Alaska Nursing Today - Arthur L Davis Publishing

Alaska Nursing Today
The Official Publication of the Alaska Professional Nurses Organization
Volume 1 • No. 1 Circulation 7,700 to every Registered Nurse, Licensed Practical Nurse and Student Nurse in Alaska
March 2013
New Nursing
Society in Alaska
AKPNO Charts Course
The Alaska Professional Nurses Organization
(AKPNO) is a new, statewide nursing group that
all Alaska nurses are encouraged and welcome
to join. The overall goal for AKPNO is similar to
the mission of the American Nurses Association,
“Advancing our profession to improve health
for all.” Pat Dooley, RN, the Program Director for
Providence Hospice says,” How exciting that there
will now be a new statewide professional group
that will speak for me and support my practice.”
Insights in establishing the group have come
from a collaboration of ideas brought from all
areas of nursing, including staff RNs at major
hospitals, rural clinics, nurse managers, nurse
practitioners, political leaders, public health,
school and hospice nurses. The ability to have
input on any given nursing topic greatly expands
the understanding of different needs around
the state. By collaborating together nurses can
be supported in every arena of nursing helping
nurses achieve their goal of excellence in patient
care.
AKPNO expects to provide nurses the ability
to connect with other nurses around the state
for networking and learning opportunities.
Continuing nursing education is planned to be
provided through the quarterly newsletter and
yearly summit meeting. AKPNO will uniquely
New Nursing Society continued on page 4
Inside this issue
Membership Application ...................2
Editorial .................................2
AKPNO Summit 2013 ......................3
Book Review ..............................4
Up and Coming Event Calendar ..............4
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Three Nurses, One Purpose
—Signers of the Articles of Incorporation
In order for a new nursing group to be
established, particularly if it is going to be
statewide and be considered a non-profit group,
it must file Articles of Incorporation with the
State of Alaska Division of Corporations. Though
most nursing group members probably do not
think of themselves as members of a ‘corporation’,
nevertheless for tax purposes and to operate
legally in the state, the document must be filed
and include standard information. The Articles
describe the purpose of the corporation, the agent,
the non-profit or profit status of the corporation
and identify the initial incorporators. After review,
the State then issues a Certificate of Incorporation
that allows the corporation to hold itself out and
conduct business and be legally recognized.
The Alaska Professional Nurses Organization
has three nurses with statewide reputations as
signers of its Articles of Incorporation. All three
have spent their careers promoting the profession
of nursing in Alaska on a statewide and national
platform. That these three nurses would step
forward and commit to this new organization,
putting their names ‘on the line’ is a wonderful
omen for the future.
Kay Lahdenpera MPH, BSN
Kay Lahdenpara is one
of the grand dames of
Alaskan nursing. Born in
Alaska, she received her
BSN in Seattle in 1961 and
returned to Anchorage
to work in the Borough
Health Department in 1965.
Her 48 year career has
focused on health care for
women and young people;
she was the family planning program manager
at the Municipal Health Department until 1999,
mentoring young nurses and creating a strong
outreach program.
Some of her professional achievements
include serving on the Boards of the following
organizations: Planned Parenthood, Alaska Mental
Health Association, Anchorage League of Women’s
Voters, Alaska Theater of Youth (President),
Alaska Nurses Association (President),
Alaska Youth and Parent Foundation
(President), Kids’ Corp Inc. and the Retired
Public Employees Association.
Her first national award was in 1991, the
American Nurses Association Excellence
in Nursing Award. Two regional awards
followed for her work in women’s health care
in 1994 and 1996. Kay was a BP Woman of
Achievement in 1997. She received the 2000
American Academy of Nurse Practitioners
State Award for Nurse Practitioner Advocate
and in 2004 a Legends in Nursing award
from the Alaska March of Dimes. Kay was also
inducted into the AaNA Hall of Fame, one of only
seven Alaska nurses to be so honored.
