Vermont Nurse Connection - January 2019

Vermont Nurse 

Connection 

ANA-Vermont 

Official Publication 

Quarterly Publication direct mailed to 17,000 Registered Nurses, 

Volume 22 • Number 1 LPNs, and LNAs in Vermont 

January, February, March 2019 

Inside 

President’s Letter 

Advocate, Don’t Hibernate 

2018 School Nurse of the Year 

Page 2 

current resident or 

VONL Merges 

Page 3 

Report of Convention 2018 

Page 6-7 

Presort Standard 

US Postage 

PAID 

Permit #14 

Princeton, MN 

55371 

I would like to thank all of you for the opportunity to 

serve you these past two years at ANA-Vermont. 

It has been my honor and privilege. I was proud to 

be a part of the membership assembly that condemned 

separation of immigrant children from parents, and voted 

in the first man of color as president of ANA. 

I have had the opportunity to be leadership for the 

initiation of the Northeast Multistate Division, creating 

a regional ANA entity. I assisted in starting up our new 

Nursing Network website, which will better facilitate 

communication for member groups meeting around the 

state, as well as important communication to all. Members 

will be able to invite other members to events, and share. 

I leave you in excellent hands with our new President 

Lori Poirier, Vice-President Elizabeth Hassan, Treasurer 

Jocelyn Bressette, Secretary Cynthia Peterson and 

Membership Assembly Delegate Catherine Dewey, as well 

as Foundation President Amy Curley. 

I was disappointed that we had to postpone our 

conference due to a lack of interest in ANA VT leadership 

elected positions, which meant postponing elections 

until the ballot was full of candidates. Elections must be 

completed prior to conference, but we rallied to have an 

amazing fall conference and full ballot. This year our 

conference focused on advocating for nurses, and life 

quality. Your vote matters, both in nursing and political 

advocacy. Fall conference speakers included: 

• Governor Phil Scott, the 82nd Governor of Vermont, 

who advocates for higher education, clean water, 

addressing the opioid crisis and more. 

• Gubernatorial candidate Christine Halquest, who 

decided to run for governor after hearing Muslim 

Girls Making Change discussing how Vermont 

is not insulated from national hatred and bigotry. 

Her topics: universal healthcare, climate change, 

universal broadband and ensuring all children get a 

quality public education. 

• Sarah Robinson the Deputy Director at the Vermont 

Network Against Domestic and Sexual Violence who 

wants an ANA VT nurse delegate on her Board. 

• Kate Bailey on provider advocacy from the Office 

of the Health Care Advocate, a special project 

within Vermont Legal Aid.. Kate’s areas of expertise 

include health insurance navigation, women’s health, 

and HIV/AIDS patient advocate. 

• Dr. Fred Wiseman Abenaki paleoethnobotanist 

artist, and author, who retired from Louisiana 

State University and MIT, returning to Vermont to 

work with the Koasek Abenakis of Newbury, the 

Passamaquoddies at Indian Township and Pleasant 

Point, and many others to re-configure a nearly lost 

northeastern agricultural heritage. He partnered 

with Vermont Organics Reclamation of St. Albans, 

VT to create the first Northeastern agroforest based 

upon his work in ancestral indigenous ecosystem 

management. He advocates food as not only 

medicine for the body, but also for the soul and the 

community. 

• Steven Fisher Medical Director at Centurion 

provided an update on the Opioid crisis 

• End-of-life panel speakers Lisy McIntee, LiCSW, 

Hospice Medical Social Worker, Greg Morrill, 

RN, Hospice Nurse Case Manager and Charley 

MacMartin, MA, Volunteer Services Manager 

shared stories and insights from firsthand experience 

discussing the interdisciplinary model as a vehicle 

for client and family advocacy, advocating for quality 

end-of-life care 

Less than 1% of nurses belong to their professional 

nursing organization in Vermont. While every nurse 

still receives a Nurse Connection, the lack of nurse 

membership means that we can only afford a part time 

lobbyist, while those who may not share our views can 

pay to have our legislator’s ear. ANA-VT counts on your 

support, for legislators need to hear our stories. Our latest 

by-laws update will allow an LPN to serve as secretary 

or treasurer on our Board if they are an affiliate member 

in good standing. You must be an RN to be president, 

vice-president, or a delegate to Membership Assembly. 

We need to join forces to be powerful, with all having 

access to continued education to stay current. At ANA- 

VT we provide ANCC approved contact hours and easy 

availability with membership, as well as a network of 

nurses, resources, mentors, tools, and potential employers 

as well as fun activities. 

When our previous executive director resigned, she 

and the Board of ANA Vermont asked me to become 

the next executive director, and I have been learning this 

role. One of my tasks includes keeping you informed. To 

start, in 2019 the Northeast Multi-State Division will host 

its first five state conference (Maine, Rhode Island, New 

York, New Hampshire and Vermont). I want to know your 

ideas and you have a link to visit the other state websites at 

ANA-VT as well as the ability to contact me. We will also 

have our own ANA-Vermont conference and a lobby day, 

as well as many other activities. 

Our state continues to successfully collaborate with the 

other states of our new Northeast Multi-State Division and 

we have a shared calendar of events for all seasons. Also 

remember how much politicians need to hear the stories 

and experiences of nurses to improve quality of life. Have 

a great year.

Page 2 • Vermont Nurse Connection January, February, March 2019 

2018 School Nurse 

of the Year 

The Vermont State School 

Nurses’ Association has 

recognized Jenny Anderson, 

nurse at Springfield High 

School, as the 2018 School 

Nurse of the year. Jenny was 

nominated by colleagues for 

her outstanding commitment 

to students and the community. 

She has been an integral part 

of the Springfield community 

for over 25 years. Her passion 

for the physical and emotional 

well-being of students has Jenny Anderson 

led to a variety of school and 

district-wide initiatives. Serving as the district’s wellness 

committee leader, Jenny is described as “an unwavering 

advocate for wellness–in all forms–for students, staff, 

families and our community.” She also brings her school 

nursing expertise to the School Nurse Advisory Council, 

moving school nursing forward in Vermont. Organizing 

community involvement projects to equip students to 

share their perspectives has been an integral part of her 

time at Springfield High School. Her quiet leadership 

is noted by her colleagues who describe her as “one 

in a million!” Jenny will be formally recognized for 

her accomplishments and contribution to students and 

families in Vermont at the Vermont State School Nurses’ 

Association Fall Conference October 13th. 

Letters to the Editor 

If you wish to submit a “Letter to the Editor,” please 

address it to: 


Attn: Vermont Nurse Connection 

4 Carmichael Street, Suite 111, #215 

Essex, VT 05452 

Please remember to include contact information, 

as letter authors may need to be contacted by the 

editors of the VNC for clarification. NOTE: Letters to 

the Editor reflect the opinions of the letter authors 

and should not be assumed to reflect the opinions 

of the ANA-Vermont. 

Jean Graham, Editor 

Deadlines for the 

Vermont Nurse Connection 

Are you interested in contributing an article to an 

upcoming issue of the Vermont Nurse Connection? If so, 

here is a list of submission deadlines for the next 2 issues: 

Vol. 22 #2 – January 14, 2019 

Vol. 22 #3 – April 15, 2019 

Articles may be sent to the editors of the Vermont 

Nurse Connection at: 


Attention: VNC 



Articles may also be submitted electronically to 

vtnurse@ana-vermont.org. 

Voices of Vermont Nurses 

premiered at VSNA Convention 2000 and 

is available from the ANA-Vermont Office at: 

ANA - Vermont 



Price: $20 each book 

(plus $3.95 for postage and handling) 

Make check or money order payable to: 

VERMONT STATE NURSES FOUNDATION 

Name: _____________________________________ 

Address: ___________________________________ 

City: _______________________________________ 

State: __________________ Zip: _______________ 

Vermont Nurse 

Connection 

Official publication of ANA-Vermont, a constituent member 

of the American Nurses Association. Published quarterly every 

January, April, July and October. Library subscription price is $20 

per year. ISSN# 1529-4609. 

