The online submission of abstracts for the International Council of Nurses Conference opens today at https://b-com.mci-group.com/AbstractSubmission/ICN2015.aspx. ICN invites nurses from around the world to submit abstracts to be considered for presentation at the ICN Conference to be held June 19-23, 2015 in Seoul, Republic of Korea with the theme “Global Citizen, Global Nursing”.  As the world’s largest international nursing event, the ICN Conference will provide opportunities for nurses to build relationships and to disseminate nursing knowledge and leadership across specialties, cultures and countries. The three ICN pillars – professional practice, regulation and socio-economic welfare – will frame the scientific programme and the dynamic exchange of experiences and expertise.

Nurses are encouraged to submit abstracts to be considered for presentation at the Conference as concurrent and symposia sessions or poster presentations. Factors that will be considered during selection are: interest to an international audience; relevance to both the Conference theme and one abstract sub-theme; scientific and/or professional merit; contribution to knowledge, practice, policies or programmes of nursing and/or health; and clarity of abstract.

The abstract themes are:

1. Care systems, economics and coverage
2. Direct care and patient safety
3. Equity, ethics and human rights
4. Health promotion and disease prevention
5. Information and Communication Technology supporting global nursing and quality care
6. Leadership and management
7. Nursing education and learning
8. The nursing workforce, workplace and image
9. Disasters, conflicts and pandemics
10. Regulation
11. History

Abstracts must be submitted online by 7 October 2014 (midnight GMT). More detail on the abstracts themes, instructions on the submission of abstracts and key dates are available on the ICN Conference website: www.icn2015.com

We invite you to take a moment to watch President Daley provide an overview of ANA’s continuing efforts to grow and transform to become more relevant and responsive to the needs of ANA members, state associations and the profession. View the message here.

On April 9, 2014, the Pennsylvania State Nurses Association (PSNA) recognized 25 graduating members of the PSNA Star Leadership Institute at The Desmond Hotel & Conference Center, Malvern. The Institute is a leadership development program designed to assist nurses in contributing to the delivery of high-quality health care while collaborating with other leaders in the reform needed to redesign health care in the U.S. The following registered nurses were recognized as 2013-2014 graduates:

Susan Barlett – WellSpan York Hospital

Deborah Becker – University of Pennsylvania School of Nursing

Jennifer Bellot – Thomas Jefferson University School of Nursing

Melissa Cargan-Bodnar – Chester County Hospital, Penn Medicine

Nichole Coleman – Chester County Hospital, Penn Medicine

Nicole Griffie – Holy Spirit Health System

Robin Hack – Visiting Nurse Association of St. Luke’s University Health Network

Christine Hartner – Lehigh Valley Health Network

Paula Hallenbeck – Reading Health System

Jennifer Larkin – Reading Health System

Kerry Maier – UPMC Passavant

Danielle Meinel – Temple Health, Jeannes Hospital

Carlene Meyers – Grand View Hospital

Nicole Nolte – Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania, Penn Medicine

Carol Patton – Drexel University

Paula Pearson – Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania, Penn Medicine

Lindsay Pritchett – Chester County Hospital, Penn Medicine

Nicole Santucci – UPMC Passavant

SueEllen Schwab-Kapty – Washington Hospital School of Nursing, Washington Health System

Amber Shealy – Chester County Hospital, Penn Medicine

Vicki Shifflet – Penn State Hershey Medical Center

Beth Smith – University of Pennsylvania Health System, Penn Medicine

Robert Stull – Paoli Hospital, Main Line Health

Carol Teets – Lehigh Valley Health Network

Julie Thomas – Penn Presbyterian Medical Center, Penn Medicine

During the three-day program, Building the Future Leader of Tomorrow … Today, attendees participated in interactive sessions focusing on leader attributes, real-world problem solving, employment practices, healthy dialogue, evidence-based practice and finance. In addition, participants collaborated with senior leadership to identify a problem within their immediate area of responsibility; researching and developing an action plan for the resolution of the identified problem; implementing and completing the action plan within the organization; and presenting their problem-solving project to peers.

