National Nurse Experimental

Thank You Congressman Raul Grijalva (AZ-7) for Co-Sponsoring HR 4601

2010-06-01T01:29:00.000-07:00

The National Nursing Network Organization and supporters thank Congressman Raul Grijalva (AZ-7) for his co-sponsorship of HR 4601 The National Nurse Act of 2010.

Congressman Grijalva is committed to serve the constituents from the 7th Congressional District in Arizona. He fully participates within the Congressional Hispanic Caucus and is devoted to improving the quality of life for working families. Education, employee rights, and the environment are three of Congressman Grijalva’s top priorities. Here is Congressman Grijalva's statement:

“HR 4601 will elevate the advice and input of the nurses in our country to the level they deserve in our national health care discussion. Establishing an Office of the National Nurse recognizes the necessary contributions of nurses in our nation’s health policies and our communities.”

Live Interview with NNNO Board Member Sheryl Oakes Caddy JD, RN

2010-05-26T03:02:00.000-07:00

(Pictured from left are Debbie Orre, MSN, RN; Sheryl Oakes Caddy, JD, RN; Teri Mills, MR, RN, CNE; Alisa Schneider, MS, RN; and Terri Polick, RN.)

Here is your chance to learn everything you’ve wanted to know about HR 4601 The National Nurse Act of 2010. If you prefer to get your news via the radio, please take the time to listen to NNNO Board Member Sheryl Oakes Caddy’s live interview with host Anne Llewellyn, RN-BC, MS, BHSA, CCM, CRRN Editor in Chief, Case Management Products and Services.

Sheryl discusses the merits of The National Nurse Act of 2010, the overwhelming support for this legislation, and how this bill would benefit nursing and the public’s health. Thank you to Anne Llewellyn for posting the interview and information about the bill along with information on how to get involved on the Dorland Health website -there is also a link to the interview here.

Guest Blogger Marian Tatarczuk BSN, MS, RN, NE-BC Writes In Support of HR 4601

2010-05-24T05:15:00.000-07:00

Pictured: Marian Tatarczuk BSN, MS, RN, NE-BC

Marian Tatarczuk writes the following in support of HR 4601 The National Nurse Act of 2010:

Nurses who have advanced degrees in nursing and also who carry advanced degrees in business and/or those who have or are working in leadership positions have intimate knowledge of health care systems. This knowledge represents a combination of patient care/health issues such as safety, access to health care, privacy, care coordination, customer experience, family dynamics and population risks as well as business issues such as human and material resource management, barriers to effective care, quality outcome management, collaboration within groups, fiscal responsibility, healthy work environments, strategic planning, population management, as well as the impact of social issues, culture and technology.

Research has demonstrated that nurses have the public trust ; nurses' advice has the power to influence health opinions and behaviors. Nurses are an integral part of the overall care of patients, our families, our communities and influencing change on a larger scale. They have unique knowledge, skills and perspectives to contribute. I believe nurses should have a strong voice in working collaboratively with other health care disciplines in the design and oversight of a national health care system and national health issues, and should not be limited to those issues that concern only "nursing" as it may be perceived by the public.

I have achieved all but dissertation for a Doctorate of Nursing Practice, and a Maters of Science in business with a concentration in health care. I have served in a variety of health care leadership positions for 30 years, working collaboratively with many esteemed colleagues to improve the health of our community, sometimes one person, one family at a time, and at others times through service or educational offerings. Our country requires strong leadership to overcome the huge hurdles and brokenness of our current health care system. I support the efforts of this grassroots effort to enhance / expand the role of nursing within the legislative leadership process.

Marian Tatarczuk BSN, MS, RN, NE-BC
Exeter, New Hampshire

Thank You Representative Gerald Connolly (VA-11)

2010-05-19T02:22:00.000-07:00

Pictured: Congressman Gerald Connolly (VA)

The National Nursing Network Organization and supporters thank Congressman Gerald Connolly (VA-11) for his co-sponsorship of HR 4601 The National Nurse Act of 2010.

Congressman Connolly is serving his first term in Congress, representing Virginia's 11th district. According to his website, the Congressman was elected President of the freshman class in the U.S. House of Representatives. This role allows Congressman Connolly to serve as a liaison between the House leadership and freshman members of Congress and insure they have a voice in the legislative process.

“I am proud to be a cosponsor of the National Nurse Act. Whether it is in schools, hospitals, clinics, other medical facilities, or the community at large, nurses are on the front lines of health care. Nurses are the unsung heroes in the health care field, playing a critical role in caring for the ill and infirm, promoting preventive care, educating the public and nursing students, and volunteering their time and expertise in their communities. This legislation will provide nurses with recognized leadership at the national level in the Public Health Service at a critical juncture in our nation’s history as we move forward in implement real health care reform.”

Healthy U Segment on NBC Affiliate WAGT 26 Spotlights HR 4601

2010-05-14T02:32:00.000-07:00

Pictured: Health Reporter Beth Bryant-Barranco BSN, RN

Thank you to health reporter Beth Bryant-Barranco BSN, RN who spoke during her weekly television appearance about HR 4601 The National Nurse Act of 2010. Beth practices as an open heart recovery and transplant nurse in South Carolina. She loves having the opportunity to educate people about ways to live healthy and is very enthusiastic about the potential a National Nurse would have in keeping Americans well.

Beth began her piece by giving a brief overview of Nurses Week and then explained HR 4601 for her listeners. She noted why it is important to have a National Nurse to slow the growing epidemic of preventable diseases. The  United States currently ranks 19th among industrialized countries in preventable deaths. The National Nurse would promote health awareness and increase health literacy. Currently only 31% of Americans can name all 5 heart attack warning signs. You can watch Beth’s interview by visiting this link.

An Overview of HR 4601 The National Nurse Act of 2010

2010-05-10T00:12:00.000-07:00

The passage of the healthcare reform package brings a unique window of opportunity to strengthen the delivery of prevention education and highlight the nurse's role in our healthcare system. We are excited to hear leaders of the Public Health and Prevention subgroups for healthcare reform who share this vision. HR 4601 The National Nurse Act of 2010, introduced by Oregon Congressman Earl Blumenauer on February 4th and now supported 11 esteemed members of Congress, brings nurses to the forefront as the deliverers of the message of prevention to every American. Four state legislative bodies (Massachusetts, New York, Oregon, and Vermont) and over 100 organizations and prominent individuals have also endorsed this bill.

In a Robert Wood Johnson Foundation newsletter, Susan B. Hassmiller, Senior Advisor for Nursing states, “ Nurses have a pivotal role to play in promoting preventive care since they spend more time with patients than any other health care professional. By educating and counseling patients about the importance of simple preventive measures, nurses can have a significant impact on improving health and extending lives. The health care system needs to empower and encourage nurses for them to be effectively engaged in this role.”

The rise in numbers of people struggling with chronic disease threatens the population like never before. Reports of low health literacy, coupled with the increasing numbers of chronic conditions that are preventable, current efforts are proving to be insufficient. Based on the ubiquitous presence of nurses in all communities and the high degree of trust bestowed on them, an adequate nursing workforce can play a major role in prevention, thus reducing both morbidity and costs related to chronic disease.

By designating the Chief Nurse Officer of the US Public Health Service to be officially known as the country's National Nurse, Congress will provide an impetus for promoting the Medical Reserve Corps and strengthening existing public health infrastructure and resources, through which nurses and other health workers within each community would deliver and reinforce messages of prevention.

Developing this "Prevention Promotion" network would have a huge impact on reduction of preventable disease. This strategy would help shift our nation to focus on prevention, and along with other health care reform initiatives has potential for tremendous positive impact. The ANA social policy statement includes a call for nurses to be involved in health promotion and prevention strategies and HR 4601 accomplishes this in actions.

The current bill language is different from a bill introduced into Congress in 2006 and is based on feedback members of the National Nursing Network Organization received after four years of meetings with the USPHS, nursing leadership, and key stake holders. In fact, the American Nurses Association played a key role- it was their letter that they and the Quad Council sent to HHS Secretary Leavitt that formed the basis for this legislation. This letter stated “ Many of us in the nursing community firmly believe that the PHS Chief Nurse Officer is already the “National Nurse.” We feel it would be counterproductive to establish a separate office or re-title the current position which would ultimately compete with the PHS Chief Nurse Officer for authority, recognition, and already scarce resources.”

Supporters agree and HR 4601 asks for the Chief Nurse Officer position to be KNOWN as the National Nurse, there is NO title change requested in the bill language. Please read this two page bill that is easy to understand. The title of National Nurse is necessary because we have found that too few nurses let alone members of the public can name the CNO of the USPHS. You may be asking yourself right now, who is the current Chief Nurse Officer of the USPHS?

One goal of this legislation is to have a visible nurse leader who has the skills, knowledge, expertise and years of experience to help lead our country into a culture of prevention. So when First Lady Michelle Obama is speaking in front of the nation about childhood obesity, imagine the impact the CNO/National Nurse would have in inspiring and engaging the public to participate in health promotion activities. And because this position is currently funded, federal dollars would not be competed for that could go towards nursing education and improvement of the nursing workforce.

The bill language is carefully crafted so as NOT to politicize the position of the CNO. The CNO/National Nurse appointment and successors would be chosen through the same nominating process currently used (this is not a Cabinet position, nor is it a Presidential appointment like the Surgeon General).

Furthermore, the current duties of the CNO are retained. The position is being increased to full time; as presently the CNO works half time as the CNO and half time in the department of the HHS where the CNO previously worked full time. Doubling the CNO hours will allow more time to interface with the Federal Nurse Council and more time to direct the USPHS interdisciplinary staff. It is appropriate for the CNO to be known as the National Nurse because the reality is nurses are the largest segment of the US Public Health Service workforce as well as the largest sector of the healthcare workforce.

A review of the literature has shown that health education coupled with social marketing strategies works-this is exactly what is being asked for in HR 4601. One example is Tobacco Free California. With aggressive advertising and public relations campaigns, along with community programs, the state has made significant advances in achieving a tobacco free California. As a result, California has the second lowest adult smoking rate in the nation; only Utah is lower.

Once HR 4601 is explained, most rank and file nurses see this as a real opportunity, a rare opportunity, to unite nurses across all specialty areas, to help showcase public health and community nursing roles, and to do a very positive action for society- to help reduce preventable conditions.

There are many ways to help promote the passage of HR 4601 The National Nurse Act of 2010. If you too are inspired to make a difference and want to take part in this grassroots campaign please email the National Nursing Network Organization's Board of Directors and we will provide you with ways to help.

Students Advocate for HR 4601 The National Nurse Act of 2010 During ONA Gathering

2010-05-05T03:31:00.000-07:00

Pictured: Former Secretary of State Bill Bradbury (Gubernatorial Candidate-OR) and NNNO President Teri Mills

Special thanks to Oregon Gubernatorial Candidate Bill Bradburywho included his strong support of HR 4601 The National Nurse Act of 2010 in his remarks during the conference. Bradbury stated last February, "One way we can bring down costs is by recognizing the significant health services that can be provided by nurses beginning with prevention, a cornerstone of their practice. My children were delivered by a nurse midwife and my daughter just had a baby with a nurse midwife and they're all happy and healthy. It's clear to me that nurses are key in providing these health promotion services, and that government has an obligation to bring more attention to the critical role they play in our health care system. That is why (today) I am proud to add my name to the growing list of supporters who endorse the implementation of an Office of the National Nurse."

Pictured: Dr. John Kitzhaber (Gubernatorial Candidate-OR) and Elizabeth McPhee (Portland Community SNA President and USA Today/Coca Cola Silver Scholar)

It was a great day to be lobbying for HR 4601 The National Nurse Act of 2010 and student nurses representing the Portland Community College Chapter of the Student Nurse Association wasted little time. President Elizabeth McPhee introduced herself to Oregon Gubernatorial Candidate John Kitzhaber and handed him a button that read America Needs A National Nurse Now.

Pictured left to right: Incoming President-Elect Penny Roxas SN (Class of 2011), Antoine Drakeford SN (Class of 2010), President Elizabeth McPhee (Class of 2010), and NNNO President Teri Mills MS, RN, CNE

Students studying nursing continue to be mesmerized and supportive of legislation to create an Office of the National Nurse. They realize the potential of a visible and prominent nurse leader to guide health promotion efforts. As they study and learn more about the rise in epidemics of preventable chronic conditions, they become even more convinced that a National Nurse can make a difference in improving the health of our nation.

According to the CDC Website, 24 million Americans have diabetes; 57 million are at risk for developing diabetes, due to our nation’s obesity crisis. It costs $174 billion to care for the 24 million. If we were to prevent just one percent of those at risk from developing diabetes, through replication of successful health promotion programs, under the guidance of a National Nurse, we would save the country 4.13 billion dollars. Students agree and say how can we afford not to try this cost effective and common sense approach for prevention?

Stokowski’s Article in Medscape Nurses, “Will We Have a National Nurse?” Top Story in ANA Smart Brief in March!

2010-05-03T01:38:00.000-07:00

Due to the large number of emails that the National Nursing Network Organization continues to receive related to a piece published in MedScape Nurses late March, we wanted to be sure those visiting this website also had a chance to read it.

First and foremost, congratulations to writer Laura Stokowski MS, RN for writing a compelling article in MedScape Nurses for HR 4601, The National Nurse Act of 2010. This turned out to be the first article featured in the American Nurses Association’s March 23, 2010 online SmartBrief. Thank you to the many nurses who wrote and continue to write to the NNNO Board after reading Stokowski’s piece to request more information and ask how they can help support this important legislation to improve the public’s health and increase the visibility of the nursing profession.

Stokowski begins by writing, “On February 4, 2010, something happened that could change the future of healthcare and the nursing profession. Earl Blumenauer (D-OR) introduced into the US House of Representatives HR 4601, a bill to create an Office of the National Nurse. The United States has had a Surgeon General for 140 years. Many people feel that it's about time we had a nurse in such a noteworthy, visible position.

The article also contains an informative interview by Alisa Schneider, the Vice-President of the National Nursing Network Organization. One question Schneider responded to is why do we need a National Nurse?

Ms. Schneider: “We have a Surgeon General and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and from those offices and others we get a huge amount of health-related information -- really important information about health concerns in our country and what should be done about them. What we don't have, though, is a good mechanism to deliver those messages on a broader scale. Just as the nurse at the bedside delivers messages about health and illness prevention to individual patients, the Office of the National Nurse would deliver similar messages to the population as a whole.

We see the Office of the National Nurse as providing that missing delivery mechanism. Nurses aren't just care providers; they are also health educators. The National Nurse would be a tangible, recognizable role model for what nurses do and do well -- which is educate people about their health.”

Thank You Representative Carol Shea-Porter (NH-1)

2010-04-26T03:52:00.000-07:00

Pictured Representative Carol Shea Porter (NH-1)

The National Nursing Network Organization and supporters thank Congresswoman Carol Shea-Porter (NH-1) for her co-sponsorship of HR 4601 The National Nurse Act of 2010. Here is Congresswoman Shea-Porter's statement:

“I cosponsored the National Nurse Act because I understand the critical role nurses play in our health care delivery system. Nurses are often the first line of care for patients, which is why their jobs are so important. This legislation will encourage national wellness and prevention efforts throughout the country.”

Remembering Dr. Dorothy Height

2010-04-21T03:12:00.000-07:00

The Board of Directors of the National Nursing Network Organization joins many who mourn the passing of Dr. Dorothy Height, an African-American administrator, an educator, and a civil rights activist. The two main causes that she crusaded for almost her entire life were equal rights for all and social justice. Height joined Dr. Martin Luther King on the podium when King delivered his most memorable speech, "I Have A Dream" in Washington DC. Many know Height as the founding matriarch of the civil rights movement. Dorothy Height was also the daughter of a nurse; her mother often encouraged her to stand up for her beliefs.

During a 2003 interview Height said, "I'm always an optimist because I have an abiding faith. And I believe that somehow or other the right will prevail and we have to keep working, I think justice is not an impossibility. I think we can achieve it ...But every battle seems to have to be hard fought and hard and we have to work at it. And that's why I think that we worked with the faith that we can bring about change."

Height's continued passion, dedication, and tireless work opened up many doors for civil and women's rights. She inspired countless women to become effective leaders and remained a close mentor and confidante to those working to make our country a better and more just place to live.

Her words ring true for those working to see the passage of HR 4601 The National Nurse Act of 2010:
"You have the power to benefit your community for the next 10 years. You have the right to be counted," ... "It is your civic duty. Don't let anybody or anything stop you."
Dr. Dorothy Height

Thank You Congresswoman Jan Schakowsky (IL-09)

2010-04-15T04:11:00.000-07:00

Pictured: Congresswoman Jan Schakowsky (IL-09)

The National Nursing Network Organization and supporters thank Congresswoman Jan Schakowsky (IL-09) for her co-sponsorship of HR 4601 The National Nurse Act of 2010. Here is Congresswoman Schakowsky's statement:

"I am proud to be a cosponsor of Representative Blumenauer's bill to create the Office of the National Nurse, H.R. 4601. We all know how critical nurses are in providing direct care to patients. As a member of Congress, I know that nurses are just as critical in shaping health care policy and setting priorities to improve health care outcomes. As a member of the House Nursing Caucus, a supporter of the Nurse Reinvestment Act, and a sponsor of the Nurse Staffing Standards for Patient Safety and Quality Care Act, I am committed to ensuring that nurses have a place at the table when it comes to making policy decisions. That is why I am pushing for enactment of the National Nurse Act."

Volunteerism is Alive and Well in America

2010-04-12T01:54:00.000-07:00

Parade Magazine recently highlighted what America cares about. This included an article, "Compassion Counts More Than Ever", authored by Michael Berland. A recent poll by Parade found that despite tough economic times, the United States is experiencing an increase of compassion, especially in the arena of people helping each other.

There is a volunteer boom! A new Parade poll affirms this. Ninety-four percent of poll respondents (94%) were nearly unanimous in the belief that it is "important to be personally involved in supporting a cause we believe in" in our communities. Most of the poll respondents are motivated toward public service by simple altruism. Sixty percent (60%) want to help other people with "many people moved to act on behalf of their own communities."

Berland states, " 'Public Service' has become more than a phrase or a school graduation requirement, it's now a way of life for Americans of all ages." The unemployed are volunteering to stay connected to their communities and "part of what is driving the overall increase is the growing understanding that service is an essential tool to achieve community and national goals" says Patrick Covington, CEO of the federal Corporation for National and Community Service.

The National Nursing Network Organization and supporters of HR 4601 The National Nurse Act of 2010 know that nurses and other health professionals do volunteer often. Nurses, the largest sector of the healthcare workforce, see the public across the age spectrum and often have repeated contact with the same individuals. And because they are so highly trusted, nurses are a great resource to introduce, emphasize, and reinforce prevention programs, and provide strong messages for better health behaviors.

Positive Non-Partisan News for Health Care Reform Package

2010-04-06T05:28:00.000-07:00

Pictured left to right: Elizabeth McPhee, Craig Grover, Jennifer Reed
For Immediate Release:

America’s future nurses advocate for national nurse leader for prevention

Student nurses gather in Orlando, Florida for National Student Nurses Association (NSNA) convention.

Orlando, Florida: Portland Community College (PCC) student nurses Craig Grover and Jennifer Reed, led by USA Today Coca Cola Silver Scholar and PCC SNA chapter President Elizabeth McPhee, will be presenting a resolution in the NSNA House of Delegates on Friday, April 9, asking that the Chief Nurse Officer (CNO) position within the US Public Health Service (USPHS) be known as the National Nurse to serve as a leader in a nationwide focus on health promotion and illness prevention.

Congressman Earl Blumenhauer (OR-3) introduced HR 4601, the National Nurse Act of 2010 as he too recognizes the need for a visible nurse leader for Public Health. “Although the legislative battle of enacting health reform is over, the real work of implementation is just beginning and nurses play a critical role in building a more effective health care system for all Americans. In recognition of National Public Health Week, we remember that our nurses stand on the front lines in fighting public health challenges like chronic illness and obesity, and moving our infrastructure from "sick-care" to "health-care." Establishing a full-time National Nurse is an important way to make heard the voices of thousands of dedicated nurses across the nation. A National Nurse position will complement the work of the Surgeon General in addressing our country's public health challenges.” --Congressman Earl Blumenauer

Students felt compelled to advocate for this leadership role after learning that Americans rank prevention as the number one most important health care reform priority (Trust for America’s Health and Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Health Reform Poll, 2009). “As our country shifts towards a nationwide focus on prevention and health promotion we believe it is nurses who should be standing at the forefront of this reformation” states McPhee. “We believe nurses are the ideal messengers to deliver health promotion messages as this is the cornerstone of every nurse's practice.”

The National Nurse will serve as a leader in the nationwide focus on health promotion and illness prevention. Duties of this position will be to complement the work of the Surgeon General, and to enhance existing prevention networks by encouraging nurses to replicate successful health promotion programs in their local communities, thereby strengthening existing public health partnerships.

Alisa Schneider, MSN, RN faculty advisor to the PCC SNA chapter will accompany the students. “These future nurses have a very different energy for their new profession than past generations. They recognize the importance of the nurse’s unique voice and want to play a role in decisions that are made for their profession. The time is ideal for them to advocate for leadership in health promotion and prevention”, says Schneider.

HR 4601 has been endorsed by dozens of prominent organizations and individuals and the students’ goal is to add NSNA to this list.

National Public Health Week April 5-11th

2010-04-02T03:27:00.000-07:00

As more emphasis is placed on community action to promote better health, the vision and purpose of having a National Nurse is reinforced. National Public Health Week is April 5-11 and this year's theme is a perfect example.

Read this important message below from our colleagues at APHA:

National Public Health Week (NPHW) kicks off next Monday, April 5, 2010! This year’s theme is “A Healthier America: One Community at a Time.” During the week, Americans will be asked to champion public health by making healthy changes – big and small – in their communities, workplace, and schools.

This year, Representative Lucille Roybal-Allard and Senator Tom Udall have introduced resolutions in recognition of NPHW highlighting the need to strengthen our public health system and better educate Americans about the importance of public health and prevention in building healthier communities.

Please take the time to send a message TODAY to your Representative and to your Senators urging them to cosponsor the NPHW resolutions! Congress is in recess this coming week, returning to Capitol Hill on April 12th. This is an ideal time to call your US Representative's local office to make an appointment to discuss and advocate for HR 4601 The National Nurse Act of 2010. To assist you in finding out who your Representative is and to find their phone number, visit this Take Action Link.

Let's Move and HR 4601 The National Nurse Act of 2010

2010-03-29T04:31:00.000-07:00

"Let's Move"" and HR 4601 The National Nurse Act of 2010 have potential to become a very productive partnership! Engaging volunteer nurses in "Let's Move" will be facilitated with passage of HR 4601, calling for the Chief Nurse of the US Public Health Service to be known as the National Nurse to provide guidance for prevention efforts in local communities.

Supporters of HR 4601 seek a National Nurse to raise visibility of nursing and tap into the existing skills and expertise of our nation's nurse workforce to address the rising epidemics of preventable conditions. Many nurses (including students and retirees) indicate willingness to be involved in their community's prevention efforts, but see authoritative leadership, social marketing and national emphasis are needed.

Nurses know resources, have key knowledge, value evidence based interventions and can implement ongoing evaluation. Nurses are also present in all cultural communities and are repeatedly voted the "most trusted" profession. They can be strong advocates for "Let's Move" and other health promotion programs. Leadership and guidance provided by the National Nurse will enable a ready pool of skilled and qualified advocates to hit the ground running and implement evidence based interventions.

The public, including youth and parents, will better understand roles of community and public health nursing, thus recruitment to nursing and other health professions will be enhanced. Student nurses will find valuable opportunities for community service and learning experiences. Retirees can remain active in their profession and utilize their skills and experiences advantageously. The Medical Reserve Corps, the American Heart Association and many other existing networks for health promotion will gain skilled manpower and their programs will be strengthened by participation of local health professionals.

This concept is cost effective as it utilizes an existing position and avoids duplication. Local grants can be sought to fund local efforts. Many nurses and stake holders see the potential for a productive partnership here. They would welcome an opportunity to discuss this legislation with the First Lady. Nurses also want to thank Michelle Obama for adopting this worthy cause, wish her much success, and visualize a National Nurse at her side to offer guidance and expertise.