Editorial Offices 

ANA-Vermont, 4 Carmichael Street, Suite 111, #215, Essex, VT 

05452, PH: (802) 651-8886, E-mail: vtnurse@ana-vermont.org 

Editor: Jean E. Graham 

Advertising 

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. ANA- 

Vermont 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 ANA-Vermont of products advertised, the advertisers, 

or the claims made. Rejection of an advertisement does not imply 

a product offered for advertising is without merit, or that the 

manufacturer lacks integrity, or that this association disapproves 

of the product or its use. ANA-Vermont and the Arthur L. Davis 

Publishing Agency, Inc. shall not be held liable for any consequences 

resulting from purchase or use of an advertiser’s product. Articles 

appearing in this publication express the opinions of the authors; they 

do not necessarily reflect views of the staff, board, or membership of 

ANA-Vermont or those of the national or local associations. 

Content 

ANA-Vermont welcomes unsolicited manuscripts and 

suggestions for articles. Manuscripts can be up to: 

• 750 words for a press release 

• 1500 words for a feature article 

Manuscripts should be typed double-spaced and spell-checked 

with only one space after a period and can be submitted: 

1) As paper hard copy 

2) As a Word Perfect or MS Word document file saved to a 

CD-Rom or zip disk 

3) Or e-mailed as a Word Perfect or MS Word document file to 

vtnurse@ana-vermont.org. 

No faxes will be accepted. Authors’ names should be placed after 

title with credentials and affiliation. Please send a photograph of 

yourself if you are submitting a feature article. 

All articles submitted to and/or published in Vermont Nurse 

Connection become the sole property of ANA-Vermont and may not 

be reprinted without permission. 

All accepted manuscripts may undergo editorial revision to conform 

to the standards of the newsletter or to improve clarity. 

The Vermont Nurse Connection is not a peer review publication. 

Articles appearing in this publication express the opinions of the 

authors; they do not necessarily reflect views of the staff, board, 

or membership of ANA-Vermont or those of the national or local 

association. 

Copyright Policy Criteria for Articles 

The policy of the ANA-Vermont Editorial Board is to retain 

copyright privileges and control of articles published in the Vermont 

Nurse Connection unless the articles have been previously published 

or the author retains copyright. 

RN to BSN 

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All nurses are eligible for a minimum of 30 transfer credits, and possibly up to 84 towards their degree. 

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Bay Path University is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education, 655 K Street, 

NW, Suite 750, Washington, DC 20001, 202-887-6791. (http://www.ccneaccreditation.org) 

ANA-Vermont Officers and Board of Directors 

President ..................................... Lori Poirier 

Vice President .............................Elizabeth Hassan 

Secretary .................................Cynthia Peterson 

Treasurer .................................Jocelyn Bressette 

Director at Large .................................. Vacant 

Executive Director .........................Meredith Roberts 

ANA-Vermont Foundation Board 

President ......................................Amy Curly 

Vice President ..................................... Vacant 

Treasurer ......................................... Vacant 

Secretary ......................................... Vacant 

Trustee ........................................... Vacant 

VNC Editor 

Jeannie Graham 

Committee Chairpersons 

Bylaws ........................................... Vacant 

Government Affairs ................................ Vacant 

Membership & Publicity ................Task Force Volunteers 

Nominations & Elections ................Task Force Volunteers 

Education ..............................Deborah Sanguinetti 

Vermont State Peer Review leader of NEMSD .....Carol Hodges 

Psychiatric Special Interest Group ...........Maureen McGuire 

Congressional Coordinator .......................... Vacant 

Senate Coordinator for Sanders ...................... Vacant 

Senate Coordinator for Leahy ....................... Vacant 

ANA Membership Assembly Representative ...Catherine Dewey 

Alternate Representative ............................ Vacant

January, February, March 2019 Vermont Nurse Connection • Page 3 

Vermont VONL merges with ONL MA/RI/CT/NH 

The long-awaited merger between ONL MA/RI/CT/NH and VONL was finally 

completed in January 2018. The addition of VT makes ONL a stronger, more vibrant 

and diverse five-state organization. The regional approach is unique among the AONE 

affiliates. 

Steering Team Formed 

In order to keep Vermont members informed and engaged, the VONL Executive Team 

has formed a Steering Team. This team is focused on the dissemination of information 

from ONL as well as bringing the concerns and questions from Vermont members to 

ONL. Current members of the Steering Team include: Julie Morse, RN; Mary Botter, 

PhD; Kathleen Craig, MSN; Teresa Stearns, DNP; Susan Boyer, DNP; Paulette Thabault, 

DNP; Deanna Orfanidis, MSN, Eileen Glover, DNP and Carol Conroy, DNP. These 

members represent Academia, Practice, Professional Development, Behavioral Health 

and Leadership Consulting services. 

In order to maintain connection and engagement from Vermont nurse leaders across 

the continuum, the Steering Team continues to recruit members from Home Care, School 

Nurses, and Ambulatory Primary Care Nurses, and under-represented regions of the 

state including Central Vermont and the Northeast Kingdom, as well as members from 

diverse backgrounds, including VNA/Home Care, Long-term Care. The Steering Team 

meets once a month and publishes a monthly newsletter update. The two VT board 

representatives, Julie Morse and Carol Conroy, attend ONL Board meetings. 

Benefits of Membership 

Benefits of membership in ONL include networking across five states, access to high 

quality professional development programs, resources and best practices to address 

common issues across the region, support for research projects and translation of 

research into practice, and access to the AONE priorities and resources on the national 

level. The member directory is also a great resource for contacting colleagues across the 

region. 

Upcoming events open to members and non-members 

Winter 2018: Quarterly Meeting 12/14/18 Burlington, MA 

• Zoe Chance, Yale School of Business to discuss leaning-in and influencing in 

practice. 

Spring 2018: Quarterly Meeting (date in March and location TBD) 

• Topic will be comprehensive workplace safety including prevention, threat analysis, 

risk assessment, incident management, post incident recovery 

Summer 2018: Annual Meeting 6/20-21) Newport, RI 

• Cy Wakeman, Reality Based Leadership; Ending the Us vs. Them Culture; 

Leadership and “Ditching the Drama.” 

Joyce C. Clifford New and Emerging Leadership Seminar. 

Dates TBD but most likely late March, early April 2019. Program designed for new 

and emerging leaders in formal or informal leadership roles. Location is Waltham Woods 

Conference Center, Waltham, MA. 

Marilyn Rinker Memorial Scholarship 

The Marilyn Rinker Memorial Scholarship, established by VONL in 2009 to honor 

Marilyn’s lifelong commitment and dedication to professional nursing practice, nursing 

education and leadership will continue to be offered. Application criteria for the Marilyn 

Rinker Memorial Award have not changed and include the following: 

1. Current member of ONL 

2. Registered nurse or advanced practice registered nurse currently licensed in the 

state of VT* 

3. Demonstrated commitment to nursing leadership as evidenced by participation 

in professional seminars, organizations, work accomplishments, project, 

recommendation of peers 

4. Currently enrolled or accepted in an accredited program that will lead to an 

advance degree in nursing 

Published by: 

Arthur L. Davis 

Publishing Agency, Inc. 

www.ANA-Vermont.org 

5. Willingness to commit to completing the program as indicated by realistic 

timeframe 

6. GPA of 3.0 or the equivalent 

7. Two (2) supportive recommendations 

8. A double-spaced, short essay (500 words or less) of the reasons this nominee should 

receive the award according to the criteria listed above 

9. Nominee’s current Curriculum Vitae 

Nominations must be submitted by March 25, 2019. Annual scholarship award 

announcement will be made at the member reception and awards gala at the ONL 

Annual Meeting. *Vermont RNs will receive first priority. Applicants from other states 

will be considered if there are no applicants from Vermont or applicants from Vermont 

do not meet the scholarship criteria. Applications can be submitted to Priscilla Almeida 

at ONL PAlmeida@oonl.org. 

