Daily Archives: December 6, 2013

12.06.13
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Inspiring Letter to a Nursing Student

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Want to hear a heartwarming story? I thought you might.

This post on The Meta Picture shared some photos that tell the story of an amazingly sweet exchange between a nurse and a nursing student.

The poster wrote, “My girlfriend is studying for her nursing license exam and found this envelope tucked in a book at B&N.” What followed were images of an envelope and letter that began “Words From a Nurse” and continued with the author guessing that if the reader was thumbing through an NCLEX book she was probably closing in on the end of nursing school. Advice and kind encouragement followed. Here are some highlights from the letter:

“I want to start by saying that you should be so proud of yourself! You’ve worked so hard to get here, and I promise you, it’s so worth it. I’ve been a nurse for 12 years and can’t imagine doing anything else.”

“I want to let you know that the first year or two out of school is the hardest. But don’t give up & remember why you decided to become a nurse in the first place.”

“Be patient, and don’t beat yourself up. Don’t take things personally and when you’ve had a difficult situation, try to leave work at work.”

“Two more very important things to remember are 1, be proud to be a nurse, and 2, believe in yourself. Also trust your instincts—they’re usually right!”

And then, just when you thought it couldn’t get any sweeter, you see that there is a $10 Starbucks gift card enclosed and the letter reads, “So grab some coffee & study for NCLEX. I’m certain you’ll do fine. But if you don’t pass, it’s not the end of the world although it might feel like it. You simply take it again, and that’s OK.”

In closing the letter reads: “You’re going to be a great nurse! Remember, be proud & believe in yourself! You can do it! XOXOXO, Another Nurse.”

What an awesome pep talk! Kudos, anonymous kindness ninja nurse. Thank you so much for spreading joy in the world and helping inspire another future nurse!

Have you ever experienced such an awesome act of random kindness? Tell us all about it in the comments.

Here are the images of the letter from the original post; click to enlarge:

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12.06.13
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$55.5 Million to Strengthen Health Care Workforce

Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Kathleen Sebelius today announced $55.5 million in funding awarded in FY 2013 to strengthen training for health professionals and increase the size of the nation’s health care workforce.

“These grants and the many training programs they support have a real impact by helping to create innovative care delivery models and improving access to high-quality care,” Secretary Sebelius said.

More than 270 grants will address health workforce needs in nursing, public health, behavioral health, health workforce development, and dentistry.  The grants are managed by HHS’ Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA).

A majority of the funding, $45.4 million, will support nursing workforce development in the following areas:

  • Increasing the number of nurse faculty ($22.1 million) — provides low-interest loans to nurses to train to become faculty and loan cancellation for service as faculty.
  • Improving nursing diversity ($5.2 million) — expands educational opportunities for students from disadvantaged backgrounds, including racial and ethnic minorities who are underrepresented among registered nurses.
  • Increasing nurse anesthetist traineeships ($2.2 million) — supports nurse anesthetist programs to provide traineeships to licensed registered nurses enrolled as full-time students in a master’s or doctoral nurse anesthesia program.
  • Promoting interprofessional collaborative practice ($6.7 million) — brings together interprofessional teams of nurses and other health professionals to develop and implement innovative practice models for providing care.
  • Supporting advanced nursing education ($9.2 million) — funds advanced nursing programs that support registered nurses in becoming nurse practitioners, nurse midwives and other practice nurses.

Funding also supports training of doctoral-level psychologists to address the behavioral health needs of vulnerable and underserved populations ($2.4 million);  accredited residency programs in preventive medicine and public health ($3 million); and four health workforce research centers ($1.4 million) to improve understanding of both local and national health workforce needs.

An additional $3.1 million will help state designated dental health professional shortage areas develop and implement innovative programs to address dental workforce needs. States must match at least 40 percent of the grant funding or provide equivalent support.

“These grants cover a wide spectrum of health workforce needs,” said HRSA Administrator Mary K. Wakefield, Ph.D., R.N.  “From diversity to dentistry – all are critical to achieving a skilled workforce now and in the future.”

For a list of grant awards, go to www.hrsa.gov/about/news/2013tables/healthprofessions.  More information on HRSA’s activities to strengthen the nation’s health professions workforce  is available at HRSA Health Professions Programs.

