Category: Announcements

NAHN and NACNS invite you to explore the field of the clinical nurse specialist and all the opportunities within the role. Clinical nurse specialists (CNS) are leaders in healthcare. Like other advanced practice registered nurses, they are trained in advanced physiology, pharmacology, and physical assessment in addition to their particular areas of specialty. They can diagnose, treat, prescribe, and bill like other APRNs as their state regulations allow.

This 60-minute webinar discusses:

• The CNS role and the many ways it is operationalized at the APRN level
• CNS education and how it prepares graduates
• The differences in RN and APRN practice
• Why a CNS program is the best choice for most nurses seeking graduate-level education
• How to identify CNS programs and the next steps to apply

Moderators include Mayra Garcia, DNP, APRN, PCNS-BC and Crystal Loucel, RN, PHN, CDCES, HWNC-BC, AHN-BC, MPH, MS. The speaker is Mitzi M. Saunders, PhD, APRN, ACNS-BC, President, National Association of Clinical Nurse Specialists (NACNS).

The NACNS Bylaws are regularly reviewed by the NACNS Board of Directors. In 2022, the Board reviewed the existing bylaws, drafted and approved proposed changes. According to Article VX, Section 1 of the NACNS Bylaws, “All proposed amendments received in proper form by the Board of Directors and submitted to the board of directors must be circulated to the entire membership, not less than thirty (30) days prior to the vote. The amendments shall be voted on by the membership at the annual meeting of the NACNS.”

In accordance with this, the proposed updated Bylaws have been made available for NACNS member review here. Members may review this document and cast their vote on it at the Annual Business Meeting, held onsite at the Annual Conference in Portland, Oregon on Saturday, March 11, 2023.

Please contact info@nacns.org with any questions.

Proposed Bylaws for Member Review

The Clinical Nurse Specialist Institute (CNSI) is pleased to announce the 2023 Class of CNSI Fellows. This is a highly prestigious honor and only awarded to those members of the National Association of Clinical Nurse Specialists (NACNS) who epitomize the excellence of Clinical Nurse Specialist as leaders of the nursing profession, staunch advocates for patients and families, and forerunners of innovations to improve the health of populations. The new fellows will be inducted on Thursday, March 9th during the NACNS 2023 conference in Portland Oregon. Guest tickets for attending the dinner event are available on the NACNS conference registration website.

The 2023 Class of Fellows are:

Lianna Z. Ansryan, MSN, PHN, GERO-BC, AGCNS-BC
Clinical Nurse Specialist
University of California Los Angeles (UCLA Health), Los Angeles, California

David F. Bradley Jr., Lt Col, USAF, DNP, MSN, RN, AGCNS-BC, CNOR
Assistant Professor/Deputy Director AGCNS Program
Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences Daniel K Inouye Graduate School of Nursing, Bethesda, Maryland

Marcia S. Cornell, DNP APRN-CNS, RN ACNS-BC, NPD-BC, CEN, TCRN
Senior Clinical Nurse Specialist
University Hospitals, Geauga Medical Center, Chardon, Ohio

Jennifer A. Dammeyer, MS, RN, CNS-C, CCRN-K
Clinical Nurse Specialist, Critical Care Medicine
The University of Michigan, Michigan Medicine, Ann Arbor, Michigan

Kimberly W. Elgin, DNP, RN, ACNS-BC, PCCN, CMSRN
Assistant Professor & Director, DNP Program, Clinical Assistant Professor of Nursing
University Virginia Health System, Charlottesville, Virginia

Latoya Freeman, DNP, MSN/Ed, APRN, ACCNS-AG, PCCN, CPPS, HNB-BC
Clinical Nurse Specialist and Adjunct Faculty
University of Michigan Hospital, Ann Arbor, Michigan

Rachel A. Moody, MS, CNS, RN, CENP
Nurse Administrator Nursing Practice and Quality and Assistant Professor of Nursing
Mayo Clinic and Mayo Clinic College of Medicine and Science, Rochester, Minnesota

Brittany D. Rhoades, PhD, APRN, CCNS, CCTN
Clinical Nurse Specialist/Instructor Cardiothoracic Surgery
Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas

Jean Salera-Vieira, DNP, PNS, APRN-CNS, RNC-OB, C-EFM, C-ONQS
Perinatal Clinical Nurse Specialist, Director Program Development, Association of Women’s Health, Obstetrics and Neonatal Nurses (AWHONN)
Newport Hospital, Newport, Rhode Island

Phyllis B. Whitehead, PhD, APRN/CNS, ACHPN, PMGT-BC, FNAP, FAAN
Palliative Care Clinical Nurse Specialist and Clinical Ethicist
Carilion Roanoke Memorial Hospital, Roanoke, Virginia

In 2016, the CNSI was founded as an arm of the National Association of Clinical Nurse Specialists (NACNS). Its goal is to develop and promote the charitable, educational, innovative clinical practice and scientific purposes of NACNS. Today, the Clinical Nurse Specialist Institute is the 501(c)3 arm of the National Association of Clinical Nurse Specialists.