Killington Educational Program 

One important feature of the agreement between VONL and ONL was a commitment 

to hold educational programs and an annual meeting in Vermont. ONL kept that 

commitment and held an excellent educational program at Killington Grand Resort 

on October 9, 2018. The program was well attended, especially by nurse leaders from 

the University of Vermont Medical Center, Rutland Regional Medical Center, Mount 

Ascutney Hospital and Health Center, Southwestern Vermont Medical Center, and nurse 

leaders from regulatory, and performance improvement. The speaker was nationally 

recognized expert in Conflict Management and Resilience, Debra Gerardi. RN, MPH, 

JD. 

Concepts covered included: Relational Intelligence- “the ability to learn, understand, 

and comprehend knowledge as it relates to interpersonal dynamics-the capacity to 

connect with other people with skill, warmth, authenticity and compassion.” Browning 

DM., & Solomon MZ. (2006). Relational learning in pediatric palliative care: 

transformative education and the culture of medicine. Child Adolesc Psychiatri Clin N 

Am. 15, 795-815, (p. 795); Self as Instrument of Change-self serves as the foundation 

for all other relationships- with patients, their families, colleagues, and society; Conflict 

Engagement -signifies an ongoing process, not just a one-time conversation; The 

Strain of Relational Work- healthcare is fundamentally a relational endeavor. Nurses 

experience the strain of being in relationships to patients and absorbing the pain, fear, 

frustration, and other emotions felt by the patients and their families. Dysfunctional 

coping patterns emerge when there are not “holding spaces” for processing the anxiety. 

These patterns look like conflict. 

Debra covered a variety of topics including dysfunctional relationships and strategies 

to cope and change them, personal resilience vs. endurance and the importance of 

assessing one’s own resilience and capacity to be engaged; what does one need to restore 

energy and enthusiasm? who can provide support and help?; and what needs to shift for 

one to have the reserves and capacity to take on the work of engaging others? 

The program was interactive and fun! Nurse leaders were taken on an exciting journey 

to discover practices to develop resilience including planned rest, exercise, nutrition, 

knowledge of one’s stressors, what helps us recover, pacing and rhythm, and play. 

VONL has also committed to holding the 2021 Annual Meeting in Vermont. That 

event is planned for June 17-18, 2021 also at the Killington Grand Resort. ONL and the 

Vermont Steering team continue to seek ways to be inclusive of nurses in Vermont. 

Please consider membership. Details regarding membership can be found on the 

ONL website https://www.oonl.org, or one can contact Vermont Board Representatives, 

Julie Morse Julie.Morse@uvmhealth.org, or Carol Conroy carconroy@aol.com. To help 

Vermont nurses keep abreast of what is happening in ONL and the activities of Vermont 

Nurse Leaders, steering team member Susan Boyer has created a special webpage at 

https://www.vnip.org/ONL-VT.htm. Susan can be reached at sb.vnip@gmail.com. 

White River Junction, VT VA Medical Center 

is seeking experienced Nurses for the following clinical areas: 

Med/Surg • OR Assistant Nurse Manager/Educator • ICU • 

OR • LPN (Specialty Care) • LPN (Residential Recovery Center) • 

RN Clinical Resource Coordinator (Office of Community Care) • 

Clinical Nurse Educator • Nursing Assistants 

To learn more contact Regina.Radikas@va.gov 

RN’s who join our team receive excellent benefits including: 

• 26 annual and accruable paid vacation days 

• 13 annual and accruable sick days 

• 10 paid Federal holidays 

• Retirement thrift savings plan with matching dollars 

• Tuition reimbursement after one year of 

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I’m not just a nurse. 

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Amy, VA RN


Solving Problems Creatively and Negotiating Collaboratively 

Priscilla Smith-Trudeau 

Unity is strength... when there is teamwork and 

collaboration, wonderful things can be achieved. 

~ Mattie Stepanek 

It’s inevitable that when 

you bring nurses together in 

a work environment they are 

going to have disagreements. 

There will be personality 

clashes, times when team 

members misinterpret each 

other’s words, occasions when 

resentments and jealousies 

flair up, and situations in 

which nurses simply have 

strong differences of opinion 

about the best thing to do. 

Managed productively, conflict 

can give birth to innovative 

solutions and improved 

Priscilla Smith- 

Trudeau 

relationships based on better understanding of other team 

members’ needs. RN’s, LPN’s and LNA’s often have much 

in common, from shared goals, tasks and experiences to 

the basic needs and life problems that all human beings 

encounter. However, they also bring differences, some as 

intangible as values and points of view, some as specific 

as language and personal preference. These variations 

influence how team members see their tasks and one 

another, how they relate and how they perform. These 

differences also form the "filter" through which each nurse 

sees and interacts with the group. 1 

Collaboration is not a “nice to have” organizational 

philosophy. It is an essential ingredient for organizational 

survival and success. 

~ Carol Kinsey Goman Ph.D. 

It is not always easy to collaborate. At times it takes 

courage to collaborate. Sometimes it seems as if your 

needs and wants are opposed to those with whom you 

are to collaborate. Sometimes it seems that there are not 

enough resources to go around. And sometimes it seems 

as if it will take too much time to collaborate and yet you 

do. It is at these times that you display the courage to 

collaborate, the willingness to align your needs and wants 

with others, the commitment to serve the greater good of 

the whole and the conviction that the only way to create 

a sustainable world is through collaboration. 2 Psychologist 

Sherrie Campbell wrote in her article, 10 Simple Ways 

to Build a Collaborative, Successful Work Environment 

that: “People thrive in environments which free them to 

communicate and work together. Especially when the 

company environment is focused on collaboration, team 

members naturally feel a part of something bigger than 

themselves.” 3 

A collaborative orientation exists when the party has a 

positive interest in the welfare of the other as well as its own. 

~ Erik Van Slyke 

Collaboration [in my opinion] is all about relationships. 

Showing respect and valuing the skills, experiences, 

creativity, diversity and contributions of others. Listening 

to and acknowledging the feelings, concerns, opinions 

and ideas of others. Being able to receive opinions and 

feedback from others. Collaboration is the master skill 

that enables teams, partnerships, and other alliances 

to function effectively. In spite of personal opinions, 

preferences and likes or dislikes, each should be willing 

to accept that the team is the group that will accomplish 

the end goal. According to Kouzes and Posner (2002), 

collaboration can be sustained only when there is a sense 

of mutual reliance—feelings that we’re all in this together. 

Mutual goals and roles contribute to mutual reliance, and 

Benefits of Collaboration 

1. Organizational 

flexibility. 

2. Engaged employees. 

3. Healthier employees. 

4. More productive 

meetings. 

5. Higher retention rates. 

6. Innovative ideas. 

7. Enhanced individual 

productivity. 

8. Better teamwork to 

achieve common goals. 

9. Better problem solving 

and innovation. 

10. Equal opportunities 

to participate and 

communicate ideas. 

the best incentive 

for others to help 

you in achieving 

your goals is 

knowing that you’ll 

reciprocate helping 

them in return. Help 

begets help just as 

trust begets trust. 

Focusing on what’s 

to be gained fosters 

agreement in what 

might otherwise be 

divisive issues. 4 

Without trust 

we don't truly 

collaborate; we 

merely coordinate 

or, at best, 

cooperate. It is trust 

that transforms a 

group of people into 

a team. 

~ Stephen Covey 

DRE MBA 

If I had to pick 

the two elements that 

make collaboration 

successful, I 

would choose 

trust and listening. According to the research conducted 

by the Center for Creative Leadership “In high-trust 

environments, people show up and do their best work. 

