Dr. Sellars Educate

Several years ago there was a state mandate supported by former Governor Schwarzenegger to require mandatory nurse: patient ratios in all acute California hospitals.  Today, almost two years shy of a decade, there is a federal proposal, supported by CNA, to provide financial support for these ratios to be sustained.  Given the financial state of California, I'm not clear on how/when this funding for nurse ratios would take place.  It's a great idea and much needed, just not sure if this makes the best financial sense given our economic climate.  Perhaps the CNA can work with healthcare leaders across California to develop a funding strategy.  Lots more to come on this very sensitive, and timely subject... All the best, Nurse Leader Today

Just returned home from the ACNL annual conference.  Wow-what an exciting and amazing time to be a nurse leader in California!  The conference was both re-energizing and educational.  As a new adjunct faculty member, there are more pearls of wisdom that I garnered at the conference that I will be sharing with my nursing students next week.  First, I must remind my students to " Be an experience! " for their patients.  Nurses touch so many lives and it's important to remember that you should engage in remember-able, positive experiences with patients, families, and your peers.  You must understand -not just know the information.  So much of what is necessary to know in nursing school is not often understood.  Will you accept the challenge to help your new nurses understand? More to come on the ACNL Conference... All the best, Nurse Leader Today

The January 2011 edition of the AONE newsletter has embraced a new logo with the incoming president, Dr. Cheryl Hoying.  I have had the pleasure of meeting Dr. Hoying and attending one of her previous presentations at AONE-what a great role model and remarkable choice as the AONE president.  I am looking forward to exciting times as AONE moves forward to impact nursing practice in our communities.  The AONE 44th Annual meeting and exposition will be in the finest city in the US-San Diego, CA and I'm sure it will be a treat.  Hope you can join us in sunny San Diego!! All the best, Nurse Leader

The "Future of Nursing" (FON) report identified their 1st key message was to emphasize the importance of nurses using their skills, knowledge,and training to practice within their scope.  The biggest barrier to this occurring has been the individual state's regulations regarding scope of practice for nurses.  Every state has their own board of nursing, that's right, every state decides what the scope of nursing practice should be.  Having traveled quite a bit as a military wife, I can tell you that this creates a lot of confusion and often times, disappointment.  Obviously I strongly support this initiative, but it will require a lot of legislative and bureaucratic support to move this forward.  The article also points out that in 2002 the Joint Commission recommended an increase in the number of nurse residency programs to support nurses to develop skills and competencies in specialized areas to strengthen their clinical knowledge.  It is now 2011 and I th...

It's a new day...and year for nursing.  We are gearing up in California for the ACNL (Association of California Nurse Leaders) Annual Meeting in Sacramento next month.  I am registered and excited about the learning and networking opportunities.  The conference will open on Sunday with committee meetings, of which I am a member of the voice of nursing leaders, nursing leadership subcommittee.  It will be an exciting time to discuss the next steps for nursing leaders in California, and around the country as we partner, like never before with our MD colleagues, fellow administrators, and even politicians, to re-empower nursing.  This week the Congress will reconvene in Washington, DC and I'm hopeful that we will hear more soon about additional funding for nurse education programs.  Look forward to an update on my next blog.  Lots more to come...stay tuned.  All the best, Nurse Leader

The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Initiative on the Future of Nursing, at the Institute of Medicine has released their report after completing a 2-year initiative.  The goal of this committee was to release a report that includes recommendations for an action-oriented blueprint on the future of nursing.   Check out a summary of this document and how to order a prepublication copy at www.nap.edu/catalog/12956.html.   The summary offers a glimpse of 4 recommendations that collectively will serve as a framework to transform and empower the nursing profession:1)ensure that nurse can practice to the full extent of their education, 2)improve nursing education, 3)provide leadership opportunities for nursing to serve as full partners in health care transformation, and 4) improve data collection for policy development and labor planning. Let's discuss just 1 of the many recommendations in the report-to increase the proportion of nurses with a baccalaureate degree to...

Welcome to the Nurse Leader Today blog!  Thank you for checking us out! This blog is designed for nurse leaders to share their thoughts/concerns/vision about the state of transformation in nursing and nursing leadership.  I will share the results of my research about health care changes and the transforming and empowering initiatives within the nursing profession that are occurring across the country. I am a nurse leader in California, nurse faculty member, and a PhD nursing science student.  This blog was spurred by the release of "The Future of Nursing:  Leading Change, Advancing Health" and the exciting work that was completed by the Committee on The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Initiative at the Institute of Medicine.  Wow-this is an exciting time to be a nurse...and a nurse leader.  More to come.   All the best, Nurse Leader