On episode 391 of The Nurse Keith Show nursing and healthcare career podcast, Keith interviews Dr. Phyllis Whitehead, PhD, the President of the National Association of Clinical Nurse Specialists (NACNS). In the course of their conversation, Keith and Dr. Whitehead discuss the role of the CNS, how to become a CNS, and the goals of the NACNS to diversify the CNS profession.

Listen here

We are pleased to introduce the Rhode Island Association of Clinical Nurse Specialists (RI-CNS). RI-CNS serves to meet the needs of CNSs across the state regardless of specialty or area of practice. The mission of RI-CNS is to promote the full scope of practice for CNSs, and to promotes the value and increases the visibility of the CNS among healthcare organizations, administrators, healthcare professionals and the public.

Download the Press Release

BACKGROUND: The COVID-19 pandemic has necessitated significant changes to the manner in which healthcare is delivered. Chief among these has been the need to rapidly adopt virtual, or telephone clinics as a means of reducing unnecessary patient exposure to hospitals and clinical care settings. We were greatly aided in our adoption of virtual clinics by our experience in the establishment and maintenance of a Clinical Nurse Specialist-led, virtual clinic for both abdominal aortic (AAA) and extra-aortic aneurysm (EAA) surveillance within our department since 2016. Patients undergoing surveillance for abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) require frequent and lifelong clinical review. Previous studies have shown that post-operative surveillance in particular is critical in prolonging survival in AAA patients and in the early detection of late complications particularly following endovascular repair (EVAR). Poor compliance with EVAR surveillance has been shown to result in worse outcomes.

AIM: The aim of this study was to evaluate the success of a nurse-led virtual clinic programme in terms of the safe management of patients undergoing AAA surveillance in a nurse-led virtual clinic.

RESULTS: Over the course of the 4-year period from 2016 to 2019, 1352 patients were enrolled in the virtual aneurysm surveillance clinic. The majority of patients each year were male, ranging from 78.2% in 2016 to 85.2% in 2017. The majority of patients encountered the service owing to pre-operative surveillance of an AAA, with this group comprising at least 65% of the total cohort of patients each year.Over the course of the 4-year period of the virtual clinic there were 1466 patient encounters. Each ambulatory day care centre (ADCC) attendance normally costs the hospital €149. Therefore, a total saving of €218,434 resulted from this initiative alone. No patient presented as an emergency with a ruptured aneurysm during the time period studied.

CONCLUSION: Patients with AAA can be safely kept under surveillance in a nurse-led virtual clinic. Our experience with this model of care proved to be particularly advantageous during the period of the early COVID-19 pandemic.

Learn more

Friday, August 20, 2021
1:00 – 2:00 pm ET

Register Today

The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) are gathering feedback and we want to hear from you. How can we better support practicing nurses? How might we grow and strengthen the nursing workforce within the context of the COVID-19 pandemic? What are the lasting impacts of the pandemic on nurse staffing shortages?

As a valued stakeholder, you are invited to give HRSA senior leadership direct feedback on how we can better support the nursing workforce.

Please also feel free to share this invitation within your organization, particularly with individuals with front-line experience as practicing nurses during the pandemic.

Before the session, we are asking for your responses to the following questions: 

• What are the opportunities for the nursing community to help address the challenges facing health care organizations responding to COVID-19?
• What mechanisms are in place to support nurses in your organization to promote resiliency, retain nurses during surges, and avoid burnout? What more do you need?
• What could be done to support new nurses entering the workforce during the pandemic?

Your responses will facilitate robust dialogue during the listening session discussion. You can provide your responses in the registration form or email us your  comments/responses.

Register by Monday, August 16

Unable to attend? You can send responses or interest in future listening session opportunities to Winnie Chen.

Four students in the University of Colorado College of Nursing Adult Gerontology Clinical Nurse Specialist master’s program are getting a taste of academic life by presenting research addressing commonly encountered problems in critical care settings. The students will present during the National Association of Clinical Nurse Specialists (NACNS) annual conference March 9 – 11, 2021 that is being held virtually.