They are proud to be a part of the team and are motivated 

to produce results. They feel confident in themselves and 

each other. They know what is expected of them and what 

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Job Openings: https://careers.vermont.gov 

The State of Vermont offers an excellent total compensation package. To apply, 

you must use the online job application at careers.vermont.gov. For questions 

related to your application, please contact the Department of Human Resources, 

Recruitment Services at (800) 640-1657 (voice) or (800) 253-0191 (TTY/Relay 

Service). The State of Vermont is an Equal Opportunity Employer. 

they can expect in 

return. They don’t 

hold back. They 

think out-of-the-box 

and are willing to 

take prudent risks. 

They know they 

don’t need to look 

over their shoulders, 

so instead they look 

to each other, and 

together they look 

ahead. They create 

and innovate and 

know that, if they 

make a mistake, 

their team members 

will support them 

and that all can learn 

and grow from that 

mistake. They freely 

share information, 

collaborate, and 

leverage one 

another’s skills 

and abilities 

productively.” 5 

10 Top Qualities of a Great 

Collaborator 

1. Team focused 

2. Generous 

3. Curious 

4. Appreciative 

5. Diplomatic 

6. Listens to understand 

7. Brings the right 

people and the right 

knowledge to the table. 

8. Seeks to find and 

answer the bigger 

questions 

9. Gives and expects trust 

10. Builds relationships; 

breaks down walls 

Source: 

https://www.samepage.io/blog/10- 

top-qualities-great-collaborator 

Seek first to understand, then to be understood. 

~ Stephen Covey DRE MBA 

Listening to understand and seeing things from 

another’s perspective–to walk in their shoes–is absolutely 

crucial to building trusting relations and to career 

success. 6 Let’s face it we are all guilty of not listening 

at one point or another in our lives. Margaret Wheatley 

states, “I believe we can change the world if we start 

listening to one another again. Simple, honest, human 

conversation. Simple, truthful conversation where we each 

have a chance to speak, we each feel heard, and we each 

listen well. — If we can sit together and talk about what’s 

important to us, we begin to come alive. We share what 

we see, what we feel, and we listen to what others see and 

feel.” 7 To be effective listeners, we must learn to listen to 

the whole person not just to the words they are saying, but 

also to what lies between or behind their actual words. 

Without ANA-Vermont 

there would be... 

NO influence on laws, rules and 

Scope of Practice 

NO national collaboration 

NO professional protection 

NO state accrediting body for 

continuing education 

NO role model for the next 

generation 

NO voice for nursing 

It Pays to Join Your 

Professional Association


All too often in today’s workplace compromise is the most commonly chosen 

strategy where situations result when only one side perceives the outcome as positive. 

Consequently, win-lose outcomes are less likely to be accepted voluntarily or they may 

result in a situation where each side gets part of what they wanted, but not as much as 

they might have gotten if they had chosen collaboration. While each of us ought to be 

able to use both strategies in appropriate circumstances, a strategy of collaboration 

generally yields the best results. There are compelling reasons for adopting a strategy 

of collaboration, the greatest of which is that it is the most effective method of ending 

a conflict completely, and starting on the path to transformation. Kenneth Cloke, JD, 

PhD, and Joan Goldsmith, M.A., found the following “If you are interested in improving 

your relationship with another person, the best way of doing so is through collaboration. 

Each of the other strategies leaves either you or your partner feeling less than completely 

successful. For this reason, we emphasize the collaborative approach-not because it gets 

quicker results or is always the best approach, but because it goes deeper and is more 

lasting than other approaches, and because it encourages learning.” 8 

Collaboration is important not just because it's a better way to learn. The spirit of 

collaboration is penetrating every institution and all of our lives. So, learning to 

collaborate is part of equipping yourself for effectiveness, problem solving, innovation 

and life-long learning in an ever-changing networked economy. ~ Don Tapscot 

Priscilla Smith-Trudeau MSM, RN, BSN, CRRN, HNB-BC, CCM, is an author, 

speaker and healthcare management consultant. She is board certified in holistic nursing 

and rehabilitation nursing with a focus on integrative health. Holistic nursing is at the 

core of her nursing practice, self-care and consulting. In order to fully appreciate the 

challenges facing managers and staff nurses, Priscilla continues to practice as a bedside 

nurse in an acute rehabilitation setting. 

1 

Trudeau, P., Diversity consciousness: from conflict to collaboration, Vermont Nurse Connection 

(2001) Vol. 4, No. 4, p1. 

2 

Whitney, D., Trosten-Bloom, A., Cherney, J., & Fry, R. (2004). Appreciative team building: 

Positive questions to bring out the best of your team. New York, New York: IUniverse. 

3 

Campbell, S. (2017). 10 Simple ways to build a collaborative, successful work environment. 

Retrieved August 30, 2018 from: https://www.entrepreneur.com/article/302126 

4 

Kouzes, J. M., & Posner, B. Z. (2007). The leadership challenge. San Francisco, CA: Jossey-Bass. 

5 

Reina, D., Reina, M., Hudnut, D. (2017), Why Trust Is Critical to Team Success. Retrieved 

October 1, 2018 from: Center for Creative Leadership : https://www.ccl.org/wp-content/ 

uploads/2017/05/why-trust-is-critical-team-success-research-report.pdf 

6 

R. Fisher and S. Brown, Getting Together (Boston: Houghton Mifflin, 1988) and M.W. McCall, 

Lomdardo and A. Morrison, The Lessons of Experience (Lexington, MA: Lexington Books, 

(1988) Cited from Kouzes, J.M., & Posner, B.Z. (2007). The leadership challenge. San 

Francisco, CA: Jossey-Bass. 

7 

Wheatley, M. (2002). Turning to one another: Simple conversations to restore hope to the future. 

San Francisco, CA: Berrett-Koehler. 

8 

Cloke, Kenneth; Goldsmith, Joan. (2000). Resolving Conflicts at Work. Hoboken, NJ: Jossey- 

Bass. 

Nurses Lobby Day 

Coming Spring 2019 

Stay tuned to the ANA-Vermont 

website for updates 

https://anavermont.nursingnetwork.com/ 

Each year ANA-Vermont provides a presence at the Vermont State House. The goal 

is to establish an opportunity for ANA-Vermont members, Vermont nurses, and Vermont 

legislators to dialogue about legislation and the nursing profession. 

Join ANA-Vermont and ensure the voice of Vermont nurses is heard! 

ANA-Vermont at the Card Room, 

Vermont State House 2018 

The ANA-Vermont website has been updated: 

ANA-Vermont.org. 

We will continue to update and expand the 

website so look out for e-mails and keep 

checking! 

Do you want to stay updated on the latest 

ANA-Vermont has to offer? 

Learn of webinars offered by the ANA? 

How you can earn CEU hours? 

‘Like Us’ on Facebook. 

Follow us on Twitter @VTnurses. 

Questions regarding our 

social media and website? 

E-Mail: membership@ana-vermont.org


ANA-Vermont Fall Convention 2018 Celebrates Advocacy 

November 2nd, ANA Vermont celebrated our annual 

convention entitled The Spirit of Advocacy. First our 

election results were announced with Lori Poirier MSN, 

RN, CCHP as the new president, Elizabeth Hassan, 

MSN, RN, CPPS as Vice President, Cynthia Peterson, 

PhD(c), MSN as Secretary, Joselyn Bressette, MSN 

Treasurer, and Catherine Dewey, MSN, CCRN as our 

Delegate to Membership Assembly. What a fabulous 

team with many strengths. Meredith Roberts, PhD, 

MSN, has transitioned from president to executive 

director. 

At 9 AM, gubernatorial candidate Christine 

Halquist vibrantly discussed the need for quality 

healthcare that all can access, quality education, 

including for those with low income, the need to 

address climate change using renewable energy, and 

more. She feels that much can be accomplished if we 

pull together. 