Thank You Congressman David Wu (OR-1)

2010-03-23T02:43:00.000-07:00

Pictured: Congressman David Wu (OR-1)

The National Nursing Network Organization and supporters thank Congressman David Wu (OR-1) for his co-sponsorship of HR 4601 The National Nurse Act of 2010.

Here Congressman Wu's statement:
“Nurses are on the front line of our health care system. By educating the public about health promotion and working closely with patients to explain diagnoses, treatments, and prevention methods, nurses can play a key role in reducing overall health costs. Similarly, the National Nurse can play a key role in health care reform by advocating for nurses and supporting national efforts to help Americans lead healthier lives. The National Nurse can also serve as a strong promoter of nursing education, helping nurses provide even better, more effective treatment for patients.”

Press Release Underscores National Nurse Act of 2010 Is Right for America

2010-03-11T06:52:00.000-08:00

On March 5, 2010 HHS Secretary Sebelius announced the availability of $10 million in Recovery Act Funds for the Community Prevention and Wellness Initiative (CPWI). The intent of this funding opportunity is to make it easier for national, public, or private non-profit organizations to apply for funding in cooperative agreements to help communities decrease smoking and obesity, increase physical activity and improve nutrition.

From the fact sheet describing Communities Putting Prevention to Work, "The HHS Office of Public Health and Science is leading the national organizations component of Communities Putting Prevention to Work in partnership with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Many national organizations serve as trusted community sources where families go to participate in programs and come together with others to talk about important issues and build partnerships for action. While other pieces of CPPW target funding to local and state governments, HHS recognizes a national prevention movement will require additional leaders. This new opportunity creates a model public-private partnership to make and sustain important changes in communities."

This provides strong rationale for Congress to pass HR 4601 The National Nurse Act of 2010. The bill language asks for the CNO of the USPHS to be known as the National Nurse, and also asks specifically for the National Nurse to encourage community-based, nonprofit organizations to seek grants for the purpose of education and interventions to address the annual health priorities. This legislation also includes language for the National Nurse to encourage practicing nurses and other health professionals, including retired health professionals and students enrolled in health professional programs, to participate in health promotion activities and replicate successful health promotion activities.

Health promotion and disease prevention are cornerstones of nursing practice. Nurses want to become active advocates for prevention in their local communities, and more needs to be done to prevent the rising incidence of chronic preventable diseases and their costly consequences. “In the United States, 7 of 10 deaths result from chronic disease,” said HHS Assistant Secretary for Health Howard K. Koh, M.D., M.P.H. The National Nurse would provide this necessary and important direction.

Meet With Your U.S. Representatives!

2010-03-08T01:33:00.000-08:00

Great news… did you know that your own U.S. Representative will be at home during March 29-April 9th; Congress is in recess during this time. You and other supporters are encouraged to call their local office and make appointments to discuss and advocate for HR 4601 The National Nurse Act of 2010. To assist you in finding out who your Representative is and to find their phone number, visit this Take Action Link.

These appointments are important and effective because a voting constituent always has the attention of their elected official. These meetings are also fun and very rewarding because you personally have taken action to make a difference in improving the nation’s health. If you happen to be an undergraduate or graduate nursing student, this is also an excellent way to fulfill a class project on leadership, policy-making, and political activism.

The Nursing Network Organization has put together materials and talking points to help make your visit a success. Please email the NNNO Board to receive materials that you can print from your own computer to take with you.

Support HR 4601- A National Health Care Advocate for All Americans

2010-03-02T01:55:00.000-08:00

Every day nurses play essential roles in the lives of their patients. One of our most important roles is as teachers. We give people the tools to make healthy decisions. Yet, the benefits of preventative medicine and education have been largely ignored over the past years, and the support nurses and patients need to properly carry out prevention has not been there. We need a National Nurse to be a national advocate for our patients and for nurses so that we can help develop a healthier America. A National Nurse would provide valuable insight that comes from men and women who are at the bedside more often than any other health care provider, people who hear patient needs on a daily basis. Statistics show that prevention is key in health promotion.

A recent study of obesity in America titled F as in Fat: How Obesity Policies are Failing in America 2009 shows that “[e]xperts estimate that more than a quarter of America’s health care costs are related to obesity.” and “[t]hat an investment of just $10 per person per year in proven community-based disease prevention programs could save the country more than $16 billion annually within five years. This is a return of $5.60 for every $1.” In the next few years, patient care will need to become more prevention based than treatment based if we are to meet our Healthy People 2010 and 2020 goals. A National Nurse will be essential to successful health care reform in America that truly benefits all by making healthier Americans and decreasing health care costs. A National Nurse would be a national health care advocate for all Americans.

Please join me in strongly supporting HR 4601 The National Nurse Act of 2010.

Submitted by Beth Ann Nyssen RN, BSN
Portland, Oregon

Opinion Leaders Affirm Desire for Nursing Leadership to Promote Prevention

2010-02-25T04:11:00.000-08:00

A new report, Nursing Leadership from Bedside to Boardroom: Opinion Leaders' Perceptions, was released last month by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. Based on a Gallup poll survey, this study revealed that an overwhelming majority of the 1,504 opinion leaders who participated believe nurses should have more influence on healthcare and services. Undoubtedly most nurses, especially those supporting HR 4601, The National Nurse Act of 2010, will concur with these findings.

Key barriers to increased influence for nurses cited in the survey were 1) nursing not being perceived as important in the decision-making process (69%); 2) nurses focus on primary rather than preventive care (62%); and 3) nursing not having a single voice to speak authoritatively on national issues (56%). All of these are reasons to move forward to implement an Office of the National Nurse to help address these deficiencies. Having a visible and prominent National Nurse would be one way to begin to overcome these barriers and set an example of how nurses can take their deserved place at the table for health care reform.

Please read the excellent synopsis of this study to see for the parallels and familiar issues discussed. In many ways, this report confirms the need and rationale for elevating the Chief Nurse Officer of the U.S. Public Health Service to serve as the National Nurse as 86% of those surveyed they would like to see nurses have more influence in promoting wellness and expanding preventive care.

Debbie Orre, National Nurse Supporter, On The Ground in Haiti

2010-02-22T02:58:00.000-08:00

Debbie Orre MSN, RN and National Nurse supporter traveled to Haiti to volunteer as a nurse last month. Debbie provides us with this personal and firsthand report including these pictures.

On January 19th I was given the privilege and opportunity to travel with a medical group to Haiti. We arrived eight days after the earthquake from Santiago in the Dominican Republic via charter plane, ultimately landing on the road-become-airstrip in Leogane.

The group I was associated with is part of an organization called Forward in Health, founded by our local Pediatrician, John Mulqueen and his wife, Paula (a nurse). They have been in existence for about six years now and are currently building a clinic in the northern part of Haiti. Fortunately for them, this area was not badly damaged in the quake. They soon began to receive urgent emails, however, from a mission they work with while down there called Mission of Hope, pleading for their help. John and Paula mobilized the people and gathered the supplies in 5 short days. In turn the pastor of the mission and his wife, Lex and Renee, agreed to host us and provide the necessary vehicles and drivers.

Thus, once we arrived in Leogane, we were ready to roll. Lex took us immediately to a village in the mountains called St. Etienne for our first clinic and we went to work treating an assortment of fractures, dislocations and infected wounds. Later that afternoon, once we had seen everyone there, we were brought to the mission house of our hosts, where we feasted on a wonderful meal of spaghetti and slept on our choice of either the concrete ground, the bus we used for travel, or in the case of our obstetrician, a long, folding table.

Over the next few days, we ran clinics in Gran Goave, where Lex and Renee’s mission is located, or traveled to a variety of tent cities treating people out of the back of our box truck. Our last day was the most difficult for us. A medical group from Doctor’s Without Borders asked us to relieve them so we traveled to a town called Petit Goave on the other side of the mountain. There was a hospital there but it was too badly damaged to use so the group had erected a clinic/tent and, in their absence, we were able to take it over. It was still early but there were already many patients lined up for us to see. The day became hot and busy, and we had a hard time keeping up. We saved the two most difficult cases for last. The OR at this hospital was in a separate building that had not been too badly damaged to use. With the help of several Cuban doctors and nurses we were able to debride a badly burned boy and do a below the knee amputation on a 10 year-old under more sterile conditions.

Packing up to leave that evening we found we had many conflicting feelings. While we knew that many of the people we treated may not otherwise have received care at all, we also knew that we were delivering a sort of ‘hit and run’ medicine, leaving us worried about follow up and survivability of patients once we left. We were creative and able to adapt treatment methods to fit our circumstances, adlibbing as we went, but were not use to the harsh circumstances we found ourselves in.

There were four doctors with us: a pediatrician, obstetrician, family practitioner and orthopedic surgeon. There were also 7 nurses, a lawyer who functioned as our pharmacist and an EMT. None of us practiced within our traditional roles, performing what needed to be done, when and how best we could.

It soon became clear that our orthopedic surgeon was the person on our team most in demand. After our day in Petit Goave he was exhausted and pensive on the return bus trip. However, we soon met up with the doctor who ran the clinic that day at the Mission of Hope church who needed a patient to be evaluated by our orthopedic surgeon if possible. Though I know it must have taken his last bit of energy, he got off the bus, along with our equally tired obstetrician, and they saw the patient before walking four or so miles back to the mission house. When I questioned him about this later he said simply “You have to do what you have to do. That’s all.”

Our evenings were mostly unpredictable and involved at least some of us working at any given point in time. One night, our obstetrician was approached to assist in a breach-birth delivery. Unfortunately, the baby didn’t make it. Another night found five of us walking to a nearby clinic to see several patients we had previously agreed to see, and even brought along one of our own because they had a room that was more conducive to the use of light anesthesia (Ketamine) and joint manipulation. As we were leaving, we were asked to go into a tent city that had sprung up just outside the clinic to see a patient who was ill. Its interior presented us with unique difficulties made worse by the fact that most people were already asleep. Because they were so close together we had to step over them and onto their blankets in order to even get to the patient. The rooms were sectioned off with blankets in a disconcerting and haphazard maze. We soon found ourselves mumbling over fears of being unable to find our way out or, worse yet, tripping and falling on someone, especially in the dim to nonexistent light.

On another evening, the family practice doc was asked to see a local 36 year-old woman whom he diagnosed as being in a severe Sickle Cell Crisis. He worried about her throughout the night and first thing in the morning hopped onto a motorcycle with a visiting pastor to drive the mile or two down the road in order to approach a group of US Navy men recently stationed there. He asked them to assist him in getting both she and another young man onto the medical ship, Comfort, in the Port-O-Prince harbor. They readily agreed and were very helpful in gathering up the patients then transporting them via helicopter onto the ship. The doctor cradled the woman in his lap the whole way hopeful that she would pull through but unfortunately we recently found out that she had died.

On our last evening there, we were all invited to dinner at the United Nations (UN) Compound near where we were staying. The UN also provided us with food and water during our busy day in Petit Gaove. They patrolled the streets where we stayed each night, since the walls surrounding the mission house had fallen during the quake, and we often saw them in the process of handing out food and other supplies.

I believe that I speak for each of us in saying that we returned home awestruck, exhausted and grateful for the opportunity to serve the people of Haiti during a time of such great need. More information concerning our trip and other information concerning Forward in Health is available on their website at http://forwardinhealth.org. Donations would be greatly appreciated.

Experiencing Haiti After the Quake

It was a rare opportunity, both exciting and frightening,
And one that would move me beyond my ordinary ‘self’.
It brought me to a disorientating place,
Allowing me to step out of time and space,
And produced in me a sense of awe and humility.

Here, there was nothing that needed doing,
Except to follow the flow of energy,
Commitment and connection.
But when I returned to the ‘present’,
I had become someone more than the person I once was.

A Letter to Our Colleagues

2010-02-18T01:02:00.000-08:00

Dear Professional Nurse Colleagues,

Don't miss this opportunity to invest in the future of nursing and in the health of America. A small donation of $20.00 unites you to a broad based national network that works to provide a full-time, visible, effective National Nurse to do what nurses do best: health promotion, prevention, health education and nurse recruitment. This very small investment on your part puts you in the big picture.

Please help. Please read on, to see how you will make an impact.

Members of the NNNO are going to Washington, DC to lobby for HR 4601, The National Nurse Act of 2010. We are in need of your financial support ASAP, and you can be 100% certain that every penny will be utilized responsibly!

We are gearing up to lobby Washington DC and we welcome and encourage supporters to join us. Visiting our elected officials on Capitol Hill and with national leaders is important to generate and solidify support for HR 4601-The National Nurse Act of 2010. We must bring newly elected legislators on board, and re-engage members who have supported our goals in the past.

In contrast to the National Nursing Network Organization, lobbyists for big companies spend millions to influence Congress. We operate on a shoe-string budget but our strongest asset is a great idea, fueled with vision, passion, tenacity, and supporters like you. While the NNNO board members ALWAYS absorb much of travel costs personally, donations are needed to defray these expenses, as well as daily business operations. Not one donation penny goes toward any salary for any NNNO board member, or other person. And every cent is diligently accounted for.

A $50 donation by our endorsing organizations would go a long way to cover this outreach. And remember that all $20 contributions from individuals will assure your legislators receive a packet and certificate acknowledging your support establishing an Office of the National Nurse by elevating the current CNO of the USPHS to bring more visibility to nursing’s role in health promotion.

To date we have received donations from supporters living in Arizona, California, Florida, Illinois, Maryland, New Hampshire, Nevada, New York, North Carolina, Oregon, Vermont, Virginia and the District of Columbia and we heartily thank them!

Please make your donation on line or by emailing the NNNO Board for information on where to send a check. *Please be aware that while the NNNO is a non-profit corporation, it is not tax exempt, and therefore your contributions are not tax deductible.

The sooner we get our National Nurse, the sooner the knowledge of nurses can be better utilized to get our nation on track to prevention and wellness. We promise to work hard and relentlessly on Capital Hill.

3rd Annual Healthy Living "Love Your Heart" A Resounding Success!

2010-02-15T03:36:00.000-08:00

February is HEART month and thanks to great leadership the third annual Healthy Living Fair "Love Your Heart" fair held at Tuality Healthcare in Hillsboro, Oregon was deemed successful. Over 100 members of the public came to learn more about their life style. Most had their blood pressure checked, some were screened for cholesterol and glucose, and all were provided with educational materials ranging from eating healthy to smoking cessation, risk factors and exercise.

Pictured left to right: Cynthia Lambert SN (PCC Class of 2010 and Jessica Manzoni SN (PCC) Class of 2010

Nearly forty Portland Community College nursing students were on hand to answer questions and also to do one on one motivational interviewing. Participants were given the opportunity to evaluate the event and all strongly agreed or agreed that the Health Fair was worthwhile. It was especially rewarding to see returnees from previous years. The majority of those attending stated they planned to make a change in their normal routine based on what they had learned. The "Love Your Heart" fair is just one example of how having an Office of the National Nurse could make a difference in promoting health and reducing the rate of chronic disease. HR 4601-The National Nurse Act of 2010 calls for the National Nurse to "provide guidance and leadership for activities to promote the public health, including encouraging nurses and other health professionals to be volunteers and developing projects that educate the public about and engage the public in prevention practices to achieve better health."

Pictured Trixilyn Ward (age 3) and Craig Grover SN (PCC Class of 2010)

Activities were age appropriate and children were encouraged to play with an interactive heart or color paper hearts. It is never too early to practice healthy living! s and developing projects that educate the public about and engage the public in prevention practices to achieve better health.

Thank You Congressman Earl Blumenauer (OR-3)

2010-02-11T05:30:00.000-08:00

Pictured: Congressman Earl Blumenauer (OR-3)

The National Nursing Network Organization commends Congressman Earl Blumenauer (OR-3) for sponsoring HR 4601-The National Nurse Act of 2010. We would like to share his statement with you.

"We all have a story to share about how a nurse has impacted us, from the school nurse who tended to our kids to the nurse in the emergency room who was the first on the scene," said Congressman Earl Blumenauer. "Establishing a full-time National Nurse is an important way to make heard the voices of thousands of dedicated nurses across the nation. A National Nurse position will complement the work of the Surgeon General in addressing our country's public health challenges."

Sandy Summers, RN, MSN, MPH Executive Director from The Truth About Nursing wrote to Congressman Blumenauer to express her support of HR 4601. Summers states, "We need a nurse leader with a high profile who can help raise awareness that nurses are college-educated professionals who save lives and improve outcomes. Bill HR 4601 for the National Nurse will help create a world where society and decision makers understand the value of nursing. Nursing is drastically undervalued and underfunded. When nursing education, practice, residencies and research are underfunded, patient care is weakened by insufficient quality and quantity of nursing care. The Office of the National Nurse would help end the societal disrespect of nursing that leads to this underfunding--underfunding which leads to patients needlessly dying."

Sandy Summers, RN, MSN, MPH
Executive Director
The Truth About Nursing
Co-author: Saving Lives: Why the Media's Portrayal of Nurses Puts Us All at Risk
203 Churchwardens Rd.
Baltimore, Maryland 21212-2937 USA
phone 1-410-323-1100
fax 1-410-510-1790
ssummers@truthaboutnursing.org
http://www.truthaboutnursing.org

Congressman Earl Blumenauer (OR-3) Introduces National Nurse Act of 2010

2010-02-08T03:40:00.000-08:00

Washington DC – Thanks to the leadership and vision of Congressman Earl Blumenauer (OR-3), nursing sees its vision to improve the nation’s health introduced as a bill into Congress. The bill language can now be found on the Thomas Website and will be added soon to the National Nurse home page and News Link.

On February 4, 2010, Blumenauer, a member of the 119-member House Nursing Caucus and the Ways and Means Health Subcommittee, introduced HR 4601 to create an Office of the National Nurse.

To avoid duplication of services and minimize cost, the National Nurse Act of 2010 designates the position of the Chief Nurse Officer of the US Public Health Service to serve as the National Nurse. The National Nurse would function along side the Surgeon General. National Nurse priorities would promote health, improve health literacy and decrease health disparities.

The Office of the National Nurse will strengthen the work of existing groups such as the Office of the Surgeon General, Medical Reserve Corps and community agencies through a more robust, visible, full- time, and modernized nursing leadership presence. Nurses are well positioned to provide this much needed change as they are 3.4 million strong, the most trusted of all health professionals, span all cultures, and are accomplished health educators.

An Open Letter to First Lady Michelle Obama

2010-02-03T07:38:00.000-08:00

Pictured: First Lady Michelle Obama
February 3, 2010

Dear Mrs. Obama,

Your initiative to combat childhood obesity is commendable and one that supports this year’s theme for National Nurses Week - Nurses: Caring Today for a Healthier Tomorrow. Nurses across the country fully support all efforts to attain a healthier nation. And we, the Board of Directors of the National Nursing Network Organization (NNNO) believe that focusing on health awareness among our youth is key. We are a non-profit organization of grassroots nurses devoted to informing the nation about the critical need for an Office of the National Nurse.

As you know, nurses are well versed and educated on what it takes to lead healthy lives. As you recall your own experiences as a mother, there may be several instances when nurses provided you with messages that helped you and your loved ones stay well. The first meaningful contact a person born in the U.S. typically has, besides their parents, is with a nurse. It is the labor and delivery nurse who first teaches the mother-to-be about the importance of breastfeeding. Later, when the new mom is transferred, the postpartum nurse is responsible for teaching and educating parents about the importance of the baby's nutrition and care as well as the care of the mom and even the dad. Listening to the teachings of a postpartum nurse often makes the difference between successful or unsuccessful parenting.

Throughout an individual's life cycle, nurses have numerous opportunities to teach health promotion during routine and “sick” visits to their healthcare providers. And nurses outnumber physicians by a ratio of three-to-one. Add to that the fact that nurses are among the most trusted professionals in the nation, and it is clear that the nursing profession is perfectly postured to partner with you to reach high goals related to childhood nutrition.

Only one thing stands in the way of having the nursing voice heard and truly valued. That obstacle is the image of nursing. Unfortunately, nurses have to overcome powerful negative images that come from the media. Many of these images portray nurses as handmaidens to physicians, rather than as professionals with their own licenses who collaborate care with physicians, for the patient's wellness.

We as nurses would like a solid partnership with you. And we believe we have an idea that is innovative, effective, and perhaps these days most importantly, cost-effective. We need a National Nurse! We are not asking for the creation of another agency. Rather, a current position exists within the USPHS, the Chief Nursing Officer (CNO) and we believe this individual has the knowledge, expertise and skills to be recognized as the “National Nurse.”

The establishment of the Office of the National Nurse – and your endorsement of it – would go a long way toward towards achieving our goals of improving children's nutritional health and improving the public perception of nurses. A nurse alongside you and the Surgeon General would be a tremendous morale-booster for nurses. The public will benefit from nurses as national participants in ensuring the best nutritional and health education for the youngest, most vulnerable members of society.

We would be honored if you call upon us to learn more about how effective our grassroots efforts to establish a National Nurse has been since the idea was first presented in an op/ed, America's Nurse, that was published in 2005 in The New York Times. Members of our Board will be traveling to Washington DC on March 25 and 26 and would be delighted to meet with you or a member of your staff.

Sincerely,
Alisa, Susan, Teri, and Terri
The NNNO Board of Directors

Nurse Practitioner In Favor of Office of the National Nurse

2010-02-01T04:47:00.000-08:00

Pictured: Karla McGee RN BSN CCRN FNP WSUV student

Health promotion is essential for improving the health of populations. For over one hundred and fifty years nurses have responded effectively to public health problems pioneered by the skill of Florence Nightingale, who spread the gospel to reduce communicable disease, Lillian Wald and Mary Breckinridge, just to name a few.

During the 70’s nurses made many contributions to improve health care including the hospice movement, day care of the elderly, drug abuse treatment programs, rehabilitation services and home health. The US public health service estimates about 10% of all early treatment can prevent early deaths in the US, wheras population based approaches can prevent about 70% of early deaths through measures that influence lifestyle choices and the environment.

RNs continue to actively participate in developing innovative ways to provide care through prevention by utilizing the nursing process. The nursing process enables the RN to assess illness and health care needs, plan interventions to meet those needs, implement effective plans and teach health care practices, effectively collect data, utilize the results to direct care and develop policy and research to promote health and prevent diseases.

Nurses look to the past for their inspiration and explanation only to predict and promote the comprehensive approaches that it will take to accomplish successful strategies. The future health care promotion and complex needs of the public must be met in synergy with the most trusted profession voted by the public, the NURSE. Nurses truly make a DIFFERENCE. I commend and endorse your organization’s principles and efforts.

Submitted by:
Karla McGee RN BSN CCRN FNP WSUV student

Portland Winter Hawks "tip their hats" for A National Nurse

2010-01-25T02:21:00.000-08:00

An exciting fundraising activity has come our way. A staunch supporter of the Office of the National Nurse initiative spoke with the Portland Winter Hawks hockey team and they have decided to provide us with a block of 100 tickets to their March 6th game. Purchasers of these tickets will also receive an added bonus, a great free Winter Hawks Hat!!

$4 per ticket sold will be donated to the National Nursing Network Organization (NNNO). Even better, if all tickets are purchased, the NNNO will be provided a publicity outreach table in the Food Court in order to educate others about the ONN initiative.

What: Portland Winter Hawks vs Tri-Cities Americans
When: Saturday March 6th at 7 pm
Where: Portland (Oregon) Rose Garden
Cost: $16 (four dollars of which will be donated to the NNNO)
REMEMBER!! Every ticket sold comes with a FREE Winter Hawks Hat!

To support this great cause and order tickets, please call L'Erin at 503-238-6366. Tickets can either be mailed or placed at will call.

Want to support the cause, but can't go to the game? There are several deserving nursing students who have worked tirelessly on the National Nurse campaign. Their budgets won't stretch to cover tickets for their young children who are eager to attend the game . If you would like to help by buying a ticket and putting it in a child's name to be picked up at the game, please email the NNNO Board .

News Link Recognized in Top 20!

2010-01-21T03:46:00.000-08:00

Thanks to the dozens of organizations and individuals who have graciously posted a link to the National Nurse home page or News Link. This action helps others to learn first hand information about the Office of the National Nurse initiative.

The National Nursing Network Organization was notified that for the second time this year, the News Link has been listed in a recommended list of websites, this time in The Top 20 Medical Blogs for Academic Reference!

