Massachusetts Report on Nursing - December 2020

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10 • <strong>Massachusetts</strong> <strong>Report</strong> on Nursing November 2020 Meet our New Directors Chris Caulfield, RN, NP-C Chris Caulfield, MSN, RN, NP-C is the co-founder and Chief Nursing Officer of IntelyCare Inc. Chris is passionate about decreasing short-staffing practices and improving patient care delivery. His nursing background includes Long Term Care facilities, Advanced Practice, and as a hospital cochair representing his fellow Nurses through the MNA. Chris's strategic vision focuses on addressing nurses’ fundamental questions about what an organization does and how it affects them. IntelyCare provides a platform for nurses and nursing assistants to make their own schedules and strengthen their proficiency by gaining experience in a variety of settings and expand knowledge and skills in post-acute health care through online training. The company's goal is to “give nursing professionals control over their schedules, and health care facilities the power to find the experienced staff they need.”[i] In August 2020, the Boston Business Journal noted that IntelyCare was the fastest-growing <strong>Massachusetts</strong> company on the Inc.5000 list. ANAMASS welcomes Chris to the Board of Directors and anticipates that his expertise in informatics and social media strategies will be an important asset toward improving membership recruitment, engagement, and retention. Retrieved from http://intgelycare.com Intelycare.com / on October 5, 2020. Eilse Pierre-Louis, BSN, RN Eilse has been a registered nurse for eight years and has experience in behavioral health, ambulatory care, and women’s health. Eilse finds being a nurse fulfilling, and exciting. Nursing allows her to live a new adventure every day by improving efficiency, creating solid foundations for teamwork, and ensuring continuity of care. Hiring Full Time School Nurse, R.N. Responsible for oversight of the health, medication acquisition and distribution for all individuals within the agency and is the lead trainer for all staff in areas related to health medication and overall well-being. • B.S.N. from an accredited school of nursing. • Preferably 2+ years of experience in the field of autism/developmental disorders or experience in a residential setting. • Valid Driver’s License Required. • Salary is commensurate with experience. archwayinc.org During her baccalaureate studies, Eilse collaborated with the Women & Infants Hospital leadership to improve policies and reduce racial disparities in maternal care. This transformative experience inspired her to become a post-partum doula and focus on new ways to support vulnerable communities. Becoming an ANAMASS Board of Directors member is one of her greatest accomplishments. “I am deeply honored to be in a leadership position as ANAMASS is wholeheartedly devoted to empowering <strong>Massachusetts</strong>’ registered nurses.” Eilse’s view is that the global health pandemic challenges nurses to remain connected and to continue offering the highest level of care and support. With colleagues, Eilse organized a virtual town hall series to address the psychological impact on nurses and patients by making referrals for resources and social service programs. Additionally, Eilse is creating an action plan to present to government offices, health care organizations, and community leaders to support implementing proactive measures that follow CDC recommendations. ANAMASS warmly welcomes Eilse and the experiences, insight and energy she brings to the Board of Directors. New Graduate Director Casey Crawford, MA, BSN, RN Casey is registered nurse with experience in international relations, politics, and security, as well as event planning and promotion. He has well-developed communication, writing and presentation skills. He currently works as a registered nurse in the Surgical Intensive Care Unit at U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs, Boston Healthcare System. As a new graduate, director Casey would like to take on the task of developing additional opportunities to recruit a more diverse youthful membership and create a new nurse coalition. ANAMASS welcomes Casey and looks forward to his contributions towards expanding diversity among the membership. Membership Engagement Committee Notes Greetings! We know that nurses are especially busy, and under great stress in whatever role you are serving. But you may find that spending some time with like-minded nurses could be a really good way to engage in the self-care we all need right now. Self-care is essential for nurses during this pandemic. Nurses in all roles are challenged by their day-to-day work, especially those who have lost employment due to cuts made in healthcare services. We encourage those of you who haven’t joined ANA <strong>Massachusetts</strong> yet to consider joining. For those who are already members, but not yet actively involved in ANA <strong>Massachusetts</strong>, we urge you to join a committee. ANAMASS Membership options: • ANA initiated a new membership level for nurses who would like to join but have been deterred by costs. We encourage all nurses who are not yet members to take another look at whether this enables you to join/rejoin your professional organization. • ANA offers a Premier membership that incorporates existing members. This membership offers additional benefits and perks such as an extra $100 off ANCC Certification, free unlimited continuing education from the Lippincott NursingCenter.com library, free webinars (including certification exam taking skills), and an additional 25% off any ANA Publication purchase. • For more information about membership: https:// www.anamass.org/ Getting involved with the Membership Engagement Committee We meet monthly using Zoom to discuss trends in membership numbers, brainstorm about ways to engage members, and plan outreach to both nurses and nursing students encouraging them to join. When we are not amid a pandemic, we have an annual in-person meeting for strategic planning. We