Enterovirus D68 (EV-D68) is a respiratory virus that has already spread to 10 U.S. states and is causing alarm due to the high number of infants, children and adolescents that are being hospitalized. The virus has been diagnosed recently causing respiratory problems, similar to the common cold, but often more severe.

• Mild symptoms may include, and are not limited to, fever, runny nose, and sneezing, cough, and body and muscle aches.
• More severe symptoms include difficulty breathing or wheezing. Individuals with a history of asthma or allergies are at higher risk for respiratory complications.

EV-D68 is found in an infected person’s respiratory secretions, in addition through fecal contamination, and is spread from person to person when an infected person coughs, sneezes, or touches contaminated surfaces.

There is no vaccine for EV-D68. Teach your patients and the community to practice preventative measures and avoid virus transmission by washing hands with soap and water after touching potentially contaminated surfaces and avoid close contact such as touching and shaking hands. In addition, the CDC suggests that surfaces, such as toys or doorknobs, be frequently disinfected.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommend that anyone with respiratory illness should contact their health care provider or seek treatment in an emergency room if they experience any difficulty breathing, or if their symptoms are getting worse.

For more information visit:

http://www.cdc.gov/non-polio-enterovirus/about/EV-D68.html?s_cid=cdc_homepage_whatsnew_001

You are invited to the PA Department of Aging’s Alzheimer’s Disease and Related Disorders Forum. This forum will take place on September 24, 2014 at the Holiday Inn on 4751 Lindle Road in Harrisburg. If you are interested in attending, please fill out the attached document and e-mail to dsmedley@pa.gov. If you do not wish to attend but know of somebody who would be interested, please forward this e-mail to them. This forum, held on September 24, will begin at 8:30 am and run until 2:00 pm. The forum will start with a brief message from Governor Tom Corbett. Following the Governor’s message, a presentation given by Randi Chapman will follow. After the presentation, participants will be divided into seven distinct “breakout” groups which will focus on several aspects of the PA State Plan for Alzheimer’s Disease and Related Disorders. Following the breakout groups, a lunch will be provided.

Registered nurses from the Pennsylvania State Nurses Association – Political Action Committee (PSNA-PAC), representing more than 215,000 nurses in the Commonwealth, have announced their endorsed candidates for the upcoming General Assembly.

“These candidates have proven their commitment to the inclusion of nurses at leadership and decision making tables,” stated PSNA Chief Executive Officer Betsy M. Snook, MEd, BSN, RN. “Today’s health care environment needs transformational leaders. This bi-partisan group of PSNA-endorsed legislators and candidates will be valuable in progressing health policy in Harrisburg.”

