the Foundation through her service and monetary support. The INF has set up an “IN MEMORY of Alma Labunski” account. In honor of Alma, we are asking you to donate $1.00 for each year of her service to the Foundation. We are asking that you donate $23 in Honor and Memory of Alma. We would love to raise enough money to continue the memory of Alma through the work of the INF.
To donate, please use the link https://bit.ly/ AlmaTribute or QR Code.
Dr. Alma Labunski PhD, MS, RN is a nurse of distinction and will never be forgotten!
ANA-ILLINOIS PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE
Dear Illinois Nurse Colleagues, In June, I attended ANA Membership Assembly in D.C. along with ANA-Illinois representatives Drs. Elaine Hardy, Susan Hovey, and Anne Kowalczyk. This was our first in-person Membership Assembly since the pandemic. We began with Hill Day by having several meetings both in-person and virtually throughout the day to discuss pressing nursing issues, including the nursing shortage. During the Membership Assembly sessions, there were lively discussions, acknowledging that there are different challenges and perspectives from state to state on nursing and healthcare-related issues. A stark reminder that we become stronger when we can listen with an open mind to diverse opinions. However, on June 11th, the Membership Assembly was entirely in agreement when it came time to vote on the ANA Racial Reckoning Statement; in loud cheer, clapping, and with a standing ovation, the Statement was unanimously adopted. The ANA Racial Reckoning Statement acknowledges the historical and institutional racist actions towards racially and ethnically minoritized and indigenous nurses; it seeks forgiveness and outlines how ANA commits to doing better. The entire Statement is available to read on Nursing World: https://www.nursingworld. org/practice-policy/workforce/racism-in-nursing/ RacialReckoningStatement/.
In addition to adopting the Racial Reckoning Statement, we elected new board members, including President-Elect Dr. Jennifer Mensik from Oregon and Secretary Amanda Buechel from Illinois! As a reminder, don't forget to vote during the ANA-Illinois election; the voting period is from September 17th to October 1st. You will be voting on candidates for the Board of Directors, proposed bylaw amendments, and proposed changes to the legislative platform.
I hope you will join us at several upcoming events. We will celebrate the 40 Under 40 Emerging Nurse Leaders award recipients on September 22nd. On November 5th, we will be hosting our annual Professional Issues Conference. And on November 16th, we will focus our Hot Topic on Legislative Updates, discussing what is happening in Springfield and what to expect with the next legislative session. If you are interested in learning more about policy and advocacy efforts, please join us for this important Hot Topic.
Please know that ANA-Illinois is here for you; reach out if you have ideas, questions, concerns, or need additional support. Thank you for all you do for your patients, your community, and the nursing profession.
With Gratitude,
President,
Elizabeth (Liz) Aquino, PhD, RN
ANA-Illinois
Liz Aquino, PhD, RN
PRACTICE CORNER Illinois Law & Nursing Practice
Nancy J. Brent, MS, JD, RN
QUESTION
A reader wonders what rights an Illinois nurse has when they are faced with a formal hearing for an alleged violation of the Illinois Nurse Practice Act and/or its rules.
ANSWER
Any nurse in Illinois, whether LPN, RN, or APRN, has specific rights when involved in a hearing brought by the Illinois Department of Professional Regulation (IDPFR).
Nancy J. Brent, MS, JD, RN
Once the complaint against you is investigated and a decision is made that the Act and/or its rules have been breached, you are informed of the complaint. If the notice to you is that a formal hearing will be held, specific rights are afforded you.
These rights are based on the Due Process Clause of the 14th Amendment to the United States Constitution, the Illinois State Constitution, and case law on both the state and federal levels. They are extremely important when the government brings an action against an individual.
The specific rights include, but are not limited to:
• The right to clearly know the allegations against you
• A notice of the date, time, and place of the hearing
• The right to legal counsel (at your expense or through your professional liability insurance policy)
• The right to present your own witnesses and documents
• The right to cross-examine the witnesses against you
• The right to a written decision of the hearing officer
• The right to have the decision reviewed by an Illinois court (“administrative review”)
You may think that hiring an attorney to represent you is an admission that the alleged violation(s) is true. However, this is faulty logic. Professional disciplinary hearings are complex. Legal representation is essential.
If the hearing results in a finding or findings that the allegation(s) are true, the discipline imposed by the hearing officer and accepted by the Board of Nursing, the discipline must conform to the nurse practice act and rules. Any decision made by both the hearing officer and the board must be fair and just.
If the allegations are upheld, there are several professional disciplines that can be imposed upon you. They include, but are not limited to:
• Reprimand
• Probation of your nursing license for a specified time with or without practice restrictions (e.g., not working in a supervisory position)
• Suspension of your nursing license for a specified or unspecified period of time with requirements you must meet before a petition to reinstate your license can be made, if a reinstatement is possible
• Revocation of your nursing license
• Payment of a fine or fines
• Requirements for educational courses, whether as a continuing education module or a nursing education program curriculum course
Your name, license number, and the disciplinary decision is made public through IDPFR’s monthly enforcement decisions on its website. You do have the possibility to apply to have the public report considered
confidential and considered “expunged.” This is not automatic, however, and it comes with many conditions. You can not apply to have the disciplinary report expunged until three years after the violation of the Nurse Practice Act and/or its rules occurred or three years after the restoration of your nursing license, whichever is later.
In addition, no other disciplinary actions since the one you are attempting to “expunge” have been taken against you, no pending investigations are ongoing against you, and your license must be in good standing when you apply. Moreover, “expungement” is limited to the specific violations. Some include:
• Failure to pay taxes
• Failure to renew a license on time
• Any ground(s) for discipline removed from the Illinois Nurse Practice Act
• Issues related to advertising
If these conditions are met, you can apply for the report against you to be confidential. A $175.00 application fee is required. It is important to note that there is no absolute guarantee that your application for “expungement” will be granted. That decision rests solely with the IDPR.
The protections afforded you when facing a professional disciplinary action are critical to your defense. Retaining a nurse attorney or attorney as soon as possible is essential so that your rights can be fully utilized when alleged violations of the Act and/or rules are raised or when seeking to “expunge” a disciplinary action already taken against you.
This information is for educational purposes only and is not to be taken as specific legal or other advice by the reader. If legal or other advice is needed, the reader is encouraged to seek such advice from a competent professional.
Empower Yourself with ANA-Illinois’ 2022 Professional Issues Conference
On August 15, 2022, registration opened for the 2022 Professional Issues Conference hosted by ANA-Illinois. The one-day conference will be held on November 5, 2022, in Lisle, Illinois.
“ANA-Illinois has worked really hard to build a community of nurses where we can come together and support each other. The Professional Issues Conference is an ideal opportunity for nurses to do that,” says Susan Swart, Executive Director of ANA-Illinois.
Relevant & Inspiring Sessions
The theme for the conference this year is “Empower Yourself.” Feyifunmi 'Feyi' Sangoleye, PhD, RN, will deliver the keynote address, entitled: “Empower Yourself: How Do You Take Care of Others if You Don’t Take Care of Yourself?” Other sessions include
• Hospital at Home – Innovation for Patient Care & Opportunities for Nurses
• The Criminalization of Nursing Practice: A Risk Management and Regulatory Perspective
• Nurses Driving Change with Staffing – Legislative Implementation in Practice
• Emotional Intelligence
• Exhibitors & Virtual Poster Presentations
“The uniqueness about the programs that ANA-Illinois brings forward is that we really focus on career development, and we focus on the regulatory environment that is absolutely essential for nurses to understand,” says Swart. “It is a unique professional development opportunity for nurses in Illinois.”
Important for Every Nursing Career
The broad program appeals to nurses at every stage in their careers.
“We welcome nurses that are in practice, as well as retired individuals, educators, and prelicensure students to attend,” Swart continues. “For students, it’s a great way to start identifying where they want to work and begin making contact with nurses who might even be sitting across from them when they do their first interview. It’s a great way to network.”
New This Year
This year, every conference attendee will receive an “Empower Yourself” t-shirt. Innovative membership-focused stickers with QR codes will also be available. Refer a nurse to the conference and both you and your colleague will be entered to win a $250 gift card!
Registration
Online registration is available now at www.ana-illinois.org. Because of its networking and career development focus, the conference is offered in person and doesn’t include a virtual component. Refer a colleague and register online today!
The Illinois Nurses Foundation funds grants to registered professional nurses, advanced practice registered nurses, and nursing students to advance professional nursing practice; enhance safe, quality patient care; and promote innovative solutions. Applications will be reviewed in mid-October. Submission deadline for this round of reviews is October 1st.
Incomplete applications will not be considered. Grant applications can be accessed at https://bit.ly/INF_GRANTS
Got questions? Contact the Grant Committee chairperson, Dr. Karen Kelly, at doctorkkelly@gmail.com
American Nurses Association Elects National Leaders
SILVER SPRING, MD – On June 11th the American Nurses Association (ANA) Membership Assembly elected Jennifer Mensik Kennedy, PhD, MBA, RN, NEA-BC, FAAN, of the Oregon Nurses Association as the association’s next president to represent the interests of the nation’s more than 4.3 million registered nurses. Mensik has more than 25 years of nursing experience in a variety of settings ranging from rural critical access hospitals and home health to hospital administration, and academia. She has served as President of the Arizona Nurses Association and 2nd Vice President and Treasurer of ANA. The term of service for Dr. Mensik and all other newly elected leaders will begin January 1, 2023.
ANA’s Membership Assembly also elected four members to serve as officers of the 9-member board of directors. The newly elected board members are: Secretary Amanda Oliver, BSN, RN, CCRN, of ANA-Illinois; Director-at-Large, Edward Briggs, DNP, MS, APRN, of the Florida Nurses Association; Director-at-Large, Jennifer Gil, MSN, RN, of the New Jersey State Nurses Association; and Director-at-Large, Staff Nurse, David Garcia, MSN, BSN, RN, PCCN, of the Washington State Nurses Association.
The following ANA board members will continue their terms: Susan Swart, EdD, MS, RN, CAE, of ANA-Illinois as Vice President; Joan Widmer, MS, MSBA, RN, CEN, of the New Hampshire Nurses Association as Treasurer; Amy McCarthy, MSN, RNC-MNN, NEBC, of the Texas Nurses Association as Director-at-Large; and Marcus Henderson, MSN, RN, of the Pennsylvania State Nurses Association as Director-at-Large, Recent Graduate.
Elected to serve on the Nominations and Elections Committee are: MaryLee Pakieser, MSN, RN, FNP-BC, of ANA Michigan; Jennifer Tucker, MA, RN, of the Minnesota Organization of Registered Nurses; and Kimberly Velez, MSN, RN, of ANA - New York.
Illinois Nurses Foundation Holiday Gala & Fundraiser
December 3, 2022 Lisle, IL
Community Service Committee
ANA-Illinois Board of Directors has appointed members to the NEW Community Service Committee. The committee was formed due to members' interest in community service projects. We are excited to shape this new member engagement and service opportunity.