Sarah Robinson, the Deputy Director at the Vermont 

Network Against Domestic and Sexual Violence 

discussed the need for compassionate trauma-informed 

care and advocacy related to patients who have 

experienced sexual abuse and the Sexual Abuse Nurse 

Examiner (SANE) role. She also shared the following 

sobering national statistics: 

• One in three woman, and one out of six men are 

sexually assaulted. 

• Eight out of ten times the abuse is committed by 

someone known to the victim. 

• Even more horrifying was her report that only 

310 out of every 1000 are reported, and that only 

57 out of those lead to an arrest, with only seven 

leading to a conviction. 

She noted that it only takes an additional 40 hours 

for RN’s to complete SANE training, and the need 

is great. She provided resource ideas, such as the 

statewide sexual violence hotline, and discussed the 

International Association of Forensic Nurses. She 

would like an ANA-Vermont member on the board of 

the Vermont Network Against Domestic and Sexual 

Violence. 

Kate Bailey spoke next regarding the Office of 

the Health Care Advocate (HCA), a special project 

within Vermont Legal Aid, a free resource available 

to Vermonters to help solve problems related to health 

care. She discussed types of health care coverage, 

MAGI, and the role of advocates. She shared how 

doctors may be unaware of specific criteria needed 

in letters, and how to navigate deadlines and denied 

eligibility. She provided examples such as getting 

coverage for a patient requiring derma light for 

psoriasis. Other advocacy issues included prescription 

issues, state health assistance, property law, taxes, 

ombudsman and more. 

Dr. Fred Wiseman presented about indigenous 

healing, food as medicine, and shared seven healing 

principles: 

• Animism – everything is alive and conscious 

• Spirit and soul (Inua and Tangoak) – the balance 

between reaching out, and not wanting to reach 

out and the road of spirits, a river of souls in the 

Milky Way 

• Ktsi/Nwaskw/Orenda – everything is connected 

• Kincentric ecology – Indigenous perceptions of 

the human relationship to nature; kinship implies 

reciprocity, and we have a responsibility to even 

plants, and they to us, like a partner. 

• Relational accountability – We need to nurture 

physically, spiritually and our tools have a 

responsibility 

• Condolence (emotions must be addressed before 

business) and Consolation, the application of 

spatial and programmatic standardization, so all 

feel comfortable 

• Ceremony – ritual, which can involve music, 

dance, and speech 

Dr. Steven Fisher, State Medical Director of 

Centurion, shared information about the opioid crisis 

and how opioids were no longer encouraged for chronic 

pain issues. He shared how doctors need special 

training to prescribe drugs like suboxone, and that 

patients leaving prison are at greatest risk of overdose 

2-4 weeks after release. After the special training, for 

the first year a doctor can only treat 30, the 2nd 100, 

and the maximum is 275, yet nearly 400 of Vermont’s 

population of 1500 inmates needed buprenorphine. 

More doctors need training to meet the treatment need 

and the opioid crisis is epidemic. 

Governor Scott discussed the shrinking student 

population, and the high demand and short supply 

of nurses. He discussed the need for more working 

families in Vermont, and his incentive of $10,000 to 

encourage families to move to Vermont. He noted the 

average age for a construction worker was 56, and the 

need to help college seniors find a job so they stay 

in Vermont. He also discussed his frustration with 

political polarization, which he considers to be the 

biggest threat we face, noting the need to find common 

ground, rather than using social media in cowardly 

ways. 

The end-of-life panel was a beautiful conclusion to 

the program, with panelists sharing stories, and how 

hospice helps not just patients but also their families 

accept and understand what is meaningful to patients. 

Case Manager Greg Morrill shared about meeting 

people where they are at, and how they may feel 

disempowered. He illustrated his statement by sharing 

how a client had just lost his license due to syncopal 

episodes, and he had to discuss it. When the client 

asked a family member to get his revolver, Greg was 

concerned, but then found the man wanted to share 

how he left the Soviet Eastern Block with just that 

gun, and they could discuss the importance of keeping 

other people safe. Doctors may have a hard time with 

difficult conversations, but it is more stressful to all 

when you wait until a person is too sick to talk. The 

importance of allowing people to be who they are, 

dying in character, should not be neglected. A spiritual 

goal for one man was to fish on Lake Champlain one 

last time. Most people do not want to die in a hospital. 

Our 50/50 Raffle results went to Vermont Foodbank, 

and many plants were awarded, along with a special 

basket provided by convention sponsor STAT STAFF. 

Gubernatorial Candidate, 

Christine Halquist 

Dr. Fred Wiseman – Abenaki and expert 

on the indigenous Wabanaki people of the 

northeast, paleo-ethnobotanist, author, 

artist, advocate 

Governor Phil Scott 

The 

University of Vermont 

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• Credit given for previous education and RN licensure 

• Part-time program with online nursing 

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Elizabeth Hassan, MSN, RN, CPPS 

ANA-Vermont Vice President 

ANA-Vermont Officers: President 

Lori Poirier, Vice President Elizabeth 

Hassan, MSN, RN, CPPS, Treasurer 

Joselyn Bressette, MSN 

Governor Phil Scott with ANA-President Lori 

Poirier and Convention Speaker Dr. Steven 

Fisher, Statewide Medical Director with 

Centurion of Vermont 

End-of-life panel: 

Tara Graham, Executive Director Hospice and Palliative program 

Charlie MacMarten Volunteer Services Coordinator (moderator of panel) 

Greg Morrill RN, Hospice Nurse Case Manager 

Lisy McIntee Hospice Medical Social Worker 

Kate Bailey, Office of Health Care Advocacy 

Jessica Cota accepting 

Judy Cohen Scholarship 

At podium, Jocelyn Bressette, 

ANA-Vermont Treasurer 

Sarah Robinson Deputy Director of the Vermont 

Network Against Domestic and Sexual Violence


Marilyn Rinker Leadership Scholarship Application 

Application – 2019 deadline: March 25, 2019 

Name: ______________________________________________________________ 

Address: _____________________________________________________________ 

Telephone #: _____________________ Email Address: _______________________ 

Vt RN Lic #______________________ VONL member since __________________ 

School of Nursing: _____________________________________________________ 

Currently in which year? 1 2 3 4 year of graduation (if applicable) ________________ 

Graduate school ________________________ 1st yr __________ 2nd year__________ 

expected date of graduation_______________ 

If employed in nursing, current employer ___________________________________ 

Currently receiving Financial Aid, Grants, Scholarships? Yes ________ No ________ 

If yes please list the sources_______________________________________________ 

Please attach to this form: 

1. Résumé 

2. Most recent transcript of grades demonstrating a cumulative average of 3.0 (B) 

3. A brief essay (500 words or less) describing nursing leadership experience and 

aspirations, community service experience, commitment to serve in Vermont, 

and financial need 

4. At least two (2) letters of recommendation (at least one academic and one work 

related) 

5. Evidence of acceptance in an accredited program leading to an advanced degree 

in nursing if not yet matriculated. 

I understand that if I receive an Advanced Degree Nurse Leaders 

Scholarship, I commit to practice nursing in Vermont for a minimum period 

of two years following graduation. 

Student signature: _______________________________ Date: __________________ 

Return application (with attached materials) before March 25, 2019 to: 

Marilyn Rinker Memorial 

Scholarship 

The Marilyn Rinker Memorial Scholarship Award was established by the Vermont 

Organization of Nurse Leaders in 2009 to honor Marilyn’s lifelong commitment and 

dedication to professional nursing practice, nursing education and leadership. Marilyn 

held many leadership positions during the course of her career such as Nursing 

Director for Medicine and Cardiology at Fletcher Allen Health Care (University of 

Vermont Medical Center); Oncology Clinical Coordinator at the Vermont Regional 

Cancer Center; Clinical Research Nurse and Educator in Vermont and Rhode Island; 

and, BSN Nursing Program Director at Norwich University. Marilyn also served as 

the Executive Director of the Vermont State Nurses’ Association and President of the 

Vermont Organization of Nurse Leaders. 