Nurses Step Forward to Respond to Haitian Earthquake Disaster

2010-01-15T05:57:00.000-08:00

Nurses are responding to the tragedy in Haiti in many ways. The National Nursing Network Organization has received numerous emails asking for information on how to volunteer from nurses wanting to help the disaster victims in Haiti. Their actions graphically demonstrate how many nurses are willing to volunteer when needed, whether the need is in their own local communities or internationally. Those nurses who are able to do so will go quickly to the disaster area where they are desperately needed to provide direct care. Others will help at home organizing support efforts such as collection of appropriate needed supplies via faith-based organizations or assisting at their local American Red Cross disaster services office.

Nursing can be very proud of the altruism displayed by our colleagues and the National Nursing Network Organization commends all who volunteer alongside the military and humanitarian organization efforts.

For more information on health recommendations for those going to Haiti, be sure to review the CDC Health and Safety Recommendations for Relief Workers Responding to Disaster posted on the CDC website.

Nurses can be very helpful in advising and suggesting ways communities can make the most of needed donations. The Center for International Disaster Relief has information posted as well as the following phone numbers:

Donation/Volunteer Related Calls: 703-276-1914
Media Calls: 202-821-1983

Thanks to our esteemed public health nurse colleague in California for also recommending nurses check out National Nurse Response Team (NNRT) as well as their local Medical Reserve Corps (MRC). The NNRT makes them a Federal asset in case of disaster, and they get paid. The MRC is for local volunteers. In both cases, nurses will become part of a team with the ability to respond as needed.

The $20 Campaign

2010-01-11T04:37:00.000-08:00

Supporters of the Office of the National Nurse initiative have been fantastic and we know we can count on you in 2010. Most of you are aware that the National Nursing Network Organization (NNNO) is completely volunteer and made up of grassroots supporters just like you. Whereas many organizations and campaigns hire lobbyists/government relation specialists who are paid to go to Congress and advocate on their behalf, this is not the case with the NNNO. These same groups frequently pay a stipend or honorarium to their Board of Directors. The RNs who serve on the National Nursing Network Organization Board receive no compensation. Most have full time jobs, and none have ever accepted money for their NNNO advocacy work.

The NNNO is an all-volunteer organization composed of working nurses. We value the power each one of us has as an individual to advocate for change and make a difference in improving the health of our country and the image of our profession.

So when advertisers approach us, and ask if they can post ads and links on the National Nurse website, and then pay us, we decline their offers regardless of what they are selling.

This campaign depends on YOU-and today we ask you, our supporters, to please make an on line donation or email the NNNO Board of Directors to learn where to mail a check to support our efforts. (Since this newsletter is frequently posted on the Internet by many organizations, for safety reasons, we are not including home addresses-thank you for your understanding.)

If possible, please consider making a recurring on line donation. Five or ten dollars a month will help to offset the cost of the National Nurse websites, this newsletter, printing, and travel expenses for Board members able to make the trip to Washington.

For a one-time contribution of $20, the team will place a certificate in your honor inside a packet that will be delivered to your US Representative or Senator (you decide!) during our March trip to Washington DC. A copy of the certificate will also be mailed to you. Please know that it costs $20 to make up a professional packet of supporting materials about the Office of the National Nurse proposal, so your donation is actually paying for this packet.

The NNNO is a 501c4 non-profit corporation, but is not tax exempt (because our purpose is to lobby for the initiative) and therefore your contributions are not tax deductible.

Please join us, lend your support and empower nurses to make this vision for nursing possible. Together, nurses will make the Office of the National Nurse become a reality. We could not continue the work we do without your support! Thank you.

2010: International Year of the Nurse

2010-01-04T01:03:00.000-08:00

There is a familiar theme in the article by Tracey Boyd for Nursing Spectrum describing the valiant efforts of the grassroots movement to have 2010 Internationally declared the Year of the Nurse. Seeking a UN resolution is the brainchild of three nursing organizations: Sigma Theta Tau International, Nightingale Initiative for Global Health, and the Florence Nightingale Museum, London. The resolution’s mission is to “recognize the contributions of nurses globally and to engage nurses in the promotion of world health, including the U.N. [millennium development goals],” according to the website.

Nurses are on the frontlines of healthcare in the U.S. as well as every other country, so seeking recognition and support for the contributions of the profession of nursing in all societies is justified. Nurses are trusted professionals who altruistically serve their communities sharing knowledge, directing care and preventing illness. Promoting and expanding the influential roles nurses can integrate in their practice of health education to improve outcomes is long overdue.

This admirable international effort being actively promoted by nurse faculty and students at Adlephi University is a parallel in many ways to the growing national grass roots effort in the U.S. to establish an Office of the National Nurse. Both movements have the support of many nursing organizations and are actively supported by students, practicing nurses across all specialties, and retirees.

The National Nursing Network Organization (NNNO) has been coordinating a grassroots effort in the United States to establish an Office of the National Nurse since 2005. The NNNO is proud to support the global nursing community in their request to the United Nations to declare 2010 the Year of the Nurse. Nurses are logical partners to assist in the realization of each nation's health priorities and the UN Millennium Development Goals.

In the same way, nurses in the United States can be key advocates and providers to take action to move our nation's Healthy People 2020 Goals forward, identified leadership is key for both of these efforts to be successful. Many countries are fortunate to have an identified National Nurse who coordinates nursing action in support of global and national health priorities, and the U.S. deserves the same. With support of interested nurses everywhere, 2010 may be the year both these important campaigns are successful in enhancing the image and contributions of nurses.

To learn more, or to join the International Nurse of the Year Campaign, please visit www.nightingaledeclaration.net

2009 Year in Review

2009-12-21T04:13:00.000-08:00

The Office of the National Nurse Initiative continues to resonate with nurses who like the majority of Americans, rank prevention as the most important health care reform priority, and overwhelmingly support increasing funding for prevention programs to reduce disease and keep people healthy. You are all extremely important in our work to create an Office of the National Nurse- THANK YOU to the hundreds of you who tirelessly provided us with advice, expertise, and support this past year!

In the past four years, 400 posts have been written for the website and we have received over 100,000 visitors! The News Link recently received recognition; it is ranked number three in the Health/Nurse category of blogged.com Hundreds have now signed up for the National Nurse Campaign on Facebook.

Trust for America’s Health sent a thank you to the House of Representatives for their strong support of evidence-based prevention in the “Affordable Health Care for America Act; their note included the Office of the National Nurse logo!

We are especially grateful to the next generation of nurses. Nursing students have been instrumental in providing support and gaining endorsements. Thanks to PCC student nurses who are now RNs, a joint resolution urging the US Congress to enact legislation to create an Office of the National Nurse passed overwhelmingly in both branches of the Oregon State Legislature. Oregon joins Massachusetts, New York, and Vermont who had already passed similar resolutions.

The National Nursing Network Organization (NNNO) participated in three health promotion events: Heart Smart in the Park, Love Your Heart Healthy Living Fair, and the Haunted Hospital.

The National Nurse newsletter goes out to thousands- please email Teri if you know of others who are interested in receiving these updates.

Several of you sent us cash donations, via Click and Pledge or mailed the NNNO checks. We greatly appreciate this support to help maintain our website, mailing list, and brief travels to educate others about the ONN Initiative. In March 2009 we traveled to Washington DC and met with several members of Congress, their staff, and also with leaders who serve in the USPHS.

For anyone who wishes to take a trip down memory lane, click on the archived months of 2009 found at http://nationalnurse.blogspot.com to follow our journey.

Several organizations and prominent individuals endorsed the ONN initiative in 2009, including:

• Asian American/Pacific Islander Nurses Association
• Carla Mills ARNP, BSN, MSN, FNP-C
• Case Management Society of America
• Diana Swihart, PhD, DMin, MSN, CS, RN-BC
• DMAA-The Care Continuum Alliance
• Edie Brous RN BSN MSN MPH JD
• Governor Howard Dean (VT)
• JNESO District Council 1 IUOE- AFL/CIO
• Laura Gasparis Vonfrolio RN, PhD
• MammaCare Foundation
• National Nurses in Business Association
• NurseTogether.com
• Oregon State Legislature
• Oregonians for Health Security
• Pennsylvania Coalition of Nurse Practitioners
• Philippine Nurses Association of America
• RNs Working Together
• State Delegate Margaret Vanderhye (VA)
• State Representative Terri Austin (IN) Original Sponsor 2009 Resolution
• State Representative Michael Dembrow (OR) and State Senator Laurie Monnes-Anderson-Original Sponsors 2009 Joint Resolution
• United American Nurses AFL-CIO (UAN)
• United Nurses of America (AFSCME)
• US Congressional Candidate Elizabeth Dennigan RN (RI)
• Working Nurse

A complete list of all our endorsers can be found at http://nationalnurse.org/endorsements.shtml.

Presentations:

Our board members traveled to Portland (Oregon), Burlington (Vermont) and Washington DC) to present the Office of the National Nurse Initiative. Please contact us if you are interested in inviting members of the NNNO Board to your classroom or meetings so that others may receive information about the proposal. Please be aware that CEUs have been made available in the past for those attending conferences.

Here a list of presentations that we gave during 2009:

• Concordia University (Portland, Oregon) – March 2009
• Washington County Public Affairs Forum – April 2009
• Oregon Consortium for Nursing Education – May 2009
• Democracy Fest (Burlington, Vermont) – July 2009

Publications:

“The Office of the National Nurse” by Mills and Schneider appeared in Volume 13 of The Journal of Nursing Law. Editor in Chief Suzanne Edgett Collins, RN, MPH, JD, PhD and Assistant Editor Diane Kjervik, JD, MSN, RN, FAAN eloquently wrote the following in their editorial that preceded this manuscript, "Mills and Schneider, as founders of the movement to establish an Office of the National Nurse, address the challenging crises that our national health system faces and promote the establishment of the an Office of the National Nurse. They argue that the Office of the National Nurse is a fundamental, necessary change in the traditional thinking about professional nursing's role in health promotion and disease prevention on a national level."

Additional articles published about the Office of the National Nurse in 2009 include:

• ADVANCE for LPNs – June 2009
• American Federation of Teachers Health Wire May/June 2009
• American Federation of Teachers-Oregon newsletter March 2009, July 2009, October 2009
• American Journal of Nursing January 2009 and April 2009
• American Journal of Nursing Off the Charts September 2009
• American Society of Peri-Anesthesia Nurses Breathline March/April 2009
• Journal of Nursing Law 13 (1) 2009
• Las Vegas Review Journal May 2009
• MedHunters November 2009
• Nevada RNformation May/June 2009
• Nursing 2009-March edition
• Oregonian March 2009
• Vermont Nurse Connection Nov/Dec 2009, Jan 2010
• Working Nurse California and Arizona issues; May 2009

On TV and the Radio:

Broadcast presentations include:

• January 2009 Reach MD
• April 2009 Washington County Public Affairs Forum
• July 2009 Center for Media and Democracy

Quote for the Day

"There is no use trying, said Alice; one can't believe impossible things. I dare say you haven't had much practice, said the Queen. When I was your age, I always did it for half an hour a day. Why, sometimes I've believed as many as six impossible things before breakfast."
Lewis Carroll

We wish you the happiest and healthiest of holidays and look forward to 2010!
Alisa, Teri, Terri, Susan

National Nurse Website Recognition

2009-12-14T05:49:00.000-08:00

For the second year in a row, the National Nurse News link was reviewed and given a score of 8.8-GREAT- out of (10). It is currently rated number three (133 blogs are listed) in the Health/Nursing category of Blogged.com

Websites were reviewed using the following criteria: frequency of updates, relevance of content, site design, and writing style. To check this out for yourself visit http://www.blogged.com/directory/health/nursing

Vermont Nurse Connection Publishes Article About ONN

2009-12-07T01:08:00.000-08:00

Thank you to June Benoit, President of the Vermont State Nurses Association for her willingness to publish an article about the Office of the National Nurse initiative in the Vermont Nurse Connection Nov/Dec/Jan 2010 issue. The story appears on page 4.

Here are the first two paragraphs of what was published:

"Americans and especially nurses are all too aware that our healthcare system is in crisis. If nothing is done to curb costs, in less than 7 years, health care in the United States is projected to cost $4.2 trillion or about 20% of the gross domestic product (GDP). (Poisal, 2007). Insurance premiums are skyrocketing, prescription drugs are unaffordable, and chronic preventable diseases including Type 2 diabetes, are on the rise. Trust for America's Health and the RWJF Foundation's June 2009 survey found that Americans rank prevention as the top healthcare reform priority (TFAH, 2009). Fortunately, the nursing profession is well positioned to undertake this enormous task as a large skilled nursing workforce exists across all communities with the expertise, skills, and commitment needed to shift our focus to prevention and begin improving our nation's health. Many are calling for an Office of the National Nurse to provide the necessary leadership for nurses willing to take up this challenge.

It is being recommended the Chief Nurse Officer (CNO) of the USPHS be legislated to become the National Nurse, to avoid duplication of services and minimize costs. The Office of the National Nurse would function along side the Surgeon General and focus on the Surgeon General’s priorities of health promotion, improving health literacy, and decreasing health disparities. Having Congress designate the CNO with the unique title of "National Nurse" will create visible nursing leadership, help educate the public on what nursing really is, and emphasize prevention and health promotion (Mills & Schneider, 2009)."

Mills, T., & Schneider, A. (2009). The office of the national nurse. Journal of nursing law, 13, (1), 13-18.

Poisal, J.A., et al, Health Spending Projections Through 2016: Modest Changes Obscure Part D’s Impact. Health Affairs (21 February 2007): W242-253.

Trust for America's Health. June 2009. New Poll Finds Disease Prevention is Top Priority for Americans in Health Reform. Retrieved August 5, 2009 from http://healthyamericans.org/newsroom/releases/?releaseid=181.

Testifying Before The RWJF/IOM Forum on the Future of Nursing

2009-11-30T02:47:00.000-08:00

Thank-you to Phyllis Gallagher RN, BA, MA, JD, supporter of the National Nurse Initiative, for her willingness to testify before the RWJF/IOM Commission on the Future of Nursing during their Acute Care Forum that took place at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles on October 19th. The Initiative on the Future of Nursing is a two-year effort of the Institute of Medicine and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation to find solutions to the continuing challenges facing the nursing profession, and to build upon nursing-based solutions to improve quality and transform the way Americans receive healthcare.

Ms. Gallagher reported there were many good ideas shared through the day on how nursing must change. Establishing an Office of the National Nurse would support many of the proposals presented by those who spoke. The main themes expressed were increasing nursing visibility, finding ways to empower the nursing profession, enhancing technology, and having courage when incorporating transformational change.

According to the website,

"The Institute of Medicine (IOM) in collaboration with the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF) will establish a major initiative on the Future of Nursing. The initial cornerstone of the program would be conduct of a major study whose goal would be to produce a transformational report on the future of nursing.

An ad hoc committee will examine the capacity of the nursing workforce to meet the demands of a reformed health care and public health system. It will develop a set of bold national recommendations, including ones that address the delivery of nursing services in a shortage environment and the capacity of the nursing education system. In its report, the committee will define a clear agenda and blueprint for action including changes in public and institutional policies at the national, state and local levels. Its recommendations would address a range of system changes, including innovative ways to solve the nursing shortage in the U.S."

Ms. Gallagher presented specific recommendations as to how the Office of the National Nurse initiative interfaces with the goal of identifying vital roles for nurses in designing and implementing a more effective and efficient health care system as delineated by the committee:

• Reconceptualizing the role of nurses within the context of the entire workforce, the shortage, societal issues, and current and future technology;
• Expanding nursing faculty, increasing the capacity of nursing schools, and redesigning nursing education to assure that it can produce an adequate number of well prepared nurses able to meet current and future health care demands;
• Examining innovative solutions related to care delivery and health professional education by focusing on nursing and the delivery of nursing services; and
• Attracting and retaining well prepared nurses in multiple care settings, including acute, ambulatory, primary care, long term care, community and public health.

Please email teri@nationalnurse.info if you are interested in receiving an emailed copy of Ms. Gallagher's testimony. You may visit this link to watch the archived webcast of the forum.

U.S. Hunger Rate Highest In Nearly Two Decades

2009-11-24T04:31:00.000-08:00

One year has passed since the National Nursing Network Organization's Board of Directors wished you, your family, neighbors and friends a Happy Thanksgiving. Sadly, too many of our citizens are still without healthcare. We continue to see a rise in health disparities. Unemployment has reached an all time high. According to a USDA study, the U.S. hunger rate is the highest it has been in two decades. One in seven American households struggled to put food on the table in 2008; this number represents 14.6% of U.S. households. In 2007, 11.1% of American households suffered from "food insecurity", defined as not having enough food to maintain an active, healthy lifestyle. Even more dismal is the fact that one in four children in our country lives on the brink of hunger.

The NNNO Board of Directors asks you to consider making a donation to your community's food bank. The need for food is acute across the nation; the demand is rapidly outpacing the supply and many food cupboards are bare. Food pantries are in need of non-perishable food items of every type, including canned goods, cereal, coffee and juice, as well as toiletry items like toothpaste and brushes, bandages and medication.

Our country is still very much involved in fighting two wars. If you are thinking about sending one of our nation's troops a care package for the holidays, please visit Any Soldier's website for lots of helpful information, including where to send your package, how to send it, and what to put in it.

On a personal note, we remain very grateful and truly overwhelmed by your continued emails and offers of support as we work together to establish an Office of the National Nurse for prevention. Please have a happy, healthy, and safe Thanksgiving.

U.S. Preventive Services Task Force Discourages Breast Self-Examination In Latest Report; Advises Mammograms Begin at 50

2009-11-20T05:44:00.000-08:00

Last week, the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) released a report calling for mammograms to begin at age 50. This is a significant change from prior recommendations that mammograms begin at age 40 and the reaction to this news has been confusion, controversy, and outrage. The USPSTF also surprisingly recommends against teaching breast self-examination (BSE).

Many leading experts are questioning whether significant evidence to support BSE was omitted or not taken into account by the USPSTF. One such organization is MammaCare; the results of whose mission to find the most effective procedure for manual detection of small breast lesions have been widely published. Here is a link to Mammacare’s release entitled "USPSTF omits critical evidence on breast-self-examination (BSE)". Research studies cited here do suggest that self-examination accounted for a substantial proportion of breast cancers detected and that BSE is associated with survival.

Mammacare concludes that “the cumulative and current biomedical data suggest strongly that women should not abandon their practice of self-exams nor delay learning how to perform proficient breast self-examinations. Evidence confirms that a large proportion of breast cancers are palpable and self-detected, that some breast cancers are mammographically invisible particularly in younger women and women with dense breast tissue, that the components of effective breast self-examination are now known and validated, that the skill can be learned and that women who learn and practice proficient breast examination possess an advantage in protecting their health and their lives.”

We urge you to share this evidence with women and clinicians. You are also welcome to forward the link, http://www.mammacare.com/news.php?news_id=7 to all interested parties.

Office of the National Nurse Offers A Solution To Have All Nurses Work Together

2009-11-16T01:53:00.000-08:00

Joyce Routson advocates that nurses to come together internally and in public in her recent article, “Dichotomy Exists Between Nurses' Image of Trustworthiness and Negative Stereotypes”. Routson discusses the consistently high rating nurses receive for being a trustworthy and ethical profession in the Gallup polls (nursing has been on top now for seven straight years!) yet negative and sexist images about nurses persist.

Eleanor Sullivan, PhD, RN, FAAN, a former nurse and author is quoted, “Nurses aren’t portrayed as experienced, decision-making professionals. The public does not know what nurses do.” Kathleen Bartholomew, RC, RN, MN was present when President Obama spoke on health care reform and reveals the President was surrounded by physicians instead of nurses.

Bernice Buresh, who co-authored From Silence to Voice says it is time to educate the public about what nurses do. Buresh says, “We have to join with each other and have our own self-esteem.” Buresh agrees nurses need to have a stronger political voice.

Teri Mills MS, CNE, RN, co-founder of the Office of the National Nurse initiative states, “Nurses need to deliver the message that we help people stay well. There needs to be a recognized nurse to the public who understands our needs. A National Nurse could be a unifying force for all nurses and elevate the profession. This title provides the authority, the impetus, the recognition needed to capture the public’s attention, encourage prevention, and raise awareness of health promotion efforts.”

To read this story and add your own viewpoint, visit http://www.medhunters.com/articles/nursesImage.html

RN Running for Congress Endorses Office of the National Nurse

2009-11-09T03:51:00.000-08:00

Pictured: Elizabeth "Betsy" Dennigan RN, Candidate for Congress, Rhode Island 2nd Congressional District

The Board of Directors of the National Nursing Network Organization is pleased to announce and thank U.S. Congressional Candidate Betsy Dennigan for her support for the initiative to create an Office of the National Nurse. Elizabeth ‘Betsy’ Dennigan is a thirteen-year veteran of the Rhode Island House of Representatives and held a seat on the powerful Finance Committee. Betsy works as an emergency nurse and has a degree in Health Care Administration. Below is her statement of support:

Endorsement for the Office of the National Nurse

It is difficult to find more diverse professionals than in nursing. We are nurse executives in hospitals, government, colleges, non profits and for corporate giants. We are staff nurses in the ED, PEDI, ICU, L&D and NICU. We work in cities and travel to client homes on rural mountain roads. We have taken different paths to our profession and are proud to be a professional nurse.

Due to the diversity of the profession, it is imperative to have a coordinated voice and leader for nursing on the national level. This can be accomplished by an Office of the National Nurse.

During this season's Swine influenza outbreak, I have seen various medical directors and the Surgeon General speak, but the important teammate from nursing has been missing.

Health and safety through prevention will be the hallmark of the Office of the National Nurse. This will bring cost savings, better health outcomes and respect for the leadership the Office will provide to Americans.

I endorse the Office of the National Nurse. I will stand with Congressional leaders of legislation to create an Office of the National Nurse, and will speak out and negotiate successful passage of this bill. You can count on me to work hard for this issue.

Please help me get to Congress by donating in any amount. You can donate online (see below) or to Dennigan For Congress, P.O. Box 8053, Cranston, RI 02920. I do not like to ask, but the reality is that if we want to send a nurse to Congress to speak on all issues affecting nurses (as I have done in the state legislature for 13 years), we need money. The donations are used primarily for TV ads and for staff. Help send a nurse to Congress!

Honorable Betsy Dennigan RN
Candidate for Congress
Rhode Island 2nd Congressional District
betsy@betsydenniganforcongress.com
http://www.betsydenniganforcongress.com

Graduate Students At Wilmington University Study Office of the National Nurse Initiative

2009-11-02T02:57:00.000-08:00

University of Wilmington MSN Nursing Students

Graduate and undergraduate nursing students from around the nation continue to enthusiastically study and support the Office of the National Nurse. Cathy Petrucci, a graduate nursing student attending Wilmington University (Delaware), presented a five-minute "infomercial" about the Office of the National Nurse proposal to her Politics and Policy class. She shared the National Nurse web site and blog, and also browsed through the links. Cathy stated there was very positive reception overall. Here are the conclusions that she wrote:

Recommendation and Summary

"Disease prevention and health promotion must be the priority for every healthcare provider. A National Nurse is the ideal person to lead this initiative since these two principles are fundamental to the profession of nursing. The Office of the National Nurse would be a unifying force for all nurses, elevate our influence and prominence, better utilize the expertise of nurses, and serve a vital function in our current climate of healthcare reform. The title of National Nurse would “provide the authority, impetus, and recognition needed to capture the public’s attention, encourage prevention, and raise awareness of a national push for health promotion efforts (Mills et al., 2008).

The impetus of this grass-roots movement is just what nurses need to unify around our core values. This is an unprecedented movement and clearly has captured the attention of America’s nurses. The collective voices of nurses are calling for change, and there is nothing but good to be attained by this initiative."

Reference:
Mills, T., Scanlon, K., & Sullivan, S. (2008). Nurses and the public say it is time for a change. Topics in Advanced Practice Nursing, 9(1).

Cathy Petrucci, RN, BSN, OCN
Current MSN student at Wilmington University, Wilmington, DE

Halloween Haunted Hospital Teaches Kids Importance of Prevention

2009-10-26T03:54:00.000-07:00

On Saturday, October 31st, the Portland Community College Chapter of the National Student Nurses Association will be transforming the Nursing skills lab into a frightful Haunted Hospital on Halloween! The cost is $4 per child.