12.06.13
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ANA 2014 Elections

The ANA Nominations and Elections Committee is seeking nominees for a slate of candidates to be presented to the ANA Membership Assembly at its June 13-14, 2014 meeting at the Washington Hilton in Washington, DC. The following positions will be elected in 2014:

ANA Board of Directors

  • Officers
  • President (2.5 year term: June 14, 2014 – December 31, 2016)
  • Vice President (1.5 year term: June 14, 2014 – December 31, 2015)
  • Secretary (2.5 year term: June 14, 2014 – December 31, 2016)
  • Treasurer (1.5 year term: June 14, 2014 – December 31, 2015)

 

  • Director-at-Large Position
  • One (1) Director-at-Large, Recent Graduate (1.5 year term: June 14, 2014 – December 31, 2015)

 

Nominations and Elections Committee 

  • Three (3) member positions (2.5 year term: June 14, 2014 – December 31, 2016)

 

ANA places high priority on diversity and seeks to encourage/foster increased involvement of minorities and staff nurses at the national level.

Nominations for the initial slate must be submitted to leader@ana.org by 5:00pm Eastern Time on Friday, February 7, 2014. If insufficient nominations are received, a second Call for Nominations will be conducted. Nominations will also be accepted from the floor of the Membership Assembly.

 

Preparation of Nomination Materials

  1. READ the roles and responsibilities for your position of choice to ensure that they match your interests, experience, and qualifications.
  2. ENGAGE in a voluntary self-reflection of your leadership and governance competencies  if you are interested in seeking election to the ANA Board of Directors to a) determine the degree to which you possess the competencies that have been deemed important to serve successfully and effectively and b) identify competency areas that you may wish to develop more fully before seeking election to the ANA Board of Directors.
  3. SELECT a Campaign Manager and an Election Observer and provide their contact information where requested in the nomination packet.
  4. COMPLETE AND SIGN required nomination materials in the nomination packet. Electronic signatures will be accepted or the nominee may fax the signature page to 301-628-5343; attention Christopher Etienne.

 

Nominees for the ANA Board of Directors must also submit the following additional documents, which are included in the nomination packet.

  • Conflict of Interest Statement
  • Financial Interest Disclosure Form
    • Committee Preference

 

  • SUBMIT the completed nomination packet to leader@ana.org  by 5:00pm Eastern Time on Friday, February 7, 2014. Please note:

 

  • Forms that are incomplete, handwritten, faxed, or submitted after the deadline will not be accepted.
  • All materials must be submitted in a single packet with the exception of the faxed signature page.
  • Biographical information will be posted in the campaign area for qualified candidates who are nominated from the floor of Membership Assembly during the nomination period.

 

MAKE NOTE of the 2014 meeting dates should you be elected to serve on ANA’s Board of Directors. All meetings will be held at the ANA Headquarters, unless otherwise noted.

June 25                              BOD Conference Call – alternate/emergency (2:00pm – 5:00pm)

July 14 – 18                       New ANA President Orientation (tentative dates)

July 23 – 24                       BOD Face-to-Face Orientation – Part One (full day)

July 25                               BOD Face-to-Face Meeting (9:00am – 1:00pm)

August 4 – 6                      New ANA President Orientation (if needed)

Sept 10                              BOD Orientation Conference Call – Part Two (noon – 2:00pm)

Sept 10                              BOD Executive Committee Conference Call (2:15pm – 5:00pm)

Sept 24                              BOD Conference Call – alternate/emergency (2:00pm – 5:00pm)

Oct 22                               BOD Conference Call – alternate/emergency (2:00pm – 5:00pm)

November 11                    BOD Face-to-Face Committee Meetings (11:00am – 5:00pm)

November 12                    BOD Face-to-Face Meeting (9:00am – noon)

November 12                    BOD Orientation Face-to-Face – Part Three (1:15pm – 3:00pm)

November 12                    BOD Face-to-Face Meeting (3:15pm – 5:30pm)

December 10                      BOD Conference Call – Budget focused (2:00pm – 5:00pm)

 

If you have any questions regarding the elections, please send an email to leader@ana.org.

 

Thank you.

 

Maureen Thompson, MA CAE

Director, Leadership Services

American Nurses Association

Maureen.thompson@ana.org

301-628-5041