President s Message: Angie Millan, MSN, RNP, CNS

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1 May 2012 The Hispanic Nurses TM Volume 6, No. 2 In this Issue 2012 Annual Conference NAHN Elections...7 Corporate Members News...13 Corporate Members Profiles...10 Health Policy & Legislative Affairs... 6 Members in the News...2 Millan to be FAAN...3 NAHN Ambassadors...3 NAHN Angels...3 NAHN Chapter Tidbits...3 NAHN Job Board...8 NAHN Journal...12 NAHN Update...6 Other News...14 Opportunities...16 President s Message: Angie Millan, MSN, RNP, CNS May is a month of many festivities and a time of great celebration. The Cinco de Mayo (Fifth of May) commemorates when the Mexican Army defeated the much better-equipped French army in the Battle of Pueblo in This holiday has gained popularity around the world as a celebration of Mexican heritage. Another holiday is el Dia de la Madre, (Mother s Day observance). Families celebrated Mother s Day on the second Sunday in May. Congress set this act together with a proclamation issued by President Woodrow Wilson in Armed Forces Day is celebrated the 3 rd Saturday in May. The U.S. honors the men and women at the U.S. military services. Memorial Day is observed in memory of those who died while serving the US at war. We celebrated National Nurses Week from May 6 (National Nurses Day) through May 12, the birthday of Florence Nightingale, the founder of modern nursing. We celebrated the dedication, commitment and efforts of the Nation s 3.1 million registered nurses. The Affordable Care Act and the Institute of Medicine s Future of Nursing report place nurses at the center of health-care transformation in the United States. Nurses have been rated the most trusted profession in the United States for the 12 th time in 13 years. Nurses honesty and ethics were rated very high or high by 84% of poll respondents (Gallup Poll 2011). The month of May is indeed a commemorative month, worthy of celebration for it is not only a time to look back at the heroism of men and women, but also a time to reflect and be reminded of the highest form of love mothers can give. More importantly, celebrating May is a seeming reminder for us to continue with dedication the pursuit of our noble profession as nurses. NAHN members are filled with pride. We and our organization continue to grow in our leadership, giving tremendous contributions in keeping America healthy. In April, I attended the 3 rd Annual Hispanicize Conference in Miami, Fla. It was wonderful to see how many Hispanics were involved in social media in all facets of their life. It served as a stepping stone for creativity, innovations, new products, novelties, technologies, marketing campaigns, films, and many more for Latinos. It delivered perspectives, inspiration, and motivation among Latinos to help PRESIDENT S MESSAGE continues on page 16 1

2 NAHN at a Glance... the official publication of NAHN National Association of Hispanic Nurses OFFICERS President Angie Millan, MSN, RNP, CNS Vice-President Rosario Medina-Shepherd, PhD, ARNP, FNP-BC, ACNP Secretary Fortuna Borrego, RN, MSN Treasurer Paloma Garza, RN, MPH, FNP-C President Elect Jose Alejandro, RN-BC, MSN, MBA, CCM, FACHE BOARD OF DIRECTORS Founder Emeritus ( ) Ildaura Murillo-Rohde, PhD, RN, FAAN Awards & Scholarships Miriam Mimi Gonzalez, BS, RN Bylaws Adelita G. Cantu, PhD, RN Membership Sonia Valdez, RN, BSN, CVRN Policy Maria E Ruiz, PhD, RN, FNP-BC Development Mirian Zavala, MS, RN, Doctoral Candidate Public Relations Margaret Avila, MSN, MS, RN/NP, PHN Nominating Anabell Castro-Thompson, MSN, RN, ANP-C STAFF Executive Director & CEO Celia Trigo Besore, MBA, CAE Administrative Associate Martin Rozenberg NAHN Members in the News Rose Caballero MSN, RN, CCM (Corpus Christi) has been appointed member of the Advisory Committee for Pharmaceutical and Clinical Pharmacology to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Rose s term will conclude in October The Committee provides advice on scientific and technical issues concerning the safety and effectiveness of drug products for use in the treatment of a broad spectrum of human diseases. It will also review Agency sponsored intramural and extramural biomedical research programs in support of FDA s drug regulatory responsibilities. Lisa Diaz, RN, MSN (Los Angeles) was instrumental in the L.A. Care Health Plan receiving the prestigious National Environmental Leadership Award in Asthma Management. Lisa will also lead sections of a webinar on the subject on Wednesday, May 30, 10:00-11:00am PDT. Lisa is the lead clinical nurse for the L.A Cares About Asthma program at L.A Care Health Plan and an experienced bilingual Registered Nurse who has worked in a variety of healthcare settings since Susana Gonzalez RN, MSN, MHA, CNML (Illinois) is the recipient of the 2012 Greater Chicago Nurse. com Excellence Regional award for Volunteerism & Service. The award will be given to Susana during Nursing Spectrum s Nursing Excellence Gala awards. Susana has also recently completed her MSN degree. Maria Krol DNPc, RNC-NIC (Connecticut) will be honored at the 12 th Annual Healthcare Diversity Awards of the Association of Hispanic Healthcare Executives (AHHE) and the National Hispanic Chamber of Commerce on Health (NHCCH). Maria has been selected to receive the Regional Hospital Administrator of the Year Award on June 20, Susana Gonzalez, RN, MSN, MHA, CNML Jesus Reyna, BSN, RN, USPHS (Western Washington), has been assigned by the HHS Office of Minority Health to the Region X Office of the Assistant Secretary for Health as the new Regional Minority Health Consultant (RMHC). Jesus will work with the OASH team in Region X with a special emphasis on underserved and vulnerable populations in Alaska, Idaho, Oregon, and Washington. His work will focus on HHS Secretarial and OASH/ASH prevention initiatives and priorities, including Healthy People 2020; the HHS Action Plan to Reduce Racial and Ethnic Health Disparities; and the National Stakeholder Strategy for Achieving Health Equity. The Marilynn Keesler Legacy Award was awarded to Dottie Rodriguez, ANP-BC (Michigan) in October The School Community Health Alliance of Michigan presents this award each year to recognize individuals who encompass the traits of Marilynn. She was a strong and passionate advocate for youth and school based health centers in Michigan NOTE: We would love to hear from you next! Share your successes with info@ thehispanicnurses.org Pennsylvania Avenue, Suite 400 Washington, DC Fax info@thehispanicnurses.org NAHN National Association of Hispanic Nurses - All rights reserved 2