The purpose of the Haunted Hospital is a community outreach project aimed at teaching kids about the importance of practicing safety and developing healthy habits to prevent accidents and disease and to promote health.

Come out and begin your Halloween celebration by visiting this fun and spooky hospital.

Trick or Treat bags, donated by the Northwest Health Foundation, will be given to the first 400 visitors! Bring a can or box of non-perishable food for a $1.00 discount on admission. The food will be donated to the Oregon Food Bank to help combat hunger this winter for needy Oregonians

The event serves to help raise money for the PCC SNA chapter by providing the necessary funds and resources to continue community outreach efforts of that students participate and organize all year long.

It has been found that Americans rank prevention as their most important health priority and overwhelming support increasing funding for prevention programs to reduce disease and keep people healthy. The PCC NSNA Chapter believes that nurses should be at the forefront of that movement and when student nurses are out promoting health in the community they become a part of that exciting change!

For more information email teri@nationalnurse.info

Americans Called to Serve

2009-10-21T05:25:00.000-07:00

Last week President Barack Obama joined former President George H. W. Bush on stage at Texas A & M University to celebrate volunteerism and civic involvement. Now the AARP is helping to reinforce this message.

AARP announced that beginning this week TV audiences will see Prime Time Television programs encouraging community volunteerism. More than 100 popular TV shows representing several major networks will participate in this strong television promotion October 19th through October 25th. Well known celebrities will provide public service announcements and many television program scripts will also incorporate the idea of giving back.

AARP states, "Viewers will be encouraged to find volunteer opportunities in their communities at the Entertainment Industry Foundation's iParticipate website as well as the website for Create the Good, AARP's community service program that is cross-promoting with iParticipate.

AARP has more than 9 million volunteers, donors and activists, age 50 and older, involved in community service. The joint promotion is a way for the two organizations to pursue a common goal-showing Americans how easy it is to make a difference."

This public emphasis on volunteerism will serve to encourage nurses (active, retired, and those in student programs) to consider volunteer activity. Strengthening volunteerism is a major goal for creating the Office of the National Nurse. A National Nurse could offer guidance for effective nurse involvement at many levels to replicate successful prevention programs and address health disparities.

Hitting the Road in Las Vegas for an Office of the National Nurse

2009-10-19T00:40:00.000-07:00

Pictured left to right: Gina Rybolt RN (http://www.codeblog.com/), Kim McCallister RN (http://www.emergiblog.com/), and Terri Polick RN (http://www.nurseratchedsplace.com/)

Vice President Terri Polick of the National Nursing Network Organization sent in this report from Blog World Expo 09 that took place last week in Las Vegas, Nevada. Johnson and Johnson and Medpages sponsored the medblogger track at the conference where bloggers from around the world gathered to talk about the hot topics that are currently being discussed in the medical blogosphere. The establishment of the Office of the National Nurse was one of those hot topics, and Terri reported she was able to communicate the important role blogs have played in spreading the word about the Office of the National Nurse initiative.

The title of Terri's panel discussion was “Blogging for Change.” During the discussion moderator Dr. Val Jones from Get Better Health, asked each panelist to share a post from their own personal blog that they were most proud of. Terri told the audience that her favorite post, hands down, was her interview with Dr. Howard Dean. Terri went on to say that Governor Dean strongly supports the establishment of the Office of the National Nurse. Dr. Dean understands that a National Nurse is an important step in helping to keep our nation well by promoting wellness and prevention.

Blogs continue to be an important tool for any grassroots organization. The campaign for an Office of the National Nurse is no exception.

MammaCare Says Yes to Office of the National Nurse

2009-10-05T03:55:00.000-07:00

Thank you to the MammaCare Organization for their recent endorsement of the Office of the National Nurse initiative. One of our dedicated supporters, Cathy Coleman RN, BSN became the very first MammaCare trained nurse in the country in 1980. The MammaCare Organization recommendations remain the most published and best practice standard for manual breast examination.

September 14, 2009

Dear Teri,

There is convincing evidence that American health-care reform can be dramatically advanced by deploying our greatest and most trusted national health resource, America's nurses. No other Western nation has the magnitude of skilled health-care professionals ready to serve its needs. No other Western nation needs a trusted, national public heath resource more than we do.

Establishing the Office of the National Nurse would be a brilliant and practical first step in publicly acknowledging America’s nurses as the nation's most dedicated and available health-care resource. This act would give life, substance, and a trusted human face to our emergent national health-care system. If affirmed, the Office of the National Nurse will organize, enlist, and assure the deployment of nurses to serve the US health needs that have languished for generations.

Our work at MammaCare provides a compelling example of the commitment by corps of nurses with little regard for gain or profit. As you know, the National Cancer Institute supported the development of MammaCare, the quality-standard program for medical practitioners to learn proficient, evidence based breast examination. Nurses represent, by far, the greatest number of participants in this rigorous, life saving program with little or no compensation. As a result each day literally thousands of US women receive proficient clinical breast examinations (CBE's) performed by trained hands belonging to RN's.

The reason I feel compelled to write this letter is our constant observation of the high standards nurses hold for clinical performance and patient care irrespective of personal gain. It would be fortunate to now recognize and enlist this superior and benevolent public health resource in a central role of American health-care reform.

M.K. Goldstein, Ph.D.
Chairman and Senior Scientist
MammaCare Organization

Why Doesn't the U.S. Have an Office of the National Nurse?

2009-09-28T00:57:00.000-07:00

Why Doesn't the U.S. Have an Office of the National Nurse? asks American Journal of Nursing editor in chief emeritus Diana Mason in a recent article she posted at AJN Off the Charts?.

Mason describes the scene, a public hearing hosted by the Institute of Medicine Initiative on the Future of Nursing. Leading off the session were two nurses, Ann Keen, Member of Parliament and Parliamentary Undersecretary for Health Services, who chairs the British commission; and Jane Salvage, the lead secretariat for the commission and a former contributing editor for AJN. While being interviewed by Mason, Keen and Salvage, both said they didn’t understand why American nurses were not supporting the call for a CNO for the United States. They went on to express support for elevating a nurse to be on par with the Office of the Surgeon General.

Mason concludes, "Our colleagues across the pond are convinced that it makes a difference to have a national CNO who is visible, proactive, collaborative, and savvy. Keen urged nurses to “have courage and take your agenda forward.” While our current priorities should probably be ensuring that Congress passes health care reform legislation this year and that any legislation includes enabling language to improve access to advanced practice nurses, we’ll soon need to focus on how to transform the care we provide to emphasize health promotion and care coordination. Let’s do it with courage and include the notion of a national chief nurse."

Susan Sullivan, NNNO Board Member, left this comment: "The grassroots group of nurses that has been working for over 3 years to establish an Office of the National Nurse in the US remains focused and determined. They continue to be optimistic because support for having a National Nurse is overwhelming when the vision is shared with nursing organizations across all areas of practice.

Opposition arose based on misinformation on the role and details of the proposal. The excellent work done by ANA and other professional nursing organizations will be supported and enhanced by having a National Nurse. Surely support for enhancing nursing’s role in improving the nation’s health would not be adversarial to any group familiar with the issues of nursing advocacy. Nurses, unite, and support having a National Nurse, because both the nursing profession and the nation will benefit."

H1N1 Flu Pandemic Illustrates Need for Office of the National Nurse

2009-09-21T00:27:00.000-07:00

Continued cutbacks in school nurses raises concerns for H1N1 response. With the threat of H1N1 flu facing schools this fall, the role of school nurses will be pivotal as communities gear up to respond to H1N1. Yet few states or school districts meet the CDC recommended ratio of having one school nurse for every 750 students, and each school nurse often must serve several schools. The National Association of School Nurses found from its own 2007 survey that the ratio was much higher; 1,151 students per nurse.

USA Today recently highlighted the plight of America's school nurse in their report, School Nurses In Short Supply. The article acknowledges that when swine flu appears in schools, it is likely that the school nurse will discover it. Yet nationwide, only an estimated 45% of public schools have a full-time nurse on staff. If public schools who have a part-time nurse are added in, this figure jumps to 75%. Still this leaves 25% of schools with no nurse at all.

The actual impact H1N1 will have on school children is yet to be determined. School nurses anticipate being needed to coordinate screening, plan for mass immunizations, and teach prevention including proper handwashing and cough etiquette.

The pending H1N1 scenario presents a good example of how having a National Nurse would benefit our nation. A National Nurse could provide focused guidance and attention on this crisis; engaging nurses able to volunteer to partner and offer assistance to their local schools, and encourage nurses to participate in immunization clinics as these become available in their own communities.

President Obama Values Nurses Role in Healthcare Debate

2009-09-14T01:01:00.000-07:00

Kudos to the American Nurses Association for applauding and supporting President Barack Obama's commitment to ensuring that all Americans have access to quality, affordable health care. In his focused comments to nurses made the day after his historical speech last week to Congress regarding health care reform, President Obama alluded to how nurses can help in reaching healthcare reform. Speaking at a press conference accompanied by nurses and the leadership of the American Nurses Association, President Obama said "because nurses touch many lives” and “people trust you” we can continue to do our jobs and use nursing’s credibility to cut through the public confusion and falsehoods regarding “some government takeover of healthcare.”

The President asked that nurses help clarify proposed changes and explain why "now is the time to act." He confirmed that "saving money now spent on things that don’t improve quality, will allow spending more on things that do improve quality, for example like paying nursing instructors more money to train more nurses that we need.”

These statements by President Obama recognizing the credibility of nurses, also seem to strengthen the premise that trusted, knowledgeable nurses could be very effective change agents for furthering prevention efforts in our nation. Thus, as we tackle how to reform healthcare for the future, the goal of having a National Nurse to spearhead prevention efforts by nurses continues to make sense. The time for change is here and that includes implementation of the Office of the National Nurse initiative.

Nurses: Largest Sector of the Healthcare Workforce

2009-09-07T02:11:00.000-07:00

Pictured left to right: AFT National President Randi Weingarten and NNNO President Teri Mills MS, RN, CNE

National Nursing Network Organization's President Teri Mills had an opportunity to speak directly with AFT National President Randi Weingarten during AFT's Back To School Tour '09 last week when Weingarten visited the campus of Portland Community College. AFT represents 1.4 million members of which 40,000 are nurses. Weingarten expressed great appreciation for what nurses contribute each and every day to keeping our nation healthy. Nurses represent the largest sector of the healthcare workforce and have played an integral role in healthcare reform activism this past year.

AFT National endorsed the Office of the National Nurse initiative when a resolution passed UNANIMOUSLY out of their national convention in August, 2006. The resolution urges Congress to enact legislation to create the Office of the National Nurse. Covering the AFT Back to School Tour 09 Blog, Annette Licitra writes:

AFT Portland Community College members never do two things: They never let up and they never give up. Take these three examples on display during the AFT Back-to-School Tour '09:

Nurse educators Linda Eby, Maurge Dulaney and Teri Mills are bound and determined to get more, more, more for aspiring nurses: more access to nurse education, more instructors and more seats in classrooms. Forget limitations—these resolute AFT members have visions and plans for partnerships with other institutions, growth in their program that trains nursing and medical assistants to become registered nurses, and expanded clinical opportunities. They think big and they'll win big.

Mills (and AFT Member and NNNO Secretary Alisa Schneider MSN, RN) are helping the union pursue the Office of the National Nurse akin to the Office of the Surgeon General. Her idea has won our members' endorsement as an AFT resolution, and she'll win over Washington, too.

Weingarten and Mills share a lighter moment during the tour of Portland Community College Nursing Simulation Lab

NAHN's Commitment to Hispanic Nurses and Community

2009-08-31T07:10:00.000-07:00

Pictured left to right: Maria Elena Ruiz PhD, RN, FNP-BC (NAHN OR Chapter President) and Angie Millan MSN, RN (President Elect NAHN National Organization 2010-2012)

Last week, the Oregon chapter of the National Association of Hispanic Nurses was pleased to have Angie Millan MSN, RN (President Elect NAHN National Organization 2010-2012 and current President, NAHN-Los Angeles Chapter) as an honored guest at their monthly meeting. OR Chapter President Maria Elena Ruiz PhD, RN, FNP-BC began with an inspiring presentation, "Listening to the Voices of Latino Nurses in Oregon: Findings from the Leadership Development Workshops-Latino Nurses in Oregon Speak Out". It was clear from Dr. Ruiz's findings that Oregon Latino nurses are committed to uniting and providing the necessary support, role modeling, and mentoring necessary to empower each other, in addition to lending a voice for Latino issues.

A good portion of the meeting was spent on discussion of health promotion events geared toward the Latino population in Oregon and Los Angeles, CA. Ms. Millan shared that the upcoming annual nursing conference planned in LA would include speakers from the March of Dimes to help educate nurses about what services are available that would be beneficial to children and families they are caring for. The IX Annual Bi-national Health Week taking place October 2-15, 2009, a large scale multi-national health campaign targeted at the Latino community to promote physical activity and healthy eating habits, was also discussed. The goal is to bring awareness and focus to some of the most critical health issues and health disparities that have a significant impact on this under-served group.

The National Association of Hispanic Nurses endorsed the Office of the National Nurse initiative earlier this year. The Board of Directors of the National Nursing Network Organization is honored to have their support. Here is a statement from the letter received from President Norma Martinez Rogers Rogers PhD, RN, FAAN, "The National Nurse would provide a visible nurse leader to advocate for enhanced prevention efforts for all communities. Further, we recognize the potential of having a National Nurse who would be able to meet with health care leaders to highlight health disparities and bring forward new ideas."

Questions About the Vision for an Office of the National Nurse

2009-08-24T01:47:00.000-07:00

The National Nursing Network Organization would like to answer some questions we have heard in regards to the Office of the National Nurse initiative . Please also visit our Frequently Asked Questions for more information about the proposal.

How would having a National Nurse actually help nurses become volunteers for prevention in their own communities?

This is a very important question, because engaging trusted healthcare providers will help shift our nation to initiate and value prevention. The answers may lie in the value of having a highly visible and trusted public figure leading prevention, a National Nurse, who will publicly encourage, acknowledge and reward volunteer contributions. The National Nurse will not only guide prevention and suggest focus campaigns, but will evaluate outcomes and publicly recognize successful programs and deserving volunteers.

We know shortages already exist in many health occupations, so is it realistic to think there will be a pool of volunteers?

Each healthcare provider will determine if, how and when they are able to participate. Nurses, no matter how busy, are nurturing altruistic persons. Nurses often step up to the plate when needed, as evidenced in disasters. Continued invitations from the Office of the National Nurse to seek nurse volunteers will result in more engagement for prevention. Also, the National Nurse will encourage the involvement of recent retirees and students, which will boost the potential pool of volunteer manpower in every community. Students will benefit from varied opportunities for learning, observations and hands-on experiences during community outreach efforts. Retirees can make significant contributions and will be able to remain professionally active, utilize their vast knowledge of resources, and receive continuing education to maintain active licensure. In some community prevention programs, modest stipends might be provided through grant funding to participating providers.

What kinds of activities will a National Nurse encourage volunteers to do?

Nurses and other providers can contribute to their community prevention programs in many ways. Often they can join existing networks to strengthen effective programs specifically targeted to at-risk populations. They can strengthen education and outreach of established national associations such as the American Red Cross or the American Heart and Diabetes Associations. Some may prefer to work directly where needed with the local schools and colleges attended by their children. Others may become active volunteers for their health department or a Medical Reserve Corps unit. Others may choose to become politically active at the policy level to improve health and environmental conditions in their community. Others may serve on the Board of a local community based organization, or participate in organizing screening programs or community health fair events. As the Office of the National Nurse accumulates data on best practices, the information will be relayed to encourage replication of effective programs.

U Penn Graduate Students Advocate for An Office of the National Nurse

2009-08-17T01:49:00.000-07:00

Pictured left to right: Grace Paik BSN, RN; Melissa Moore BSN, RN; and Timothy Sowicz BSN, RN

U Penn graduate nursing students Melissa Moore BSN, RN; Grace Paik BSN, RN, and Timothy Sowicz BSN, RN chose to complete a poster presentation on the Office of the National Nurse initiative for their health policy project. In addition, Moore, Paik and Sowicz also wrote an op/ed, "Can One Nurse Empower a Profession"; they contacted their state legislators; and they attended a Lobby Day meeting with representatives from the PA Coalition of Nurse Practitioners and the PA State Nurses Association. The PA Coalition of Nurse Practitioners endorsed the Office of the National Nurse initiative earlier this summer.

Timothy Sowicz shares, "This year long legislative project that my classmates and I worked on to promote the Office of the National Nurse has given me insight into the need for the shift that must occur in our health care system: Disease prevention and health promotion must be the priority for every provider! A National Nurse is the ideal person to lead this initiative since these two principles are fundamental to the profession of nursing."

These students join their peers from universities and colleges around the country who have studied the ONN initiative. This list includes but is not limited to UC Irvine, University of Michigan, University of San Francisco, Concordia University (Portland, OR), George Mason University, Portland Community College, Molloy College (NY), Mt Wachusett Community College (Gardiner, MA), CA State University Long Beach (CA), and OR Health Sciences University.

Heart Smart In the Park

2009-08-10T03:31:00.000-07:00

Last week the Portland Community College chapter of the National Student Nurses Association, demonstrating their dedication and support for an Office of the National Nurse, led a healthy heart promotion activity with 23 elementary school children ranging from 5-9 years old who were attending a summer camp in a local park. The students chose the heart to focus on because starting healthy habits during childhood can help to prevent heart disease as an adult.

The students chose three activities to get their teaching points across:

1. A demonstration of the HEART pumping BLOOD to the LUNGS to pick up OXYGEN to be delivered to the body. The students drew large pictures on poster board or cardboard of the HEART, BLOOD CELL, LUNGS, O2, and then had the children act out those: the "blood cell" walked from the "heart" to the "lungs" and picked up an "O2" who then delivered the "O2" to the body and go back to the "heart".

2. Circulation demonstration: Here the kids identified what activities make the heart pump stronger (i.e. playing XBOX or riding a bike...etc.). The children were taught how to take their pulse, then the students had them get up and dance with the assistance of music through a PA system. They took their pulse immediately after this activity and reported what happened to their pulse! The student nurses then demonstrated how a blood pressure is taken.

3. The third booth helped the kids to identify foods that are Heart Smart: Here a discussion took place on how/why some foods are bad for heart and some foods are good. Then the kids played a "What's better game....."
A. French Fries? or B. Apples?
Pictures of foods were held up and the kids shouted out which one is better. Every child who participated received a copy of this handout along with a goodie bag that included age appropriate materials from the American Heart Association.

Governor Howard Dean Supports Proposal for a National Nurse

2009-08-03T05:39:00.000-07:00

Few can rival Governor Howard Dean (VT) when it comes to achieving meaningful health reform. During his tenure as Governor of Vermont, he oversaw the expansion of Dr. Dynasaur, a program in Vermont that makes universal health care available for children and pregnant women in the state. The program resulted in the uninsured rate in Vermont dropping to 9.6%, half the national average and helped reduce rates of child abuse and teen pregnancy by 50%.

Since his return to the private sector, Governor Dean has remained committed to establishing quality, affordable and accessible health care for all Americans. Governor Dean has authored a book, Howard Dean’s Prescription for Real Healthcare Reform. Dean states, “America must shift from an illness-based healthcare system to a wellness-based model. We must develop a healthcare system that is based on wellness and prevention rather than illness intervention.” These statements are in synch with the Office of the National Nurse initiative.

The Vice-President of the National Nursing Network Organization, Terri Polick RN, interviewed Governor Dean last week.

Ms. Polick:
Preventive healthcare is a key component in the healthcare reform debate. What are your thoughts on a proposal that would make the Chief Nurse Officer of the United States Public Health Service the National Nurse? In your opinion, would establishing the Office of the National Nurse have any impact on health promotion or on healthcare reform?

Governor Howard Dean:
“As a lot of people know, I am a huge supporter of the Office of the National Nurse, and since Congress has been slow to act, I am hoping some changes can be made directly by HHS while we await more complete action by Congress.”

Governor Dean joins over 75 prominent national and state organizations and leaders who have endorsed the Office of the National Nurse initiative and we thank him for his support.

Congratulations Dr. Regina Benjamin

2009-07-27T05:03:00.000-07:00

Important news! President Obama has nominated Regina Benjamin, MD to be our nation's next Surgeon General. Her acceptance comments indicate a strong personal commitment to enhance prevention to improve health outcomes.
Benjamin said the position would be more than just a job.

"My father died with diabetes and hypertension. My older brother died at age 44 of HIV-related illness. My mother died of lung cancer because as a young girl she wanted to smoke, just like her twin brother could. My family's not here with me today, at least not in person, because of preventable diseases. While I can't change my family's past, I can be a voice in the movement to improve our nation's health care and our nation's health for the future."

These personal experiences yield an attitude strongly supportive of prevention. If approved, her agenda as Surgeon General will likely be very aligned with those who support creating a National Nurse to help drive prevention efforts.

Dr. Benjamin graduated from Xavier University, Morehouse School of Medicine and the University of Alabama School of Medicine, and her medical training was paid for by the National Health Service Corps, a federal program in which medical students promise to work in areas with few doctors in exchange for free tuition. She has received numerous awards and recognition for her outstanding career and untiring efforts to provide care in her home community of Bayou la Batre, Alabama (a small shrimping village along the gulf coast). Dr. Benjamin converted her medical office into a small rural health clinic there dedicated to serving the large indigent population in her community.

Her extraordinary dedication and self-sacrifice have already won Dr. Benjamin national recognition. In 1995, she became the first African-American woman, and the first person under 40, to be elected to the American Medical Association (AMA) Board of Trustees. Dr. Benjamin also serves on the Board of Physicians for Human Rights.

Dr. Benjamin is a 1998 Mandela Award Winner, a former Kellogg National Fellow, has been featured as ABC Television's Person of the Week, and in 1996 was chosen by CBS This Morning as Woman of the Year.

The Board of Directors of the National Nursing Network Organization wishes the very best to Dr. Benjamin during her Senate confirmation hearings, scheduled later this year.

NNNO Sends Letter to Congressman Waxman

2009-07-20T02:25:00.000-07:00

Health care reform remains this summer's hot topic in Congress and throughout the nation. Below is the letter that the NNNO wrote to Congressman Henry Waxman, Chair of the Energy and Commerce Committee in support of the Division C (public health) provisions.

July 9, 2009

Dear Congressman Waxman and Distinguished Members of the Energy and Commerce Committee,

The Board of Directors of the National Nursing Network Organization proudly stands with you in your recognition of the integral role prevention has within our public health system. We agree with many who have testified and written letters affirming that our healthcare system has failed to provide Americans, beginning with school age children, messages of prevention aimed at keeping them well.

In addition to providing the necessary funding to replicate successful programs of prevention, we urge you to closely examine the Office of the National Nurse initiative.

The National Nursing Network Organization proposes there be an Office of the National Nurse (ONN) established with a highly visible national nurse spokesperson to encourage prevention efforts by communities, families and individuals. The ONN would serve to mobilize interested nurses, students and retirees to become activists for prevention and health promotion in their local communities. It is proposed that the United States Congress enact legislation to initially create an ONN by designating the existing Chief Nurse Officer (CNO) of the United States Public Health Service (USPHS) to serve in this unique nursing leadership role. This would avoid unnecessary cost and duplication of services (Mills & Schneider, 2009).

Nurses, as both providers and consumers, see all too often how our healthcare system is faltering with increasing epidemics of chronic preventable diseases. Poor health literacy and continuing health disparities will be better addressed with a shift to focus on prevention in our communities. Eighteen other countries do better than the US at reducing preventable deaths (Dunham, 2008) and the US ranks 29th among all industrialized countries in infant mortality (Harris, 2008). Every year 1.3 trillion dollars is spent on managing the impact of the 7 most common chronic diseases, most are preventable (DeVol, 2007).

These figures speak volumes about our healthcare system, a system that is based on sick care not health care. A philosophical and cultural shift to focus on wellness at the national level and reinforced by nurses in every community would go a long way in promoting health, reducing costs and saving lives. Growing epidemics of obesity and diabetes resulting from dietary intake and sedentary lifestyles can be curbed only with a concentrated effort, inspired nationally and implemented locally.