The ANA-Illinois Board of Directors has chosen the following individuals to serve on this newly formed Committee:
CHAIRPERSON - Maggie Smith DNP, MSN-Ed, RN, OCN – Frankfort, IL
Lea Agaton BSN – Des Plaines, IL
Aimee Dougherty RN, MSN – Marengo, IL
Carissa Heise BSN, RN, CCRN – Waterloo, IL
Cynthia Lira-Crame MSN, RNC-NIC, NPD-BC – Chicago, IL
Phoebe Maholovich MSN, RN – Peoria, IL
Bashirat Olatunji RN – Antioch, IL
Amber Radev BSN, RN, CCRN – Goreville, IL
Nanci Reiland DNP RN PHNA-BC – Yorkville, IL
Jana Rich MSN, RN – Streamwood, IL
Kim Seggebruch MSN, RN, CNOR – Onarga, IL
The Community Service Committee serves as a resource for members to connect volunteers with organizations that need volunteers to organize events in communities that provide education to improve health and safety and improve the influence of nurses and ANA-Illinois.
Responsibilities include:
• Develop and support regional committees that organize events providing health and safety education
• Develop and support other volunteer activities that improve the visibility of nurses and ANA-Illinois
• Create and implement at least two state-wide events each year
• Develop and maintain a database of interested nurses and available opportunities – to achieve this, the Committee will collect nurses' names, skills, interests, and/ or desired projects to be connected to appropriate opportunities.
The election for the ANA-Illinois Officers and Directors will be held online September 17th thru October 1st. The election will be conducted electronically. Watch your email and the ANA-Illinois website www.ana-illinois. org for the additional details. Candidates are listed in alphabetical order according to position.
All terms are for two years.
CANDIDATE FOR VICE PRESIDENT
Reed PhD, MS, RN, FAAN
Professor, Assistant Dean of Generalist Education
CANDIDATE FOR TREASURER
CANDIDATES FOR DIRECTOR (2 to be elected)
CANDIDATES FOR DIRECTOR – RECENT GRADUATE
CANDIDATES FOR NOMINATING COMMITTEE
be elected)
CANDIDATES FOR ANA REPRESENTATIVE (2 to be elected [1 rep/1 alternate])
Monique
Associate
Rush University Medical Center
Jeannine Haberman DNP, MBA, CNE Chair, Undergraduate Nursing Programs Lewis University
Samuel Davis Jr. MHA, RN, CNOR Associate Vice President Rush University Medical Center
Jameszetta James MJ, MSN, RN, ASC-BC, ACM-RN Nursing Supervisor
Dorothy Kane RN MS Nurse Education CPR Instructor Part Time St. John's Hospital
Celia Rademacher BSN, RN, TNS, MHA Manager Silver Cross Hospital
Feyifunmi Sangoleye PhD, RN Administrative Nurse III University of Illinois Hospital and Healthcare System
Zeh Wellington DNP, RN, NE-BC Director of Procedural Care - Surgical Services Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago
(1 to be elected)
Jessica Farrell BSN, RN Nursing Campus Supervisor Timberline Knolls
Hannah Shufeldt MSHCM, BSN, RN Nurse Manager Springfield Memorial Hospital
(3 to
M Cecilia Wendler RN, PhD, NE-BC Clinical Associate Professor University of Illinois Chicago, Springfield Campus
Gloria E. Barrera MSN, RN, PEL-CSN Certified School Nurse; Adjunct Nursing Professor District 99, DePaul, UIC, Capella, Elmhurst University
Dana Merk MSN, RN, CBC Assistant Professor DePaul University
Celia Rademacher BSN, RN, TNS, MHA Manager Silver Cross Hospital
Feyifunmi Sangoleye PhD, RN Administrative Nurse III University of Illinois Hospital and Healthcare System
Zeh Wellington DNP, RN, NE-BC Director of Procedural Care - Surgical Services Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago
(Days or Nights) 7:00 am - 7:30 pm or 7:00 pm - 7:30 am Full-time, Part-time, PRN/Registry
Locations: Hinsdale, IL 60521 or Chicago, IL 60624 For more details contact: dflores@rmlsh.org
Nurses want to provide quality care for their patients.
The Nurses Political Action Committee (Nurses- PAC) makes sure Springfield gives them the resources to do that.
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Become a Nurses-PAC contributor TODAY!
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James B. Goldberg & Associates Professional Licensing Attorneys
James B. Goldberg, Attorney at Law
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Areas: Licensing, Disciplinary Proceedings, Hospital Termination, Nursing Home Proceedings and All Nursing Rights Issues. WE CARE ABOUT NURSES and travel throughout Illinois
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HONOR A NURSE –NOMINATE SOMEONE FOR THE
2022 NURSE OF THE YEAR
Shout it Out. In healthcare, nurses show up, they go above and beyond and they deserve to be recognized for all they do. Nurses are the steadfast heroes among us, and the Illinois Nurses Foundation knows they deserve to be celebrated.
Nurses have the most interesting stories - they witness pain and heartache one moment alongside joy and triumph the next- Nurses make the world a better place for the patients, families, and profession.
The Honor a Nurse / Nurse of the Year award is a program that gives friends, family, and colleagues a way to share the story of a nurse who has made a difference.
Make a $25 donation and honor a nurse who has inspired you, mentored you, fought for the advancement of the profession, stood by you, or who deserves recognition for their commitment to their patients and the work nurses do every day. Don’t forget to submit the story that makes them your hero!
The Honoree will be listed on the INF website, in the December issue of The Nursing Voice and will also be entered as a nominee for the “Nurse of the Year” award* which will be awarded during the Illinois Nurses Foundation December 3rd Holiday Gala and Fundraiser. To be considered for the 2022 Nurse of the Year submission must be received by October 31st.
*A story detailing the impact and contributions of the honoree must be submitted to be eligible for the Illinois Nurse of the Year.
In Honor donations can be made on the Illinois Nurses Foundation website www.illinoisnurses. foundation and https://bit.ly/HONOR_A_NURSE or using the QR Code
Justin Hicks, Lead Flight Nurse, Medforce
It is common in my career to hear “So what does it take to be a flight nurse?” or “What do you do while at work?” Well, those are great questions that I would like to answer for you. My name is Justin Hicks, and I am currently employed by Medforce Aeromedical Transport located in the Quad Cities area. My interest in emergency services started when I was a kid hanging around my local volunteer fire department with my dad who was the fire chief. As I grew up, I enjoyed helping people and my path began to take shape. At 18 I joined the Andalusia Fire Protection District which is a small volunteer fire department southwest of the Quad Cities. I have been there for 19 years and have served as firefighter, Captain, Training Officer, Assistant Chief and am currently the acting Fire Chief. I attended College at Kentucky Christian University and decided that the best way to continue helping people was to enroll in the nursing program. I graduated in 2009 with a bachelor’s degree in Nursing and Biblical Studies. After graduation it was time to move back to the Quad Cities and start my career. I started working at Trinity West which is currently Unity Point Rock Island in the Level 2 Trauma Center. I had some great mentors that truly helped me become who I am today. I started flying for Medforce in 2013 and am currently the Lead Flight Nurse at the Colona Base.
Experience/Certifications
Flight nursing is unlike any career I have previously had. With that comes the need to be a very well rounded and experienced provider. When people ask how many years of experience they need to come and work with my company, we use five years as the minimum. As far as what experience can help you stand out or be more prepared than others? ER/ICU experience is usually the first step. This is where you learn and improve on your assessment skills and critical thinking, and time management skills.
While working in these units you also start to build the certifications you will need to get into flight nursing. The basics classes are BLS, PALS, and ACLS. When I was working in the ER the next step was TNCC (Trauma Nurse Core Curriculum), where nurses who are new to the ER started to learn about a proper trauma assessment. The next certification was TNS (Trauma Nurse Specialist). This is an exceptionally good class that happens at your regional specialty centers and takes place over multiple weeks with scenarios/skills testing as well as written testing. TNS is a requirement for the state of Illinois to maintain a Level 1 or 2 Trauma Center. The information that is received in this class was amazing and I still rely on the assessment techniques to guide my current care.
The next step I took was obtaining my PHRN (Prehospital Registered Nurse) license in the state of Illinois. This license allowed me to work under a protocol system outside the hospital with a fire department, ambulance, or for special events in the area. This also allowed me as a nurse to do things that I had not previously been taught, i.e., RSI and intubations, immobilization techniques, needle decompressions and surgical airways to name a few. A required class that I had never taken prior to getting my flight job was NRP (Neonatal Resuscitative Program). My company does require it, but it can be a difficult class to get into without help.
Nationally recognized classes like ITLS (International Trauma Life Support), and/or PHTLS (Prehospital Trauma
Flight Nursing
Life Support) are also some additional certifications that may be required. Now I know there are a lot of other certifications that are out there, but this is just a start. A certification most air medical companies require within two years of being hired is CFRN (Certified Flight Registered Nurse). This can be a very intense certification to prepare and test for.
Who I Work With (Crew Configuration) and Our Schedule
The crew for an air medical helicopter/fixed wing can vary but the two most common configurations I see are a pilot, flight paramedic, and flight nurse, or a pilot and two flight nurses. Each configuration has its strengths and certain configurations can be dictated by Hospital/EMS system or regulated by the state that you operate from.
An advantage to flight nursing is the schedule. My fulltime commitment is 48 hours a week. This usually means I work two 24 hour shifts a week. On occasion, depending on other flight nurse availability, I may work two 12-hour shifts and a 24. This may seem like a lot to some, but it allows me a lot of time at home with my family. There is also a lot of variability in our schedule, which allows us to get 4-5 days off in a row without necessarily using any vacation time.
What a Normal Day Looks Like
A typical day starts with shift change at 0700/0800 depending on the base. If you have ever been around a fire station in the morning, it is remarkably similar. There is usually coffee available and everyone from the previous shift and the oncoming shift usually meet at the kitchen table to go over the events from the day before. This includes any flights that were conducted, equipment that was used, if there were any special events, or even problems with the aircraft/medical equipment. Following that is our narcotic counts and exchanging our locks for all our medications. Once all business from the previous shift is completed, the previous crew usually head for home.
The on-duty crew then gets to work checking over all our personal equipment and the helicopter. Each day the helicopter is checked to ensure all the needed equipment is operational and fully charged so that we are ready to go at any moment. When this is complete, the on-duty crew (i.e., pilot, flight paramedic, and flight nurse) meet at the kitchen table for the crew briefing. This briefing has all needed information to conduct our daily operations including the weather, any maintenance issues, new information related to hospitals or known events in the area, as well as any public relations flights. This briefing will also include review of emergency procedures and safety briefings related to incidents throughout the country related to Air Medical accidents or close calls. The shift briefing is completed with each pilot change.
After all the equipment and initial crew duties are completed, it is time to take care of our base. Each day, cleaning is completed to make sure every trash is picked up and trash cans are in good working order. Cleaning can range from cleaning floors, bathrooms, and any office spaces that we have. Following this, crew is expected to complete any annual education, respond to any emails, and chart audits from or quality control reviews, and medical director. Flight nurses are always learning and adapting to updated protocols to continue providing the highest level of care possible for our patients. One thing to remember about my daily life is that at any second the overhead paging tones may go off and instead of
following our normal routine we are out the door to help care for a patient.
Protocol System vs. Written Orders
A hugely different or interesting concept for most of our nursing staff is the fact that while working in the air medical industry you no longer rely on a physician at the bedside to give written or verbal orders to guide care. Instead, you operate under a protocol system. A protocol system is developed by different hospital EMS systems to set procedures or guidelines to care for a wide range of patients. Paramedics in the prehospital setting have been operating like this for many years. This allows us to use those critical thinking skills that were refined in the ERs or ICUs and lets our nurses make direct decisions about what is the best treatment for our patients. In flight nursing you are also able to call medical control for any additional orders and even take bedside/written orders if needed. Flight nursing offers the ability for you to think and compare all your previous experience with the patient that is currently in front of you and conduct a plan of care to successfully improve the patient’s condition.