An essential component of CU Nursing’s master’s program includes students identifying clinical problems where they work, finding a gap in care in their organizations, studying it, and providing evidence-based solutions for improvement. These commonly encountered problems in critical care settings become the basis for their evidence-based practice capstone project and presentation. “It’s an excellent way to put action into practice and to think critically and institute best practices while on the job,” said CU College of Nursing Professor and Clinical Nurse Specialist Program Director Mary Beth Makic, PhD. CU Nursing encourages students to present at conferences, write an article and submit for publication. “This provides our students with experience in addressing issues at their workplace and presenting solutions to management,” said Makic.

The four students tackled a variety of topics including how to reduce hospital acquired pressure injuries, catheter-associated urinary tract infections, and workplace violence through prevention training. The following outlines each student’s topic of research.

Title: Hospital Acquired Pressure Injury (HAPI) Bundle

Hanna Betts, BSN, RN, Nurse, United States Army

With the incidence of hospital acquired pressure injuries (HAPI) increasing nationally, the purpose of this quality improvement project is to measure practice change of a HAPI bundle and how it will impact HAPI rates when compared to current practice among adult medical patients in a 36-bed medical unit. The national practice guidelines identify prevention as the most essential element in combating HAPIs. Therefore, this literature supported, four-part HAPI bundle will aide in increasing communication, assessments, patient education, and interventions to combat HAPIs. Outcomes are still pending as implementation has been delayed due to the increased strain on staff secondary due to COVID-19.

Title: Evaluating the Impact of Workplace Violence Prevention Training for Graduate Nurses

Kristen Caldwell, BSN, MA, United States Air Force

Workplace violence creates a significant burden in healthcare. Consequences can include low morale, decreased productivity, increased employee turnover, loss of team cohesiveness, as well as various financial impacts for the victim and the healthcare system. Creating an effective workplace violence prevention program can help nurses better understand the scope and nature of workplace violence while learning how to apply individual strategies and develop skills for preventing and responding to workplace violence. The purpose of this evidence-based practice project was to investigate the implementation of Workplace Violence (WPV) prevention training for new graduate Registered Nurse’s (RNs) in the Nurse Residency Program (NRP) and its impact on perception and confidence towards aggression and/or violence perpetuated by the patient/family member/visitor. Thackrey’s Confidence in Coping with Patient Aggression (CCPA) tool was used to evaluate effectiveness of WPV training both prior to training and directly after training. Overall, post-training CCPA tool results showed a slight increase in confidence coping with aggressive patients (4.6/10 to 5.2/10). During the training, NRP RNs shared stories of their own experiences with WPV, desire for more support from management related to WPV prevention, and a desire to receive further training. Leadership should heed the desire and need for consistent WPV training in health care settings.

Title: Rounding and Quick Access Education to Reduce Catheter-Associated Urinary Tract Infections: An Initiative to Improve Quality and Safety in Healthcare

Danielle Garcia, MSN, RN, AGCNS-BC, Clinical Nurse Specialist, United States Army

Catheter-associated urinary tract infections (CAUTI) result in increased morbidity, longer lengths of stay, and higher healthcare costs. Quality of care can be improved by frequently assessing the need for a urinary catheter and removing those no longer indicated. When urinary catheters are needed, maintenance interventions should be implemented continuously. The project was conducted in two 25-bed inpatient surgical units. The team developed a badge buddy with a quick response code that contained educational resources on CAUTI prevention. Registered nurse CAUTI champions were assembled and educated on CAUTI prevention techniques. CAUTI champions rounded on patients, auditing CAUTI bundle adherence, and recommending catheter removal when no indication was identified. CAUTI rates, indwelling urinary catheter utilization, and maintenance bundle adherence were measured. The implementation of these strategies has shown to reduce CAUTI by up to 70%. However, more time is needed to understand the effect of the project on nursing practice and patient outcomes.

Title: Only YOU can prevent Pressure Injuries!

Kelly Wild, RN BSN CCRN, ICU Charge RN, Parker Adventist Hospital

Hospital acquired pressure injuries (HAPI) are not only an indicator of nursing quality, but a financial drain on the healthcare system and increase patient mortality when they occur. This evidence-based project developed a pressure injury prevention (PIP) plan for an ICU experiencing an increase in HAPI rates and implemented it using a variety of educational techniques meant to improve nursing attitudes towards PIP. Four months after implementation, HAPI rates on the unit have decreased 88%.