3 NAHN President to be Inducted as Fellow of the American Academy of Nursing The National Association of Hispanic Nurses (NAHN) is pleased to announce that NAHN s President, Angie Millan, MSN, RNP, CNS, will be inducted as a Fellow of the American Academy of Nursing (AAN) during the 39 th AAN Annual Meeting and Conference in October 11-13, 2012 in Washington, DC, in recognition for her outstanding contributions and achievements in nursing. The American Academy of Nursing s approximately 1,800 Fellows are nursing leaders in education, management, practice, and research. They include association executives; university presidents; chancellors and deans; state and federal political appointees; hospital chief executives and vice presidents for nursing; nurse consultants; and researchers and entrepreneurs. Angie clearly models the qualities of an AAN Fellow. Her leadership qualities, not only exercised in NAHN, but also anywhere she works and volunteers are clear, said Celia Trigo Besore, MBA, CAE, Executive Director & CEO of NAHN. Her comment when told about receiving this recognition was this is about NAHN says it all. Congratulations, Angie. This recognition is well-deserved. I am very honored to be selected as a Fellow of the American Academy of Nursing. I will continue to use my skills and knowledge to move the nursing profession forward, said Angie. Now there will be one more NAHN member at the Academy advocating for the healthcare needs of the underserved in our communities. Invitation to Fellowship is more than recognition of one s accomplishments within the nursing profession. Academy Fellows also have a responsibility to contribute their time and energies to the Academy, and to engage with other health care leaders outside the Academy in transforming America s health care system by: Enhancing the quality of health and nursing care; Promoting healthy aging and human development across the life continuum; Reducing health disparities and inequalities; Shaping healthy behaviors and environments; Integrating mental and physical health care; and Strengthening the nursing and health care delivery system, nationally and internationally. NAHN Ambassadors Become a NAHN Ambassador by recruiting new members! Below are the number of new members recruited by NAHN members from February 15, 2012 through May 22, Maria Krol (Connecticut): 11 members Margaret Avila (Los Angeles): 7 members Yolanda Delgado (New Jersey): 7 members Angie Millan (Los Angeles): 6 members Corina Chick (Valle del Sol): 6 members Neddie Serra (New Jersey): 6 members Ana Nogueira (New Jersey): 3 members Lisa Diaz (Los Angeles): 3 members Monica Garcia (San Diego): 3 members Paloma Garza (San Diego): 3 members Arilma St. Clair (Washington DC): 2 members Homero Guaderrama (El Paso): 2 members Judith Cullinane (Southeastern Massachusetts): 2 members Judith Ruvalcaba (Atlanta): 2 members The following members sponsored one member: Ada Granado, Adrianna Nava, Agatha Delgado, Bertha Sepulveda, Darlene Silver, Diane Sanchez, Carmen Paniagua, Dra. Quiñones, Eliane Ali, Elizabeth Perez, Jane de Leon, Jaqueline Perry, Juanita Terrie Garcia, Kim Urlaub, Lorena Perez, Lori Cronin, Lupita Scanlin, Maria Hinojosa Smith, Maria Quintero, Maria Villot, Mary Ann Brescia, Nora Montalvo-Liendo, Olga Medina, Patricia Ramirez, Rachel Dreyfuss, Rose Caballero, Sally Matta, Sally Tenorio, Sandra Ullibari, Sarah Babini, Sarah Llanque, Sonia Valdez, Sylvia Gonzalez, Sylvia Pelroy, Valerie Caraballo, and Yolanda Nitti. Please keep in mind your name needs to be on the Member Referral line on a new member s application to get credit. NAHN Angels In this section, we recognize the members who have donated funds to NAHN. Please thank Denise Gray for her donation and support of NAHN. Becoming a NAHN Angel is very simple! You can donate money when you renew or donate any time by going to and clicking on the Donate button. You can designate how you want your donation used (e. g. Student Scholarships, Member Education, General Association Needs, or Unspecified) by indicating your intention in the Add your message link on the second donation screen. You can also send us a check! NAHN Chapter Tidbits Connecticut Chapter by Maria Krol This has been a remarkable year for our chapter as we continue to grow and the word keeps spreading. We recently welcomed four new members, nurses from the Veterans Administration. They are raring to go and already making great contributions to the success of our chapter. We are very lucky to have a very dedicated group of existing Chapter members. So with great honor, I will boast about this wonderful group. Liliana Acosta RN was selected by her colleagues at Norwalk Hospital to receive the Nightingale Award. Liliana has been an RN for only one year and has already distinguished herself. She is completing her 3