Down Time/Call Volume
If you have followed along with my required duties during the day the hours will not add up. Most crew members can complete all the daily requirements around or just before lunch. So, what do we do with the rest of our time? The rest of our day is up for us to determine what we would like to do if we are always flight ready and ready to respond to a call. This means sometimes we get to catch up on some reading, studying, workout, and even Netflix.
As far as how busy we are just depends on each day. Some days we will not go anywhere in a 24-hour shift. Other days we hardly see the base and can do five or more flights. Summers are notoriously busy, as Trauma season starts up when people start getting outside. Weather also plays a huge role in what we do. The company I work for has the capabilities to fly IFR (Instrument Flight Rules) which allows us to capture flights that we may not be able to complete following VFR (Visual Flight Rules). This could mean that the clouds are closer to the ground or that the visibility is near three miles or less. With the IFR capability comes double the training and rules to make sure we are completing all our flights in the safest possible manner.
Outreach/Education
There are multiple instructors on staff who can teach BLS, ACLS, PALS, ITLS (International Trauma Life Support), PHTLS (Prehospital Trauma Life Support), TNCC (Trauma Nurse Core Curriculum), to name a few. Not only do we teach classes for our employees, but we use this tool as a community outreach to help educate anyone who is need of these classes including hospital systems, fire department, and EMS departments. In the summers we travel around frequently to our local fire departments and teach landing zone classes to help explain the things to look for to make a safe landing zone on scene flights as well as other information that is helpful for the flight crew to be aware of. Depending on each class that we offer crew members that are not flying the day of the class with will go and teach a classroom session prior to the helicopter arriving to help answer any questions the class may have.
Interfacility/Scene Response
When we get a call to take care of patients, it can either be an Emergent Interfacility Transfer or a Scene flight request. These are vastly different in the fact that interfacility transfers mean we are going to a well-lit room with staff and resources versus the side of the road or the back of an ambulance with limited resources. Interfacility transfers usually originate from ER, ICU, OR, or Cardiac Cath Lab to transfer a patient to a higher level of care than what can be provided at the requesting facility. When we arrive at the facility, we get a report from the physician and nursing staff with a bed assignment at a prearranged hospital. A scene flight on the other hand is a call to an unknown issue to meet with a rural ambulance or fire department. We do not usually find out what we are heading to until we are already off the ground on our way to the call. These can range from traumatic events such as motor vehicle accidents, motorcycle accidents, and falls. This may also include medical scene flights including STEMI, Strokes or a range of things that may be found in the rural setting where the closest hospital may be more than a 45-minute transport by ground. The goal of air medical transport is to minimize the extra out-of-hospital time and get our patients to definitive care as quickly as possible. Most of our scene responses will bypass the smaller closer
hospitals to get to the large Level 1 facilities with all the resources needed to give our patients the best chance at recovery.
Difficulties in Flight Nursing
The nursing career does not always prepare you to leave the hospital and work under a protocol system, and to take care of some of the sickest patients. Learning all the different protocols can take time and we are tested over them to ensure we are properly implementing them. Something that I had to learn a lot about in a short time was ventilator management. In the hospital there are usually respiratory therapists to help with any airway interventions and management. In the helicopter it is just me and my partner to do all necessary skills to care for our patients. Simply matching ventilator settings from a hospital ventilator does not always improve a patient outcome. Flight Nurses need to have the knowledge to adjust the ventilator to optimize the settings during transport. Moving from the hospital setting to a moving aircraft is a tremendous change and patients sometimes do not tolerate it well.
Intubations in the helicopter are completed by either the Flight Nurse or Flight Paramedic, but in the hospital, nurses are not usually taught the finer points of intubation. Scene flights can also be an exceedingly difficult transition for some nurses as some do not have any prehospital experience prior to the flight nursing career. If you have the intent to become a flight nurse, I recommend finding a place to do some prehospital care. This could be a local volunteer fire department/ ambulance or even working part time for a local ambulance. Any experience you can gain will help build a resume and prepare you for some of the extremely demanding situations you can be put into.
Is Flight Nursing Easy?
I do not believe I would ever say flight nursing is an easy job. There are a lot of reasons I love what I do including the schedule, ability to use my critical thinking, but everyday could be a different call. Flight nursing can be a very demanding career with all the continuing education, protocol revisions, and updates to equipment that we use. As a flight nurse you will constantly be in and out of hot/cold weather and there are multiple stressors of flight that we experience that can weigh heavily on our health. Staying active, eating well, and being mindful of your mental health is always important. Lucky for me I have an excellent group of coworkers to talk to and decompress after hard calls.
Conclusion
Nursing in general is an amazing career with more options than one person can explore. If you are a critical care nut or trauma junkie that can adapt to multiple situations, flight nursing may be perfect for you. Flight nursing affords the luxury of using critical thinking skills and working as a high functioning team. It also allows for a wide range of patients from adults to children related to trauma or medical conditions. My career choice is one I am happy to have made the leap to and I strive to grow each day to continue providing the best care to my community.
ANA Membership Assembly
ANA-Illinois representatives were joined by more than 300 ANA members, observers and other leaders for the ANA Membership Assembly in DC. The Assembly opened with greetings from International Council of Nurses (ICN) President Pamela Cipriano, PhD, RN, FAAN. In her report, she gave an update on ICN’s Nurses for Peace campaign, which is supporting nurses in Ukraine with cash donations and other means of assistance. Cipriano encouraged attendees to visit the ICN website to learn more about its efforts to uplift nurses in Europe and other areas who are struggling. “We’ll continue to work and fight for them just as they fight for their countries,” she said. Cipriano is a past president of ANA and a Virginia Nurses Association member.
In her report to the Assembly, ANA Enterprise CEO Loressa Cole, DNP, MBA, RN, FACHE, NEA-BC, conveyed the strength of the organization and its progress toward achieving Enterprise strategic goals.
"Our current strategic plan which we initiated in 2020 and prepared before the pandemic, is anything but modest. And despite the many challenges of COVID-19, I can stand here and tell you that we are still executing to that plan,” she said. Cole highlighted new ANA Enterprise projects, including Reimagining Nursing, an American Nurses Foundation initiative that has awarded $14 million to 10 pilot projects that “will contribute to fundamentally changing the future of nursing,” said Cole.
The ANA Membership Assembly, the governing and official voting body of the American Nurses Association (ANA) acted on the following issues:
• ANA Racial Reckoning Statement
This statement serves as “an apology to nurses of color who have been harmed by decisions and omissions made by ANA that contributed to racism in the profession. With this statement, ANA is launching a sustained effort dedicated to ongoing reckoning and reconciliation.” The voting representatives of the Assembly unanimously voted “yes” for the association to embark on a racial reckoning journey and adopted ANA’s Racial Reckoning Statement. The multi-phase journey will begin with release of the statement and supporting communications later this summer.
• Nurse Staffing
Recognizing that the COVID-19 pandemic has exacerbated long-standing nurse staffing issues, the Assembly considered changes to existing ANA policy related to nurse-to-patient ratios. Participants stressed the need for enforceable staffing standards and shared their successes and challenges in implementing various models. Assembly representatives approved a recommendation that ANA supports safe patient standards including ratios that are acuity-andsetting-specific as per nursing assessment and that is enforceable, and that ANA will engage with the constituent and state nurse associations (C/SNAs) to develop further details regarding standards, implementation, and enforcement. Assembly representatives also called on ANA to collaborate with organizational affiliates and C/SNAs to begin to develop evidence-based staffing standards for all nursing disciplines for publication.
• Addressing verbal abuse and workplace violence
Called on ANA to “engage key stakeholders to identify, develop and advance strategies resulting in a comprehensive culture of safety and zerotolerance approach to verbal abuse and violence in all care settings, advance workplace violence prevention priorities in nursing practice and public policy, and advocate for better data collection to inform policy development.
• Impact of climate change on health
To help address the public health crisis caused by climate change, Assembly representatives approved the recommendation that ANA, C/SNAs and individual member division (IMD) include climate crisis and its consequential impact on human and population health as an essential component of their policy platform. Voting representatives also endorsed that ANA revise and establish as an official position the 2008 House of Delegates Statement on Global Climate Change and Human Health. Finally, the representatives called on ANA, C/SNAs and the IMD to promote nursing knowledge on the relationship between climate change and human and population health.
NAHN 47th Annual Conference
Inspirational and motivational captured moments from The National Association of Hispanic Nurses 47th Annual conference in Miami in July 2022. This year's theme, Innovations in Care: Addressing Disparities to Create Equitable Outcomes, Navegando La "Nueva Normalidad." attracted an array of students and nurses from a multitude of disciplines from across the nation to an exhilarating, illuminating, and rich conference that is dedicated to improving outcomes in the Hispanic population.
NAHN-IL Chapter is the second largest chapter in the nation, and members took advantage of the various educational sessions, poster presentations, and keynote speaker presentations. Inspirational panel discussions included a chat with NAHNs' Evidenced Based Practice & Research Committee, dedicated to building capacity and leveraging the potential of NAHN members. In addition, NAHN-IL took pride in supporting our NAHN-IL President-Elect, Dr. Jose Alejandro. He encouraged members to build their brand in his discussion on Paving the Way for the Next Generation of Hispanic Leaders and our own Dr. Amelia Perez. In his presentation, Alternate Paths to Gaining Global Health Knowledge, he offered an informative discussion on implementing global health courses to increase exposure to global health knowledge.
Other insightful and compelling topics were Dr. Shannon Zenk from NINR on Ending Health Disparities: The Role of Nursing Research and a riveting presentation on Cultivating our Collective Capacity to Advance Equity for the Latino Community by Melody Gonzales, Executive Director of the White House initiative on Advancing Educational Equity, Excellence and Economic Opportunity for Hispanics. An exceptional and most compelling presentation was Systemic Racism in Healthcare by Pfizer, Senior Director of National Government Affairs, Melissa Bishop-Murphy, and one of our NAHN-National Past Presidents, Annabell Castro Thompson requesting a call to action met with a standing ovation from NAHN members. More to come!
In addition, NAHN-IL extended their efforts beyond the conference by contributing to the local NAHN-Miami Chapter with donations towards their humanitarian efforts in their upcoming Cuba Mission trip and supporting their annual scholarship fundraising event. NAHN-IL is thrilled to bring home multiple accolades, including Health Equity Fellow Susana Gonzalez, forty under forty awardees Diana Ortega and Rocio Sanchez, our NAHN scholarship recipients Omar Aguilar and Catherine Vita, and kudos to NAHN STRONG members Lisa Hernandez and Rocio Sanchez.
NAHN-IL is eager to apply its newfound knowledge, reinvigorated passion, and reignited enthusiasm to our present and future work in Illinois. After such a wonderful and memorable experience, NAHN-IL counts the days to the anticipated 48th annual conference in Portland, Oregon, 2023!
SUSANA GONZALEZ MHA, MSN, RN, CNML Past President-NAHN-Illinois
ROCIO SANCHEZ BSN, RN, PCCN Treasurer-Elect- NAHN-Illinois
To access electronic copies of The Nursing Voice, please visit http://www.nursingALD.com/publications
Congratulations to the Illinois Nurses Foundation
2022 Scholarship Winners
One of the primary functions of the Illinois Nurses Foundation is to provide scholarships to students that have decided to major in nursing or to nurses who are looking to continue their education. Thirteen individuals were awarded scholarships totaling $13,500.