Barbara Berner EdD, MSN, FNP
Dr. Berner has had a
long career in nursing. She
received her bachelor’s
degree from St. Anselm
College, her master’s degree
in nursing as an adult
nurse practitioner from
Oregon Health and Science
University, a post-master’s
certificate as a family
nurse practitioner from
the George Washington
University and her doctorate in Adult Education,
Policy and Program Planning from Boston
University.
She came to the University of Alaska Anchorage
in 1998 and became coordinator of the Family
Nurse Practitioner Program, a position she held for
ten years. She then accepted a position as Project
Director to develop the Doctor of Nursing Practice
at the School of Nursing. She was Interim Director
for the School of Nursing until September of 2011
when she accepted the position as Director of the
School of Nursing.
Dr. Berner has maintained her professional
career as a practicing nurse practitioner and has
had many leadership roles. She is past president
of the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners,
served two terms as president of the Alaska Nurse
Practitioner Association, chaired the Professional
Practices Committee for the Alaska Nurses
Association and chaired the Legislative Committee
for the Alaska Nurse Practitioner Association. In
addition, she served on the Alaska State Board of
Nursing and chaired the Board for two years.
She has received numerous awards. She received
the alumni award of excellence from St Anselm
College in 1992. She was Alaska Nurse Practitioner
of the Year 2000, a statewide award presented by
the Alaska Nurse Practitioner Association. She
also received a national award from the National
Organization of Nurse Practitioner Faculty as
Outstanding Nurse Practitioner Educator of the
Year, 2008. In addition, she received the 2010
Nurse Practitioner Advocate Award from the
Alaska Nurse Practitioner
Association. She became
a Fellow of the American
Academy of Nurse
Practitioners in 2005.
LeMay Hupp MPH, BSN
LeMay has been a nurse
in Alaska for over 35 years,
graduating with an ADN
from Anchorage Community
Three Nurses, One Purpose continued on page 4

Page 2 • Alaska Nursing Today March 2013
Contact AKPNO
Alaska Professional Nurses Organization
200 W. 34th Ave. #118
Anchorage, AK 99503
www.akpno.org
The Alaska Professional Nurses Organization is
a non-profit organization that advocates for all
nurses in Alaska.
Signers of Articles of Incorporation:
Kay Lahdenpera MPH, RN
LeMay Hupp MPH, RN
Barbara Berner EdD, MSN, FNP
Editor:
Lynn Hartz MSN, ANP
lhartz@alaska.com
Author Guidelines:
Articles
Alaska Nursing Today welcomes original articles
for publication. Preference is given to nursing
and health related topics in Alaska. Authors must
identify potential conflicts of interest, whether
financial or of other nature and identify any
commercial affiliation if applicable. Resources,
including websites should be listed at the end of
the article. Photos may be sent as a .jpg file and
become the property of AKPNO.
Editorials/Commentary/ Letters to the Editor
Letters, comments, questions or opinions about
nursing or health care in Alaska are a wonderful
way to share information and viewpoints with
colleagues across the state. Send your submission
via email. Letters must be 500 words or less and
may be edited for length, clarity and grammar.
Editorials and Commentary do not have a word
limit at this time though they are also subject
to editing. The ANT is published every three
months so be careful about sending time sensitive
material.
MARK YOUR CALENDAR - May 4th, 2013 - 1st Annual Summit
More information coming...
AKPNO has the right to accept, edit or reject
proposed material. Materials may not be
reproduced without written permission of the
Editor.
All submissions may be sent to
lhartz@alaska.com
Editorial
There and Back Again
Lynn Hartz, MSN, ANP,
Editor, Alaska Nursing Today
It is my very great
pleasure to greet all of
you as editor of the new
statewide publication,
Alaska Nursing Today.
You may wonder what
happened to my retirement
of last December in the last
newsletter I edited, and why
I am back like a bad penny.
In a word: a lot.
At the Alaska Nurses
Association’s November 2012 General Assembly,
that organization decided, in the opinion of
many members, to become primarily a labor
organization rather than the comprehensive
nursing organization that it once was. As a
result, a number of nurses left AaNA to form a
new organization called the Alaska Professional
Nurses Organization (AKPNO). Arthur L. Davis
Publishing Agency will be the publisher of
Alaska Nursing Today. Completing the circle, I
was hired as the editor. Alaska Nursing Today
will be the official publication of the new nursing
organization. The newsletter will be published
quarterly and sent to all licensed nurses in Alaska.