House Endorsements

Ms. Judy Ward (RN) – R-80

Mr. Thomas Quigley – R-146

Mr. Jeffrey Wheeland – R-83

Ms. Kristen Phillips-Hill – R-93

Rep. Patrick Harkins – D-1

Rep. Flo Fabrizio – D-2

Rep. Jaret Gibbons – D-10

Rep. Ed Gainey – D-24

Rep. Steve Santarsiero – D-31

Rep. Marc Gergely – D-35

Rep. Harry Readshaw – D-36

Rep. Pamela Snyder – D-50

Rep. Ted Harhai – D-58

Rep. Kevin Schreiber – D-95

Rep. Mike Sturla – D-96

Rep. Patty Kim – D-103

Rep. Sid Kavulich – D-114

Rep. Gerald Mullery – D-119

Rep. Neal Goodman – D-123

Rep. Mark Rozzi – D-126

Rep. Thomas Caltagirone – D-127

Rep. Daniel McNeill – D-133

Rep. Robert Freeman – D-136

Rep. Madeline Dean – D-153

Rep. Steve McCarter – D-154

Rep. Brendan Boyle – D-170

Rep. Kevin Boyle – D-172

Rep. W. Curtis Thomas – D-181

Rep. Brian Sims – D-182

Rep. Pamela DeLissio – D-194

Rep. Stephen Kinsey – D-201

Rep. Brian Ellis – R-11

Rep. Gene DiGirolamo – R-18

Rep. Tim Hennessey – R-26

Rep. Bernie O’Neill – R-29

Rep. Robert Godshall – R-53

Rep. Jeff Pyle – R-60

Rep. Kate Harper – R-61

Rep. Donna Oberlander – R-63

Rep. Mathew Baker – R-68

Rep. Matt Gabler – R-75

Rep. Adam Harris – R-82

Rep. Fred Keller – R-85

Rep. Mark Keller – R-86

Rep. Sheryl Delozier – R-88

Rep. Mike Regan – R-92

Rep. Stanley Saylor – R-94

Rep. Mauree Gingrich – R-101

Rep. Susan Helm – R-104

Rep. Ron Marsico – R-105

Rep. John Payne – R-106

Rep. David Millard – R-109

Rep. Tarah Toohil – R-116

Rep. Karen Boback – R-117

Rep. Mike Tobash – R-125

Rep. Mark Gillen – R-128

Rep. Jim Cox – R-129

Rep. David Maloney – R-130

Rep. Frank Farry – R-142

Rep. Marguerite Quinn – R-143

Rep. Katharine Watson – R-144

Rep. Mike Vereb – R-150

Rep. Todd Stephens – R-151

Rep. Thomas Murt – R-152

Rep. Stephen Barrar – R-160

Rep. Joe Hackett – R-161

Rep. William Adolph – R-165

Rep. Kerry Benninghoff – R-171

Rep. Scott Petri – R-178

Rep. Julie Harhart – R-183

Rep. Seth Grove – R-196

Senate Endorsements

Mr. Robin Gilchrist (R.N.) – R-4

Rep. Deb Kula – D-32

Rep. Mario Scavello – R- 40

Rep. Michele Brooks – R-50

Sen. Tommy Tomlinson – R-6

Sen. Chuck McIllhinney – R-10

Sen. Stewart Greenleaf – R-12

Sen. John Yudichak – D-14

Sen. Pat Browne – R-16

Sen. John Blake – D-22

Sen. John Rafferty – R-44

Sen. Mike Folmer – R-48

Sen. Lisa Baker – R-20

Sen. Jake Corman – R-34

Sen. Randy Vulakovich – R-38

The Pennsylvania State Nurses Association (PSNA), representing more than 215,000 registered nurses in Pennsylvania, appreciates the Corbett administration’s effort with the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) to implement a Pennsylvania-specific plan to reform Medicaid, and increase access to quality, affordable health care.

The CMS accepted a portion of Governor Corbett’s Medicaid reform as a part of the Healthy PA initiative. This plan is scheduled to begin enrollment December 1, 2014. This waiver paves the way for more than 600,000 Pennsylvania citizens to be eligible for much needed health care. For more information, visit the Pennsylvania Department of Public Welfare’s Healthy PA web page.

“Programs such as Healthy PA provide incentives for Pennsylvanians to develop healthy behaviors including early intervention, prevention, and wellness initiatives,” PSNA CEO Betsy M. Snook, MEd, BSN, RN. “PSNA will continue to support such programs that improve the quality, efficiency and outcomes of the healthcare delivery system. Healthy PA provides access to a full range of qualified health care providers, including registered nurses.”

The Pennsylvania State Nurses Association (PSNA) is the non-profit voice for nurses in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Representing more than 215,000 nurses, the Association works to be essential in advancing, promoting and supporting the profession of nursing to improve health for all in the Commonwealth. PSNA is a constituent member of the American Nurses Association (www.psna.org). 

In conjunction with President Obama’s address to the American Legion’s 96^th convention, the American Nurses Foundation (ANF), the charitable and philanthropic arm of the American Nurses Association (ANA), on Aug. 26 announced the launch of an interactive, web-based post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) toolkit to help civilian registered nurses (RNs) better assess and treat PTSD in the nation’s veterans and military service members.

The Foundation’s PTSD toolkit was highlighted in a White House fact sheet, issued as part of the event, as an innovative way to address veterans’ mental health.

“We are committed to ensuring nurses have the tools they need to be as effective as possible,” said ANF Chair Joyce J. Fitzpatrick, PhD, MBA, RN, FAAN. “Nurses can play a far greater role in helping address major, national health issues, such as PTSD, among our nation’s veterans and service members.”

The PTSD Toolkit for Nurses is available at www.nurseptsdtoolkit.org.

PTSD is a cluster of symptoms that occur when a person experiences or witnesses a threat of injury or death. It is estimated that half a million veterans and military service members suffer the disabling agitation, nightmares and emotional withdrawal that characterize this disorder.

To improve nurse competency in screening and intervening with PTSD in military members, in June of 2013, ANF made an $85,000 grant to the University of Pennsylvania School of Nursing (Penn Nursing) to develop the toolkit. Penn Nursing’s Nancy Hanrahan, PhD, RN, FAAN, led the project at the university. The grant was made possible by funding from the Jessie Ball duPont Fund.

“Nurses often represent the first point of contact for veterans and military personnel seeking care. We want them to have tools to help veterans find the help they need to transition back to civilian life,” Hanrahan said. “The PTSD toolkit’s care interventions maximize the potential for self-care management and help move veterans to providers and programs that can help them. PTSD can be treated and cured. Failed transitions from military life to civilian life are unacceptable outcomes.”

The toolkit, an interactive, PTSD-focused website and an e-learning module, is based on advanced gaming techniques that will provide immediate access to materials for RNs to assess, treat and refer military members and veterans for help with their symptoms. These e-learning tools will certify that an RN is grounded in assessment, treatment, referral and non-stigmatizing educational approaches to self-care and mutual help.