2022 Scholarship Awards
Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Next Generation Scholarship Anjali Pinto Rush University
Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Next Generation Scholarship Prerana Sharma Malcom X College
Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Next Generation Scholarship Monica Terrazas DePaul University
Arthur L. Davis Scholarship Sueyeon Lee University of Illinois at Chicago
D2 Scholarship Vivian Bright University of St Francis D21 Scholarship Jeehye Jun University of Illinois at Chicago
North Suburban Nursing Scholarship Kelly Fahrendorf Loyola University Chicago
South Suburban Nursing Scholarship Nichole Durkin Chamberlain University
Wendy Burgess Memorial Scholarship Tenzin Choezin Loyola University
Wendy Burgess Memorial Scholarship Justin Kapelinski Loyola University Chicago
Sonne Scholarship Alexandra Davidson DePaul University
Sonne Scholarship Elizabeth Demitro University of Illinois Chicago
ISAPN APRN Scholarship Dena Hinkle Lewis University
“Designer Cassidy Doolittle retains rights to attached illustration. Client may use illustration for publication as communicated for nonprofit nursing magazine in June/ Sept 2022 editions. Permission from designer must be obtained prior to any replication or distribution of materials.”
“Cassidy Doolittle is a Trinity Christian College nursing alum, psychiatric nurse, and illustrator. You can see her work at orbitingnormal.com. “
2022 Award Winners: 40 Under 40 Emerging Nurse Leaders
The Illinois Nurses Foundation is proud to announce the 2022 40 under 40 Emerging Nurse Leaders Award winners. This award was established in 2015 by the Illinois Nurses Foundation to highlight and celebrate young nurse leaders. It celebrates those who are impacting health care and the nursing profession today and who will undoubtedly shape the future of the profession in Illinois!
This year’s winners come from all over Illinois and work in a variety of health care environments—public schools, county health departments, university medical centers, children’s hospitals, ICUs, and more! No matter where they work—or their official titles—these nursing leaders teach, heal, and inspire those around them every day. Their passion, skill, and knowledge advance health care and the nursing profession in their work environments and in their communities. We know that this is only the beginning for all these amazing nursing leaders!
An event honoring the award winners will occur on September 22, 2022 starting at 5:30pm at the DoubleTree by Hilton Lisle/Naperville. Registration is required, and tickets are available on our website at www.illinoisnurses.foundation
Tintu Abraham Rush University Medical Center
Justine Alipio Rush University Medical Center
Ashley Anderson Northwestern Memorial Hospital
Aisha Badla Ann & Robert H. Lurie Childrens Hospital of Chicago
Jinsun Baek Prairieview Elementary School
Stephanie Bradley Northwestern Medical Group
Camille Brownlee Rush University Medical Center
Quinn Butler Rush University Medical Center
Brianna Butts St. Alexius Medical Center
Colleen ChiericiRush Oak Park Hospital
Katherine Dato Rush University Medical Center
Anthony Davila Loyola University Medical Center
Tina Decker Trinity Christian College
Albertina DiMartino Northwestern Memorial Hospital
Erin Dowding Rush University Medical Center
Kateri Evans Rush University Medical Center
Angelina Fakhoury Siverts Gottlieb Memorial Hospital - Loyola
Patty Fiore Adlai E. Stevenson High School
Marygrace Garcia VillageMD
Tiffany Goralczyk Elemeno Health
Brandon Hauer Weiss Memorial Hospital
Jasmyn Hernandez Rush University Medical Center
Mathew Huidobro Northwestern Medicine McHenry Hospital
Elizabeth Johnson Advocate Children's Hospital
Will Jones Rush University Medical Center
Lisa Lehner Northwestern Medicine Delnor Hospital
Chase Lodico Rush University Medical Center
Jenna Maloney Rush University Medical Center
Dana Merk DePaul University
Craig Minor Sarah Bush Lincoln
Erika Ohlendorf Riverside Medical Center
Diana Ortega Rush Oak Park
Wendy Pierce Chicago Public Schools
Samantha Rodriguez Edward-Elmhurst Health
Rheannon Rae Rzucidlo Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago
Rocio Sanchez Advocate Condell Medical Center
Kimberly Swinford Moultrie County Health Department
Norah Vo Rush University Medical Center
Colleen Wallek Rush University Medical Center
Ashley Wittler Southern Illinois University
Edwardsville & Heartland Womens Healthcare
Nurses and contracts
Understand the basics so you can protect your interests
By Sharon P. O'Neill, DNP, JD, RN, FNP-BC, PPCNP-BC, PMHNP-BC; Kathleen Woodruff, DNP, RN ANP-BC; Cynthia Sanchez, DNP, RN, FNP-C; and Michelle Peters Zappas, DNP, RN, FNP-BC
Copyright © 2022. HealthCom Media. Used with permission. All rights reserved. myamericannurse.com/
MOST NURSES don’t learn about contracts in nursing school, so they’re left to wander through the contracting maze not knowing how to negotiate or avoid traps that might create long-term implications. Understanding basic terminology, the pitfalls you may encounter, and the relationships among parties to a contract can help you protect your self-interests and ensure a successful experience.
When do nurses contract?
Nurses contract in their personal and professional lives. For example, those seeking employment may be offered contracts that cover a specified period. Nurses may contract as individuals with other individuals or business entities owned by a for-profit or nonprofit healthcare system, hospital, or practice. Traveling, temporary/per diem, and dialysis nurses frequently sign employment contracts, and faculty contract with schools to delineate their roles, responsibilities, and expectations. Nurse administrators, nurse scholars publishing books, and nurses presenting at conferences also sign contracts. In our personal lives, we might contract for goods and services, credit cards, or social media accounts.
What is a written contract?
A written contract represents a binding, legally enforceable agreement between two or more parties for consideration to perform or refrain from performing an act. Attorneys frequently use the terms “contract” and “agreement” interchangeably, but key differences exist. An agreement is an arrangement or understanding between two or more parties. A contract provides legally enforceable terms and conditions, and it memorializes discussions and terms during the negotiation process. The elements of a contract include offer, acceptance, and consideration.
• An offer is an invitation to a contract. It’s the promise to do or not do something. The parties may come to full agreement immediately or they may negotiate to reach an agreement. The terms of the contract will delineate the actual expected actions or inactions.
• Acceptance occurs when the parties mutually negotiate to reach an agreement. In everyday life, this agreement could be to purchase an item at a store at the labeled price, to accept terms of use by clicking on a website, to make an online agreement to engage in or use a service, or by winning a bid on an eBay auction. Professionally, acceptance occurs when nurses purchase liability coverage, determine risk tolerance, agree to coverage limits, and sign a contract.
• Consideration may be to make a financial payment or provide a service. For example, you agree to work in a clinical setting for an approved salary. Example: A nurse practitioner–run practice needs a temporary nurse to replace a full-time employee
taking parental leave. The job requirements include patient education, immunizations, treatments ordered by the providers, and telephone triage. The practice creates an offer by advertising for a nurse to cover the period of the leave. Several nurses apply for the position, and the practice selects an applicant that best meets its needs. The applicant accepts an offer to work as a temporary nurse. As consideration, the practice agrees to pay the nurse $55.00 per hour as an independent contractor, not as an employee. The nurse will pay for their own malpractice insurance, taxes, social security, and Medicare. The nurse signs the agreement after reviewing it with a lawyer familiar with employment law.
What are standard contract clauses?
Contracts include several standard clauses. Understanding what each entails will aid your negotiations. (See Common clauses.)
Preamble: The preamble to the contract identifies all the parties (typically two). Only the individuals or businesses identified in the preamble sign the contract and subsequent addendums. After the contract is signed, all parties must agree to any changes.
Recitals: Recitals explain why the parties entered into the contract and provide important context to the operating terms. For example, in a publishing contract, the preamble may identify you as a nurse with expertise in working at the bedside or in hospice care. This identification is important because the publisher wants you to write a book on this topic.
Duration: This clause provides the contract’s starting and ending date and time.
Scope of work: This section defines the deliverables of the party offering a service or other activity. The details may appear in an appendix. The contracting party may use the volume of work produced, user satisfaction of the service, or a product as a measure of whether the deliverables have been met. Poor performance may result in reduced salary, bonuses, or payments for work completed. For example, compensation for writing a textbook may depend on meeting deadlines for submitting all or parts of the manuscript from the initial draft to the final edit.
Compensation: Most contracts involve payment. This section should discuss all aspects of compensation or provide a detailed explanation in an appendix.
• Salary: In an employment contract, salary is the first item most people identify in a compensation package. Some potential workers prioritize salary, but others may be more interested in benefits such as insurance or schedule (for example, no night shifts.).
• Other compensation: Time off (vacation, sick days, holidays) and bonus structures also are important considerations.
Common clauses
Most contracts contain some or all of the following clauses:
• Alternate dispute resolution
• Assignment
• Compensation
• Contract renewal
• Duration of the contract
• Governing law
• Intellectual property
• Liability insurance coverage
• Notice
• Preamble
• Recitals
• Scope of work
• Severability
• Termination
• Waiver (hold harmless)
• Waiver of right to a jury trial
• Warranties
Contracts also may contain restrictive clauses:
• Evergreen
• Noncompete
• Nondisclosure
Warranties: Warranties protect the buyer of goods and services when the product or service fails to meet the expectations of the contracting party. Warranties can be spelled out in the agreement or implied. Sellers may disclaim warranties by selling products “as is,” but the Uniform Commercial Code requires this to be in writing.
Liability insurance coverage: This clause spells out who provides liability coverage—the business entity or the nurse through an individually purchased policy. No matter who provides the policy, it should cover professional licensure claims and legal actions after the nurse leaves the practice. (Learn more about liability insurance at myamericannurse.com/individual-nurseliability- insurance/.)
Intellectual property: Nurses may produce an idea, service, or product during the period of the contract. In most cases, the contracting business entity, not the nurse, owns any ideas and items created during performance under the contract, including anything created using equipment owned and maintained by the contractor. This clause requires the nurse to sign over all rights to ideas, inventions, and other property.
Assignment: Assignment clauses state whether a party can assign its rights under the contract to someone else. For example, if you work for someone who sells their business while you’re fulfilling your part of the contract, you may need to complete unfinished work for the new owner.
Contract renewal: This clause provides information about the need to provide notification when you won’t be renewing the contract, such as when a change in employment or other life event occurs. Failure to comply with this clause could impact the payout of unused benefits and forfeiture of other rights under the contract. Typically, employment contracts don’t automatically renew unless expressly stated.
Governing law: The governing law refers to which state’s rules and regulations govern the agreement between the parties. When the parties can’t agree on the governing law, they omit this clause in the contract and let the courts decide.
Alternate dispute resolution: Most contracts require parties to agree to resolve all disputes through alternate dispute resolution (ADR), such as arbitration or mediation. In arbitration, the parties present evidence to the arbitrator, who decides based on that evidence. In mediation, a neutral third party works with the contracting parties until both agree to a resolution. The contract may require ADR before the parties can file legal actions in court or may mandate that the arbitrator’s decision legally binds both parties and prevents court involvement completely. Conversations between the parties before signing the contract are excluded in a dispute unless the aggrieved party proves that a party to a contract acted in bad faith.