The overriding goal of Alaska Nursing Today
will be to focus on Alaska nursing news and
issues and to serve as a statewide networking
arena of information important to Alaskan nurses.
Another goal for the newsletter is to furnish CE in
every issue; even better, we are hoping the authors
will be local!
What I hope you will see are contemporary,
fresh ideas and be excited as I am to witness the
birth of a new statewide nursing organization
in Alaska. The advent of a new nursing group
does not mean that AKPNO and AaNA need
be adversaries. There is a place for a strong
nurses union and a strong professional nurses
organization in Alaska. There is no reason they
can’t realign into separate and equally effective
groups. Both organizations can and should
work together on nursing issues and to better
the health of all Alaskans. Despite a variety of
nursing groups in Alaska, we have always worked
together, especially in Juneau.
The AKPNO Summit 2013 is a one-day
conference this May 4 to celebrate the official
inaugural meeting of the new organization. In
addition, CE will be offered in the morning and
afternoon. Further information on the summit
and schedule is on page three. Please join your
nurse colleagues for CE, networking and a historic
occasion.
Publishing Information and Ad rates
Alaska Nursing Today is published quarterly every
March, June, September and December.
For advertising rates and information, please
contact Arthur L. Davis Publishing Agency,
Inc., 517 Washington Street, PO Box 216,
Cedar Falls, Iowa 50613, (800) 626-4081, sales@
aldpub.com. AKPNO and the Arthur L. Davis
Publishing Agency, Inc. reserve the right to reject
any advertisement. Responsibility for errors in
advertising is limited to corrections in the next
issue or refund of price of advertisement.
Acceptance of advertising does not imply
endorsement or approval by the Alaska
Professional Nurses Organization of products
advertised, the advertisers, or the claims made.
Rejection of an advertisement does not imply a
product offered for advertising is without merit,
or that the manufacturer lacks integrity, or that
this association disapproves of the product or its
use. AKPNO and the Arthur L. Davis Publishing
Agency, Inc. shall not be held liable for any
consequences resulting from purchase or use of
an advertiser’s product. Articles appearing in this
publication express the opinions of the authors;
they do not necessarily reflect views of the staff,
board, or membership of AKPNO or those of the
national or local associations.
Published by:
Arthur L. Davis
Publishing Agency, Inc.

March 2013 Alaska Nursing Today • Page 3
AKPNO SUMMIT 2013
First Annual Summit Combines Education and Opportunity
Saturday, May 4, 2013 – BP Energy Center – 900 E. Benson – Anchorage, Alaska
• Sponsored by Alaska Professional Nursing Organization. Meals
generously provided by Arthur L. Davis Publishing Agency.
• Who should attend- RNs and LPNs
• Course Description- In addition to being the inaugural meeting of the
newest statewide nurses organization, the conference will offer CNE
on the implementation of the Institute of Medicine Report on nursing
in Alaska, the investigation and disciplinary process of the Alaska
Board of Nursing and Ethics Today in social media and confidentiality
issues.
• This continuing nursing education activity has been submitted for a
maximum of 4 contact hours to the Montana Nurses Association, an
accredited approver of CNE.
• Fees and Registration: members $50, non members $75
• The fee for this course includes breakfast, lunch, all instructional
materials and a certificate of contact hours credit. To ensure
registration, please complete the registration form on this page and
mail in, or you may register the morning of the summit. A maximum
of 70 persons can be accommodated.
Course Schedule
8:15 – 8:45 Registration, Breakfast
8:45 – 9:00 Opening Remarks
9:00 – 11:00 AKPNO Members Assembly
11:00 – 12:00 “Future of Nursing in Alaska: Institute of Medicine
Report” Julie McNulty, PhD, RN, CPHQ,
Debbie Thompson, BSN, RN
12:00 – 1:00 LUNCH
1:00 – 2:00 “NSFW: Social Media Hazards for Nurses”
Jonathan Stewart, JD, MS, RN
2:00 – 3:00 “I’ve Been Reported to the Board of Nursing: Now What?”