This award provides scholarship support in the amount of $1000 for a qualified 

registered nurse to participate in an approved course of study leading to an advanced 

degree with an emphasis in nursing leadership. 

Application Criteria for the Marilyn Rinker Memorial Award 

1. Current member of ONL 

2. Registered nurse or advanced practice registered nurse currently licensed in the 

state of VT* 

3. Demonstrated commitment to nursing leadership as evidenced by participation 

in professional seminars, organizations, work accomplishments, project, 

recommendations of peers 

4. Currently enrolled or accepted in an accredited program that will lead to an 

advanced degree in nursing 

5. Willingness to commit to completing the program as indicated by realistic 

timeframe. 

6. GPA of 3.0 or the equivalent 

7. Two (2) supportive professional recommendations 

8. A double-spaced, short essay (500 words or less) of the reasons this nominee 

should receive the award according to the criteria listed above 

9. Nominee’s current Curriculum Vitae 

Nominations must be submitted by March 25, 2019. Annual scholarship award 

announcement will be made at the member reception and awards gala at the ONL 

Annual Meeting. 

*Vermont RNs will receive first priority. Applicants from other states will be 

considered if there are no applicants from Vermont or the scholarship criteria are not 

met by applicants from Vermont. 

Martha Buck, VAHHS/VONL 

148 Main Street, Montpelier, VT 05602 

(802)223-3461/ext. 111 Martha@vahhs.org 

The Arthur L. Davis 

Publishing Agency, Inc. 

2019 Scholarship 

Vermont State Nurses 

Foundation, Inc. 



(802) 651-8886 

Applications for the $1,000 scholarship are 

open to ANA-Vermont members who are 

currently enrolled in an undergraduate 

or graduate nursing program and who 

are active in a professional nursing 

organization. 

Submit your application by 

August 1, 2019 by filling 

out the online form: 

https://docs.google.com/forms/ 

d/1HOXJkAdlshV2ioeRV3fkEsr16_rDxVh- 

2ec3ttST_hU/viewform?c=0&w=1 

Application for the 2019 

Pat & Frank Allen 

Scholarship 





(802) 651-8886 

The Pat & Frank Allen Scholarship is a 

$1500.00 award given to a registered 

nurse who is a matriculated student in an 

accredited nursing program. 

Applications must be submitted by 

August 1, 2019. You do not have to be 

a member of ANA-Vermont but priority 

will be given to ANA-Vermont members, 

please go online to fill out the form: 


d/1HOXJkAdlshV2ioeRV3fkEsr16_rDxVh- 

2ec3ttST_hU/viewform?c=0&w=1 

Application for the 2019 

Judy Cohen Scholarship 





(802) 651-8886 

The Judy Cohen Scholarship is a $2,000 

award given to a registered nurse who 

is in a baccalaureate or higher degree 

accredited 

nursing program. 

Applications must be submitted by 

August 1, 2019. You do not have to be a 

member of ANA-Vermont but priority will 

be given to ANA-Vermont members. 

To apply for the scholarship, 

please fill out this form: 


d/1HOXJkAdlshV2ioeRV3fkEsr16_ 

rDxVh-2ec3ttST_hU/ 

viewform?c=0&w=1


ANA/ANA-Vermont News 

Opioid Bill Contains Victories for Medicaid—As the 

Administration Undermines Medicaid Access 

Reprinted from ANA Capitol Beat; originally posted: 10/5/2018; Author: Gregory Craig 

This week the Senate passed a landmark piece of legislation, the SUPPORT for 

Patients and Communities Act, that aims to curb the nation’s ongoing opioid-use disorder 

crisis. The legislation includes a critical provision that enables nurse practitioners and 

physician assistants to prescribe buprenorphine permanently – once they obtain a waiver 

required by any provider to prescribe medication-assisted treatment (MAT) – and 

expands MAT prescribing authority for five years to other advanced practice registered 

nurse (APRN) specialties: certified nurse-midwives, clinical nurse specialists and 

certified registered nurse anesthetists. 

Medicaid Provisions in the SUPPORT for Patients and Communities Act 

The bill also includes several critical Medicaid provisions aimed at treating 

individuals who suffer from an opioid-use disorder and preventing others from 

developing an opioid-use disorder. Taken together, these provisions will significantly 

increase access to opioid-use disorder treatment and counseling services for some of 

the nation’s most vulnerable populations and will decrease the rate of new opioid-use 

disorders. 

These provisions include: 

• A temporary suspension (from Fiscal Year 2020 through FY 2023) of the Medicaid 

institution for mental disease (IMD) exclusion for short-term stays (less than 

30 days per year) and the codification of regulations that allow managed care 

organizations to receive federal funding for patients who are in an IMD for 15 days 

or less per month (current law does not allow federal payment for patient stays in 

IMD facilities with greater than 16 beds); 

• A requirement for states to cover MAT, including methadone and counseling 

services, for opioid-use disorders from FY 2021 through FY 2025; 

• A provision that allows states to cover care for infants with neonatal abstinence 

syndrome at a residential pediatric recovery center and an extension of enhanced 

federal match provided under Medicaid for health home services to treat 

individuals with substance use disorders; 

• A requirement for state Medicaid programs to not terminate coverage for juvenile 

inmates under the age of 21 while they are incarcerated and an extension of 

Medicaid coverage for former foster youths ages 18 to 26 who move states, and; 

• A requirement for states to comply with drug review and use requirements as a 

condition of receiving federal Medicaid funding and a provision that allows state 

Medicaid programs access to state prescription drug monitoring programs. 

Indiana and New Hampshire, and waivers to impose work requirements are pending in 

South Dakota, Kansas, Mississippi, Ohio, Maine, Utah and Arizona. Kentucky’s work 

requirements waiver was struck down in federal court in July, though the administration 

is currently working with Kentucky to revise implement those requirements nonetheless. 

Studies show that work requirements for Medicaid beneficiaries have little to no 

impact on employment and, as demonstrated in Arkansas, result in coverage losses. 

According to a December 2017 Kaiser Family Foundation issue brief, roughly 6 in 10 

of the 22 million non-disabled adults receiving Medicaid benefits are employed either 

full- or part-time, while 8 in 10 of these adults live in a working family. Most of these 

individuals work either for small firms or in low-paying industries which do not offer 

healthcare coverage and thus rely on Medicaid for such. Further, among those adults who 

are not working, most report a major barrier to employment such as illness, disability, or 

care-giving duties. According to the same Kaiser issue brief, Medicaid expansion has not 

negatively impacted labor market participation; in fact, some research demonstrates that 

Medicaid coverage supports work. 

ANA Commends Congress and Urges Its Members to Vote in the Midterms 

ANA applauds Congress for its hard work and dedication in passing the SUPPORT for 

Patients and Communities Act and for recognizing the role that RNs and APRNs play in 

patient care for those with an opioid-use disorder. 

However, ANA firmly believes in universal access to comprehensive and 

affordable healthcare services for all Americans. The recent moves by both the Trump 

administration and state governments fly directly in the face of that goal and represent 

major steps backward in the effort to ensure that all Americans – especially vulnerable 

populations such as low-income women and those with pre-existing conditions – have 

access to all necessary healthcare services. These moves also undermine the progress 

made in Congress with the SUPPORT for Patients and Communities Act. 

Healthcare stands to be a major issue in the upcoming 2018 midterm elections – 22 

percent of respondents to a June 2018 NBC News/Wall Street Journal poll named 

healthcare as the most important factor in deciding their vote. These elections are right 

around the corner and are an incredibly important opportunity for ANA’s members to 

make their voices heard when it comes to determining the future of healthcare in this 

country. When nurses vote, lawmakers in Washington, DC, and in statehouses across the 

country listen. Visit ANA’s #NursesVote Action Center today and help us make this the 

most meaningful election for nurses yet. 

