 | Promise of Nursing for Washington Area nurses and health care professionals from regional hospitals and institutions attended the Promise of Nursing for Washington gala in Seattle on March 24 to celebrate nursing. Proceeds from the event will support regional nursing school grants, faculty fellowships and student scholarships.
To view photos from the event, visit www.campaignfornursing.com. |  |
 | FREE Nursing Gang Bookcovers Help protect your young patients' books and encourage them to explore nursing by distributing free bookcovers featuring "The Nursing Gang" characters! To order your free bookcovers, visit www.discovernursing.com. | |
 |  American Journal of Nursing's Book of the Year Awards 2008"Human Centered Nursing: The Foundation of Quality Care"
By Susan Kleiman, PhD, RN, CS, NPP
The American Journal of Nursing (AJN) recently announced its Book of the Year Awards 2008 and awarded Susan Kleiman, PhD, RN, CS, NPP top honors in the category of nursing education for her book, "Human Centered Nursing: The Foundation of Quality Care."
Kleiman said, "Students are often attracted to the high-tech aspects of nursing, and the book reminds them that as practicing nurses, the focus of nursing care should be the human being who is the recipient of what we do. Nurses said that the book reminded them of what it means to be a nurse, to make a difference in someone's life."
For a complete list of the most valuable texts of 2008, as chosen by AJN's panel of judges, click here. | | | 
Lifelong Learners Pursue
Advanced Nursing Education Today's health care environment has brought about a growing need for well-educated nurses at all levels, and as lifelong learners, many nurses are choosing to further their nursing education to fulfill that need.
"I know that health care and patient care will continue to grow more complex, and I want to be sure I am prepared to handle the demands," said Shumaila Sakrani, RN and nursing student in the online RN to BSN program at Florida International University (FIU) in Miami. "I decided to further my nursing education, and as a busy, working RN, I knew that an online RN to BSN program would be the only way to keep up with my family and current work commitments," said Sakrani.
Like Sakrani, more associate degree-level nurses (ADNs) are entering bachelor of science in nursing (BSN) programs to transition into another nursing specialty, become a nurse manager, increase earning power or simply broaden their working knowledge.
This trend is in line with the guidelines from the National Advisory Council on Nurse Education and Practice, which recommends that at least two-thirds of nurses hold a BSN or higher by 2010.
Nursing schools have recognized both the need to increase the percentage of BSN-prepared nurses in the workforce and the need for low-cost, convenient programs to help working nurses pursue a BSN degree.
"We are committed to offering educational options along the continuum of nurses' careers and knew that nurses needed a program that offered access to a BSN education while allowing them to balance the demands of school, work and family," said Elizabeth Poster, PhD, RN, FAAN and dean of the University of Texas at Arlington School of Nursing. "We are pleased to offer innovative options to nurses by changing the delivery of our educational programs to become more accessible and affordable."
To help nurses balance demands, many schools like UT Arlington have improved their online RN to BSN programs. UT Arlington's RN to BSN Program offers all required BSN courses, even prerequisites, in an interactive, online learning environment. Students can complete their degree in as little as 13 months while continuing to juggle work and family life.
"I never imagined being able to manage work, family and school, but FIU's online RN to BSN track has enabled me to do just that," said Sakrani. "Earning my BSN will not only improve my skills, income and career mobility, but will also help prepare me for today's challenges in health care."
To learn more about the RN to BSN Program at the University of Texas at Arlington School of Nursing, visit http://uta.academicpartnership.com/nursing.asp. For information on Florida International University's RN to BSN program, visit http://cnhs.fiu.edu/nursing/programs.html. For an extensive list of nursing programs and scholarships within the United States, visit http://discovernursing.com/program-search. 
 | | Nurse mentor programs help recruit new nurses and improve the nurse retention rate. | Guiding the Way:
Nurse Mentor Programs Aim to Improve Retention Unfortunately, it's not uncommon for nurses to leave the profession after their first year. That is in part why hospitals across the country are creating formal mentor programs that pair first-year and newly hired nurses with hospital veterans.
New Hanover Regional Medical Center in Wilmington, N.C., launched a nurse mentor program in June 2000 with 49 nurses who together held nearly nine centuries worth of nursing experience. In its first year, the mentor program met its goal of recruiting new nurses and improving the nurse retention rate, which increased from 66 percent to 92 percent.