Waiver of one’s right to a jury trial: Parties can agree to waive their right to a jury trial, which means that in a legal action a judge or panel of judges hears the matter and passes judgment in a dispute. Most legal experts don’t recommend agreeing to this provision because it ties the hands of one or both parties, primarily when an unanticipated outcome to an activity or dispute arises.
Notice: A notice clause defines how the parties communicate with each other after the contract becomes enforceable. These clauses define required written notice and the method of delivery. Sending an email about a contract renewal or a request for an amendment may not meet the requirements set out in this clause. Failure to follow the requirements could result in unintended consequences, such as automatic renewal of a contract. When in doubt, send written notice by certified, signed recipient, return notification mail.
Waivers: A waiver clause provides a legally binding provision in which one or more parties relinquishes a right or a privilege. Waivers frequently reference a release from liability or to hold harmless. For example, the parties agree to mutual release from the contract during a natural disaster or other events outside their control.
Severability: Many contracts contain a severability clause, which states that if any agreement provision becomes unenforceable under current or future laws, the rest of the contract continues to bind the parties.
Termination: Most contracts have a termination with cause clause in the event one of the parties fails to meet their obligations. A contract should never contain a termination without cause because that negates its purpose.
What’s the worker’s employment status?
Employment criteria must be clear, consistent, and well-documented to protect both employees and employers. Two types of employment that can be confusing for nurses are employment at will and contracted employee.
Employment at will operates under the assumption that work continues at the will of both employer and
employee, giving each party the ability to end the relationship at any time. Most healthcare entities hire nurses under employment at will.
Contracted employees (independent contractors) don’t receive the benefits and tax advantages of at-will employment. However, as an independent contractor, the nurse doesn’t have an employee–employer relationship with the entity, which they may find preferable. Before choosing to work as an independent contractor, consult with a tax accountant and an attorney.
Contracted employee agreement clauses
Restrictive clauses: Noncompete, nondisclosure, and evergreen clauses are examples of restrictions placed in a contract.
A noncompete clause impacts your ability to perform a similar service for a specified time period after a contract ends. It may limit the location of a future workplace or your encounters with patients. For example, a nurse might sign a noncompete clause that prevents them from working within a five-mile radius of an employee-owned entity with the belief that they could find employment outside of the agreed radius. However, the entity owns clinics and other businesses throughout the city and the metropolitan area. Working in an outlying area might be the nurse’s only option for employment for one year after leaving the entity. Some states, such as California, prohibit this clause, making them invalid if they appear in a contract signed by a California resident or with a California company.
Nondisclosure clauses typically pertain to employer information and trade secrets potentially leaked by the contracted worker after employment termination. Other laws (the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act and the Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health Act) offer special federal protections to all patients.
Evergreen clauses automatically renew the agreement without the parties’ consent unless a party proactively follows the process outlined in the contract within the time designated. For example, this type of clause might require that the parties give 90-days’ notice of nonrenewal or to renegotiate the contract terms.
Liability insurance coverage: In an employment contract, all nurses need liability coverage provided by either an employer or themselves. Typically, nurse liability policies provide $1 million for each claim and $3 million in the aggregate. You should know that attorney fees may be outside the policy limits or included. For example, in most cases, it’s action by the board of nursing, rather than a malpractice claim, that results in a nurse needing to defend their license. Some insurance providers don’t cover licensure defense, so this should be addressed within the “coverage” portion of the policy. Whether the employer is providing the coverage or you’re working directly with the insurance provider, ask these questions: Will this policy cover licensure defense? What are the limits? Is the policy occurrence or claims-based? Does the policy contain a tail?
Equipment: Employers should provide equipment necessary for the nurse to complete the functions of their position. This clause frequently provides workspace information, computer use and access, printers, and other items. It may include a cell phone or a monthly stipend to cover use of the nurse’s personal cell phone when at work or on call. The equipment clause also outlines returning equipment when the contract ends.
Protect your interests
Nurses encounter contracts in their personal and professional lives. Knowledge of the contracting process and problematic clauses provides you with a frame of reference when entering into a contract. Working with a licensed attorney who specializes in nursing, healthcare professions, or employment law in your state will help ensure your interests are protected. (See Contract review.)
Contract review
Perform each of these steps, in consultation with a lawyer, to ensure a successful contract review.
Pre-negotiation
• Learn about the company you’re contracting with.
• Talk with others who have knowledge of the entity to learn about issues that might prevent a successful outcome.
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Post-negotiation
• Read the contract in its entirety.
• Identify the benefits of accepting the contract.
• Identify the negatives of accepting the contract
• Negotiate terms you think are restrictive or might prevent successful employment or project completion.
Pre-acceptance
• Consider acceptability of the contract terms.
• Determine whether the contract clearly states the negotiated terms, deliverables, and responsibilities of each party.
• Seek legal counsel to review and verify all issues.
Acceptance
• Both parties agree to the terms of the contract and sign it.
• Maintain a copy of the signed agreement as documentation of the contract.
Access references at myamericannurse.com/?p=317236
Sharon P. O’Neill is a clinical associate professor at the New York University Rory Meyers College of Nursing in New York City. Kathleen Woodruff is a clinical associate professor and Cynthia Sanchez is a clinical assistant professor in the nursing department at the Suzanne Dworak-Peck School of Social Work at the University of Southern California in Los Angeles. Michelle Peters Zappas is the director of the family nurse practitioner program and a clinical associate professor in the nursing department at the Suzanne Dworak-Peck School of Social Work at the University of Southern California.
Editor’s note: This article is not intended to provide legal advice. If you need assistance in contracting, contact an attorney, preferably one who specializes in nursing, healthcare professions, or employment law in your state.
Health Match BC is a free health professional recruitment service funded by the Government of British Columbia (BC), Canada.
Recruitment Letter for “Advanced Practice Registered Nurses’ Perceptions of Telehealth Virtual Visits” Survey
Deborah Adelman RN, PhD, NE-BC
Catherine Fant PhD, RN-BC
Julia Koklys, DNP, APRN, FNP-BC
You are being asked to participate in a short survey that looks at the perceptions advanced practice registered nurses have regarding telehealth virtual patient visits.
About the study: This research study will investigate the perceptions of advanced practice registered nurses (APRNs) of telehealth. A series of survey questions will explore different aspects of the experience by APRNs using telehealth with their patients in outpatient settings. The study has been approved by the IRB at Purdue University Global.
Eligibility to Participate: Membership in the Illinois Society for Advanced Practice Nursing or the American Nurses Association-IL, APRN licensure, and doing or are doing telehealth visits with patients.
Benefits of the Study: Little has been studied regarding how APRNs perceive using telehealth as an adjunct to face-to-face encounters with their patients. This study will begin to build how APRNs perceive what is positive and negative about using telehealth. Since the useability of telehealth is still evolving, the more we learn about what facilitates telehealth visits for both patients and APRNs, the more optimal the outcomes for everyone.
Time Commitment: The survey consists of 23 questions and is located on SurveyMonkey. It should take 15-20 minutes to complete. A link is provided to Survey Monkey.
Location of the Study: The study will be sent to APRNs in the state of Illinois who are members of the Illinois Society for Advanced Practice Nursing or and the American Nurses Association-IL. It is located at https:// www.surveymonkey.com/r/TF7CR7C
or you can use the QR Code below. The study will be open between June 20, 2022, and October 31, 2022.
Contact Information: If you have any questions, you may contact the researchers below or the Purdue University Global Institutional Review Board: Deborah S. Adelman, PhD, RN, NE-BC: dadelman@ purdueglobal.edu, 217-725-1122
Catherine Fant PhD, RN-BC: catherine.fant@mail. waldenu.edu, 717-573-2459
Julia Koklys, DNP, APRN, FNP-BC: jkoklys@lewisu.edu, 630-854-7625
Dr. Susan Pettine, IRB Chair: spettine@purdueglobal. edu
Thank you in advance for participating in this study
Deborah Adelman
Catherine Fant Julia Koklys
The IDFPR/Illinois Nursing Workforce Center (INWC) Advisory Board and the Illinois Board of Higher Education (IBHE) are proud to acknowledge the FY22 Nurse Educator Fellow recipients, each of whom is awarded $10,000 to help promote excellence in nursing education. Eighteen educators were selected from 14 institutions in FY22 and were awarded the Fellowships through the Illinois Board of Higher Education (IBHE).
The FY22 Nurse Educator Fellows were welcomed and congratulated by IBHE Executive Deputy Director Stephanie Benoit and Division of Professional Regulation (DPR) Director Cecilia Abundis. Thank you to the Nursing Workforce Center Board of Directors, thank you to IBHE for this continued partnership.
Several fellows are pursuing master’s and doctorate degrees or certifications, learning new teaching techniques for student nurses, and preparing to present research findings on the national level.
The Fellows completed a short survey, with the final survey question about how educating nurses post COVID-19 pandemic might change elicited comments in four areas: the transition to online teaching; the future to include continued flexibility with didactic and online teaching; clinical settings will broaden to include more non acute care, community settings; and the need to include educating students regarding self-care. Survey results and individual Fellow summary abstract will be part of the June 15 meeting minutes.
The fellows were recognized at a virtual ceremony on June 15, 2022 hosted by the Illinois Nursing Workforce Center (INWC) Advisory Board.
The Illinois Nursing Workforce Center was established by legislation in 2006, Nurse Practice Act Section 75-10.
The Mission of the Illinois Center for Nursing (ICN) is to advocate and ensure appropriate nursing resources necessary to meet the healthcare needs of the citizens of Illinois. Past reports, data and minutes are on the website https://www.nursing.illinois.gov
Alisha Carter, MSN, RN, University of Illinois Chicago
Carina Piccinini, MSN, RN,CNE Resurrection/Oak Point University
Miaake Driscoll, MSN, RN, CPN Saint Anthony College of Nursing
Shamin Huda, DNP,RN, FNP-BC City of Chicago Colleges, Malcolm X. College
Alissa S. Watkins, MSN, RN, PCNSBC Saint. Francis Medical Center
Emily Gail Chin, PhD, RNC, CNE Loyola University of Chicago
Ginger Schroers, PhD, RNC, CNE Loyola University of Chicago
Tracy Cooley, DNP, APRN, PMHNPBC Southern Illinois University Edwardsville
Brenda Drury, MSN, RNC-MNN Illinois Wesleyan University
Jennifer Maffucci, EdD, RN, ACNS-BC University of Illinois Chicago
Sandra (Sandy) Nielsen, PhD, MSN, RN, AMB-BC, CNE Illinois State University
Brittany Lawson, MSN, RN, CNE Lakeview College of Nursing
Mallory Bejster, DNP, RN Rush University College of Nursing
Melissa (Lisa) Pertl, MSN, RN,CNE Aurora University
Not pictured: Gina Brassard MSN, RN, DNS-CT, RAC-CT; Lakeview College of Nursing
Lise Hauser DNP, RN, Loyola University of Chicago
Mary Rose Soberano, MSN, RN; City of Chicago Colleges, Malcolm X. College
Jennifer Wills-Savoia DNP, MSN, RN; University of St. Francis
JB PRITZKER Governor
The Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation (IDFPR) has online nurse resources available!