Trump Administration Approval of Medicaid Work Requirements 

It is ironic, then, that as the SUPPORT for Patients and Communities Act heads to 

President Trump’s desk, his administration is actively taking steps that will create 

barriers for Medicaid beneficiaries to remain covered under the program. CMS 

Administrator Seema Verma recently defended the administration’s policy of approving 

Medicaid waivers for demonstration projects that impose work requirements on certain 

Medicaid populations (i.e., the Medicaid expansion population of low-income, childless 

adults). 

CMS recently faced criticism after 4,300 Arkansans lost Medicaid coverage in 

September as a result of not meeting the state’s new work requirements; this is the first 

time in the Medicaid program’s 53-year history that beneficiaries have lost coverage for 

not meeting work requirements. The administration has approved work requirements for 

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ANA Applauds Nurses’ 

MAT Prescribing 

Authority in SUPPORT 

(H.R. 6) 

SILVER SPRING, MD – President Donald Trump 

signed into law the Substance Use-Disorder Prevention that 

Promotes Opioid Recovery and Treatment (SUPPORT) 

for Patients and Communities Act (H.R. 6). The American 

Nurses Association (ANA) is pleased that SUPPORT 

underscores nurses’ critical role in solving the opioid crisis 

by enabling nurse practitioners and physician assistants to 

prescribe buprenorphine permanently with a medicationassisted 

treatment (MAT) waiver. This MAT prescribing 

authority is extended for five years to the other advanced 

practice registered nurse (APRN) specialties: certified 

nurse-midwives, clinical nurse specialists and certified 

registered nurse anesthetists. SUPPORT will also deploy 

more health experts by providing student loan relief of 

up to $250,000 to individuals that pursue substance use 

disorder treatment professions in underserved areas. 

ANA extends our gratitude to the professional nursing 

organizations and diligent congressional leaders that 

worked with us to pass SUPPORT with the key nursing 

provisions in both the U.S. House of Representatives and 

the U.S. Senate. 

Nurses are central in identifying and solving public 

health crises. Empowering and authorizing nurses to 

practice to the full extent of their clinical training and 

education eliminates unnecessary roadblocks that impede 

access to lifesaving treatment. Especially in communities 

devastated by drug overdose and addiction and in rural 

areas where patients rely on nurses for quality care. 

ANA recognizes the urgency to solve the opioid crisis 

and to save the lives of those impacted by it. ANA has 

provided several resources to this end, including an outline 

of nurses’ role in addressing the crisis, an issue brief, and 

resources on pain management. 

The American Nurses Association (ANA) is the premier 

organization representing the interests of the nation's 

4 million registered nurses. ANA advances the nursing 

profession by fostering high standards of nursing practice, 

promoting a safe and ethical work environment, bolstering 

the health and wellness of nurses, and advocating on 

health care issues that affect nurses and the public. ANA 

is at the forefront of improving the quality of health care 

for all. For more information, visit www.nursingworld.org. 


Membership Application 

$15 

$174 

$15 $174 

IS YOUR NURSING 

ORGANIZATION 

PLANNING AN 

EDUCATION 

PROGRAM? 

CONSIDER APPLYING FOR 

CONTACT HOUR APPROVAL 

FOR MORE INFORMATION CALL THE ANA-Vermont 

OFFICE @ (802) 651-8886 

The Northeast Multi-State 

Division, (NE-MSD) is 

accredited as an approver 

of continuing education in 

nursing by the American 

Nurses’ Credentialing Center’s 

Commission on Accreditation. 

Vermont 

New Members 

July - September 

2018 

Rebekah Alger 

Katy Bak 

Christa Berthiaume 

Sarah Billings-Berg 

Stephanie Bless 

Jocelyn Bressette 

Marlene Bristol 

Jamie Brown 

Heather Cota 

Betsy Cutler 

Mary Desabrais 

Julie Dufresne 

Pauline Gonyea 

Donna Harlow 

Wendy Hubbard 

Robin Keith 

Beth Kiendl 

Sarah Levison 

Kate Merchant 

Linda Moye 

Sarah Osgood 

Anne Outwater 

Kaitlin Reese 

Mary Short 

Nicole Valcour 

Tracey Wagner 

A NA-Vermont 

Foundation — Honor a 

Nurse Campaign 

Nursing continues to be the most trusted 

profession as indicated in annual surveys. This 

attests to the collective contributions nurses 

make as they care for patients, families and 

communities. Efforts of individual nurses however 

deserve special recognition by colleagues, 

employers, patients, families and friends. There are 

many reasons to Honor a Nurse such as: to thank 

a mentor, to acknowledge excellent care given 

by a nurse to a patient, to celebrate a milestone 

such as a birthday or retirement, or to recognize 

a promotion. Just think for a moment, you will 

know a nurse to honor. Celebration: The honored 

nurses and the persons nominating them will 

be recognized at the ANA-Vermont Convention 

in 2018. The honored nurses each will receive 

a certificate identifying the person recognizing 

her/him as well as the reason for the honor. 

Submit nominations by: September 1, 2018. All 

contributions are tax deductible to the full extent 

allowed by law. VSNF is a 501(c)3 organization. 

Nominations this year are online. 

Please go here to nominate someone: 

http://goo.gl/Z0F4f



Mind/Body/Spirit 

Wellness 101 

Megan Amaya, PhD, CHES; 

Bernadette Mazurek Melnyk, PhD, RN, 

APRN-CNP, FAANP, FNAP, FAAN; 

Susan Neale, MFA 

Reprinted from American Nurse Today 

Pay attention to your environment–it can 

affect your body, mind, and spirit. 

This is the ninth installment in a series of articles 

on wellness. You can read the earlier articles at 

americannursetoday.com/category/wellness101/. 

You DON’T HAVE TO GO FAR to experience nature– 

it can be in your own backyard, a community park, or 

walking trail. You also can venture miles from home for 

hiking, waterskiing, camping, or canoeing. When you’re 

outdoors, the rest of life seems to disappear. You become 

“one with nature”–spiritually, mentally, and physically– 

as you appreciate all the beauty this planet has to offer. 

Your senses heighten as you become more aware of your 

surroundings. And you may not realize it, but you’re 

improving your health and well being. Yes, outdoor 

activities, from a simple walk around the block to snow 

tubing down a wintry hill, enhance your overall health. 

We may not give a lot of thought to how the 

environment fits into our wellness efforts, but the 

environment and how we take care of it can have a huge 

impact on our overall well-being. 

The evidence is in 

Research has demonstrated that green space, such 

as parks, forests, and river corridors, are good for our 

physical and mental health. In a study by Blumenthal and 

colleagues, 71% of people found a reduction in depression 

after going for a walk outdoors, versus a 45% reduction 

in those who took an indoor walk. In a 2013 study from 

Roe and colleagues, gardening demonstrated a significant 

reduction in subjects’ levels of the stress hormone cortisol. 

And in 2016, the World Health Organization conducted 

a systematic review of 60 studies from the United States, 

Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and Europe and 

concluded that green space is associated with reduced 

obesity. 

More than nature 

“Environment” doesn’t mean only the great outdoors. 

Your environment is everything that surrounds you– your 

home, your car, your workplace, the food you eat, and 

the people you interact with. Nurses’ work environments 

contain many hazards, so we need to pay extra attention to 

this component of our wellness. The U.S. Department of 

Labor rates hospitals as one of the most dangerous places 

to work. In 2017, the Bureau of Labor Statistics reported 

that private industry hospital workers face a higher 

incidence of injury and illness–six cas es per 100 fulltime 

workers–than employees working in other industries 

traditionally considered dangerous, such as manufacturing 

and construction. In 2015, the most common event leading 

to injuries in hospitals was overexertion and bodily 

reaction, including injuries from moving or lifting patients. 