The intent of creating an ONN is to have nurses, under the leadership of a National Nurse within the USPHS, support health promotion and deliver interventions to prevent illness in their own communities. By delivering broad-based, educationally sound messages on the national level and then reinforcing them in local communities, improvements in health literacy and the ability to reach across a broad and diverse population will be realized. Such health enhancing actions would be accomplished through involvement to strengthen existing service delivery such as the Office of the Surgeon General, the Medical Reserve Corps, the American Red Cross and others.

Nurses are well positioned to initiate this much needed shift in that they are 2.9 million strong, traditionally serve as advocates for those in need and are highly trusted by the public. They are the largest segment of the healthcare workforce, span all cultures, are present in all communities, and are skilled at assessment, education and implementation of evidence based interventions. Add to this number the thousands of student nurses in all levels of nursing programs and hundreds of active retired nurses who maintain licensure, and there is a huge resource pool from which to draw volunteers and contributors for community health promotion.

With guidance from the ONN, sanctioned by Congress to spearhead prevention, available nurses would be encouraged to participate with existing health organizations (American Heart Association, Diabetes Association, Cancer Society, MRCs) local schools, and community organizations with programs that can add a focus on delivering health promotion information. Nurse volunteers would engage community partners to introduce, emphasize and reinforce prevention concepts and establish best practices to change behaviors. Some key focus areas would include exercise, better nutrition, tobacco cessation, and mental health issues. The goal is to create a culture of prevention to improve health outcomes through national social marketing and local activism. Nursing efforts can promote both healthier behaviors and environments at both the systems level and the community level, as well as with families and individuals.

In a Robert Wood Johnson Foundation September 2007 newsletter, Dr. Susan Hassmiller, Senior Program Officer, states, "Nurses have a pivotal role in promoting preventive care since they spend more time with patients than any other health care professional. By educating and counseling patients about the importance of simple preventive measures, nurses can have a significant impact on improving health and extending lives. The health care system needs to empower and encourage nurses for them to be effectively engaged in this role." This statement represents the foundation of the proposal for an Office of the National Nurse.

Nurses realize our healthcare system is in serious trouble and needs revision. Dozens of nursing organizations recognize the strong merit in the vision of a National Nurse to shift us to prevention and have endorsed this proposal. Nurses know preventive medicine is better than reactive medicine. In addition, the Office of the National Nurse would enhance recruitment and integrate Nursing’s Agenda for the Future (American Nurses Foundation, 2002) that called for an improvement of the image and value of the nursing profession. The activities of the ONN will help fulfill this objective by portraying leadership for this key role in nursing, and allowing youth to view both hospital and community nursing as a nationally respected and valued careers.

We appreciate and support your endeavors to include prevention and wellness funding in health care reform legislation that will ultimately save lives and alleviate unnecessary suffering.

Respectfully,

Teri Mills, RN, MS, CNE
President, National Nursing Network Organization
teri@nationalnurse.info
Office of the National Nurse

Terri Polick, RN
Vice-President, National Nursing Network Organization
magiccarpet54@mac.com

Alisa Schneider, RN, MSN
Secretary, National Nursing Network Organization
alisa.schneider@gmail.com

Susan Sullivan, RN, PHN, MSN
Board Member, National Nursing Network Organization
susanSPHN@aol.com

References:

American Nurses Foundation. Nursings Agenda for the Future. (2002). Washington D.C.

DeVol, R., et. al (2007) An unhealthy America: The economic burden of chronic disease-charting a new course to save lives and increase productivity and Economic growth. Retrieved June 1, 2009 from http://www.milkeninstitute.org/publications/publications.taf?function=detail&ID=38801020&cat=ResRep

Dunham, W. (2008). France best, U.S. worst in preventable death ranking. Reuters. Retrieved June 1, 2009 from http://http://www.reuters.com/article/latestCrisis/idUSN07651650

Harris, G. (2008). Infant deaths drop in U.S., but rates still high. The New York Times. Retrieved June 16, 2009 from http://www.nytimes.com/2008/10/16/health/16infant.html?_r=1

Mills, T., & Schneider, A. (2009). The office of the national nurse. Journal of nursing law, 13, (1), 13-18.

Join the National Nurse Campaign On Facebook

2009-07-13T05:27:00.000-07:00

The National Nurse Campaign is now available to Facebook users. If you belong to Facebook, one of the most frequently used social network in the world, we encourage you to join us. Participants are able to connect and interact with other members, and this is a powerful tool for any political campaign.

Our growing group already has hundreds of supporters from 33 states (Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Texas, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, and Wisconsin), the District of Columbia, as well as three additional countries (British Columbia, Ireland, and Japan).

If you are already a Facebook member, please consider adding the National Nurse Campaign to your Wall and asking your friends to join. Be sure to refer them to the National Nurse home page so they can read first hand information about the Office of the National Nurse initiative.

F Is For Fat

2009-07-06T00:43:00.000-07:00

Once again, there is ominous news that underscores the need for a National Nurse to lead prevention efforts. Trust for America’s Health (TFAH) and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF) have released the sixth annual edition of the report, F as in Fat: How Obesity Policies Are Failing in America 2009. The report contains rankings of state obesity rates, reviews federal and state government policies aimed at reducing or preventing obesity, and provides recommendations for addressing obesity within health reform.

Basically, the report finds that in the past year adult obesity rates increased in 23 states while no state saw a decrease. In addition, the percentage of obese and overweight children is at or above 30 percent in 30 states. These statistics definitely present more rationale for establishing a National Nurse to lead prevention. This is because nurses incorporate interventions geared towards wellness into their plan of care and have proven siuccess in delivering health promotion every single day. The trust Americans have in nurses will also be useful as our nation tries to develop strategies to combat this costly epidemic.

“Reversing the childhood obesity epidemic is a critical ingredient for delivering a healthier population and making health reform work,” said Risa Lavizzo-Mourey, M.D., M.B.A., RWJF president and CEO. “If we can prevent the current generation of young people from developing the serious and costly chronic conditions related to obesity, we can not only improve health and quality of life, but we can also save billions of dollars and make our health care systems more efficient and sustainable.”

Key recommendations in the report for addressing obesity within health reform are closely aligned with the concept of National Nurse activities for prevention and include:

*Ensuring every adult and child has access to coverage for preventive medical services, including nutrition and obesity counseling and screening for obesity-related diseases, such as type 2 diabetes;

*Increasing the number of programs available in communities, schools, and childcare settings that help make nutritious foods more affordable and accessible and provide safe and healthy places for people to engage in physical activity; and

*Reducing Medicare expenditures by promoting proven programs that improve nutrition and increase physical activity among adults ages 55 to 64.

With leadership provided by an Office of the National Nurse, many nurses, including students and retirees, will advocate locally for such programs and services. Many will volunteer to assist with screening and counseling for improved nutrition, or advocate for safer environments to increase physical activity, and support delivery of evidence based interventions in their local communities. Nurses are already positioned in every community and can begin efforts to address the continuing needs.

“Our health care costs have grown along with our waistlines,” said Jeff Levi, Ph.D.,executive director of TFAH. “The obesity epidemic is a big contributor to the skyrocketing health care costs in the United States. How are we going to compete with the rest of the world if our economy and workforce are weighed down by bad health?” Surely having a National Nurse for prevention is a good start and should be a key part of any national strategy.

Pennsylvania Coalition of Nurse Practitioners Endorses Office of the National Nurse

2009-06-29T02:52:00.000-07:00

Thank you to the Pennsylvania Coalition of Nurse Practitioners for their recent endorsement for the Office of the National Nurse initiative.

June 4, 2009

RE: Office of the National Nurse (ONN) Endorsement

Dear Ms. Mills,

The Pennsylvania Coalition of Nurse Practitioners (PCNP) is pleased to support your efforts and endorse the Office of National Nurse. PCNP represents the interest of over 6,800 nurse practitioners (NP) throughout Pennsylvania. Our organization is committed to improving access to care and removing barriers to practice for advance practice nurses. The NP profession takes pride in its expertise and focus in the areas of health promotion and disease prevention, By directing our legislative initiatives on issues that advance the cause of safe, quality patient care, we strongly believe our contributions will have a positive impact on the health and wellness of our state and country. We believe and strive to support that our health care system should serve everyone and utilize nurses to the full extent of their education and clinical expertise.

PCNP supports the concept of creating an Office of the National Nurse and feels this position will further support the mission of PCNP. We believe that elevating the Chief Nurse Officer of the U.S. Public Health Service to full-time status and renaming this position as the National Nurse is a way to promote the visibility of nurses in the national health care debate and give nurses another voice at the federal policy table.

Thank you for all of your efforts and we wish you continued success with your initiative.

Sincerely,

Patricia Schwabenbauer, MSN, CRNP
PCNP President

Susan Schrand, MSN, CRNP
Executive Director

United State of Nursing

2009-06-22T09:22:00.000-07:00

Thank you to ADVANCE reporter Shelby Evans for her accurate synopsis of the Office of the National Nurse initiative. Evans' article the "United State of Nursing" describes the vision for a National Nurse in these paragraphs:

"The mission for the proposed office is to establish symbolic national leadership by elevating the current USPHS post (Chief Nurse Officer) to a level of high visibility to the nursing profession and the public, to complement the work of the U.S. Surgeon General, to promote involvement in the MRC to improve the health and safety of the community, and to incorporate proven evidence-based public health education in implementing prevention strategies.

The importance of the prestige implicit in the concept of a national nurse is part of the reason the campaign seeks to grow the office from the current USPHS chief nursing officer role. The position already is aligned to work directly with the office of the Surgeon General and is reputable among public health nursing leadership."

To read the story in its entirety click here.

Journal of Nursing Law Publishes ONN Manuscript

2009-06-16T02:03:00.000-07:00

Volume 13, Number 1, 2009 of Journal of Nursing Law includes a manuscript, "The Office of the National Nurse", written by NNNO President Teri Mills MS, RN, CNE and Secretary Alisa Schneider MSN, RN. An abstract is now available on line accompanied by instructions on how to order the full text electronic version.

Editor in Chief Suzanne Edgett Collins, RN, MPH, JD, PhD and Assistant Editor Diane Kjervik, JD, MSN, RN, FAAN eloquently write in their editorial, "Mills and Schneider, as founders of the movement to establish an Office of the National Nurse, address the challenging crises that our national health system faces and promote the establishment of the an Office of the National Nurse. They argue that the Office of the National Nurse is a fundamental, necessary change in the traditional thinking about professional nursing's role in health promotion and disease prevention on a national level."

Collins, C. & Kjervik, D. (2009). In a time of challenge and change, nurse attorneys provide leadership (Part II). Journal of Nursing Law. Volume 13, (1), pp 3.

New Poll Finds Disease Prevention is Top Priority for Americans in Health Reform

2009-06-08T13:40:00.000-07:00

The following press release provides more evidence as to why we need an Office of the National Nurse. The public supports prevention and is willing to pay for it.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: June 8, 2009

New Poll Finds Disease Prevention is Top Priority for Americans in Health Reform

Media Contacts: Liz Richardson 202-223-9870 x 21 or lrichardson@tfah.org or Laura Segal 202-223-9870 x 27 or lsegal@tfah.org

Washington, D. C. – Trust for America’s Health (TFAH) and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF) released a new public opinion survey today which finds that Americans rank prevention as the most important health care reform priority, and overwhelmingly support increasing funding for prevention programs to reduce disease and keep people healthy.

In the poll, conducted by Greenberg Quinlan Rosner Research and Public Opinion Strategies, 70 percent of Americans ranked investing in prevention between an eight and 10 on a scale of zero to ten, where zero means not at all an important health care priority and 10 means very important. Forty-six percent rated prevention as a 10 out of 10. Overall, prevention was rated higher than all other proposals, including providing tax credits to small businesses and prohibiting health insurers from denying coverage based on health status.

“This survey underscores what I have been saying from the outset: If we pass comprehensive health reform that extends coverage but does nothing to reform our broken system by emphasizing prevention and public health, then we will have failed. And we do not intend to fail,” said Senator Tom Harkin (D-IA). “We know that prevention and wellness efforts are a key to reducing costs within a reformed health care system. And they will be a centerpiece of the reform effort underway on Capitol Hill.”

“This report shows that the American people believe prevention and wellness are the cornerstones of a high performing health care system. And they’re right,” said Senate Finance Committee Chairman Max Baucus (D-Mont). “Today, we spend nearly $800 billion on health problems that are directly linked to lifestyle and poor health habits each year—about one third of our total health care spending. Simply put, that’s too much. Reforming our system to focus on prevention will drive down costs and produce better health outcomes. That’s why it is so important that we pass comprehensive health care reform this year.”

“This poll gives hard evidence that Americans know what works and are ready for government to invest in their health,” said Senator Ron Wyden (D-OR). “They’re looking to government to reform the system so that everyone is covered, and prevention and wellness come first. I agree with the majority of Americans that these are cost-effective solutions that will improve quality of life, prevent disease, and most important save lives.”

“For too long, health care has focused on treating people after they become sick instead of trying to help them stay healthy in the first place,” said Jeff Levi, PhD, Executive Director of TFAH. “This poll shows the American public strongly believes it’s time we shift from a sick care system to a true health care system that stresses disease prevention.”

“Our country will never contain health care costs until we place a higher priority on public health and prevention programs, said Congresswoman Kay Granger (R-TX), Co-Chair of the Congressional Study Group on Public Health. “An investment of just $10 per person per year in proven community-based programs could save this country more than $16 billion annually within five years. And, this new poll shows that a majority of Americans not only recognize the importance of prevention, but support spending a greater percentage of our health care dollars on prevention rather than on treating people after they become sick.”

“Any health reform effort must make a serious commitment to prevention and wellness. Not only does the science say we need to target disease before it strikes, but the American people are saying it too – loud and clear,” said Congresswoman Lucille Roybal-Allard (D-CA), Chair of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus Health Care Task Force. “Prevention is America’s top health reform priority because it will not only lower disease rates across the population, eliminate health disparities and better ensure equality, it also saves us precious health care dollars as we prevent disease and not just treat it.”

More than three-quarters of Americans (76 percent) support increasing funding for prevention programs that provide people with information and resources and creating policies that help people make healthier choices. Investing in prevention is popular across the political spectrum, with 86 percent of Democrats, 71 percent of Republicans, and 70 percent of Independents supporting investing more in prevention.

“This poll shows that Americans from coast to coast and across the political spectrum are overwhelmingly in favor of investing in disease prevention,” said Al Quinlan, President of Greenberg Quinlan Rosner Research. “More than three-quarters of Americans believe the country should invest more in keeping people healthier, and by a nearly four-to-one ratio, they support putting more emphasis on preventing disease rather than treating people after they become sick.”

“We know that strategic investments in disease prevention programs in communities can result in a big payoff in a short time -- reducing health care costs, increasing the productivity of the nation’s workforce, and helping people lead healthier lives,” said Risa Lavizzo-Mourey, M.D., M.B.A. president and CEO of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation.

While Americans believe that prevention will save money (77 percent agree with the statement that “prevention will save us money”), they strongly support prevention regardless of its impact on costs. Rather, they point clearly to keeping people healthy as the best reason to invest in prevention, with 72 percent agreeing with the statement that “investing in prevention is worth it even if it doesn’t save us money, because it will prevent disease and save lives.” Additionally, 57 percent agree more with the statement “we should invest in prevention to keep people healthier and improve quality of life” than the statement “we should invest in prevention to lower health care costs” (21 percent).

“We gave Americans a list of proposals being considered to reform health care, and investing in prevention trumped them all,” said Bill McInturff, Partner and Co-Founder of Public Opinion Strategies. “It’s clear that Americans see the value of prevention for reducing disease, improving quality of life, and lowering health care costs.”

“Spiraling health care costs and poor outcomes will only get worse in the absence of employer action and intervention,” said Robert J. Gould, Ph.D., president for Partnership for Prevention. “Through Partnership for Prevention’s Leading by Example initiative, we’re seeing a growing number of corporations support healthy behaviors through worksite-based programs. One of our members – Dow Chemical Co. – reports that its workplace wellness program saved the company more than 9,000 absentee days last year and contributed value equal to seven cents per share of company stock. Smart businesses pay for prevention, because prevention pays.”

Americans believe the nation needs to put more emphasis on prevention (59 percent) rather than thinking there needs to be more emphasis on treatment (15 percent), by nearly a four to one ratio. This represents a significant shift toward prevention over the last two decades -- in 1987, only 45 thought there should be greater emphasis on prevention.

The poll, which reflects the responses from 1,014 registered voters, was conducted by Greenberg Quinlan Rosner Research and Public Opinion Strategies from May 7 to 12, 2009, and is available at http://healthyamericans.org. The margin of error was +/- 3.1 percent.

Trust for America’s Health is a non-profit, non-partisan organization dedicated to saving lives by protecting the health of every community and working to make disease prevention a national priority. http://healthyamericans.org.

The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation focuses on the pressing health and health care issues facing our country. As the nation’s largest philanthropy devoted exclusively to improving the health and health care of all Americans, the Foundation works with a diverse group of organizations and individuals to identify solutions and achieve comprehensive, meaningful and timely change. For more than 35 years the Foundation has brought experience, commitment, and a rigorous, balanced approach to the problems that affect the health and health care of those it serves. Helping Americans lead healthier lives and get the care they need—the Foundation expects to make a difference in our lifetime. For more information, visit www.rwjf.org.

Attention Graduate and Undergraduate Nursing Students and Faculty of SON

2009-06-07T04:05:00.000-07:00

Pictured is the front and back page of a tri-fold brochure. You are welcome to make copies to distribute to others.

The National Nursing Network Organization continues to hear from graduate and undergraduate nursing students who are studying the ONN initiative and wish to obtain more information. We have recently had conversations by phone, email, and through Facebook with students attending George Washington University, George Mason University, University of Pennsylvania, and UC Irvine. Nurse educators and students from coast to coast believe that the ONN initiative is proactive, timely, sensible, and cost effective with benefits that could be far reaching for the nation.

Many are requesting that we explore the possibility of putting on a teleconference during the summer and/or fall that students and others could participate in without having the expense or burden of travel.

We have discussed this with those who work in the ITV at Portland Community College and they are enthusiastic about providing this opportunity. ITV is a state of the art educational videoconferencing system integrating several technologies and using equipment that is easy to operate.

• Turning on the system simply requires use of a remote control unit to activate a projector. The host has constant, live, visuals of every site.
• Pushing a button activates microphones in front of the participants. Participants at the sites see the presenter, other participants, electronic notes, graphics, videos, and other selected images on a large screen.

Alisa and Teri presented to nursing students from Santa Barbara City College (CA), Mt. Wachusett Community College (MA), and Portland Community College (OR) two years ago and this was very well received.

Please teri@nationalnurse.info if you are interested in participating in an ITV teleconference about the ONN initiative and we will put plans into motion to make this happen.

To Better Inform You-The Office of the National Nurse Initiative

2009-05-29T11:59:00.000-07:00

The NNNO Board of Directors has recently heard from many nurses and interested stake holders who are just learning about the Office of the National Nurse Initiative. We encourage everyone to read the article, Nurses and The Public Say It's Time for Change that was published in Medscape Nurses last July. There is also a Frequently Asked Question link on our Home Page.

Here is a brief explanation of the Office of the National Nurse Initiative:

The National Nursing Network Organization (NNNO) recognizes the current window of opportunity to strengthen the delivery of prevention education and highlight the nurse's role in our healthcare system. We are excited to hear leaders of the Public Health and Prevention subgroups for healthcare reform share this vision. The NNNO proposal for an Office of the National Nurse brings nurses to the forefront as the deliverers of the message of prevention to every American.

In a Robert Wood Johnson Foundation September 2007 newsletter, Susan B. Hassmiller, Ph.D., RN, FAAN, Senior Program Officer, states, “ Nurses have a pivotal role to play in promoting preventive care since they spend more time with patients than any other health care professional. By educating and counseling patients about the importance of simple preventive measures, nurses can have a significant impact on improving health and extending lives. The health care system needs to empower and encourage nurses for them to be effectively engaged in this role.”

 The ONN initiative is focused on strengthening the work of existing groups such as the Office of the Surgeon General, the American Public Health Association, Medical Reserve Corps and community agencies through a more robust and modernized nursing leadership presence. Nurses are well positioned to provide this much needed change as they are 2.9 million strong, the most trusted of all health professionals, span all cultures, and are accomplished health educators.

The tenets of the National Nurse proposal are as follows:  

1. The Office, led by the National Nurse, is a federal position within an established health care agency. We are recommending that the Chief Nurse Officer of the USPHS head the Office of the National Nurse, as this is a position that currently exists and is funded, but needs to be modernized with job responsibilities shifted to primarily focus on the national and local delivery of wellness, health promotion, and illness prevention education to all Americans.

2. Enhanced community systems utilizing nurses and other healthcare providers as volunteer educators. Volunteers mobilized under the guidance of the USPHS through existing systems such as the Medical Reserve Corps would focus on delivering health promotion information in their communities. Education activities would focus on strengthening current successful practices with the goal of improving health outcomes by teaching and promoting healthier living. These efforts would also seek to reduce health disparities, which is consistent with the Surgeon General's priorities and Healthy People 2020 goals.

The original legislation to establish the National Nurse that was introduced by Rep. Lois Capps (CA-23) in the 109th Congress amassed the bi-partisan support of 42 co-sponsors. The complete list of endorsers with a link to HR 4903, the National Nurse Act of 2006, can be found at http://nationalnurse.blogspot.com. Revised future legislation will ask that Congress elevate the CNO position to full time and bestow the title National Nurse to provide the necessary visibility, prominence and legitimate power to focus the country's attention on prevention.

Supporters are committed to having an Office of the National Nurse to meet the following goals:

• Establish national leadership for prevention by elevating and strengthening the Chief Nurse Officer of the USPHS to make this existing position more visible to the nursing profession and the public.
• Enhance the collaborative relationship with the U.S. Surgeon General's office.
• Promote nurse involvement in the Medical Reserve Corps to improve the public health and safety of the community.
• Strengthen the use of evidence-based successful prevention strategies at the community level.
• Become a prominent recognized national symbol of professional nursing to enhance recruitment and support policies that strengthen nursing education and practice.

 
As the National Nursing Network Organization board members continue to connect with different nursing organizations and stakeholders, they receive positive feedback from those who are just now learning about this grassroots nursing effort to promote prevention in healthcare. Many state and national organizations have already endorsed this proposal and it has been written about in numerous publications and presented at several state and national conferences/conventions.

Visit http://nationalnurse.org/endorsements.shtml for endorsing organizations. Resolutions urging Congress to enact legislation for an Office of the National Nurse have unanimously passed in the New York State Assembly and the Massachusetts, Oregon, and Vermont State Legislatures.

To learn more and to receive newsletter updates about this exciting grassroots nursing movement, please email teri@nationalnurse.info

Take Action and Support the Office of the National Nurse Initiative

2009-05-26T05:45:00.000-07:00

The NNNO Board of Directors has heard from dozens of nurses and nursing students who have asked for materials that they can use to educate others about the ONN initiative.

Thanks to graduating nursing students Christopher Deal, Lisseth Ortega, and Coral Sohn for designing the pictured tri-fold pamphlet about the Office of the National Nurse initiative. Click on each side to enlarge and read it. Please email teri@nationalnurse.info and we will email this to you in a word document that you can reproduce and distribute to others.

Molloy College Graduate Nursing Students and Faculty Send Letter To Congresswoman Carolyn McCarthy

2009-05-19T04:31:00.000-07:00

The Board of Directors of the National Nursing Network Organization received the following letter that was written urging Congresswoman Carolyn McCarthy (NY-04) to introduce legislation to establish an Office of the National Nurse in the 111th Congress. This communication was initiated by Molloy College graduate nursing student Roberta Schieda BSN, RN and has been signed by over 80 graduate nursing students and distinguished nursing faculty. Ms. Schieda and many of those signing the letter below are constituents of Congresswoman McCarthy.