• The Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation (IDFPR) is providing renewal assistance for individuals and businesses that are having difficulty with the online renewal process. These steps will help licensees better navigate the account matching process on the Department's updated online portal. For those requiring additional assistance, please email: fpr.lmu@ illinois.gov
o Assistance for Individuals: https://bit.ly/3mb8C7U
o Assistance for Businesses: https://bit.ly/3E5Fll8
• To print your license or download an electronic copy to your phone, just head to the IDFPR website https:// idfpr.illinois.gov/applications/getmylicense/LoginProf. asp?ViewOption=ind
• On the IDFPR Division of Professional Regulation Nurses webpage, the “Requirements of an Internationally Educated Nurse” document has been updated. Resources on this document include the names of Board of Nursing approved vendors for items required to apply for an Illinois nurse license. Information includes that endorsing an active license from another state requires: an application by Endorsement. A Credential Evaluation Service (CES) Report is not required if the state of original licensure required a report at the time of original licensure. An English equivalency test is not required as long as the nurse applying for endorsement took and passed the NCLEX® licensure examination.
• The list of health care professional temporary practice permits granted in Illinois may be found here: https://www.idfpr.com/ Forms/COVID19/Temp%20Practice%20Permits.pdf
MARIO TRETO, JR. Acting Secretary
CECILIA ABUNDIS Acting Director
• IDFPR’s Division of Professional Regulation has issued a notice, “Notice that Advice or Treatment Regarding Covid-19 Must conform with Evidence-Based Medicine and Standards of Care,” to remind physicians and other healthcare professionals that any advice or treatment provided to a patient must conform with evidencebased medicine and standards of care and that failure to do so may subject the individual to disciplinary action. Licensed healthcare professionals have an ethical and professional duty to the public and are entrusted to protect the public health and the safety of patients. IDFPR is aware of licensed healthcare professionals providing misinformation regarding COVID-19 mitigations and treatment. https://www.idfpr.com/ Forms/COVID19/IDFPR%20statement-physicians.pdf
• Variance: The Healthcare License Reinstatement Application is specific to the COVID-19 Pandemic and limited to prior State of Illinois licensees who were in good standing, including: Licensed Practical Nurse, Advanced Practice Registered Nurse, and Registered Nurse. The license must have been on an “inactive” status for less than five years. The COVID-19 license will have an expiration date of May 31, 2022 or until the expiration of the Gubernatorial COVID-19 Disaster Proclamations. There is no fee to apply https://idfpr. com/Renewals/Apply/Forms/F2396.pdf
In 2021, IDFPR’s Military Liaison increased the number of military service members and spouses assisted compared to 2020. In total, IDFPR received more than 500 applications for licensure from military and military spouse applicants in 2021. The military liaison directly works with service members and their spouses, as well as members of military installations based in Illinois, to expedite and assist their professional licensure process. We wish to
idfpr.illinois.gov
thank them for their service for our country! For a copy of the report, 2021 Expedited Licensure Review for Military Service Members and Spouses, use this link: https://idfpr. com/Forms/2021%20Annual%20Military%20Report.pdf
The State of Illinois Coronavirus Response Site: The COVID-19 Vaccine Plan, up-to-date information on what Illinois is doing protecting the health, safety, and well-being of Illinoisans can be found at https://coronavirus.illinois. gov/s/. This page includes the CDC’s new vaccine finder tool which shows you the closest location to get a vaccination; with this finder you can filter by manufacturer, which makes it easy to protect children who are not eligible for the Pfizer vaccine.
Complaints against any individual or entity regulated by the Division of Professional Regulation may be filed by contacting the Complaint Intake Unit. For a complete list of professions regulated by DPR, please click https://idfpr. illinois.gov/Forms/Brochures/DPR.pdf
Please note: Pursuant to Illinois law (20 ILCS 2105/2105117), all information collected by the Department during an examination or investigation of a licensee, registrant, or applicant is confidential and cannot be publicly disclosed. This includes complaints and any information collected during an investigation. Exceptions to this law exist only for law enforcement, other regulatory agencies with appropriate regulatory interest, or a party presenting a lawful subpoena. Division of Professional Regulation online complaint form: https://idfpr.illinois.gov/Admin/DPR/ Complaint.asp
A complete copy of the Nurse Practice Act and the Rules may be found on the IDFPR website www.idfpr.com or on the Illinois Nursing Workforce Center’s website http:// nursing.illinois.gov/nursepracticeact.asp
CONTINU I N G ED U CATION OFFERING
Illinois Emergency Preparedness: Maintaining Preparedness through Multi-Region Mass Casualty Exercise
Ellen Bollino, MSN, RN
Illinois Emergency Preparedness
While society and legislators continue dialogue around how to create policy to limit mass shootings, hospitals and emergency management agencies work toward policies and training to ensure preparedness in the event a mass casualty incident occurs in their region. Illinois state government started coordinating community resources to improve emergency services within the state as early as 1960 with an initial focus on preventing and responding to traumatic injuries (IDPH, 2022). The coordination and response have grown throughout the last six decades to include preparedness for threats such as pandemics, weather events, bioterrorism, and more recently, mass shootings. Every hospital and health system within Illinois is required by state regulations to evaluate risks for mass casualty events within their local communities with associated disaster management policies and procedures, and activities to test and validate their planned response. At a larger level, regions within Illinois each have their own committees to collaborate on wider responses to better prepare for potentially large events which may extend past one hospital or health system and require a coordinated response across several hospitals and health systems.
On June 1, 2022, less than six weeks prior to the recent events in Highland Park, Illinois, the Chicago Healthcare System Coalition for Preparedness and Response (CHSCPR) & Region VII Healthcare Coalition (RVII HCC) hosted a multi-regional Medical Response Surge Exercise (MRSE) simulating a multiple shooting incident in Chicago with a crowd surge and subsequent trampling. A review of the essential emergency preparedness principles underpinning the objectives of the exercise can further enlighten Illinois nurses on the coordination that occurs within hospitals and between agencies when disaster strikes.
Emergency Medical Services Regions
Illinois is divided into 11 Regional Medical Emergency Response Teams. Each geographic region consists of an alliance of hospitals, fire departments, ambulance services, and an IDPH Regional Coordinator. This year’s surge exercise covered two regions, Illinois Regions 7 and 11. These regions encompass Cook, Will, Grundy, Kendall, and Kankakee counties. Typically, each hospital within a region utilizes a shared software platform for daily
Services, hospitals, and public health across more than one region. The exercise leveraged the utilization of the EMResource software platform for each hospital to communicate how they addressed a simulated response to the exercise. According to Steffi Whitten, Disaster Management Coordinator of Advocate Trinity and South Suburban hospitals and Chair of the Region VII HCC & CHSCPR Training and Exercise Committees for Disaster Management, “Regions 7 and 11 are easily two of the busiest regions in the state, with Emergency Departments often functioning over capacity and boarding patients waiting for beds for long periods of time even without mass casualty events.” She further emphasized the necessity of these regional alliances ability to collaborate and communicate to ensure preparedness stating “we need the ability to transport and direct patients a little bit farther out of the region to ensure safe capacity to meet their needs. The MRSE validated our ability to execute on that.”
National Incident Management System
Each agency within a region may have different skills, structures, culture, and leadership styles. Thus, within Emergency Preparedness, it is essential that each agency follows general rules of engagement when responding to a disaster to define decision makers and prevent chaos. At the federal level, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) established a framework under the National Incident Management System (NIMS). NIMS is a structured approach including shared vocabulary and processes directed at aligning decision making, collecting, and sharing information, and coordinating response and recovery to all sizes and varieties of incidents, (FEMA, 2022). In addition, NIMS serves to guide both governmental and non-governmental agencies to prevent, mitigate, respond, and recover from potentially catastrophic events. When a hospital or agency experiences a disaster, operations shift into the NIMS framework and impacted agencies set up an Incident Command. During a disaster, personnel must have completed required NIMS training and certification to participate in a position within Incident Command.
One aspect of the MRSE was to define the scope of each agency’s simulated response by designating the minimum roles filled in Incident Command setting using the NIMS framework: Operations Section Chief, Planning/Resource Officer, Liaison Officer, Bed Control (EMResource), and Emergency Department Liaison.
Commander, in fact it should really be someone closest to operations and resources on site. When using a drill to simulate an emergency response, agencies should always use the NIMS framework.” The framework provides titles and definitions for roles as well as a defined reporting structure (US Department of Homeland Security, 2022).
Disaster Exercise Framework
Disaster preparedness drills and exercises can range from a tabletop to a full-scale exercise. According to Savoia et al. (2017), using a drill as a proxy for a true emergency is a well-accepted tactic in engagement personnel in training and evaluate gaps in knowledge and skill and can provide just-in-time training to novices. After evaluating the occurrence and emergency medical response to mass shootings nationally, is well understood that one hospital cannot independently manage a mass casualty incident requiring a comprehensive and multidisciplinary approach (Melmer et al., 2019). The MRSE was intended as a tabletop with objectives aimed at initiating and maintaining communication through multi regional coordination, identifying transport resources necessary to execute on patient to destination, hospital’s ability to evaluate and make determinations on inpatient care and the associated needed bed space, and coordination between hospitals for resource requests.
A tabletop drill simulates an event without deployment of personnel or equipment. Tabletops are a discussion-based collaboration of key stakeholders and decision makers to verbally evaluate a potential response to a disaster. For the exercise, participating agencies and hospitals were given agendas and was coordinated virtually among agencies. At the start of the exercise the CHSCPR distributed 1,177 simulated patient profiles to hospitals across Regions 7 and 11 with an associate disaster field triage level. During daily operations, emergency departments use a risk stratification scoring system to evaluate acuity of emergency department patients to help determine and focus care needs on those at highest risk for decompensation. Within a disaster model, the triage scoring changes to a more utilitarian index as supply and demand for emergency care is further mismatched. Accurate triage is paramount to maintaining the chaos within a mass casualty incident.
A disaster Simple Triage and Rapid Transport (START) triage protocol divides adult patients into colors; Red/ Immediate, Yellow/Urgent, Green/Delayed, and Black/ Deceased. Conversely, JumpSTART is the pediatric version of disaster triage and can be applied to children aged 8 and under. The START and JumpStart systems use decision points requiring minimal assessment time resources such as if the patient can walk, respiration rate, capillary refill, and ability to follow commands. START triage is the most used triage system in the United States and can be completed in less than 60 seconds, (Yancye & O’Rourke, 2021). The triage systems are designed to be executed quickly and consistently to accurately differentiate between those with major and minor injuries. Within the exercise, the simulated patient profiles were pre-assigned disaster triage colors to direct participants in how to evaluate acuity and resource needs.
Exercise Tasks
Through the exercise, the coalition delegated tasks to EMS and Hospitals through the virtual platform and each agency was asked to work through the scenarios. After a period of time, the coalition evaluated both EMS and hospital-based responses. EMS simulated responders were asked to consider and submit answers to questions such as if there were sufficient EMS transport resources available for surge support, if there was a need for Mutual Aid, if acuity was considered in simulated transport decisions, how responsibility was delegated for transport destinations, and how patients were tracked during transportation.
Hospitals were asked to consider and submit answers to questions such as initial mobilization actions, actual current ED patient and inpatient volume, how many staffed beds were available, how many simulated patients would have needed to be transferred, and how many patients the hospital could decompress within four hours of the disaster. Each participating facility received an agenda prior to the exercise. Using a virtual platform,
the facilitator of the exercise presented each milestone within the simulated mass shooting and trampling scenario and give a defined period for each Incident Command to collaborate among themselves to work through their decision making using their Mass Casualty processes and procedures. After the defined period, the facilitator would come back online, debrief, and present on the next milestone. The pace design and exercise tasks allowed each Incident Command to look at each aspect of their procedures and evaluate them separately.