Joining Forces is a national initiative to engage all sectors of society to give our service members and their families the opportunities and support they have earned, led by First Lady Michelle Obama and Jill Biden. In 2012, ANA, in coordination with the Departments of Veterans Affairs and Defense, convened a coordinated effort of more than 160 state and national nursing organizations and more than 500 nursing schools to ensure our nation’s 3.1 million nurses can better meet the unique health needs of service members, veterans and their families. ANF has prioritized support of the ANA Joining Forces initiative as a key component to its mission of “transforming the nation’s health through the power of nursing.”

Next, ANF will distribute the toolkit nationally via nursing publications, websites and through emails and newsletters of nursing associations and schools.

For more information about ANF, visit www.givetonursing.org.

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About the American Nurses Foundation. The American Nurses Foundation is the charitable and philanthropic arm of the American Nurses Association, the only full-service professional organization representing the interests of the nation’s 3.1 million registered nurses through its constituent and state nurses associations and its organizational affiliates. The Foundation supports programs that transform the nation’s health through the power of nursing.

About the University of Pennsylvania School of Nursing. The University of Pennsylvania was the first Ivy League school to offer baccalaureate, master’s, and doctoral degrees in nursing and currently is the only Ivy League school to offer a baccalaureate degree in nursing. Penn Nursing, a world-recognized leader in advancing nursing education, prepares students for trends in nursing and interdisciplinary care by offering a number of excellent resources and experiences not found at most other schools including: a state-of-the-art simulation center featuring high-fidelity mannequins, student research opportunities across all levels of scholarship, one of the first PACE – Program of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly – practices owned and operated by a School of Nursing, classrooms with the latest hospital-based electronic medical records (EMR) technology, and rigorous clinical experiences with prestigious hospital partners, including The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia and the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania, two of the nation’s top-ranked facilities. Penn Nursing’s faculty include some of the top researchers in the world who collectively rank near the top of all schools of nursing receiving federal funding. Research produced here at the School of Nursing is nationally and internationally recognized, helps to inform public health policy, and is consistently published in a wide range of high-impact, interdisciplinary journals. 

This post is for nurse entrepreneurs/small business owners, or employers who may be interested in this opportunity. After Labor Day, OSHA intends to convene a Small Business Advocacy Review (SBAR) panel under the Small Business Regulatory Enforcement Fairness Act (SBREFA) for its Infectious Diseases rule. OSHA’s rule could impact any facilities that provide direct patient care or engage in other tasks where an employee potentially could be exposed to an infectious disease or agent. OSHA is seeking participation from small entity representatives (employers, not employees) from the regulated industry.

Next Steps

• There is an informational conference call this Thursday, August 28, 2014, at 2:00 EST. The call in information is (888) 858-2144, access code 7551058.
• Interested individuals should contact Bruce Lundegren of the U.S. Small Business Administration.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is working with other U.S. government agencies, the World Health Organization, and other domestic and international partners in an international response to the current Ebola outbreak in West Africa. This document summarizes key messages about the outbreak and the response. It will be updated as new information becomes available and distributed regularly. CDC Update 2 August 2014.

On Thursday, October 9, 2014, professional nurses, nursing students and the community are invited to attend the Pennsylvania State Nurses Association (PSNA) Town Hall meeting to share current legislative priorities and practice concerns affecting Pennsylvania’s nurses.  The Town Hall Meeting will be held at the University of Scranton, DeNaples Center, McIlhenny Ballroom from 6:00 pm to 8:30 pm.

The meeting, sponsored by PSNA and PSNA District 4 (Wayne County, Lackawanna County and Pike County) will give nurses the opportunity to discuss issues including safe staffing, violence against health care workers and APRN scopes of practice.  A question and answer period will be included.

This Town Hall meeting will also include state representatives and will help them to learn more about the issues that daily impact nursing practice, recruitment and retention in the Commonwealth.

“PSNA looks forward to the open dialogue the Town Hall creates,” said PSNA Chief Executive Officer Betsy M. Snook, MEd, BSN, RN. “Face-to-face communication allows us to better understand nurses’ needs and effectively advocate for the profession.”

For more information, contact Kevin J. Busher at 717-798-8908.

The new law regarding mandatory continuing education of child abuse for health care licensee reporters in Pennsylvania will take effect in 2015. The Pennsylvania State Nurses Association (PSNA) has created resources for registered nurses in the Commonwealth. The PSNA Department of Government Affairs and the PSNA Department of Professional Development have partnered to create education for   licensed nurses as well as nursing students preparing to graduate. This education is currently under review for approval by the State Department but should be released by January 2015 when the new law takes effect.

This report updates the 2013 recommendations by the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) regarding use of seasonal influenza vaccines. Updated information for the 2014–15 influenza season includes 1) antigenic composition of U.S. seasonal influenza vaccines; 2) vaccine dose considerations for children aged 6 months through 8 years; and 3) a preference for the use, when immediately available, of live attenuated influenza vaccine (LAIV) for healthy children aged 2 through 8 years, to be implemented as feasible for the 2014–15 season but not later than the 2015–16 season. Information regarding issues related to influenza vaccination not addressed in this report is available in the 2013 ACIP seasonal influenza recommendations. Read article here.