A review of literature about lobbying techniques reveals that personal letters written by constituents are often very effective. Therefore, we thank Roberta, her peers, and the faculty of Molloy College for taking the initiative to write and send the following letter:

Dear Congresswoman McCarthy,

We commend your strong advocacy for the nursing profession and health care reform. We are writing today to urge you to reintroduce legislation to establish an Office of the National Nurse for prevention in the first session of the 111th Congress. As nurses, healthcare workers, and consumers who live in your Congressional District, we are all too aware that our healthcare system is in a time of crisis and requires fixing. Most of the public is expressing their support for prevention to be a part of the solution and we believe it is time for the nursing profession to have representation at the nation's healthcare table especially since health promotion is such an important component of every nurse's daily practice. Prevention is known to be the best way to contain health care costs, improve the overall health of individuals and build stronger communities.

We concur with current thinking of over 50 national and state organizations** who have signed on their support to Have Congress designate the existing Chief Nurse Officer (CNO) of the US Public Health Service (who also serves as the Assistant Surgeon General) to e elevated to a full time position within the Office of the Surgeon General and be officially titled the National Nurse for prevention. The proposed role of the National Nurse would include the following:

• Assist in the initiation of a nationwide cultural shift to prevention.
• Bolster efforts to focus the public on healthy living.
• Publicize and intensify roles for nurses, including students and retirees, in community health promotion.
• Provide greater support tot he Surgeon General in calling for improvements in health literacy and reduction in health disparities.
• Encourage all nurses to spread prevention messages in their communities.
• Encourage participation of nurses in Medical Reserve Corps units.
• Provide leadership to network with existing volunteer health promotion efforts.
• Strengthen linkages with providers, nursing programs, and public health leadership.
• Serve as a visible national spokesperson for professional nursing.
• Increase public awareness of nursing roles and contributions.
• Enhance nursing recruitment and education throughout all communities.
• Support and justify additional funding for nursing education, research and service.

We believe creating an Office of the National Nurse would set a new standard for a more accurate positive portrayal of nursing's importance to health and healthcare in the United States. Nurses are on the forefront in hospitals, schools, and in the community. We are compassionate, well-educated, empathetic individuals with a strong desire to educate and treat the public.

If our government enthusiastically and publicly embraced nursing, making its crucial contributions clearly evident, perhaps the public and media would have a greater understanding of and appreciation for the unlimited ways nursing positively impacts the health of our nation. Nurses outnumber physicians three to one and therefore represent the nation's largest workforce in healthcare. Nurses provide an immeasurable service to the community and nation in whole. Findings from nursing research have had significant impact on improving the health oft he nation. We serve as advocates for those in need and are highly trusted by the public. The Office of the National Nurse could provide a strong, stabilizing voice that can work to positively influence the healthcare of our nation.

As your constituents, we want you to know that we strongly support the establishment of the Office of the National Nurse, and we would be honored to have you sponsor this piece of legislation. We will look forward to learning your plans for introduction.

Sincerely,
Roberta Schieda, BSN, RN
Massapequa Park, NY 11762
and over 80 distinguished nurse educators and nursing graduate students from Molloy College in New York

National Nurses Week Theme "Nurses Building A Health America" Resonates With Supporters of Office of the National Nurse!

2009-05-12T00:57:00.000-07:00

Press coverage and public interest in the Office of the National Nurse initiative continues to build and this was indeed the case during National Nurses Week.

Thank you to Kathy Quan RN, BSN, PHN for writing "We Need A National Nurse Now" and posting it on many of her websites. The article definitely resonated with readers and many left excellent comments in support. Keith RN left this statement, "Yes, we need a National Nurse, and we need the position now more than ever.

Nurses are the front line in health care, and we deserve and need recognition and representation at the highest levels.

Nurses' education and approach to problem-solving is uniquely different than that of physicians, and a National Nurse who stands on equal footing with the Surgeon General would add a greatly needed voice to the mix.

It's time for nurses to rise to their full potential. As the most consistently trusted professionals in America in poll after survey, nurses have so much to offer, and a National Nurse would give nurses the power to reach even more Americans with our message of prevention and wellness."

Working Nurse reporter Elizabeth Hanink, RN, BSN, PHN wrote "The Office of the National Nurse" and it is currently the lead story. Hanink states, "Nurses hold a unique position in American healthcare. Over and over, we rank among the most trusted professions. At the same time, we face acute shortages in our numbers. Meanwhile, the United States faces unprecedented pressures: disparities of care, unsustainable costs and epidemics of preventable diseases."

Congratulations to Pat Van Betten MEd, RN who published National nurse last week in the Las Vegas Review-Journal:

To the editor:

As a nurse concerned about the health of our nation, I see the recent events centered on the swine flu as another valid reason to create an Office of the National Nurse.

Coupled with the extensive current activities to revise health care and the fact that National Nurses Week's theme (May 6-12) is "Nurses Building a Healthy America," this is the opportune time for legislative action to create an Office of the National Nurse in Washington, D.C.

The potential of the nursing work force to improve our nation's health is too great a resource to waste.

The nation needs, and all nurses deserve, a prominent "national nurse" leader to partner with the U.S. surgeon general who will offer guidance to coordinate the contributions nurses can make year-round to improve the health of our nation.

The movement to create a national nurse is an important initiative with potential for tremendous positive impact in improved health outcomes and cost savings in health care.

It also validates the contributions of nursing and provides respect and year-round appreciation for our valuable nursing work force.

Patricia van Betten

BLUE DIAMOND, NEVADA"

Van Betten, P. (2009). National nurse. Las Vegas Review-Journal. Retrieved May 9, 2009 from http://www.lvrj.com/opinion/44354297.html.

The Board of Directors urges supporters to continue to contact their local media to help spread the word about the Office of the National Nurse initiative. Your efforts are appreciated and will not go unnoticed.

National Nurses Week Is May 6-12, 2009

2009-05-06T03:48:00.000-07:00

National Nurses Week is an excellent opportunity to promote the Office of the National Nurse initiative. Years ago the leaders of our nation declared there be an annual National Nurses observance to celebrate and recognize our nation's nurses. Each year healthcare providers including hospitals, public health departments and schools of nursing plan events during this week to show nurses how they are valued and appreciated, while raising public awareness of the unique contributions nurses make to society 24/7 all year long.

This is an important week for nurses, because the focus acknowledges the unique contributions of nurses in every community. It is also an opportune time to raise public awareness of how and why nurses are mobilizing alongside the National Nursing Network Organization to establish an Office of the National Nurse. Nurses deserve to have a year round prominent leader positioned in Washington DC to represent nurses and advocate for the populations we serve. The health of the nation represents tremendous social capital, and will be enhanced and protected with a prominent and visible nurse leading prevention efforts.

If your organization has not yet decided what action to take in observance of National Nurses Week, we recommend that you write a letter to the editor using the template provided in the post directly underneath this one. Here are some other suggestions:

• Write a brief article or letter for your nursing organization's newsletter about the Office of the National Nurse initiative. Here is a brief and current article that was published in the May/June issue of the Nevada State Nurses Association’s newsletter.

• Contact your legislative representatives, let them know you favor having a National Nurse. Sample letters and phone scripts are available on the National Nurse website.

• Make a small donation to the National Nursing Network Organization either on line or by emailing teri@nationalnurse.info to find out where to send a check. To thank you for your support, we would be delighted to send a certificate of recognition to a respected nursing colleague whom you identify to us to acknowledge their contributions to nursing practice and community and public health.

• Plan a family friendly community health fair event, staffed by nurses and nursing students.

• Make a poster board to display about the Office of the National Nurse initiative. We have many handouts available to assist you.

• Consider purchasing a button or bumper-sticker to support the ONN campaign at CafePress. Merchandise features the logo 'What Would Flo Do?'

• Request a presentation from an NNNO Board member and we will do our best to meet your needs.

• Ask that five of your colleagues sign up to receive the National Nurse newsletter; this is a great way to spread the news about the ONN initiative.

• Join the National Nurse Campaign on Facebook.

Our Board members are willing to help you with planning. What is most important is that we all "seize the moment" and join the celebration of National Nurses Week!

"Health is not only to be well, but to use well every power we have."
Florence Nightingale, 1893

Best Quick Suggestion For How to Observe National Nurses Week-Send a Letter!

2009-05-01T13:31:00.000-07:00

The recent concern for a possible “swine flu” pandemic along with the announcement that “Healthcare” is President Obama’s top priority for the next 100 days, and the fact that this year’s National Nurses Week (May 6-12) theme is "Nurses Building a Healthy America" sets up a ‘perfect storm’ of opportunity.

Nurses everywhere can take a simple action to make a big difference for the public and our profession. Simply WRITE a letter! The same strategy that worked for Florence Nightingale so many years ago, facilitated by technology, can be even more effective today especially if the response comes from nurses everywhere.

Imagine the impact of thousands of letters from nurses across all specialty areas united and in agreement that the time for a National Nurse is now!

Send a quick letter in support of creating a National Nurse to your legislators, to a major national newspaper and/or to your local community newspaper, or to your nursing organization’s newsletter. Email it, or snail mail it, but DO IT!

A template is provided below that includes information on how Americans could benefit from an Office of the National Nurse (ONN). Four state legislatures (Massachusetts, New York, Oregon, and Vermont) have already passed resolutions on a grassroots initiative calling for Congress to designate the existing Chief Nurse Officer of the United States Public Health Service (USPHS) to be the country's National Nurse.

This popular proposal is simple, pragmatic, and cost-effective. An ONN could unify, inspire and engage nurses to respond in emergencies and to promote prevention. Rather than hearing President Obama or a member of his Cabinet describe the importance of hand washing to the public, a visible and highly respected National Nurse, who is familiar to the public and represents the most trusted health profession, will be much better suited to deliver prevention messages that our nation desperately needs to curb epidemics. These include not only communicable diseases, but also preventable chronic conditions such as obesity, heart disease, and Type 2 diabetes that cost our country trillions of dollars each year.

Nurses promote healthy behaviors as a cornerstone of care, no matter what setting they work in. Our nation’s 2.9 million nurses are licensed, knowledgeable health professionals and are present in every community. Many are bicultural and span broad and diverse community populations.

What better way to observe National Nurses Week that to take action to honor our country's nurses and support creation of an Office of the National Nurse? For more information visit http://nationalnurse.org. Here is a link to locate your elected US Representative and Senators.

Template:

Dear ______________________________(Legislator or Editor)

As a nurse, concerned about the health of our nation, I see the recent events centered on the H1N1 (Swine flu) as another valid reason to create an Office of the National Nurse. (http://nationalnurse.org)
Coupled with the extensive current activities to revise healthcare and the fact that National Nurses Week’s (May 6-12) theme is “ Nurses Building a Healthy America,” this is the opportune time for legislative action to create an Office of the National Nurse in Washington DC.

The potential of the nursing workforce to improve our nation’s health is too great a resource to waste. The nation needs, and all nurses deserve, a prominent National Nurse leader to partner with the US Surgeon General who will offer guidance to coordinate the contributions nurses can make year round to improve the health of our nation. Supporters of this concept suggest that Congress elevates and expands the role of the Chief Nurse Officer of the USPHS to serve in as National Nurse, as a cost effective move that avoids unnecessary duplication.

The movement to create a National Nurse is an important initiative with potential for tremendous positive impact in improved health outcomes and cost savings in healthcare. It also validates the contributions of nursing and provides respect and year round appreciation our valuable nursing workforce. I hope others feel the same and will visit http://nationalnurse.org to become active supporters.

Working Nurse Magazine Deems ONN Initiative To Be Of Great Importance

2009-04-27T05:36:00.000-07:00

Thank you Randy Goldberg, President of Working Nurse Magazine for their letter in support of establishing an Office of the National Nurse.

March 6, 2009

The Honorable Lois Capps
1110 Longworth House Office Bld.
Washington D.C. 20515

Dear Congresswoman Capps:

I want to inform you that Working Nurse Magazine , after careful analysis and consideration, has decided to fully support the initiative put forth by the Office of National Nurses to have a Chief Nurse Officer within the Office of the Surgeon General. We have concluded that this initiative is of great importance in helping to improve healthcare within the United States.

We are hopeful that you will reintroduce legislation that would create the Office of the National Nurse. Working Nurse Magazine is an organization that is in touch with over 150,000 registered nurses in the Southwestern portion of the country. We are well aware of the issues and challenges that are faced. Having a full time Chief Nurse Officer embedded with the Office of Surgeon General will bring more visibility to all of those nurses who are already on the front lines the nation’s healthcare system, and to all of the tens of thousands of future nurses that this country needs.

Nurses need an advocate at the highest level of government. Please use this letter as our recommendation of legislation that would accomplish this important goal.

Thank you,
Randy Goldring
President, Working Nurse Magazine

Washington DC Report

2009-04-20T03:48:00.000-07:00

Pictured left to right: Debbie Orre MSN, RN (EdD candidate); Teri Mills RN, MS, ANP, CNE (President NNNO); Mrs. E. Michele Richardson, MS, BSN, RN (Director, Division of Nursing, Bureau of Health Professions - Health Resources & Services Administration); Alisa Schneider MSN, RN; (Secretary NNNO); Terri Polick RN (Vice-President NNNO); and Sheryl Oakes-Caddy JD, RN

Members of the National Nursing Network Organization’s Board and supporters traveled again to DC! Joining us for the first time was Sheryl Oakes Caddy, nurse educator and nurse attorney from Oregon. After learning of this initiative during Alisa and Teri’s keynote address at The American Association of Nurse Attorneys annual conference, Sheryl has become an active supporter. TAANA members have been great in continuing to offer their support since endorsing the ONN initiative.

Although we missed the Cherry Blossom Festival by 1 week we did make 15 in person visits and delivered several dozens packets of information to Congressional offices. We want to thank those who made this trip possible for their gracious donations and support-without you we could not have traveled so far and been such a presence!

We were particularly impressed with the amount of work that is being done in Congress by our elected officials and their legislative aides, as well as by our nursing leaders in HRSA, on economic recovery and health care reform. Despite everyone being so busy, they took the time to meet with us and were interested to hear how the ONN initiative fits with the renewed focus on prevention.

For more information on how to have a packet of the Office of the National Nurse initiative information delivered to your Senator or Representative and support the next lobbying trip to DC, please email Teri

AJN Publishes Letters In April Issue Supporting ONN Initiative

2009-04-15T04:01:00.000-07:00

This month’s issue of The American Journal of Nursing featured five letters in support of establishing an Office of the National Nurse. Karen Walker, RN from Hillsboro, Oregon, wrote the following letter:

“Two January articles, "The Top Nursing Story of 2008: Why Can't Nurses Just Get Along?" (In the News) and "The Initiative to Create a National Nurse: Stalled" (AJN Reports), have striking similarities. It's disappointing that our nursing leaders don't support the establishment of the Office of the National Nurse, which would clearly benefit our profession and improve public health.

What Teri Mills and the National Nursing Network Organization (NNNO) are proposing seems logical, practical, and cost-effective. Most nurses and nursing organizations agree that the position of chief nurse officer of the U.S. Public Health Service (USPHS) needs to be elevated, so it's difficult to understand exactly what the nursing establishment is opposed to. Professional nursing organizations are seeing a decline in membership; doesn't that make it even more apparent that we need a national nursing leader?”

Walker, K. (2009). Who's leading nursing? American Journal of Nursing . 109, (4), pp 12.

Here is another letter that was sent to the NNNO Board that did not get chosen for publication:

Dear Editor;

Let’s not miss this golden opportunity to be major players in the momentum for realistic national health care reform. This is a genuine priority for the Obama administration who sees prevention as a cornerstone for meaningful change. Nursing has a significant national role to play promoting health and preventing illness and this is the time for nursing to speak with one positive, powerful, supportive voice.

That’s why I am troubled to read of organized nursing’s rejection of the proposed Office of the National Nurse, as reported in the January 2009 AJN Reports: The Initiative to Create a National Nurse. Their arguments seem disjointed and inconsistent.

For example, M. Elaine Tagliareni, president of the NLN and speaking for the Tri-Council essentially says why “create a brand new office when we already have a chief nurse officer of the USPHS.” And that, to me is the point. Now-to all nurse readers everywhere- Quiz time: Quick!! Name the Chief Nurse at USPHS and list one major achievement of 2008. Hmmm. I thought so. Neither can I. And yet- wouldn’t the easiest action be to elevate that position to full time, give that professional the opportunities to reach out to the public, and put a public face on nursing? As Carol Lindeman said, “nurses are knowledge workers.” Let us use that knowledge to work with the public.

We need someone, full time, to advocate for nursing involvement in health policy, someone to provide leadership for nursing in a way that both enhances the profession and strengthens nursing’s involvement in health care issues. We need someone whose examples of leadership and advocacy emphasis the vital importance of nursing to the health of the public. Such effectiveness would be a natural recruitment tool as well.

We need the Office of the National Nurse. We need a qualified professional to work in a complementary and very visible way with the Office of the Surgeon General, especially since President Obama is considering a highly regarded physician with media experience as Surgeon General. This will be a natural partnership for nursing.

One of ANA’s objections is that the proposals for health education “are limited to simple messages.” Why is this bad? Isn’t the health message on a pack of cigarettes a simple one? Isn’t the message to floss and brush your teeth a simple one? And what about the simple message to counter childhood obesity, to turn off the TV and go out and play?

The Office of the National Nurse builds on precedent. Look at the careers and accomplishments of Lucille Petry Leone and Faye Abdullah. Look at the leadership of Margretta Styles, who provided the blueprint for the Office of National Nurse almost 25 years ago, when she encouraged nurses to exercise their leadership potential in national and global health. Her dream for nursing included a strong image and a unified voice for nursing. Styles envisioned a nurse as Director-General of the World Health Organization and inspired us by quoting Nightingale: No system shall endure that does not march.

Let’s take another look at this proposal and all the good that it can do. Let’s acknowledge that great ideas can come from unexpected places, and that a National Nurse has much to offer the American public.

Patricia Van Betten RN, MEd.
Blue Diamond, Nevada

We look forward to hearing your opinions and welcome your feedback in the Comments section of this posting. If you desire a response, be sure to insert your email in the post.

Testifying Before the Oregon State House Health Committee

2009-04-12T07:25:00.000-07:00

Pictured Back Row Left to Right Mark Schwebke (AFT OR President); Mara Kieval BSN, RN; Elizabeth McPhee PCC SN; Teri Mills MS, RN, ANP, CNE (President NNNO); State Representative Michael Dembrow Dt.45; Alisa Schneider MSN, RN (Secretary NNNO); Craig Grover PCC SN; Sheryl Oakes-Caddy JD, RN Front Row Left to Right: Lori Graber PCC SN; Shelly Johnson RN

Friday, March 13, 2009, proved to be a very lucky day for SJM 5, the Joint Memorial in the Oregon State Legislature, urging Congress to enact legislation to create an Office of the National Nurse. Accompanied by activists and student nurses wishing to learn how the political process works, NNNO Board members and supporters returned to the state capitol in Salem to testify in favor of SJM 5.

Testifying in front of the Health Committee- Alisa Schneider, Teri Mills, and Mark Schwebke

Mills concluded her testimony by telling the nine members present for the hearing (one member was excused):
"America’s healthcare system is in serious trouble. Nurses are galvanized by the ONN proposal and want to make a difference. We are the largest sector of healthcare. We have unique and special skills and insights to offer the public. We understand that preventive medicine is better than reactive medicine; that quality of life matters. An Office of the National Nurse would possibly be the most significant way to utilize our collective vast wealth of knowledge to improve our nation’s health. And we hope that you, as concerned health care consumers and esteemed elected officials will join us so that the Office of the National Nurse will become a reality in our lifetime."

Pictured Left to Right: Teri Mills, Representative Michael Dembrow, Alisa Schneider, and Mark Schwebke

The vote was taken and SJM 5 passed unanimously out of the House Health Committee. This resolution passed on the floor of the Oregon House of Representatives on March 19th by a vote of 55-2. Oregon joins the state legislatures in Massachusetts, New York, and Vermont who previously had passed similar resolutions urging the US Congress to enact legislation to establish an Office of the National Nurse.

Building The Foundation For A Healthy America

2009-04-08T04:01:00.000-07:00

During Public Health Week, April 6-12, 2009 the National Nursing Network Organization (NNNO) signed on to the American Public Health Association's (APHA) efforts to strengthen public health as the foundation for healthcare reform. Supporters of the campaign to create an Office of the National Nurse will be inspired by the APHA's newest video Healthiest Nation in One Generation. The video can be viewed at http://www.generationpublichealth.org/ . The Board of Directors of the NNNO encourages all nurses to share this public health video with friends, family, and co-workers as we support the APHA theme "Building the Foundation for a Healthy America."

With debate around health care reform underway, Georges C. Benjamin, MD, FACP, FACEP (E), Executive Director of the APHA, noted that the theme is particularly timely and relevant, stating, “As a nation, we spend far more on health care than any other country, yet we fall short in many of the important measures of what it means to be healthy. Investing in public health, focusing on communities to prevent disease and injury, and promoting healthy behaviors are essential if we hope to succeed in improving health, reducing costs and reforming our health system.”

The supporters of the Office of the National Nurse (ONN) initiative wholeheartedly agree. The ONN will stand as a focal point of preventive practices in the future of healthcare reform. Just as nurses work alongside physicians and other health care providers, the ONN would assist other federal agencies to meet their stated goals of prevention and wellness. We are proposing the ONN be the vehicle for the delivery of the prevention and wellness message that our nation desperately needs to stave off the epidemics of chronic, preventable conditions.

Nurses use education as a cornerstone of care, no matter what setting they work in. We are the health professionals, front line educators, and as we are 2.9 million strong and growing, we would be a vast and powerful tool for improving health literacy by reaching across a broad and diverse population.

Elevating the Chief Nurse of the USPHS to be the National Nurse will be a significant step toward recognizing public health and toward the APHA goal of building the foundation for a healthy America.

Testifying For Senate Joint Memorial 5 in Salem, Oregon

2009-04-06T04:02:00.000-07:00

Left to right: Senator Laurie Monnes Anderson (Chair of Health and Veteran's Affair Senate Committee), Teri Mills MS, RN, ANP, CNE (President NNNO and AFT OR Member); Sheryl Oakes Caddy JD, RN (Nurse Educator and ONA Member); Alisa Schneider MSN, RN (Secretary NNNO and AFT OR Member); and Shelly Johnson RN (ONA Member)

Senate Joint Memorial 5 , a resolution urging the United States Congress to enact legislation to create an Office of the National Nurse passed unanimously out of the Health and Veteran's Affairs Senate Committee on February 19, 2009 before it was sent to the House Health Committee, with final passage late last month.

Five nurses (pictured and named above) testified in favor of the resolution. There was no opposition present at the hearing. Here is part of Alisa Schneider's testimony that she presented before the committee:

"The establishment of the Office of the National Nurse would set a new standard for a more accurate and realistic recognition of nursing's importance to health and healthcare in the United States. If the federal government enthusiastically and publicly embraced nursing, making its crucial contributions crystal clear, perhaps the public, the media and the private sector would all then have a greater understanding of, and appreciation for, the multitudinous ways in which nursing impacts the health of millions of Americans.

Most importantly, however, the establishment of this office would certainly bring an important voice even more strongly to the ongoing conversation about health and health care in America. A National Nurse could, in effect, deliver a unified message of preventive health at a time when millions of Americans---including millions of children---live without health insurance or access to regular primary care. At a time of crisis and uncertainty for the health of the country, the Office of the National Nurse could very well be a stabilizing and empowering voice of reason and prevention."

Lobbying in Salem!

2009-03-30T06:34:00.000-07:00

Here is a photo journal of the initial visit that supporters made to the Oregon State Capitol last January to lobby for SJM 5, a joint resolution that passed this month urging the United States Congress to enact legislation creating an Office of the National Nurse (ONN).

Pictured Left to Right: Constance Wilson PCC SN and NSNA PCC Chapter Fundraising Chair; Alisa Schneider MSN, RN and Secretary of the National Nursing Network Organization; Shelly Johnson RN and PCC Class of 2008; Senator Monnes Anderson; Rahela Walker PCC SN and NSNA PCC Chapter President; and Teri Mills MS, RN, ANP, CNE and President of the National Nursing Network Organization

Pictured: Teri Mills and Alisa Schneider visiting Representative Michael Dembrow's office in Salem, Oregon

Pictured left to right: Shelly Johnson, Constance Wilson, Alisa Schneider, Senate Majority Leader Senator Richard Devlin, Rahela Walker, and Teri Mills

Announcing The Support of RNs Working Together AFL-CIO For Office of the National Nurse Initiative

2009-03-24T01:39:00.000-07:00

The Board of Directors of the National Nursing Network Organization is pleased to announce RNs Working Together voted during their most recent Executive Council meeting to fully support the Office of the National Nurse initiative. We would like to thank the leadership body of this important organization for recognizing the enormous potential an Office of the National Nurse will have on improving the health of the nation and elevating the nursing profession.