Building Social Capital
Savoia et al. (2017) recognized the impact of social capital in emergency preparedness as an extension of existing relationships among organizations, health departments, and law enforcement. A multi-regional exercise further serves to reinforce existing partnerships in addition to creating new connections across regions to build social capital to be leveraged in true emergencies. One aspect of the exercise included utilizing the simulated victim list to predict potential patient service needs at the hospital of arrival and how the receiving facility would manage transfers in the context of all local facilities receiving simulated victims. For example, a hospital without pediatric services may receive pediatric victims and would typically transfer pediatric patients to another local hospital within the same region. In this circumstance, all local facilities received simulated disaster victims requiring hospitals to identify facilities outside of their usual transfer location and region. The activity asked the hospitals participating in the exercise to both identify simulated victims needing transfer in addition to reaching out to facilities identified as possible transfer recipients. This aspect of the exercise both develops the decision making of hospital leaders participating in the exercises as well as developing new knowledge and connections to facilities outside of the region.
Surge Tactics
In the event of a mass casualty such as a mass shooting; the Emergency Department must be prepared to initiate Emergency Preparedness procedures including triage and activating Incident Command. In these events, Emergency Services can quickly become saturated with acuity that out paces resources. Within Emergency Preparedness requirements, each hospital must have a policy, procedure, or plan in place in how to manage a surge of patients as a result of a disaster. In these events, Emergency Departments must focus their resources on the most critical patients; those triaged in the field into a red category. Typically, when facing a mass casualty event, surgical services shift away from any outpatient, elective, or non-essential procedures and focus all resources towards the casualty victims. Additionally, hospital surge plans must identify alternate care areas and teams to manage the moderate or lower acuity surge victims triaged in the field into yellow or green categories. Hospital departments or areas dedicated to outpatient care such as day surgery, cardiac rehab, and hospitalbased clinics may have the ability to appropriate modalities and can be considered as options to manage and maintain care of these patients. Patients triaged into a green category should be ambulatory and should not require services such as cardiac monitoring or oxygen; areas identified for yellow patients often have these capabilities. All victims will require a medical screening exam and appropriate disposition or transfer. Each healthcare worker working at a facility with a dedicated Emergency Department should familiarize themselves with the Mass Casualty and Surge policies of their organizations and have an awareness of how their area might be used in the case of a disaster. While in this exercise, Region VII HCC or CHSCPR Training and Exercise Committees did not ask participants to evaluate this feature of their Emergency Preparedness Plan although it is a key piece of hospital Emergency Preparedness.
In addition to space, organizations must consider how to best utilize resources such as staff, supplies, and equipment. Within the Covid pandemic, hospitals closely tracked supplies and equipment related to respiratory emergencies. In the event of a mass shooting, hospitals will need quick evaluation and access to equipment and interventions to stop or control bleeding such as tourniquets, medications, blood products, and their associated supplies. While these items are always available in an emergency setting; a proactive approach to prepare surge areas is to build and maintain supply carts that can be easily transported to these areas. Healthcare staffing must also be adjusted to meet the needs of the surge. Staff on shift may be reassigned or deployed to surge areas based upon their backgrounds, knowledge, and skill. In addition to the redeployment of existing staff, additional staff are notified when to respond the event. A manpower pool area will be identified by the Incident Command and staff will present
to the manpower pool to sign in and be assigned to areas with staffing needs. Surge areas can communicate needs or gaps in skill to Incident Command; the Incident Command notifies the manpower pool which is in a constant state of evaluation and reevaluation. It is precisely these all-hands-on deck situations when those called to serve step up and stretch their capacity and comfort levels to meet the needs of the sick and dying.
Recovery
The simulated mass shooting exercise focused on the preparedness and response aspects of emergency response. In addition to preparedness and response, organizations also have recovery plans for disaster incidents such as a mass casualty shooting. The focus of recovery is to return operations to a pre-disaster state. Considerations of recovery include any equipment, supplies, or personnel deployed for the operational period of the disaster. The Incident Command will determine when and how areas or departments utilized for management of the disaster return to their usual daily operations. Most importantly recovery should focus on the mental well-being and resilience of the team who faced the disaster. According to Altevogt et al. (2009) a surge of psychological casualties including responders, healthcare workers, and members of the community may experience an impact. Organizations should consider a recovery plan which identifies, triages, and matches those impacted with timely mental health resources and interventions.
The recovery period can also include an after-action debriefing. A debriefing functions to pull together those both in decision making roles as well as those who were most impacted after the conclusion of an event to evaluate the response and outcomes and is appropriate for both real world and simulated disasters. The process brings forward any concerns regarding the actionability of policies/procedures/plans, knowledge gaps, and recognizes which aspects of the event or simulation worked well. For the Region VII HCC & CHSCPR mass casualty multiregional exercise, each participating agency was given a list of questions evaluating decision making process and responses for the after action debrief and evaluation which will aid in the development of an Improvement Plan (IP) for future incidents.
Preparing Yourself
As we continue to see the atrocities of mass shootings, the unpredictability of extreme weather events, and the impact of social unrest there are resources available for both volunteering and professional development. In addition to knowing what policies, procedures, or plans a workplace may have to guide personnel through a disaster; there are resources which can be leveraged to advance nursing’s knowledge of Emergency Preparedness. Nurses can register at Illinois Helps (https://www.illinoishelps.net) to validate credentials, become a volunteer health professional, and received notifications when activated. Additionally, nurses are eligible to take online Independent NIMS Courses at https://training.fema.gov/is/crslist.aspx?lang=en. These courses range from the basics of National Incident Management in “Introduction to the Incident Command System, ICS 100” as well as more advanced courses such as “National Response Framework, An Introduction” IS800d. Active Shooter- What Can I Do IS #907 Emergency Management Institute - Independent Study (IS) | Course List (fema.gov). Through knowledge, awareness, and service nursing stands in a position to ensure they are prepared for when disaster strikes.
Table: Incident Command Positions and Definitions Incident Command Position Definition
Incident Commander In charge of the organization on scene response and appoint others to incident command positions as needed based upon the scope of the incident.
Safety Identify and assess potential hazardous situations; prevent accidents
Liaison Point of contact with outside agencies, monitors operations to identify inter-organizational problems
Public Information Notify spokespersons, develop information for use in briefings, conduct periodic briefings
Planning Chief Supervise preparation of the action plan, determine need for technical experts, coordinate with business continuity, assemble information, assess current and potential impact
Operations Chief Manage tactical operations, request additional resources to support tactics, expedite appropriate changes in operations, maintain close communication with Incident Commander
Logistics Chief Provides resources to support personnel, systems, and equipment, assess communications, provides input on action plan
Finance Manages all financial aspects of the incident, provide cost analysis, create accounts for claims, costs, coordinates with logistics
REFERENCES AVAILABLE UPON REQUEST
CE Offering
1.0 Contact Hours
This offering expires in 2 years: September 9, 2024
Learner Outcome:
80% of those reading the article and completing the post-test will self-report increased knowledge of the coordination between hospitals and agencies in response to a mass casualty incident.
HOW TO EARN
CONTINUING EDUCATION CREDIT
This course is 1.0 Contact Hours
1. Read the Continuing Education Article
2. Go to https://www.surveymonkey. com/r/2022-09-048 to complete the test and evaluation. This link is also available on the INF website www.illinoisnurses.foundation under programs.
3. Submit payment online.
4. After the test is graded, the CE certificate will be emailed to you.
HARD COPY TEST MAY BE DOWNLOADED via the INF website www.illinoisnurses.foundation under programs
DEADLINE
TEST AND EVALUATION MUST BE COMPLETED BY SEPTEMBER 9, 2024
Complete online payment of processing fee as follows: ANA-Illinois members- $8.00 Nonmembers- $15.00
ACHIEVEMENT
To earn 1.0 contact hours of continuing education, you must achieve a score of 80% If you do not pass the test, you may take it again at no additional charge
Certificates indicating successful completion of this offering will be emailed to you.
The planners and faculty have declared no conflict of interest.
ACCREDITATION
Illinois Nurses Foundation is approved as a provider of nursing continuing professional development by Ohio Nurses Association, an accredited approver by the American Nurses Credentialing Center’s Commission on Accreditation. (OBN-001-91)
CE quiz, evaluation, and payment are available online at https://www.surveymonkey. com/r/2022-09-048 or via the INF website www. illinoisnurses.foundation under programs.
The Night Ministry, Chicago
The Night Ministry is a Chicago-based organization whose mission is to provide human connection, housing support, and health care to those who are unhoused or experiencing poverty. The agency's Health Outreach Program, which includes the Health Outreach Bus staffed with an Advance Practice Nurse and Street Medicine Team, brings accessible, compassionate health care to individuals and families who might be unable or ineligible to obtain services elsewhere. The Night Ministry's staff responds to the most immediate needs of individuals they serve by providing medical care, resources such as food and clothing, and supportive services.
For more information on The Night Ministry Health Outreach Program, contact Mr. Burke Patten: burke@ thenightministry.org
Volunteering: It’s Not What You Think
Deborah S. Adelman, PhD, RN, NE-BC Professor Purdue University Global School of Nursing, Graduate Nursing Programs
Over the decades, I have been a disaster nurse volunteer for the Red Cross, Illinois Medical Emergency Response Team, and the Community Emergency Response Team. I have responded to everything from single-family fires to 9/11. One thing I have learned is that, no matter the size of the disaster, the response is generally the same and goes through several steps. The first step in responding to any disaster is to volunteer with an organization and participate in disaster training. While each group has specific expected training, most will require some basic courses from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). These basic courses are usually free and online at https://training.fema.gov/. The basic ones (e.g., IS-100.C: Introduction to the Incident Command System, ICS 100; https://training.fema.gov/ is/courseoverview.aspx?code=IS-100.c&lang=en) teach about the history of disaster response, what incident command is in a disaster, and other topics important to understanding the total response to any disaster. There are more advanced courses which include topics such as handling hazardous materials, bioterrorism, and other specific kinds of response. The nurse should register with a national or state disaster agency to ensure their credentials are on file before there is a need for assistance in a disaster. The Emergency System for Advance Registration of Volunteer Health Professionals (ESAR-VHP; https://www.phe.gov/ esarvhp/pages/about.aspx) is the United States program that sets standards and registers, credentials, and deploys volunteers in large national disasters. With the recent domestic terrorism and disasters fresh in our minds, thinking about volunteering may seem like something “nice” to do, but “that kind of thing doesn’t happen here” often follows and the nurse moves on without putting a plan to volunteer into action. When teaching about disaster response, I always point out what types of disasters can occur in a location, including natural and manmade disasters. I also point out that any kind of terrorism, domestic or international, has a goal of psychological damage more than the physical damage. As a disaster nurse volunteer, I hear over and over the disbelief in the voice of the victims and healthcare providers that their community has been hit by a terrorist act or even a natural disaster such as a tornado or flood. I stress that it can happen “here” and being prepared will help mitigate the effects of the disaster, starting with volunteering and going through basic disaster training.
Once the basic training is completed, there are many options depending on which agency one volunteers with, but the actual response follows a similar process. Regardless of how an agency notifies its volunteers, there is some means of call out when a disaster strikes. Notifications are usually sent via a text, email, or phone call and the volunteer is usually on call for a specific period of time. When the notification comes in, the volunteer is told what the disaster is, where it is located, and an estimated time needed to help. The volunteer is asked to indicate readiness to respond. If one accepts the call out, the next step is preparing. Depending on the weather, time of year, and length of response, the volunteer packs a jump kit with appropriate clothing and gear. Consideration to such things as the geographic location may mean specialized clothing is needed. An adequate supply of personal medications should be included in water and air tight containers, depending on the disaster location. A laminated copy of one’s professional licenses, healthcare insurance cards, and other important information should be a part of a volunteer’s disaster packet.