Nancy Sanders, PhD, RN
3:00 – 3:15 Break
3:15 – 4:15 “When the Healer Harms: The Nursing Ethics of Medical
Injuries” Jonathan Stewart, JD, MS, RN
4:15 – 4:45 Closing Evaluation
Faculty
Julie McNulty PhD, RN
Julie graduated with her bachelor’s degree from the
University of New Hampshire in 1980 and began her career in
Boston working in neuroscience. She moved to Alaska in 1985
where she has lived since. In 2002 she completed her master’s
degree in Nursing and Healthcare Administration from the
University of Alaska Anchorage (UAA). She has clinical
experience in adult critical care and has served in various
roles in clinical practice, education and management. For the
past 20 years she has worked at the Alaska Native Medical
Center and enjoys working with the Alaska Native people. Her
current role at ANMC is Director of Nursing Research, and she
oversees clinical quality in acute care, EBP, nursing research
and academic and community partnerships. She has a passion
for mentoring staff nurses and nurse leaders in evidence-based practice initiatives. Her
interest in symptom management, illness experience, rural health issues and health
disparities merged and led to her dissertation research focus on cancer survivorship. She
recently received her PhD in nursing from Oregon Health & Science University.
Debbie Thompson RN
After completing an undergraduate degree in Nursing
from Montana State University, Debbie Thompson started
work as a staff nurse in a rural hospital, moving to ICU, Cath
Lab and ending in the OR. Ms. Thompson joined her state
Nursing Association, ANA, the local Association of Operating
Room Nurses and the National AORN group. Debbie had an
interest in safe, quality patient care along with a great interest
in nursing practice and nurse advocacy itself. Ms. Thompson
went on to train in interest based negotiations, facilitation
and leadership and adult education principles. Ms. Thompson
has been active at the state and National levels on behalf of
nurses, nursing issues and the need for nurse involvement in
the community always putting the need for safe patient care
and delivery on the forefront. Ms. Thompson has participated in legislative bills from
conception to being passed. She has testified with education background material on
bills and from personnel experience for the No Mandatory Overtime Bill for Alaska
Nurses. As the Co-Leader for the Alaska Action Coalition Ms. Thompson will be able to
discuss the Mission, Vision and Goals of this group to a public group of nurses.
Nancy Sanders PhD, RN
Nancy Sanders graduated with her bachelor’s degree
from the University of Oregon School of Nursing in 1969.
Four months later she began her nursing education career
by teaching nursing for 2 years as a Peace Corps Volunteer in
St. Lucia, British West Indies. When Nancy returned from
the Peace Corps, she relocated to Alaska and was the clinic
coordinator at a family planning clinic in Juneau. She was also
a public health nurse for the Municipality of Anchorage, and
for the State of Alaska in Bethel, AK.
In 1981, Nancy earned her master’s degree in Community
Health Care Systems and Cross Cultural Nursing from the
University of Washington School of Nursing. She started phase
2 of her nursing education career in 1982 at the University of
Alaska Anchorage School of Nursing. She taught there for 22 years and retired in 2004.
During that time, she earned her PhD in Nursing from Wayne State University in Detroit,
Michigan. Her dissertation was a study of the relationship of spirituality and health
among the Yup’ik of Southwestern Alaska.
In November 2006, Nancy became the Executive Administrator for the Alaska Board
of Nursing. Her responsibilities include being the staff person for the Board of Nursing
and implementing the Board’s duties and powers. These include licensure of nurses and
nurse aides, approval of nursing education programs, scope of practice advisory opinions,
and discipline of nurses and nurse aides.
Jonathan Stewart JD, MS, RN
Jonathan Stewart, JD, MS, RN is a nurse attorney with
special interests in health care ethics and medical injury
prevention. He is currently the risk manager at the Alaska VA
Healthcare System and is on the faculty of nursing at California
State University East Bay, where he teaches courses on health
law and ethics. Prior to transitioning to risk management
in 2009, Jonathan worked as a clinical nurse in trauma and
emergency services for thirteen years.