RNs Working Together is the largest organization of working registered nurses in the United States, with nearly one-quarter of a million members. "As a nurse and a union leader, I believe that creating the Office of a National Nurse is a good way to enhance nursing recruitment and support policies that strengthen nursing education and practice," says JNESO Executive Director Virginia Treacy, RN.

March 18, 2009

Teri Mills MS, RN, ANP, CNE
President
National Nursing Network Organization

RE: Office of the National Nurse (ONN) Endorsement

Dear Ms. Mills,

RNs Working Together is America's largest organization of working registered nurses, with nearly one-quarter of a million members from 10 AFL-CIO unions.

We unite the collective energy and strength of our members to promote the role of registered nurse as the patient advocate in the workplace, highlight the skills and value of working nurses and push a legislative agenda that advances the cause of safe, quality patient care. We believe in fighting for a health care system that serves everyone.

No one understands better than our nurse members that we can’t fix our economy until we fix our broken health care system. At the same time, nurses will tell you that reform is not just about number crunching and corporate power struggles — it’s also about improving primary care services by integrating disease prevention strategies. Our health care system should empower and encourage nurses to educate and counsel patients about the importance of simple preventative measures. Together, we need to foster a culture of prevention.

That’s why RNs Working Together supports the concept of creating an Office of the National Nurse. We believe that elevating the Chief Nurse Officer of the U.S. Public Health Service to full-time status and renaming this position as the National Nurse is a way to promote the visibility of nurses in the national health care debate and give nurses another voice at the federal policy table.

Working nurses know how important it is to have a voice — both at the federal policy level and on the local health care delivery level. Everyday, staff nurses in our country use their powerful union voice to bring attention to unsafe staffing levels, and other problems that negatively affect patient outcomes. Joining a union gives nurses the protection and resources they need to be effective patient advocates. When nurses join unions, they pull up a seat at the table.

As union nurses, we are happy to lend our collective voice towards this effort because when nurses have a voice, patients get better care.

Sincerely,

Steve Francy
Executive Director
RNs Working Together, AFL-CIO

For more information about RNs Working Together, please see our website at: www.rnsworkingtogether.org

The working nurses of RNs Working Together are affiliated with the following AFL-CIO unions:

American Federation of Government Employees
American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees
American Federation of Teachers
California Nurses Association/National Nurses Organizing Committee
Communications Workers of America
JNESO/Operating Engineers
Office and Professional Employees International Union
United American Nurses
United Auto Workers
United Steelworkers

Oregon Legislature Says Yes to Office of National Nurse

2009-03-19T14:43:00.000-07:00

SJM 5 Passes Unanimously in Senate; 55-2 in House

Salem, Oregon – Today Oregon lawmakers voiced their support of SJM 5, a joint resolution urging the United States Congress to enact legislation creating an Office of the National Nurse (ONN). Oregon joins the State Houses of Vermont, Massachusetts, and New York who have also passed similar resolutions.

Senator Laurie Monnes Anderson, also a nurse, introduced the legislation after nursing students of Portland Community College (PCC), faculty Teri Mills MS, RN, ANP, CNE and Alisa Schneider MSN, RN brought the idea to her attention. “Establishing an Office of the National Nurse offers common sense solutions to our country’s health care crisis,” says Senator Monnes Anderson. “I am pleased to be working with leaders of the National Nurse campaign to address these areas of concern in public health care.”

Representative Michael Dembrow (D-Portland) was the Chief Sponsor in the House and carried the bill on the floor. “This is a special bill for me because the effort to create the ONN had its genesis with two of my colleagues at PCC," said Dembrow. "As a nation, we need to move toward a focus on preventive care, and it's important to spotlight the role that nurses play in our health care system," he continued. "Creating an Office of the National Nurse will increase attention on these critical issues, and I was honored to carry the bill on the floor."

The intent of creating an ONN is to focus on strengthening the work of existing groups such as the Office of the Surgeon General, Medical Reserve Corps and community agencies through a more robust and modernized nursing leadership presence. Nurses are well positioned to provide this much needed change as they are 2.9 million strong, the most trusted of all health professionals, span all cultures, and are accomplished health educators.

“An ONN would possibly be the most significant way to utilize nurses’ collective vast wealth of knowledge to improve our nation’s health as we are the largest sector of healthcare and have unique skills and insights to offer,” Mills states. ”A nursing leader with the unique title of National Nurse will be a beacon for recruitment and ensure prominence for the nursing profession, as well as increase public awareness for promoting health at the national level.”

Mills introduced the Office of the National Nurse in an op/ed, “America’s Nurse”, that was published in The New York Times May 20, 2005 and reprinted later that month in The Oregonian. Schneider acknowledges “This is an Oregon born initiative and it is an honor to have our legislature support it. Nurses hold too few positions of influence at the national level and with pending healthcare reform, it is a critical that nursing’s unique input be included in policy and planning.”

The ONN would not be a "cure- all" for the problems in health care but will assure nurses are positioned to promote changes in our nation’s health systems that will emphasize prevention. ” Nurses witness daily how the healthcare system is failing the American people, including thousands of Oregonians. Eighteen other countries do better than the U.S. at reducing preventable deaths. Every year $1.3 trillion is spent on managing the impact of the 7 most common chronic diseases, many of which are preventable. 30% of the American adult population is now obese. The American Diabetes Association (2008) reports that the total estimated cost of diabetes care in 2007 was $174 billion and fifty-four million additional Americans have pre-diabetes, placing them at high risk for developing type 2 diabetes.

For more information visit http://nationalnurse.org .

America Needs A National Nurse

2009-03-19T05:56:00.000-07:00

The March issue of Nursing 2009 features a guest editorial by NNNO Board President Teri Mills MS, RN, ANP, CNE on the Office of the National Nurse initiative. The goal is to elevate the Chief Nurse Officer of the USPHS to a full time position and to have Congress bestow this position to be the "National Nurse" thus ensuring prominence and increasing public awareness to promote health at the national level. The National Nurse would complement the work of the US Surgeon General to improve health literacy and reduce health disparities.

"The nation is ready for change. It's time for nurses to call for leadership that will position nursing on the front line. Now is the time for a National Nurse."

Nursing’s circulation is 255,000 world-wide.

Delegate Margi Vanderhye Sends Letter of Support to Rep. Lois Capps (CA-23)

2009-03-16T11:20:00.000-07:00

Pictured: Virginia Delegate Margaret Vanderhye

Thank you to Margaret Vanderhye who represents the 34th District in the Virginia House of Delegates for sending the following letter in support of creating an Office of the National Nurse to Congresswoman Lois Capps (23-D), Co-Chair of the House Nursing Caucus.

February 24, 2009

The Honorable Lois Capps
1110 Longworth House Office Building
Washington DC 20515

Dear Congresswoman Capps,

I am writing in strong support of the initiative to create an Office of the National Nurse. As the public health demands of the 21st century become more evident, the need for a national focus on health is clear. In particular, our country needs to promote preventive health, not only in policy but in practice. Our large and diverse nursing workforce is an existing resource that can quickly be mobilized to advance the important work of prevention. An Office of the National Nurse would help develop and implement the policies and programs necessary achieve such a mobilization.

As I understand it, we would not need to add additional staff or funding to establish the office. Congressional action is needed to formally bestow the unique title of National Nurse on the Chief Nurse Officer (CNO) of the United States Public Health Service (USPHS) in order to provide the status, authority and public recognition necessary to lead large scale prevention efforts and shift to a culture of prevention in US healthcare. Designating the existing CNO, who also serves as Assistant Surgeon General, and elevating this position to a full time status within the Office of the Surgeon General provides a pragmatic and cost effective solution.

The Office of the National Nurse would complement the important work of the Surgeon General and would also provide input at the federal policy table on a number of valuable initiatives such as:

* Bolstering efforts to focus the public on healthy living;
* Providing greater support to the Surgeon General in calling for improvements in health literacy and reduction in health disparities;
* Providing leadership to network with existing volunteer health promotion efforts;
* Encouraging participation of nurses in Medical Reserve Corps units;
* Serving as a visible national spokesperson for professional nursing;
* Increasing public awareness of nursing roles and contributions;
* Intensifying roles for nurses, including students and retirees, in community health promotion;
* Strengthening linkages with providers, nursing programs, and public health leadership;
* Supporting and justifying additional funding for nursing education, research and service.

The establishment of the Office of the National Nurse would set a new standard for a more accurate and realistic recognition of nursing's importance to health and healthcare in the United States. You have my fullest support for the legislation you have introduced to create an Office of the National Nurse.

Yours truly,

Delegate Margaret Vanderhye
Virginia House of Delegates, 34th District

Oregonians for Health Security Approve Office of the National Nurse Initiative

2009-03-12T01:41:00.000-07:00

Thank you to Advocacy Director Steve Dixon and Oregonians for Health Security for their strong statement in support of creating an Office of the National Nurse.

February 11, 2009

The Honorable Lois Capps
U.S. House of Representatives
1110 Longworth House Office Building
Washington D.C. 20515

Dear Representative Capps,

I write on behalf of Oregonians for Health Security, an advocacy organization committed to uniting working families, small business owners, seniors, health care workers, community leaders, and policy makers in the fight for quality, affordable and secure health care for all Oregonians. We believe preventive care must be included in any basic benefit plan that promotes health and eliminates economic and racial disparities. We strongly support your efforts to recognize the important role nurses play in promoting preventative care in this country. Your endorsement of symbolic national nursing leadership to support a philosophical and cultural shift toward prevention in the U.S. health care system is essential not only to Oregonians but to all Americans.

Oregonians for Health Security supports efforts to rename the Chief Nurse Officer of the U.S. Public Health Services as the "National Nurse" to elevate the authority and visibility of that office in the national health care debate. Chronic conditions - diabetes, asthma, obesity, and others - pose the single greatest threat to the health of Americans and our nation's economy. Nurses provide key care services in the prevention and management of these conditions and we commend your efforts to recognize their work, promote prevention, improve outcomes, and provide guidance for state and local leaders in mobilizing nurse volunteers.

Our new administration and Congress - and their clear commitment to wellness and prevention - present an ideal opportunity to advance the concept of a National Nurse and make it a reality. Oregonians for Healthcare Security support legislation to achieve these goals and look forward to working with you on this important issue. Please do not hesitate to contact us should you need further information or assistance.

Sincerely,

Steve Dixon
Oregonians for Health Security
Advocacy Director
P.O. Box 1217
Clackamas, OR 97015

National Nurses in Business Association Endorses ONN Initiative

2009-03-09T04:03:00.000-07:00

Thank you to President Patricia Ann Bemis, RN CEN, the Board of Directors and the more than 400 members of the NNBA for their strong support of elevating the CNO of the USPHS to a full time position and be officially designated as the National Nurse.

February 15, 2009

The Honorable Lois Capps
U.S. House of Representatives
1110 Longworth House Office Building
Washington D.C. 20515

Dear Representative Capps:

I write on behalf of the board of directors and the more than 400 members of the National Nurses in Business Association (NNBA). We support the efforts that are underway to recognize the important role nurses play in promoting preventative care in this country. Your endorsement of symbolic national nursing leadership to support a philosophical and cultural shift toward prevention in the U.S. health care system is essential and important to our members.

We strongly suggest the existing Chief Nurse Officer (CNO) of the US Public Health Service (USPHS) position, who also serves as the Assistant Surgeon General, be elevated to a full-time position within the Office of the Surgeon General. In addition, we recommend that it be officially titled the National Nurse. This will give it the authority and visibility in the national health care debate.

Chronic conditions (diabetes, heart disease, obesity, and others) are threats to the health of Americans and our nation’s economy. Nurses provide key services in the prevention and management of these conditions. Nurses provide key services in the prevention and management of these conditions. We commend this administration’s efforts to recognize their work, promote prevention, improve outcomes, and provide guidance for state and local leaders in mobilizing nurse volunteers.

The new administration and Congress and their clear commitment to wellness and prevention as evidenced by the appropriations allotted in the stimulus package last week present a window of opportunity to advance the concept of a National Nurse and make it a reality. NNBA and its members support legislation to achieve these goals and look forward to working with you on this important issue. Please do not hesitate to contact me should you need further information or assistance.

Sincerely,

Patricia Bemis RN, CEN
President National Nurses in Business Association, Inc.
National Nurses in Business Association

Case Management Society of America Supports ONN Initative

2009-03-02T03:05:00.000-08:00

Thank you to President Jeff Frater and the Board of Directors of the Case Management Society of America for their recent endorsement of the Office of the National Nurse initiative. According to their website,
"Founded in 1990, the Case Management Society of America (CMSA) has grown to be the leading non-profit association dedicated to the support and development of the profession of case management. It is based in Little Rock, AR, and serves more than 11,000 members, 20,000 subscribers, and 70 chapters through educational forums, networking opportunities, legislative advocacy and establishing standards to advance the profession."

Here is a copy of their letter of support:

February 4, 2009

The Honorable Lois Capps
1110 Longworth House Office Building
United States House of Representatives
Washington DC 20515

Dear Representative Capps:

It gives me great pleasure to announce the support of the Case Management Society of America (CMSA) for the Office of the National Nurse initiative. After careful consideration by the Board of Directors, the Public Policy Committee, and our membership at large, we have concluded that the ONN initiative encourages many of the strategies that we, as a professional organization, believe to be key initiatives to improving the healthcare of our citizens and controlling escalating healthcare costs. Most notably these initiatives support the work that case managers across the continuum of care perform each day as they emphasize preventative care and empower patients toward self-management. Case managers also encourage collaboration between all health care professionals in order to break down silos that cause fragmentation throughout the healthcare system.

The practice of case management is a multidisciplinary practice, made up of nurses, social workers, respiratory therapists, and other healthcare professionals who care for patients in every setting throughout the continuum. Case managers work collaboratively with all members of the healthcare team as well as with the patient and the family to ensure patients at risk receive safe, quality evidence-based medicine, in the least restrictive environment for the most cost effective price.

The Case Management Society of America is the largest not-for-profit professional organization supporting those in the practice of case management. CSMA takes great efforts in all of our actions, to reduce the natural tendency to create and build higher silos within healthcare.

We are very pleased to offer this letter of support to ONN, working with you in your efforts. By way of this letter, you have permission to include our name and logo in promotion of the initiative.

Thank you,
Jeff Frater RN, BSN
President
Case Management Society of America

National Association of Hispanic Nurses Endorses ONN Initiative

2009-02-24T04:45:00.000-08:00

The NNNO Board is proud to announce the endorsement of the National Association of Hispanic Nurses to establish an Office of the National Nurse. Thank-you to Dr. Norma Martinez Rogers and NAHN’s Board of Directors for their support of this important initiative.

The following is NAHN’s letter of support:

January 12, 2009

Congresswoman Lois Capps
1110 Longworth House Office Building
Washington DC 20515

Dear Congresswoman Capps:

The National Association of Hispanic Nurses would like to extend its full support for the legislation that would elevate the Chief Nurse Officer of the U.S. Public Health Service to full time status of the National Nurse within the Office of the Surgeon General.

The National Nurse would provide a visible nurse leader to advocate for enhanced prevention efforts for all communities. Further, we recognize the potential of having a National Nurse who would be able to meet with health care leaders to highlight health disparities and bring forward new ideas.

We urge you to support the reintroduction of legislation that would create the Office of the National Nurse. We look forward to working with you and the Office of the National Nurse in the future. Thank you for your consideration.

Sincerely,
Norma Martinez Rogers PhD, RN, FAAN
President

Breaking News-Nurse Together Endorses National Nurse

2009-02-20T10:06:00.000-08:00

Thank you to Steve Curtin and the Nurse Together community for their support and endorsement of the Office of the National Nurse initiative. The NNNO Board is truly amazed by the many endorsements received in the past seven weeks and will be announcing more in this coming Monday's newsletter. Be sure to email Teri if you would like to receive the free newsletters that provide updates about the campaign for the Office of the National Nurse!

February 20, 2009

The Honorable Lois Capps
1110 Longworth House Office Bld.
Washington D.C. 20515

Dear Congresswoman Capps:

On behalf of the staff of NurseTogether.com (an online nursing community, and nursing information/advocacy site: www.nursetogether.com) and our thousands of members across the country, we’re pleased to endorse and offer our support of the initiative to establish an Office of the National Nurse. As an organization that hears the concerns and professional challenges of nurses on a daily basis through our website, we support the efforts of the National Nursing Network Organization in mobilizing nurses in a nationwide effort to shift to a culture of prevention that ultimately will improve the health of the public. We understand that nurses need to achieve the recognition and opportunities to enhance the public's perception of their critical role in our healthcare system. As such, we share the concern of the National Nursing Network Organization about the limited resources available to minority populations and would like to see greater nursing representation on the federal level to address disparity and highlight these concerns.

The elevation of the Chief Nurse office to the National Nurse for prevention will certainly bring more visibility to the critical role nursing occupies in promoting, protecting, and advancing the nation's health and improving our overall healthcare system.

On behalf our staff and members, thank you for your efforts in highlighting the important contribution of nurses and for your advocacy of the nation’s health. We strongly support the re-introduction of legislation that will create the Office of the National Nurse.

Please do not hesitate to contact us if further information is needed, or if our organization can assist your efforts in any way.

Thank You,
Steve Curtin
Vice President of Content Development
NurseTogether.com
stevec@nursetogether.com

A Picture's Worth A Thousand Words

2009-02-18T04:39:00.000-08:00

Pictured: Portland Community College Class of 2009

On Saturday, February 14th, PCC second year nursing students partnered with Tuality Health Education, the AARP, the local Washington County Medical Reserve Corp unit, and parish nurses to deliver a "Love Your Heart" healthy living fair. Over 150 community members attended the fair which featured presentations that focused on cardiac health. In addition to booths that provided a wealth of information about exercise, smoking cessation, cardiac disease, diabetes mellitus, nutrition, mental health, risk factors, immunization and emergency preparedness, blood pressure, body mass index, cholesterol and glucose screenings were also available.

Pictured left to right: PCC Class of 2008 Student Nurses Rahela Walker (NSNA PCC Chapter President), April Cruz, Fraya Oke, and Mollie Slaughter

Special thanks to Rahela Walker NSNA PCC Chapter President for leading all efforts to ensure the "Love Your Heart" Fair was a complete success.

Pictured: Coral Sohn and Constance Wilson, PCC Second Year Nursing students
The students' creativity went above and beyond to make this a fun and enjoyable experience. The booth on risk factors featured a large heart made of red felt with open chambers. Light weight golf balls were labeled with risk factors commonly seen leading to heart disease and additional balls were also identified with ways to lead a healthier lifestyle. The idea was to toss the balls into the heart chambers with the "bad" things sticking to the felt, representing the vessels, and the "good" things knocking down the true risk factors. Hula hoops were popular at the exercise table. The Tuality Community Hospital cafeteria cooked up some of the recipes brought in by students who manned the nutrition table. Love was also in the air; two students received beautiful bouquets of roses from their significant others-after all, it was Valentine's Day.

Pictured left to right: Gabrielle Kary, Carolyn Harris, Teri Mills MS, RN, ANP, CNE (PCC Nurse Educator and President NNNO), Lisseth Ortega, and Coral Sohn

Information was presented in English and Spanish and motivational interviewing was used to develop an action plan for each participant to take home if they chose to do so.

Pictured: Stephanie Miller (11) and Samantha Miller (14)
Over 95% of the attendees rated the fair as excellent. Comments centered around how easy it was to understand the material and most agreed the fair was user friendly. Participants also were eager to share what they had learned with others. They said they especially enjoyed the mix of students and healthcare providers.

Pictured: Barbara Hula BSN, RN and Teri Mills
Thank you to Barbara Hula BSN, RN who represented the Washington County Medical Reserve Corps. We heard from several who found the information she presented on emergency preparedness to be very helpful.

Laura Gasparis Vonfrolio RN, PhD In Full Support of ONN Initiative

2009-02-14T05:43:00.000-08:00

The National Nursing Network Organization (NNNO) is honored to announce that Laura Gasparis Vonfrolio, RN, PhD, is in full support of the establishment of the Office of the National Nurse initiative. Dr. Gasparis Vonfrolio is beloved among the nursing community as a motivational and inspirational nurse leader and educator. Her style as reflected in her seminars, books, and articles is electrifying. Dr. Gasparis Vonfrolio's professional activities are a testimony to her commitment to challenge the status quo of the nursing establishment and to remold it into one that will truly empower nurses to empower patients to improve America's wellness. Her vision for the nursing profession is in perfect alignment with mission of the NNNO.

Dr. Gasparis Vonfrolio states, “Education Enterprises, a nursing seminar company and I, the president, fully support all the efforts of the National Nursing Network Organization in mobilizing nurses in a nationwide effort to the improvement of safe patient care. It is time, it is overtime that nurses gain the recognition and opportunities to enhance the public's perception of the valuable knowledge and gift of nursing.”

Laura Gasparis Vonfrolio RN PhD
greatnurses.com

The Prospective Role of the National Nurse

2009-02-09T04:10:00.000-08:00

Focus on Future Medicine recently interviewed NNNO Board Members Teri Mills and Alisa Schneider. This is the second of a two part series. During this segment, Schneider describes the goals and vision for the role of the National Nurse that would include promoting health, improving health literacy, and reducing health disparities. The National Nurse would also raise visibility and highlight the critical role that nurses perform in protecting the public's health.

When asked how the ONN would complement the work of the Surgeon General, Schneider explains the CDC generates a great deal of material that is focused on health promotion; the Office of the Surgeon General synthesizes and prioritizes the health agenda for the country; what is needed is a mechanism to deliver these messages and this is what is being proposed to be provided through the Office of the National Nurse. At the local level, nurses and other health professionals would be encouraged to partner with existing infrastructures such as the Medical Reserve Corps, Parish nursing and the American Red Cross to expand and replicate successful prevention programs. It is particularly important and desirable that these efforts reach under-served communities to help eliminate health disparities.

To hear this interview in its entirety, click on the Play Program link.

A Call To Serve

2009-02-02T03:53:00.000-08:00

Attention Daily Kos readers-- to read the Office of the National Nurse initiative in its entirety, please visit http://nationalnurse.org Take a look at the Endorsement and FAQ links on the Home Page as well. Thank you.

Comments made by President Barack Obama during his inaugural address have emphasized that community activism and local volunteerism will be key to confronting many of the issues facing our nation. His statements indicate we will all have to pitch in and do our part. This is why having an Office of the National Nurse will be so important, because if history is any indication, nurses will be among the first in line.

Proof that nurses volunteer and they enjoy doing it comes from a recent article published in the St Louis Post Dispatch:

"HELPING HANDS

Other area hospitals help keep nurses happy by recruiting volunteers — unpaid nurses with current licenses who provide an extra set of eyes, ears and hands to the nurses on staff.

St. John's Mercy Medical Center in Creve Coeur was one of the first in the country to give nurse volunteers responsibilities, including taking patient histories, changing bandages, checking vital signs and giving baths to patients. The volunteers don't take physicians' orders or dispense medicine.

Some of the volunteers are retired nurses, but others already have jobs and volunteer for the opportunity to give extra patient care.

Kim Lindley volunteers once a week through a program at Cardinal Glennon Children's Medical Center, the same hospital where she started her career in the 1980s. She also works part time at St. Luke's Hospital in Chesterfield, and she says volunteering keeps her happy.

"I get to do the fun parts of nursing, the parts you don't have time for (at a paying job)," she said. "It's more rewarding when it's from the heart and not the paycheck."

The Office of the National Nurse (ONN) will be able to suggest and sanction volunteer efforts by nurses. Guidance provided by the ONN will unite available nurses in every community to become involved. Nurses, functioning within their own practice setting, or within existing community service organizations, such as the Medical Reserve Corps, will be able to make many contributions to promote prevention immediately. Whether at the level of individuals and families, or at the school and community level, or across networks and systems, nurses are able to promote change for better health outcomes. The National Nurse, a strong public health career professional identified as the chief nurse of the nation, will be an excellent source of leadership on this important journey.