are always interested in welcoming new members to the committee, so reach out to Lisa Presutti at lpresutti@anamass.org who will forward your interest to our co-chairs, Silda Melo and Janet Ross. If our committee isn’t the right fit for your interests, please consider joining another one that will suit you better. A list of committees can be found at https://www.anamass.org/page/211 Lowell Community Health Center has exciting opportunities for RN’s and LPN’s looking to make a difference. We offer a supportive and collaborative work environment that is committed to helping you meet your professional goals. Lowell CHC works to provide the best possible experience for our patients, family and our dedicated team members. We pride ourselves on our commitment to community health, patient and family centered care, inclusivity and culturally informed care. We support our employees with a friendly, family oriented atmosphere, collaborative culture and work-life balance. Please visit our website: https://www.lchealth.org/job-seekers Or contact us by email at: HRRecruiting@lchealth.org
November 2020 <strong>Massachusetts</strong> <strong>Report</strong> on Nursing • 11 Nursing Policy in Times of Uncertainty surviving, thriving on the edge Leadership in policy and care quality and safety Rebecca M. Patton, DNP, RN, CNOR, FAAN Margarete L. Zalon, PhD, RN, ACNS-BC, FAAN Ruth Ludwick, PhD, RN-BC, APRN-CNS, FAAN Marian K. Shaughnessy Nurse Leadership Academy Case Western Reserve University https://case.edu/nursing/nurse-leadershipacademy As we confront new and existing realities and move into this decade launched by the Year of the Nurse and Midwife, we critically examine the history and the future of nursing by inaugurating a new column called, Leadership in Policy, Care Quality and Safety. The purpose of the column is to engage nurses in dialogue and galvanize them to take leadership in the individual but overlapping aspects of policy, care quality and safety. Each quarter you will find a short column on a topic related to one or more of these intersecting factors. Leadership is the framework that underpins each column. We believe that no matter where nurses work or the position held, leadership is a critical skill for all nurses not only those who hold titles that imply leadership, e.g. manager, director, dean, but every nurse regardless of practice setting or role. Our goal is to raise awareness about the leadership opportunities in policy, care quality, and safety across settings, specialties, communities and the globe by focusing on inspiring exemplars and action steps that can be taken by nurses. Rebecca M. Patton, DNP, RN, CNOR, FAAN Margarete L. Zalon, PhD, RN, ACNS-BC, FAAN Ruth Ludwick, PhD, RN-BC, APRN-CNS, FAAN Marian K. Shaughnessy Nurse Leadership Academy Case Western Reserve University https://case.edu/nursing/nurse-leadershipacademy Call to Action As we write this column during the COVID-19 pandemic, we are in the midst of unprecedented change and risk for our personal lives, our families, our professional lives, our communities, our country, and our world. Little did we think when we planned this column about policy, leadership, quality and safety that we would be facing one of the greatest challenges in our lifetimes. This crisis has thrust nurses into the forefront of the public’s mind. How ironic that this coincides with the World Health Organization’s declaration that this is the Year of the Nurse and the Midwife. While nurses are essential on the frontlines at the sharp edge of care, it is the lens of nurses that provide critical insights in evaluating and formulating policy to achieve quality and safety patient care outcomes. Everyday nurses walk the tightrope of uncertainty. The uncertainty of practice is a constant that requires the attention of all nurses, vigilance, and most importantly activism. COVID-19 has magnified these unknowns to astronomical proportions. The accelerated pace of uncertainty with COVID-19 has led to care dilemmas and crises, with variations in practice standards that negatively impact health outcomes. We are bombarded with challenges like mass shootings, climate change, water supply, and emerging diseases. Now we are in the midst of a pandemic, which not only impacts the health of our communities and workforce, but has dire financial consequences for so many. How many of these challenges have you faced? What challenges have you faced that are not even listed here? What will come next? We don’t always know what will come next. We do know that nurses will be there on the frontlines. When nurses are asked to volunteer in a crisis, they show up for wars, disasters, and pandemics. Nurses are in the frontlines of policy implementation. Often in times of crisis, policies are disregarded, ignored, or unofficially discarded. Nurses often know whether a policy is workable, flawed or whether it is doomed to fail. We have seen policy failures like changing instructions on the use of personal protective equipment (PPE) as supplies dwindle. On the other hand, times of crisis can lead to policy gains as illustrated by a willingness to allow advance practice registered nurses full practice authority. To counteract policy failures, correct flaws and take advantage of opportunities for policy advancements, we need to be knowledgeable, and prepared. This means participating in policy so that we understand concerns expressed by broad constituencies and take action using our nursing expertise. This expertise is needed so that the policies are realistic, workable and meet the needs they were designed to address. Policy is more than enacting a law; it includes formulating rules, regulations and guidelines. Policies occur at many levels, often simply referred to as Big “P” and little “p”, the former often focus on state, federal or international laws and the latter to local government or local associations or organizations. Move to Action Moving to action requires identifying the preferred outcome with clarity. This is achieved by examining the data, sharing information, and capitalize on your skills to move