Jonathan received his B.S.N. cum laude from Oral Roberts
University in 1997, his law degree from the University of
Tulsa in 2002, and his M.S. in nursing (health policy) from
the University of California at San Francisco in 2008. He
holds certifications in patient safety and in healthcare risk
management. Jonathan currently serves on the board of directors of The American
Association of Nurse Attorneys and the editorial review board for the Journal of
Healthcare Risk Management.

Page 4 • Alaska Nursing Today March 2013
New Nursing Society continued from page 1
Book Review
Johns Hopkins Nursing Evidence-Based Practice:
Model and Guidelines 2nd ed
Sandra L. Dearholt and Deborah Dang, Editors.
Indianapolis, IN: Sigma Theta Tau International.
2012. [264 pages. $39.95]
Reviewed by Tina DeLapp, EdD, RN
A great introductory book on the processes
involved in creating a culture and environment
for evidence based practice. The content of this
book is organized into four major sections, two
of which consist of a single chapter. The book
concludes with a series of seven exemplars that
illustrate the process of EBP and eight appendixes
that provide readers with tools and guides to assist
them to apply the EBP process as outlined by
Johns Hopkins Hospital Nursing Service. The first
section (two chapters) is devoted to making a case
for adopting EBP and differentiating it from critical
thinking, quality improvement, and research.
Section 2 is devoted to providing an in depth
description of PET, the EBP model adopted by Johns
Hospital Nursing Service. PET is an acronym for
the three phase Johns Hopkins Hospital EBP model:
1) Problem (specification – 5 steps); 2) Evidence
(gathering, appraisal, and synthesis – 5 steps); and
3) Translation (& practice implementation – 8 steps).
Section 2, consisting of five chapters, is the
largest within the book. It is devoted to describing
the processes for carrying out the PET phases of
the EBP model. Somewhat unique among EBP
texts is the chapter on locating and appraising
non-research evidence that may have applicability
in answering the practice question; most books on
EBP emphasize the appraisal of research evidence,
excluding non-research evidence such as practice
guidelines, position statements, and reports. The
authors also include guidelines for the appraisal of
research evidence; however, the neophyte will need
to supplement the information in this volume with
more in-depth information from other research
texts and advice from expert researchers.
Also useful to readers will be the chapter on
translation, with its guidelines for developing
implementation action plans and its emphasis on
dissemination of outcomes. Readers should be
aware, however, the there are many more venues
for reporting the results of EBP initiatives than
are included in this volume. For example, the
conferences hosted annually by each of the regional
nursing research societies may be a potential
dissemination site; nurses in Alaska may wish
to consider the Annual Communicating Nursing
Research Conference hosted by the Western
Institute of Nursing each April as a possible
dissemination venue.
There is no doubt that the topic of this book
is important in contemporary nursing practice.
Evidence based practice has emerged as a crucial
element of effectiveness in nearly every health
care field. Its importance is recognized by
standard setting entities in nursing and nursing
education. The American Association of Colleges
of Nursing has identified the translation of
current evidence into practice as one of the nine
Essentials of Baccalaureate Nursing Education and
the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education
(CCNE) requires attention to those essentials to be
integrated into all aspects of nursing programs as a
condition of accreditation. Similarly, the proposed
2013 standards of the National League for Nursing
Accrediting Commission (NLNAC) require faculty
performance to reflect evidence-based teaching and
clinical practices; additionally, clinical learning
experiences are required to be evidence-based
and curricula are required to reflect education
theory, research (evidence) and current standards
of practice. The standards for graduate nursing
programs require that programs prepare graduates
to practice from an evidence-based approach.
There is no doubt that the transformation of
nursing practice, education and administration
recommended by the Institute of Medicine in the
Future of Nursing will require that nursing practice
be grounded in evidence.