NNNO Board Members on ReachMD Radio

2009-01-26T04:03:00.000-08:00

Listen to NNNO Board members make the case on ReachMD radio for an Office of the National Nurse. See if you agree that nursing deserves a seat at the nation’s healthcare table. Click on the Play Program link to begin this program. The segment lasts about fifteen minutes and provides a complete overview of the Office of the National Nurse initiative.

Interviews can be challenging and we would like to thank host Susan Dolan RN, JD for making us feel comfortable while she asked the questions.

Asian American/Pacific Islander Nurses Association Endorses ONN Initiative

2009-01-19T05:22:00.000-08:00

Thank you to President Jillian Inouye and the Board of Directors of the Asian American/Pacific Islander Nurses Association for their strong support for establishing an Office of the National Nurse. The Board of Directors of the NNNO congratulates all nurses who stand up to assure that health disparities are eliminated in our nation and to assure we have a nursing workforce representative of our nation's diverse and valued population.

"Of all the forms of inequality, injustice in health care is the most shocking and inhumane." This quote by Martin Luther King Jr is particularly fitting as we honor and celebrate his life this January 20th.

January 8, 2009

The Honorable Lois Capps
1110 Longworth House Office Bld.
Washington D.C. 20515

Dear Congresswoman Capps:

On behalf of the Asian Pacific Islanders Nursing Association (AAPINA) it is my pleasure to endorse and offer our support of the initiative to establish an Office of the National Nurse. We share the concern of the National Nursing Network Organization about the limited resources available to minority populations and would like to see greater nursing representation on the federal level to address disparity and highlight these concerns.

As part of the 2.9 million nurses who are the most trusted of all health professionals, members of our organization are eminently qualified to speak to the issues of disparities and vulnerabilities. The elevation of the Chief Nurse office to the National Nurse for prevention will bring more visibility to the critical role nursing occupies in promoting, protecting, and advancing the nation's health.

We applaud your efforts in highlighting the important contribution of nurses for your advocacy of the nation’s health. We strongly support the re-introduction of legislation that will create the Office of the National Nurse. If further information is needed or other support please do not hesitate to contact us.

Sincerely,

Jillian Inouye, PhD, APRN
President AAPINA

DMAA Endorses Office of the National Nurse Initiative

2009-01-12T04:50:00.000-08:00

Thank you to DMAA President and CEO Tracey Moorhead and the DMAA Board of Directors for their endorsement of the Office of the National Nurse initiative.

December 18, 2008

The Honorable Lois Capps
U.S. House of Representatives
1110 Longworth House Office Building
Washington D.C. 20515

Dear Representative Capps,

I write on behalf of our Board of Directors and the more than 200 members of DMAA: The Care Continuum Alliance in support of your efforts to recognize the important role nurses play in promoting preventative care in this country. Your endorsement of symbolic national nursing leadership to support a philosophical and cultural shift toward prevention in the U.S. health care system is essential and important to our members.

DMAA supports your efforts to rename the Chief Nurse Officer of the U.S. Public Health Services as the "National Nurse" to elevate the authority and visibility of that office in the national health care debate. Chronic conditions - diabetes, asthma, obesity, and others - pose the single greatest threat to the health of Americans and our nation's economy. Nurses provide key care services in the prevention and management of these conditions and we commend your efforts to recognize their work, promote prevention, improve outcomes, and provide guidance for state and local leaders in mobilizing nurse volunteers.

The new administration and Congress - and their clear commitment to wellness and prevention - present an ideal opportunity to advance the concept of a National Nurse and make it a reality. DMAA and its members support legislation to achieve these goals and look forward to working with you on this important issue. Please do not hesitate to contact DMAA should you need further information or assistance.

Sincerely,

Tracey Moorhead
President and CEO

Is the National Nurse Issue Really Stalled?

2009-01-08T14:34:00.000-08:00

Pictured: Kathy Quan RN BSN PHN

Thank you to Kathy Quan RN BSN PHN who authors The Nursing Site Blog for giving the National Nursing Network Organization permission to reprint this article from her website.

"In the January, 2009 issue of the American Journal of Nursing (AJN), Roxanne Nelson BSN, RN poses the question of whether or not the idea of a National Nurse for America has stalled. When Teri Mills an NP and nurse educator from Portland OR originally proposed the idea in May of 2005, she suggested the creation of an office of a National Nurse in her op-ed piece in The New York Times.

Over time the idea, as promoted by The National Nursing Network Organization (NNNO) chaired by Mills, has evolved to elevate and enhance the chief nurse officer who serves under the Surgeon General to the role of the National Nurse. This would utilize a position which already exists in the United States Public Health Service. The NNNO supports making it a full time position and to change the title to the "national nurse for prevention."

Rep. Lois Capps (D-CA), herself an RN, introduced a bill (HR 4903 National Nurse Act of 2006) in the U.S. House of Representatives in 2006 to establish the Office of the National Nurse. The bill garnered 42 bipartisan supporters but was never passed.

Citing primarily financial reasons, the American Nurses Association (ANA) along with several other prominent U.S. nursing organizations have refused to back the idea stating the office already exists and further funding to enhance and elevate this position would be better used to promote other needs for nurses.

Mills and other founding members of the NNNO have argued that the benefits of elevating this role would far outweigh the costs of expanding this role. For instance, elevating the national nurse role to one of leadership in the task of patient education and disease prevention could help to reduce many of the skyrocketing costs of health care in this country. The staggering costs of chronic preventable diseases alone is bankrupting the system.

Without cost containment, solving the health care and health insurance crisis in this degrading economy could prove to be impossible. This would be just one benefit of having a National Nurse.

In addition, young people seeing a nurse in a primary leadership role in solving this health care crisis would have the benefit of recruiting many more young people into the nursing profession.

As we are all well aware, the nursing shortage is continuing to worsen and will hit critical levels in the next decade. If we don't take strong measures to provide for more nurses in the future, we will all be affected by a lack of available health care. No amount of health insurance will make much difference if access is not available because of a critical shortage of nurses.

Nurses understand how to prioritize, and it's essential now that we use our critical thinking skills and the nursing process to assess the situation, plan and advocate for the best possible scenario.

We have a new President who will assume office in just a few days. He is very aware of the nursing shortage and the needs of nurses. He was endorsed by the ANA for this very reason.

As a collective group we need to advocate for the change we need to help quickly solve the health care crisis this nation is facing. The economy won't recover until we heal the matters that are draining the resources of our citizens.

Promoting healthy living and chronic disease prevention is a critical factor. Utilizing our nursing workforce to assist in this area is essential. To do so, we need the authority as well as national leadership. And as we stand tall and show our worth as nurses, we will gain the recognition we need to secure funding for education of new nurses and to address the quality of patient care for all.

We have tried in vain for many years to be recognized for what we do as nurses, and our workforce and education funding has been cut year after year because we don't unite and have a real leader. The quality of patient care continues to be at risk because the working conditions for nurses has not been adequately addressed. The system is being flooded with patients who shouldn't need care if they had had some very basic education in the first place.

We still hold up Florence Nightingale as our professional icon. Not to say this is all bad, but this is the 21st century and we are still looking to the 1800's for leadership. What's wrong with that picture? Another article in the January issue of AJN addresses this very issue as it's Top Nursing Story of 2008.

Isn't it time to have a National Nurse and some true representation within the government? Find out more about the National Nurse campaign .

Send your comments to AJN at ajnletters@wolterskluwer.com.

Advocate for ALL of the changes we need to adequately address the health care crisis; not just a select few."

Kathy Quan RN BSN PHN
The Nursing Site Blog

Love Your Heart Healthy Living Fair

2009-01-05T05:09:00.000-08:00

Pictured: Planning Committee for Love Your Heart healthy living fair

On Saturday, February 14, 2009 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m Portland Community College (PCC) nursing students will partner with Tuality Healthcare, the AARP, Medical Reserve Corps (MRC), the National Nursing Network Organization and the PCC Student Nurses Associations, to present ‘Love Your Heart’ healthy living fair. The event will take place in the Tuality Health Education Center located at 334 S.E. Eighth Ave in Hillsboro, Oregon. The goal is to educate citizens of Hillsboro and surrounding areas about preventing heart disease and promoting healthy hearts. Spanish information will be also be provided.

The AARP will be available to talk about services their organization provides and the MRC will provide information about emergency preparedness. Groups of 3-4 student nurses will provide tools to promote health literacy in English and Spanish that integrate the following topics: nutrition and exercise, living well with chronic disease, depression and caring for the care giver, diabetes and heart disease, immunizations, tobacco education, hypertension, stroke and peripheral vascular disease, screenings such as blood pressure, glucose, cholesterol and body mass index. Within each station, students will talk one-on-one with clients to determine potential risks, current health status and health literacy. Students will then encourage clients using motivational interviewing to take steps towards improving their health and living with a healthy heart. An evaluation tool will be included in order to gain awareness of what worked and what did not for each participant that join us at the fair. If you live in the Portland Metropolitan area, you are welcome to join us and we look forward to greeting you.

Reflections-A Look Back At Our Progress In 2008

2008-12-22T00:38:00.000-08:00

This past year brought significant change to the National Nursing Network Organization. THANK YOU to the hundreds of you who have spent countless hours providing us with advice, expertise, and support over the past 12 months and beyond.

Highlights:
With the assistance of many supporters, we launched our official website, http://nationalnurse.org. The home page features links to endorsements, how to take action, information about our organization, frequently asked questions, a contact page, and also a link to this news blog.

The NNNO co-sponsored two health promotion events; the Haunted Hospital and a Healthy Living Fair. Thanks to supporters in Massachusetts and Vermont we saw resolutions urging the US Congress to enact legislation to create an Office of the National Nurse pass unanimously out of their state legislative branches. We added new graphic designs to the National Nurse merchandise found at Cafe Press , with the help of Paula from Michigan.

We were able to send out one to two newsletters each month and you are encouraged to send your email to Teri to receive these updates. Several of you sent us cash donations and we appreciate this support to help maintain our website, mailing list, and travels to educate others about the Office of the National Nurse Initiative. In March 2008 we traveled to Washington DC and met with several members of Congress, their staff, and also with those who serve in the USPHS.

For anyone who wishes to take a trip down memory lane, click on the archived months of 2008 at www.nationalnurse.blogspot.com to follow our journey.

Endorsements: (NOTE Organizations who endorsed in 2008 are in BOLD)
American Association of Legal Nurse Consultants
American Association of Nurse Assessment Coordinators
American Association of Nurse Executives
American Association of Women in Community Colleges
American Federation of Teachers-National
American Federation of Teachers – HealthCare Northwest
American Federation of Teachers-Oregon
American Holistic Nurses Association
American Radiological Nurses Association
Anne Lewellyn RN.C BHSA CCM CRRN Dorland Healthcare Information, Editor in Chief
Association of Nurses in AIDS Care (ANAC)
Barbara Ficarra RN BSN MPA Host/Health in 30
California Association for Nurse Practitioners
California School Nurses Organization
Center for Nursing Advocacy
Channel Island Chapter – Oncology Nurses Society
Democracy for America
Democratic Party of Iowa
Democratic Party of Oregon
Dennis Smith-Chairman and CEO First Responders Financial LLC
DMAA-The Care Continuum Alliance
Edie Brous RN BSN MSN MPH JD
Editorial of support-RN Magazine Jan 2006
Exceptional Nurse (Non-profit organization dedicated to nurses with disabilities)
Florida Nurse Practitioner Network
Food Front Grocery Co-op - Portland, Oregon
Governor Barbara Roberts (OR)
International Parish Nurses Resource Center
Jane Jeffrie Seley NP CDE Diabetes Nurse Practitioner
Jeff Merkley, US Senator-Elect (OR) and OR Speaker of the House
JNESO District Council 1 – IUOE/AFL-CIO
Kansas Parish Nurse Ministry Inc.
Massachusetts General Court
Michigan Nurses Association
National Association of Hispanic Nurses
National Association of Independent Nurses
National Association of Neonatal Nurses
National Physicians Alliance
New Jersey Student Nurses Association
New York State Assembly
Nightingale Initiative for Global Health
North America Nursing Diagnosis International
Northeast Tennessee Nurse Practitioner Association
OR Manager Inc. –Editorial and endorsement of support
Oregon Alliance for Retired Americans
Oregon Student Nurses Association
Philippine Nurses Association of America
Physicians for Social Responsibility
Public Employee Federation- AFL-CIO
Santa Clara County Chapter Health Care for All
Southern Connecticut Association of MDS Coordinators
State Assemblywoman Aileen Gunther (NY) Original Sponsor K367
State Representative Christine Canavan (MA) and State Senator Robert Creedon Jr-Original Sponsors 2008 Joint Resolution
State Representative Kathy Keenan (VT) Original Sponsor 2008 Resolution
State Representative Marcia Moody (NH) Original Sponsor 2008 Resolution
The American Association of Nurse Attorneys
Thom Hartmann-Author and Progressive Talk Radio Show Host
Vermont State Legislature
Over 2,700 signers at http://www.petitiononline.com/rnusa1/petition.html

Presentations:
Our board members traveled to Las Vegas (Nevada), Portland (Oregon), Baltimore (Maryland), and Tampa (Florida) to present the Office of the National Nurse Initiative.

Here a list of presentations that we gave during 2008:
Oregon Student Nursing Association Convention – February 2008
Tualatin, Oregon Kiwanis Club – February 2008
United States Public Health Service – March 2008
Oregon Chapter of National Hispanic Nurses Association – April 2008
2008 Medical Reserve Corps National Leadership and Training Conference – April 2008
National Black Nurses Association Annual Conference – August 2008
The American Association of Nurse Attorneys – Keynote Address October 2008
American Association of Women in Community College’s Oregon 2008 Fall Conference – November 2008

Publications:
Nurses and the Public Say It Is Time For Change by Mills, Scanlon, and Sullivan was published in July 2008. A poll accompanied the article asking, "Do you believe the United States should develop an Office of the National Nurse, similar to the Surgeon General?" and an overwhelming majority, 76% of respondents said YES! (13% said No and 10% were Unsure)

Additional articles published about the Office of the National Nurse in 2008 include:
ADVANCE E-newsletter August 2008
ADVANCE for Nurses September 2008 All 10 printed regional editions
Case In Point Weekly December 2008
Connecticut News Junkie August 2008
International Parish Nurses Resource Center Newsletter May 2008
Leominster Champion Newspaper July 2008
Medscape Advanced Practice eJournal July 2008
Nevada RNformation May 2008
New Haven Independent August 2008
Oklahoma City’s Nursing Times May 2008
The American Association of Nurse Attorneys – March 4, 2008
What’s Up at The Mount – MWCC April 4, 2008 newsletter

On TV and the Radio:
Broadcast presentations include:
July 28, 2008 KBOO FM
July 30, 2008 Air America Thom Harmann National Show
November 9, 2008 Getting Better With Dr. Val

We wish you the happiest and healthiest of holidays and look forward to 2009!
Teri, Terri, Alisa, and Susan

“Promise me you'll always remember: You're braver than you believe, and stronger than you seem, and smarter than you think.” --Christopher Robin to Winnie the Pooh

Mills and Schneider Present to AAWCC Oregon Chapter Members During Fall Conference

2008-12-15T02:43:00.000-08:00

Pictured from left to right: Alisa Schneider MSN, RN (Secretary and Founding Member of the NNNO and Teri Mills MS, RN, ANP, CNE (President of the NNNO)

On November 21st NNNO Board members Teri Mills and Alisa Schneider had the pleasure of presenting the Office of the National Nurse: Leadership for Prevention at the Oregon statewide conference of the American Association of Women in Community College. The theme of this year's conference was Perseverance, Power, and Purpose: A New Conversation About Leadership. Thank you to Program Chair Cherie Maas-Anderson for extending an invitation so this presentation could be heard.

The mission of our community colleges is to improve the lives of those who reside in our communities and the ONN initiative dovetails into this philosophy. Service learning is an integral component of the community college's educational experience and many attending the session have connected their students with these opportunities. The National Nurse vision presents dramatic potential for involvement of all health career students in their local communities. Health and Wellness Fairs, Immunization Clinics, Earthquake and Disaster Preparedness programs are but a few examples of opportunities. Students can earn service learning credits and also demonstrate leadership in organizing community events.

Knowledge of public health is essential, especially for today's nurses. Nursing education has a goal of producing graduates that are at least familiar with beginning public health nursing competencies. We are recommending that schools of nursing partner with the Medical Reserve Corps, parish nurses, and other community agencies to enhance the public health infrastructure in their communities. When students get involved in community outreach and education through partnering, the experiences are transformative for many, including the mentors. Students also gain valuable exposure to public health professions and programs.

Our board members appreciate invitations to speak to organizations and stakeholders interested in learning more about the Office of the National Nurse initiative. Please email Teri . if you are interested in inquiring about their availability for a future speaking engagement.

Graduate Students At University of San Francisco Back Office of the National Nurse Proposal

2008-12-11T05:02:00.000-08:00

Pictured left to right: Cathy Coleman, RN, OCN, CPHQ; Siobhan Wilson, RN, MSN(c); R. Clayton Hooper, RN, MSN(c)

Students from across the country continue to study the Office of the National Nurse initiative and after learning the details of the proposal, strongly support it. The Board of Directors of the National Nursing Network Organization have heard from graduate students attending the University of Pennsylvania, Molloy College in New York, and also the University of Iowa to name a few. The graduate nursing class at University of San Francisco is no exception. Below they voice their opinions:

"Here we are in class at the University of San Francisco in our MSN program to obtain a new Clinical Nurse Leader credential. I love being back in nursing school after all these years to give back. The Office of the National Nurse is just what we need. For too long we as a profession have not given ourselves enough recognition and it is now time to stand for wellness and health promotion, not just treatment! Thank you for your persistence in making this happen."
Cathy Coleman, RN,OCN,CPHQ

"I am a Medical Surgical Registered Nurse and see the devastation of disease and illness everyday at Alameda County Medical Center. I am also currently back in school at the University of San Francisco getting my master’s and will be a Clinical Nurse Leader when I graduate in 2010.

Change is needed! The Office of the National Nurse is what the United States and the profession of nursing needs. Currently the U.S. spends 1.3 trillion dollars on disease and illness, why not on prevention? Please give nurses the recognition for our hard work. The Office of the National Nurse would create change in how we look and treat individuals in a healthcare system. Nurses are the ones who spend countless of hours with patients in caring and treating them. Who better to help make a positive difference in healthcare, than a National Nurse?

I support this campaign and efforts in making a change. Thank you to all who have contributed to this wonderful campaign. I look forward to watching these efforts grow and seeing a National Nurse sit side by side with the Surgeon General." Siobhan Wilson, RN, MSN(c)

"It is imperative at this juncture in our American history, Congress elevate the role of Chief Nurse Officer (CNO) of the United States Public Health Service (USPHS) to a professionally recognized and full time position. Nursing plays a critical role in the healthcare of this country. Without the nurse's constant watchful eye, caring touch, and enduring focus on disease prevention and health promotion, this nation's healthcare would come to naught. I strongly support full and national recognition of and for the Office of the National Nurse." ~ R. Clayton Hooper, RN, MSN(c), San Francisco General Hospital & Trauma Center, University of San Francisco

Nursing Organizations Take Heed-Groupthink Is Dangerous to Democracy

2008-12-08T04:09:00.000-08:00

Recently, President elect Barack Obama was discussing his decisions for inclusion of persons with diverse opinions in his staff and he made this statement: “One of the dangers in a White House, based on my reading of history, is that you get wrapped up in groupthink, and everybody agrees with everything, and there's no discussion and there are not dissenting views.”

The National Nursing Network Organization has learned firsthand with the Office of the National Nurse initiative that such "groupthink" phenomenon, the adoption of words, phrases and viewpoints that are initially expressed by someone else, and then become the norm or the supported position, is a factor in professional nursing organizations. Organizations will "sign-on" to adopt or reject a position because it is perceived to be supported by all those in a respected leadership status. Often times, additional leaders as well as rank and file members are provided no opportunity to dissent and thus have little inclination to seek an objective analysis. Without encouraging discussion, surveying members, or assuring solicitation and analysis of opposing viewpoints, 'groupthink' can polarize around an initial popular viewpoint, even when this viewpoint is, in reality, simply the initial assessment of a few individuals. Then, because it is described as the Position of a respected professional organization, the groupspeak platform is adopted and defended by similar organizations, without any opposition, dialog, investigation, analysis or critical thinking. It is reminiscent of the popular cliche' "I have made up my mind, don't confuse me with the facts."

So why does "groupspeak" occur? Is it due to a basic human tendency to "sign on" to assure personal inclusion in the group and avoid being shunned. Or in today's busy pace, is it simply expedient, and groupspeak is embraced rather than expending the time and energy to pursue a thorough analysis of all perspectives and incorporate an objective decision making process. Adopting groupspeak also minimizes confrontation, and many people have an aversion to discussions that are argumentative or represent opposing views and take passionate dialog as a personal assault. Yet this is exactly what is needed--healthy sharing of differing viewpoints, time to dialog and hear others' perceptions, and opportunity to share and reach agreement.

It is reassuring to consider the Obama administration will have the advantage of diverse viewpoints and will be an environment that weighs issues objectively to reach a true consensus. Minimizing "groupspeak" is one way leadership of nursing organizations could improve their performance, gain credibility with rank and file members, and could positively impact decisions that will have far reaching implications for healthcare reform.

Thank You TAANA

2008-12-01T03:37:00.000-08:00

Pictured left to right: NNNO Secretary Alisa Schneider MSN, RN; Edie Brous RN, BSN, MSN, MPH, JD; and NNNO President Teri Mills MS, RN, ANP, CNE

Thank you to Rosemary McCarthy, President of The American Association of Nurse Attorneys and the Board of Directors for inviting Teri Mills MS, RN, ANP, CNE and Alisa Schneider MSN, RN to keynote their 27th Annual Meeting and Conference held in Tampa, Florida on October 23-25, 2008. Presenting to this esteemed group of professionals was an honor, as TAANA announced their support of the initiative earlier this year.

Teri and Alisa’s presentation, “The Office of the National Nurse: Policy for a New Era of Prevention” introduced the initiative to nurse attorneys, nurse law school students, and legal nurse consultants. The group participated in discussion of the current evidence for the need for a nurse-led focus on prevention, the political process the National Nursing Network Organization has used to move the initiative, and the current obstacles the NNNO is facing in their work.

Pictured: Edie Brous, RN, BSN, MSN, MPH, JD

Congratulations to Edie Brous RN, BSN, MSN, MPH, JD who was awarded the Outstanding Advocate Award, recognizing her outstanding legal advocacy. Edie was instrumental in passage of the New York State Assembly’s resolution urging Congress to enact legislation to create an Office of the National Nurse.

TAANA members enthusiastically offered their support at the state and local level and we look forward to continuing to work with the nurse attorneys on advancing the ONN proposal.

Thanksgiving in America

2008-11-24T04:35:00.000-08:00

This week many of us will gather with family, neighbors, and friends to express thanks for our many blessings. Yet this is not the happiest or healthiest of times for our country. Too many of our citizens remain without healthcare, especially those in under-served communities. Unemployment is skyrocketing while our economy plummets. Some people in this nation, including many seniors and families with children, are facing food insecurity because they simply can't afford to buy groceries. The war continues on two fronts separating families and putting our troops in harm's way. In many states, natural disasters and wildfires have destroyed property and disrupted thousands of lives.

The NNNO Board of Directors asks you to consider making a donation to your community's food bank. The need for food is acute across the nation; the demand is rapidly outpacing the supply and many food cupboards are bare. Food pantries are in need of non-perishable food items of every type, including canned goods, cereal, coffee and juice, as well as toiletry items like toothpaste and brushes, bandages and medication.

If you are thinking about sending one of our nation's troops a care package for the holidays, please visit Any Soldier's website for lots of helpful information, including where to send your package, how to send it, and what to put in it.

When you are writing your Christmas cards this year, please join us and write one card to send to our troops. Here is a link that provides information from the American Red Cross on the best way to mail your cards. If we pass this on and everyone sends one card, think how many cards these wonderful special people who have sacrificed so much would receive.

We are personally very grateful and truly overwhelmed by your continued emails and offers of support as we work together to establish an Office of the National Nurse for prevention.