an issue forward. Know the data, appraise credibility of sources, and interpret its meaning “In God we trust, but everyone else needs to bring data” This quote attributed to Edward Fisher when testifying before Congress (Source) is a fitting start for policy involvement. Nurses have the knowledge and are in a unique position to use and leverage data for patient advocacy. Knowing the data, appraising sources and interpreting its meaning are critical steps in the processes for research, quality improvement and evidence-based practice. Nurses all have intellectual capital related to these processes regardless of their practice setting or role. Your intellectual capital can be enhanced with the following strategies: • Use the resources available from professional associations: the American Nurses Association, state nurses associations, specialty nurses associations and interdisciplinary professional groups. • Subscribe to a wide variety of data sources including journals, news alerts, list servs • Track and identify progress on issues you are passionate about • Determine the credibility of sources • Verify the facts • Identify content experts for policy issues • Interpret the meaning • Identify policy implications of research and quality improvement projects • Identify the strengths and weaknesses in the data in support of your • Sift fact verifying the facts and determining the credibility of sources • Interpret the meaning of information Have the stories, share them widely. Stories can be more powerful than only presenting data. Stories provide an emotional tug, create drama, and provide context. Stories get attention, but data strengthens the power of stories. Most stories have multiple audiences. Framing your story in a way that varying audiences understand transmits important knowledge and fosters identification with stark realities. Storying telling is subject to several caveats. With the advent of social media, sharing stories has become easier, it also has created a medium for false stories to grow exponentially (as they are often salaciously framed). Second, be aware of people and organizations that try to block stories, especially when bad news happens. (p 320 book) As the most trusted profession, nurses have a strategic position opportunity to frame and share their narratives widely with a variety of audiences at the little p to the Big P to level as outlined below varying audiences and frame stories using the following avenues. These strategies are not static and can be adapted to the virtual world. Garnering the support of colleagues, stakeholders and the public can be accomplished with these strategies: • Post digital content (social media) • Disseminate facts and reports in print media (fact sheets, policy briefs, articles, letters, press releases) • Disseminate research findings • Engage key stakeholders • Contact legislators about key issues on an ongoing basis and when votes come up • Speaking up at public meetings • Presenting in public forums • Model inspirational behaviors • Participate in town hall meetings • Meet with legislators and regulators • Create elevator speeches • Be social media savvy Know your skills, capitalize on them. Nurses have the skills to move beyond only being implementers of policy and only on the sharp edge of policies; we need to be the developers of policies. To capitalize on the potential of four million nurses, all nurses in any setting or role need to assess how their skills can be applied to policy. This positions nurses to enhance practice and the work environment as well as advance issues of importance to nurses and the public we serve. Policy work needs to become ingrained as part of the culture of nursing. P. 470 Common and overlooked strategies to improve an individual policy role would include the following which you can act upon immediately : • Register and vote • Be a poll worker • Join interest-based organizations and become an active member • Finding a mentor • Volunteer to work on a campaign. • Serve on a workplace committee, task force or practice council • Attend networking events • Participate in legislative days • Contribute to candidates and political action committees • Complete your profile for Nurses on Boards (nursesonboard.org) • Seek local community board positions • Communicate with elected officials • Capitalize on workplace communication channels for policy discussions • Volunteering for an organizational or communitybased initiative The following are generally are longer term actions, but can be done in the short-term as well depending your policy trajectory: • Assume a leadership role for a workplace committee, task force or practice council • Be a mentor • Representing your organization to the external community • Seek an internship or fellowship with a legislator or other policymaker • Further your formal policy and content education • Serve on a political action committee board • Seek a board position • Volunteer for appointed office • Run for office in your organization or community In times of uncertainty, there are certainties. One certainty is the mandate for all nurses becoming involved in policy. The American Nurses Association’s Code of Ethics for Nurses’ (2015) supports nurses’ roles in policy with the expectation that nurses advocate for the health and safety of patients, collaborate in the promotion of health, work to improve the ethical environment of practice settings, and advance the profession through nursing and health policy. We have highlighted strategies that nurses should use to increase their involvement in making policy decisions to strengthen our practice and improve the health of the public we serve. The collective action of over four million nurses in our country and 21 million nurses across the globe has the potential to be a powerful force for policy change. American Nurses Association. (2015). Code of Ethics for Nurses with interpretive statements. Silver Spring, MD: Author. https://www. nursingworld.org/practice-policy/nursing-excellence/ethics/codeof-ethics-for-nurses/
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