In other words, those of us working with patients outside 

of a hospital setting are vulnerable, too. 

Improve your workplace environment 

The good news is that many injuries can be prevented 

with proper equipment and training. For in stance, almost 

50% of reported injuries and illnesses among nurses and 

other hospital workers were musculoskeletal, many (25% 

of all workers’ compensation claims for the healthcare 

industry in 2011) caused by overexertion from lifting, 

transferring, and repositioning patients. Learning safe 

ways to handle patients can safeguard your well-being 

as well as your patients’. It may be time to review your 

workplace safety stan dards or form a committee to review 

patient-handling procedures and other safety measures. 

Of course, the people we deal with every day aren’t 

just risk factors for disease and injury. Everyone brings 

his or her personalities, attitudes, and behaviors, and we 

can’t always avoid the stress they add to our environment. 

We can, however, cushion ourselves against stress by 

modifying our own behavior. 

Environmental wellness 

Nurse.org offers these suggestions when dealing with a 

difficult patient: 

• Avoid defensive thoughts. Remember, it’s not about 

you, it’s about the patient. Don’t blow up at him or 

her because you’re frustrated. 

• Set boundaries. If someone behaves 

inappropriately toward you by 

swearing or yelling, set limits 

by saying, “There are 

certain things we allow 

here, and this behavior 

is not one of them. I’ll 

step out of the room 

to give you time to 

calm down.” 

• Let them tell their 

story. Letting a 

patient tell you how 

he or she got to this 

point can help reduce 

distress and might 

give you insight into 

the behavior. Even if 

you don’t agree with what 

the patient says, he or she 

will feel listened to, which may 

be calming. 

• Realign your body language. Taking a 

few measured breaths to refocus your thoughts can 

help you calm down. Tension can create defensive 

body language that patients may react to negatively. 

Choosing to thrive 

Studies show that we thrive better when surrounded by 

people who support our goals and want to help us succeed. 

We can’t usually choose the people we work with, but we 

can consciously choose to spend more time with those 

friends and family members who sup port and uplift us. 

And we can all contribute to making our physical 

surroundings healthier, from recycling to creating a 

culture of respect and gratitude. (See 6 ways you can 

im prove your environment.) Start with a small step today–at 

work, at home, at school, with your family, or 

by volunteering in the community–to improve your 

environmental wellness. 

The authors work at The Ohio State University in 

Columbus, Ohio. Megan Amaya is director of health 

promotion and wellness and assistant professor of 

6 ways you can improve 

your environment 

When we take care of our environment, we 

take care of ourselves. Get started with these 

ideas: 

• Reuse it. Drink from reusable water bottles and 

shop with reusable bags. Glass or stainless steel 

water bottles are the best options, but a plastic 

water bottle works well, too–as long as you 

reuse it. Reusable shopping bags cut down on 

plastic bag waste. According to The Wall Street 

Journal, the United States goes through 100 

billion plastic shopping bags annually. Evidence 

shows that they slowly release toxic chemicals 

once they get in the soil. If you use plastic bags, 

recycle them at your local grocery store. 

• Eat local. Take advantage of farmers’ markets, 

community-supported agriculture, and 

restaurants that serve local foods. Most local 

foods are packed with more nutrients because 

they don’t have to travel long distances to reach 

your plate. Locally grown food also means 

less energy (fuel) is used to transport it to your 

kitchen or grocery store. 

clinical nurs ing practice at the College of Nursing and 

president of the National Consortium for Building 

Healthy Academic Communities. Bernadette Mazurek 

Melnyk is the vice president for health promotion, 

university chief wellness officer, dean and profes sor in 

the College of Nursing, professor of pediatrics 

and psychiatry in the College of Medicine, 

and executive director of the Helene 

Fuld Health Trust National Institute 

for Evidence-based Practice 

in Nursing and Healthcare. 

Susan Neale is senior writer/ 

editor of marketing and 

communications in the 

College of Nursing. 

Selected references 

Blumenthal JA, Babyak MA, 

Moore KA, et al. Effects of 

exercise train ing on older patients 

with major depression. Arch Intern 

Med. 1999; 15909):2349-56. 

Bureau of Labor Statistics. Hospital 

workers: An assessment of occu pational 

injuries and illnesses. June 2017. www. 

bls.gov/opub/mlr/ 2017 /article/hospitalworkers-an-assessment-of-occupationalinjuries 

and-illnesses.htrn 

Cohen DA, McKenzie n, Sehgal A, Williamson S, 

Golinelli D, Lurie N. Contribution of public parks to physical 

activity. Am J Public Health. 2007;97(3):509-14. 

Groenewegen PP, van den Berg AE, de Vries S, Verheij RA. 

Vitamin G: Effects of green space on health, well-being, and 

social safety. BMC Public Health. 2006;6:149. 

HealthyPeople.gov. Environmental health. healthypeople. 

gov/2020/ topics-objectives/topic/environmental-health 

Nelson L. 10 tips for dealing with difficult patients. Nurse.org. 

Febru ary 20, 2018. nurse.org/articles/dealing-with-difficultpatients 

Occupational Safety and Health Administration. Safe Patient 

Han dling Programs: Effectiveness and Cost Savings. osha. 

gov/dsg/hospitals/documents/3.5_SPH_effectiveness_508.pdf 

Roe JJ, Thompson CW, Aspinall PA, et al. Green space 

and stress: Ev idence from cortisol measure in deprived 

urban communities. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 

2013;10(9):4086-103. 

World Health Organization. Ambient (outdoor) air quality and 

health. May 2, 2018. who.int/mediacentre/factsheets/fs313/en/ 

World Health Organization. Urban green spaces and health: 

A review of evidence. 2016. euro.who.int/_data/assets/pdf_ 

file/0005/321971/Urban-green-spaces-and-health-reviewevidence.pdJ?ua=l 

• Turn it off. Whether it’s a faucet you leave 

running while you brush your teeth or the TV 

that’s on when you’re not in the room, if you’re 

not using something, turn it off. You’ll save 

energy and, as a bonus, you may save money in 

cheaper utility bills. 

• Travel light. If you can, find environmentally 

friendly ways to travel–walk, ride your bike, or 

take public transportation. 

• Clean green. Using natural or homemade 

cleaning products is better for you, your home, 

your pets, and the environment. Some items to 

keep on hand include white vinegar, natural salt, 

baking soda, and lemons. 

• Recycle. Most communities recycle, whether by 

a city-sponsored pickup route or at a drop-off 

location. Learn more about what you can recycle 

from your local solid waste authority.

Quality Care Close to Home 

North Country Hospital is a 25 bed critical access private, nonprofit acute care 

community hospital with physician practices serving twenty communities in a twocounty 

area in the rural Northeast Kingdom of Vermont. 

We are currently seeking 

applicants for the following 

positions: 

• Emergency Room- 

2 Full Time & 1 Per Diem 

• ICU, RN- 1 Full Time 

• Nursing FLEX Pool, RN- 1 Full Time & 1 Part Time 

• Surgical Services, Operating Room, RN- 1 Per Diem 

• Primary Care Newport, LPN Office Nurse- Full Time 

At North Country Hospital quality patient care is our greatest commitment, 

employees are our greatest asset, excellent patient experience is our greatest 

accomplishment, and the health of the community is our greatest responsibility. 

For additional information contact: Tina Royer, Human Resources 

(802) 334-3210, ext. 407 • E-Mail: troyer@nchsi.org 

North Country Hospital, 189 Prouty Drive, Newport, VT 05855 

www.northcountryhospital.org 

89 Main Street 

3rd Floor 

Montpelier, VT 

Website: 

www.sec.state.vt.us/ 

professional-regulation/ 

professions/nursing.aspx 

Confidental Contact info: 

802-828-1635

Vermont Nurse Connection - January 2019

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