If the experienced nurse needs further
encouragement to embrace evidence-based practice,
Dearholt and Dang (2012) (the authors of this text)
reported that “Studies show knowledge of best
care practices negatively correlates with the year
of graduation – that is, knowledge of best practices
declines as the number of years since the nurse’s
graduation increases” (p. 12). This book will
provide the practicing nurse with an introduction
to the process of evidence based practice as it has
been implemented by nurses at the Johns Hopkins
Hospital.
Overall, this book would be a great addition
to the personal libraries of nurses interested in
developing a basic understanding of evidence
based practice. It will be even more useful to nurse
managers interested in implementing evidencebased
practice in their practice settings. However,
readers are cautioned that EBP is not a solitary
activity; rather it requires both a team approach
and an institutional commitment. Further, nurses
seeking to become expert in appraising evidence
will need to consult research experts and other
reference sources.
[Tina DeLapp is Professor Emeritus at the UAA
School of Nursing and retired as its Director in
2004]
Up and Coming Event Calendar
Continuing Education
allow nurses from all specialties and all pay
ranges be they administration or staff, in a rural
or urban environment to come together with the
common interests of nursing issues. Membership
can be a growth experience in leadership skill
and management, or learning new skills in social
media. It can mean furthering the health of all
Alaskans through thoughtful legislative advocacy
or making a difference one patient at a time when
volunteering to give immunizations.
Mary Stackhouse, RN, a Providence staff
nurse and new AKPNO member also wants the
new group to adhere to the five attributes of the
American Nurse inscribed on a ring given to her
as a gift: committed, compassionate, competent,
confident and conscientious.
AKPNO will be holding the first Annual
AKPNO Summit on Saturday, May 4, 2013.
There will be a four (4) hour CNE offering and a
Members Assembly at this time. Please see page
2-3 for membership and registration information
as well as a schedule.
Three Nurses, One Purpose continued from page 1
College, BSN from UAA and MPH from Loma
Linda University, CA. Except for a brief few months
outside, she has spent all of her professional career
in Anchorage in public health, school nursing,
Peds/NICU/ED at Alaska Regional, SART nursing
and in disaster preparedness / response. LeMay
is currently the Coordinator for the statewide
Alaska Respond system. She became involved in
the founding of AKPNO because she feels there
is a great need for a “professional organization”
for Alaska nurses. “It has been a learning
experience, reinforced over the years, that nurses
must work together in various venues to promote
our profession and importance as we impact the
health care issues of our nation. The development
of this new organization is an exciting step in the
growth and understanding of how all of us can
work together, regardless of work affiliations, to
promote nurses and nursing in Alaska.”
“Shiftwork Sleep Disorder” Free CNE (1.25) through ANA, ANF and CORE online. Go to http://eo2.
commpartners.com/users/swsd/
“It’s Happening”
The next deadline for material for Alaska Nursing Today is May 13. Delivery date will be about July 4.
Please submit copy to the editor, lhartz@alaska.com.
Providence Imaging Center Anchorage
Will Offer Free Breast Screening Exams May 6-9. Includes mammogram and exam, screening only.
For appt/referral information and patient qualifications call: 907-212-3151.
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Alaska State Board of Nursing – Upcoming Meetings
April 3-5, 2013 Juneau -agenda deadline March 13, 2013
July 10-12, 2013 Anchorage -agenda deadline June 19, 2013
October 23-25, 2013 Fairbanks -agenda deadline Oct., 3, 2013
Jan. 22-24, 2014 Anchorage -agenda deadline Dec. 30, 2013
The Alaska Board of Nursing has a list-serve that is used to send out the latest information about
upcoming meetings, agenda items, regulations being considered, and other topics of interest to nurses,
employers and the public. To sign up for this free service, go to www.nursing.alaska.gov Choose the
“Subscribe Now” box, just above Board Staff information.
Inquiries regarding meetings and appearing on the agenda can be directed to:
Nancy Sanders, PhD RN, Executive Administrator
Alaska State Board of Nursing
550 West 7th Ave, Ste 1500, Anchorage, AK 99501
Ph: 907-269-8161, fax 907-269-8196, email nancy.sanders@alaska.gov
To attend by audio conference call 907-269-8161 for access number.
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