Nurse mentoring usually involves pairing an experienced nurse with a newly hired nurse. A mentor can offer advice, counsel and guidance for new nurses just beginning their careers, helping them to transition from the classroom to the bedside. Some programs began by focusing on nurses fresh out of school, but many have expanded to include all new employees, including nurses who are returning after being away and nurses who have worked in other hospitals.
"At first we went to great lengths to have mentees and mentors fill out in-depth personality profiles so we could connect nurses based on their personal interests," said Diane Saullo, RN, MSN, BC and manager of professional development at New Hanover. "But it was becoming too hard to match nurses up perfectly, and we found that the most important factor was being on the same shift. So, we made it a two-question form: What is your background? And why do you want to be a mentor?"
Professional and personal growth are both key to a good mentor program. A strong mentor will not only help a new nurse become accustomed to hospital policies but might also suggest a good place to purchase nursing scrubs in the area. A seasoned nurse can give advice to a new nurse on how to find a good work-life balance in a profession that can sometimes feel overwhelming.
"Being a part of the New Hanover mentor program has really given me a chance to be a role model for nurses new to the profession," said Saullo. "There is a lot you don't learn in nursing school about everyday patient care, and it takes some time to adjust to the fast-paced hospital atmosphere. I'm happy to help those new to the field any way I can!"
To learn more about New Hanover Regional Medical Center's nurse mentor program, visit www.nhhn.org. To learn more about how you can become a nurse mentor, visit www.campaignfornursing.com.   Ivo Abraham, PhD, RN, CS, FAAN
Professor of Nursing
The University of Arizona, Colleges of Nursing and Pharmacy
Tucson, Ariz.
Chief Scientist
Matrix45
Earlysville, Va.
Q: When did you decide to pursue nursing as a career and why?
A: I entered college in Belgium with an interest in mental health and started out pursuing a degree in special education.Through the influence of friends who were in nursing school, I decided to redirect my focus and explore the nursing profession. My friends helped me recognize the many male role models in hospitals and in nursing schools in Belgium, as well as the career trajectory for more men joining the nursing profession. This was appealing to me and validated my decision to enter nursing school to become a nurse.
Q: What inspired you to become a nurse educator and transfer your knowledge to the next generation of nurses?
A: The education model was a natural fit for me, as my parents were both professors. They encouraged me to study as long as I possibly could and so after completing my undergraduate degree, I considered graduate school in the United States. At this time, the nurse educator profile started evolving and the U.S. nursing shortage began to worsen. This challenge coupled with the lingering stereotypes of men in nursing made me think there was significant educating to do on many fronts. Therefore, I changed my perspective from becoming an advanced clinician and pursued the course of becoming a nurse educator.
Q: What advice would you offer to individuals interested in becoming a nurse educator?
A: There is so much left to be discovered and conveyed in nursing education, so think creatively. Reach out and build relationships with other disciplines because these domains can offer an invaluable enrichment to nursing curriculum and the discovery of new knowledge. Bring nursing to other disciplines, so we can all learn about how to best care for patients - and educate the practitioners of the future. We don't deliver nursing care in isolation, so we shouldn't act alone in the educational setting. Step out of "just nursing" into partnerships across the spectrum of health care. Carve out your domain of expertise for all to see and rely upon.
Q: As a nurse educator, how do you serve in the mentor capacity?
A: Mentoring is a natural part of teaching, as educators share their mind to foster the intellect and skills of others. As educators, we are continuously working in the mentor capacity to bring students to the next level of understanding. Through personal and professional development, we inevitably help emerging clinicians feel confident in what they're doing. Often mentoring is understood as only 1:1 - and that is an important part. More important, though, is for faculty and clinicians to create environments for learning and development. You can learn much from one person, but you can learn a lot more in an environment of many diverse people.
Q: How has nursing impacted your life?
A: This profession is extremely rewarding. I am able to bring knowledge to students in a way they can trust and adopt in a field with perpetual innovation in teaching models and approaches. So much is being discovered and so much is left to be discovered about how we can teach and prepare the next generation of nurses. The rewards come in many ways - seeing students mature, clinicians mature, and colleagues from other disciplines gain greater respect for the nursing profession.
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