Save the Date! The Pennsylvania Nursing Congress on Practice, Education & Policy will meet on May 1, 2014 at Central Penn College. Details to come.

PSNA District 2 will co-sponsor an event on April 11 from 7:00 – 8:00 pm at Alvernia University. We welcome nationally-recognized author and speaker Dr. Terry Valiga. Dr. Valiga is a professor and director at the Institute for Educational Excellence, Duke University SON. Her presentation is titled, “Inspiring Nursing Leadership.” This event is free and open to the public. Dr. Valiga will be signing copies of her book, The New Leadership Challenge, following the presentation. Learn more here.

The Pennsylvania State Nurses Association (PSNA) awarded its “Standing With Nurses” white lab coats to Senator Joseph Scarnati (R-25) and Representative Steve Barrar (R-160) during PSNA’s Legislative Day Capitol Rotunda event on Monday, March 31. This award is earned by legislators who have demonstrated their commitment to nurses and PSNA.

“We are proud to present our Standing With Nurses award to Senator Scarnati and Representative Barrar,” said PSNA Chief Executive Officer Betsy M. Snook, MEd, RN, BSN. “Throughout this legislative session, these leaders have stood by their nursing constituents and PSNA.”

In addition to the awards presentation, PSNA advocated for HB 1631 Safe Staffing – legislation considered highly critical to the protection of nurses and their patients.

The Pennsylvania State Nurses Association (PSNA) announced that Aislynn Moyer, MSN/Ed, RN has been named Director of Professional Development. Moyer will oversee the management of continuing education and program development.

Moyer will earn a Doctorate of Nursing Practice from Capella University in June 2014. She earned a Master of Science in Nursing from the University of Phoenix (2007) and a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Messiah College (2002). Currently a faculty member of the Pennsylvania College of Health Sciences, her extensive background also includes acute care staff nurse, clinical head nurse and hospice nurse. Moyer is an accomplished author and has been published Nursing2011, MEDSURG Nursing and Advance for Nurses.

“PSNA is excited to welcome Aislynn as the Director of Professional Development. Her professional accomplishments in instruction and nursing will be valuable as she brings high-quality educational resources to nurses in the Commonwealth,” stated PSNA Chief Executive Officer Betsy M. Snook, MEd, BSN, RN.

PSNA strives to meet – and exceed – the needs of Pennsylvania’s more than 212,000 professional nurses. To help us serve you better, we conduct an annual survey to understand how you view our legislative initiatives, services, materials and your overall satisfaction. From now through March  21, we will be conducting a brief survey, which you can access through the PSNA home page or by clicking this link. Please take a moment and tell us how we’re doing.

The survey takes about 5 minutes to complete. All responses are completely anonymous. The more feedback we get, the better equipped we will be to improve our existing services and develop new ones to meet nurses’ emerging needs. As a thank you for your time, we will be giving away one $25 Visa gift card to a survey respondent.

Pennsylvania Nurse is now online! This issue includes: Nurse Residency Programs; a highlight of Dr. Leni Resick; Creating a Just Culture; PSNA Year in Review; and the Policy Making Process. Access the digital journal here.

The Pennsylvania State Nurses Association (PSNA), representing more than 212,000 registered nurses in Pennsylvania, thanks Governor Corbett for bringing nurses to the table as he submits the HealthyPA Medicaid waiver to the United States Department of Health and Human Services (HHS).

PSNA appreciates Governor Tom Corbett’s focus on pursuing quality, affordable access to care for all citizens of the Commonwealth through the HealthyPA initiative. PSNA supports a Medicaid program highlighting prevention and early intervention measures, while providing access to a full range of qualified health care providers, including Registered Nurses.

“As Medicaid reform unfolds,” states PSNA CEO Betsy M. Snook, MEd, BSN, RN, “PSNA is committed to the inclusion of all Registered Nurses at decision-making tables. PSNA has long championed that the full contributions of nurses and nursing are essential to the delivery of high-quality, patient-focused care.” Snook continued, “PSNA looks forward to continued work with the Corbett administration to provide a Pennsylvania-specific plan to reforming Medicaid.”