The disaster volunteer will be given instructions about where to report that include a pickup location or how to get to the disaster volunteer command center if the disaster is local. When responding to a distant location, tickets for a plane or keys to an organization’s motor vehicle, or other means of transportation are usually provided. Often a team of local volunteers will meet at one location and then be transported to the receiving center. The process can go swiftly, even when it includes plane tickets, or may take some time to process. Hurry up and wait is usually the scenario and most volunteer disaster organizations will advise having reading materials and other things to pass the
waiting time. Because there may not be electricity or internet connections available, using cellphones and laptop computers for entertainment is not always advised.
Volunteer processing can take time. Disasters are usually fast moving situations and the needs can change rapidly. All volunteers must be registered; sorted by skills, knowledge, and training; and assigned lodging if the disaster may last for an extended time. Volunteers need to be fed and shown where they will be assigned and what hours they are expected to work. Special equipment may be assigned at this point or later when the volunteer reports to their duty station. From this point, the volunteer is engaged and responds to the needs with the skills and knowledge they have.
No matter where one responds as a disaster volunteer, working within the scope of the disaster agency’s mission and the role of the volunteer should guide the volunteer. Licensing laws are different in each state as is coverage by each state’s Good Samaritan Laws. In Illinois, licensed healthcare professionals are not covered by the Good Samaritan Law. The nurse is expected to practice to the level of license they hold even when volunteering with a disaster response organization. Other questions to consider are:
• Who pays for malpractice coverage and injuries sustained during a disaster response for a volunteer? Not all disaster volunteer organizations carry malpractice coverage for their volunteers nor do all pay for more than basic first aid for injuries that occur during a disaster response. Some employer healthcare insurances also do not cover such injuries, so the volunteer needs to check coverage before volunteering.
• Will the volunteer be expected to provide nursing care that is outside the scope of their normal practice? That may happen if the disaster is severe enough and, in Illinois, the Director of the Illinois Department of Public Health can ask the governor to suspend licensing laws because care is needed for victims beyond the resources available. If that happens, a veterinarian can care for a human and a nurse can do surgery if no one else trained in the area is available.
There is also the issue of not being a disaster nurse volunteer, but ending up as one without intent. Such
a scenario may occur if there is a huge pile up of cars at rush hour and the nurse finds themselves racing down an embankment to help the victims. Perhaps a clinic where a nurse practitioner works at is near an elementary school that has been attacked by someone with guns, such as what took place in Uvalde, Texas, on May 24th, 2022. Perhaps the nurse is watching a 4th of July parade and someone starts shooting at the crowds as happened in Highland Park. Because disasters strike without warning, all nurses need a basic knowledge of how to provide health care in a disaster to do the greatest good for the greatest number. There are several agencies in Illinois that nurses need to become familiar with:
• Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation: https://idfpr.illinois.gov/
• Illinois Emergency Management Agency: https:// www2.illinois.gov/iema/Pages/default.aspx
• Illinois Medical Emergency Response Team: https://imert.org/
• Illinois Helps: https://illinoishelps.net/
When a disaster response ends, all participants need to be part of a debriefing and assessed for any potential issues resulting from the response. This may include physical healthcare issues such as exposure to toxic chemicals as well as exhaustion from long response hours. Consideration of potential posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and how to identify this is an important part of the debriefing. PTSD is a real threat and is often overlooked by volunteer responders.
After responding to 9/11, I did not realize that I was having issues with PTSD until family, friends, and colleagues pointed out all the symptoms I was displaying and did not see. My thoughts were that I was a seasoned disaster volunteer and knew how to care for myself. It was not and could not be happening to me. Because of those around me identifying the symptoms, I was able to receive the help I needed to deal with what I had seen. While I knew all that might happen, because I was aware of what might happen and taught others about the possibilities of PTSD, I felt it could not happen to me. The disaster response does not always end when the official disaster is over. Nurses plan. We try to be proactive. We need to do this for disaster situations too, and not just where we work because, regardless of where we work or live, we may well find ourselves in the midst of a disaster.
Nursing Career Path
The Nursing Voice
The Official Publication of the Illinois Nurses Foundation Quarterly circulation approximately 105,000 RNs in Illinois.
The Nursing Voice Editorial Committee is seeking articles that support the vision of the Illinois Nurses Foundation (INF).
VISION: Developing the nursing profession to transform healthcare in Illinois.
This is a quarterly publication, and all article submissions are due by the end of the business day: NEW DEADLINES January 1, April 1, July 1, October 1
Article Submission Guidelines
Short Articles Major Articles Continuing Education Content Typically, news items or announcements Articles with substantial content Informative content meeting CE Guidelines from the Ohio Nurses Association Requires 10 test questions for participants to receive CE credit
Word Length Up to 500 words Up to 3,000 words 3,000+ words
Title and Author All article submission types must include Means of Submission Electronic submissions ONLY
Word documents ONLY
Author Name, Credentials and email at top of document
Follow current APA guidelines
Email to: info@ilnursesfoundation.com
Email subject line: Nursing Voice Submission: Name of the article
The Illinois Nurses Foundation Editorial Committee reserves the right to pull or edit any article / news submission for space and availability and/or deadlines
We need your help!!
Take five minutes in October 2022 –share info about you, your nursing specialty and workplace –please participate
We need your help! In October, you will receive an email requesting you answer 5-8 minutes of online questions. The questions are about you, your nursing care, your area of expertise, and the COVID-19 impact on your practice. The survey participation email will be sent to Illinois RN, APRN, and FPA-APRN licensees in the middle of October 2022. There is a separate survey for each level of licensure, RNs, APRNs and FPA-APRNs will each receive a different and unique survey. APRNs and FPA-APRNs will receive two surveys: an RN survey and either an APRN or FPA-APRN survey. All questions offer multiple-choice response options, with limited spots for comments. RN survey completion time is approximately five minutes.
Illinois RN, APRN, or FPA-APRNs will see the following message:
“We are requesting approximately five minutes (APRN or FPA-APRN will say 10 minutes) of your time. All data will be reported in the aggregate for use in determining nursing workforce projections and needs in Illinois. Individual responses will remain anonymous and confidential. Although this report is not mandatory, your participation is critical, since employees in the field are our best and most reliable real-time source of information available. By participating in this report, you will be helping to ensure that there will be an uninterrupted supply of nurses to meet the increasing future demands in the healthcare industry.” At the end of the message is a link that you will need to click on to reach and participate in the short survey.
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PO Box 216 | Cedar Falls, IA 50613
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Each survey captures data on the demographics, education, state distribution and practice foci of nurses in Illinois. The Nursing Workforce Center’s goal is to evaluate the impact of changes in the Nurses Practice Act on nursing practice, of the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on nursing practice, the dynamics of change on nurses and nursing practice.
Are there areas in the State where Registered Nurses (RNs), Advanced Practice Registered Nurses (APRNs) or Advanced Practice Registered Nurses with Full-Practice Authority (FPA-APRNs) are concentrated? Where are the greatest needs? How would the educational pipeline for RNs be best characterized? Where are the FPA-APRNs seeing patients? We need your help in answering these questions. Please take the few minutes to answer the online survey that you will receive from IDFPR in October 2022.
Past reports dating back to 1984 are available on the Illinois Nursing Workforce Center website; data collected is posted in a report in 12-18 months of survey completion. http://nursing.illinois.gov/ResearchData.asp
Community Health Nursing: It’s not a Job, It’s an Adventure
Phoebe Maholovich MSN, RN
In the summer of 2019, I found myself to be in a professional rut. As a seasoned nurse with over two decades of experience and in my third year as a fulltime nursing instructor, I was becoming increasingly disinterested in nursing. Then on one muggy June day, while volunteering with my students at LGBTQ+ picnic, I crossed paths with an organization that works tirelessly to improve the health of the people they serve. Little did I know, this organization would also deeply inspire me and change the trajectory of my nursing career. Central Illinois (CI) Friends is a nonprofit public health organization that specializes in serving those living with HIV, community education, sexual health testing, combating health disparities, and creating environments that reduce stigma associated with sexual health. The eighteen months that I was a community health nurse at CI Friends were truly transformational and I am a better nurse because of it. Although community health nurses can be an asset to any public health organization, I contend that nurses have the most to gain from agencies such as CI Friends.
Established as a not for profit organization in 1990, Central Illinois Friends was formed by a group of citizens troubled by the local and national response to the AIDS crisis. With a foundation in providing essential services to those living with HIV, CI Friends has managed to continuously grow and adapt to meet
the needs of their clients and local community (Central Illinois Friends, n.d.). Notably its largest and most rapid phase of growth has occurred in the last five years with the addition of a myriad of health care services. This extraordinary progress has been made possible with the guidance and leadership of the Executive Director, Deric Kimler. Over the course of his tenure, the health services provided by CI Friends expanded from strictly HIV testing to completely free services including full slate STI testing, HPV and Hep A/B vaccines, PreP enrollment with case management, and access to physician care through partnership with a local medical school.
Based primarily in Peoria, with a second location in Normal, Illinois, CI Friends also serves a region of sixteen counties. They manage to cover this tremendous territory through community partnerships and the use of “Wellness on Wheels” mobile units, a collaboration with IDPH. Despite the formidable workload associated with the development and implementation of these crucial newer programs, Deric and the staff do not stray from the legacy of assisting to meet the needs of those living with HIV.
Not long after my chance encounter with CI Friends at that summer picnic I became deeply interested in their work and actively attended as many of their events as possible. Several months of networking led to the opportunity to join the team as their first full time nurse. Serving as a community health nurse was
a remarkably positive experience and I learned more than I ever could have imagined. Community health nursing challenged me to rethink my communication skills, particularly when providing a sexual health assessment and methods to teach safer sex practices. Also, in this setting, there are ample opportunities to develop projects of personal interest. The highlight of my time at CI Friends came about when I had an ambitious idea for a large-scale LGBTQ+ focused event. At the time I had minimal experience in event planning, so Deric took on most of the leg work and guided me through handling such a large project. The event was a success that drew attendees to Peoria from Champaign, Chicago, St. Louis, and New York City. Community health events are not only fun they are also purposeful, providing an affirming environment for people that may not feel at ease in traditional healthcare settings. This space of acceptance and safety encourages attendees to take advantage of health services that, for a variety of reasons, they may not normally seek out. As it is often said in community health, you literally meet people where they are.
Health disparities and lack of access are well documented and an unfortunate norm in the healthcare system of the United States. Furthermore, folks in the LGBTQ+ community often report lack of appropriate care and discrimination in this current system. Agencies like Central Illinois Friends defy those norms and offer solutions to overwhelming challenges by means of persistent availability to anyone at risk of falling through the cracks. Most importantly they manage to provide these services completely free of charge. The contributions I made during my time as a community health nurse pale in comparison to the impact that CI Friends has had on me. Agencies like CI Friends provide an opportunity for professional and personal growth for nurses at any stage of their career making community health nursing a worthwhile endeavor.
Reference Central Illinois Friends. (n.d.). Illinois Friends: Central Illinois Since 1990. https://www.friendsofcentralillinois.org/ about-4