4 Georgetown University School of Nursing & Health Studies part of the Georgetown University Medical Center educates the next generation of morally reflective health care leaders. brings the excellence of on-campus online to students in their own community. This innovative Master of Science in Nursing program includes carefully selected clinical placements in close proximity to where students live and a highly personalized, online seminar-style learning environment that features live, one-to-one interaction with faculty and peers. We invite you to learn more about our Nursing@Georgetown programs: Adult Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner /Adult Gerontology Clinical Nurse Specialist Family Nurse Practitioner Nurse Educator Nurse Midwifery/Women s Health Nurse Practitioner online.nursing.georgetown.edu/nahn HOYA (4692) 4

5 BSN and serves on the Share Governance Committee of her unit. Jessica Alicea-Planas graduated from the University of Connecticut this month with a Ph.D. in Nursing. Dr. Alicea-Planas research focused on using goal setting during primary care visits to assist Spanish-speaking patients with chronic disease management. She has also accepted an Assistant Professor position at Fairfield University. Congratulations are also in order to several of our students who have joined our ranks as registered nurses and received recognition at their graduation. Jessica Valle graduated Magna Cum Laude and received the Cynthia Roberts Memorial Award for her love of nursing and education, care and compassion for patients, and outstanding professional manner. Marguerite Parkhurst was honored with the Bridgeport Hospital School of Nursing Faculty Award. Marguerite encouraged student participation in community activities, was also involved in the SNSA as executive board member and voting member at the National level. Kerry Ybarra received the Department of Obstetrics and Gyn award for her high achievement in academic and clinical performance in providing maternal-child care, Crystal Jeannie Jones was awarded the Nancy J. Bassett Nursing award for demonstrating outstanding academic achievement, as well as interest in pursuing a career in oncology nursing. Also graduating were Angela Kycia, Veronica Alexander, Emma Odgers, Kristin Blythe, Jessica Orama, Elena Squitieri, Kristin Rinaldi, Melissa Espinosa, Alan Cortez and Brenda Garcia. They completed a very rigorous program and are most welcome to and very eager to join our wonderful profession. We are very excited to announce that we are taking part in the Muevete USA TM campaign, as well as taking part in the Get Healthy CT Task Force on Obesity. We are developing walking routes for people to be able to use in order to stay healthy. Additionally, we hosted Denise Rivera Coladonato, the Grants and Mission Coordinator from the Susan G. Komen Foundation. She educated the chapter on the programs they have recently launched to provide Latina women in Connecticut with breast health education and screening services. Women, especially Latinas, in our state have high incidence of late diagnosis and she also made us aware that Connecticut has the 2 nd highest incidence of breast cancer in the U.S. Thus, we are going to be involved with the foundation to help increase the number of Latina women who get yearly mammograms. On the fun side, we are planning a Toga Party to be held June 16 th. A portion of what is raised will go to the Leary Fireman Fund. The remaining amount will fund a mission to provide healthcare next year in a Latin American country. We haven t decided where we are going, however we have several members working on it! Colorado (Denver) Chapter by Ruby Martinez Muevete USA TM will be implemented at a Denver Public School beginning May 23 through June 21. We have received a warm welcome by the school, and anticipate a good program. Colorado NAHN was represented at two health fairs in the Denver area in April. Gloria Raigoza is a pastoral nurse who has dedicated her life to serving the underserved. She is a NAHN member and organizer for one of those health fairs. Gloria is also one of the founding members of NAHN. Past President Sally Tenorio has been meeting with colleagues at University of Colorado at Denver and the Latino Research and Policy Center to write grants that support our joint missions. The goal is to recruit more Hispanics into nursing, and to find ways to support them through the process. President Ruby Martinez, and Past President Sally Tenorio are consulting with nurses from New Mexico to establish a NAHN in New Mexico. Cathy Benavides-Clayton is involved with legislative policy in Colorado. She recently worked closely with the sponsors of the Colorado Senate Bill 65 which would have given insurance companies two days to approve or decline requested prescription drugs and treatments. Although the bill died, it forced insurance companies and doctors to agree that within one year, they would propose a more effective process that will serve patients and their needs. Cathy is a former President for Colorado NAHN. A Cinderella Story: Tales from Little Village by Adrianna Nava Through the collaborative efforts of Enlace Chicago, Farragut Career Academy, the Illinois Hispanic Nurses Chapter (IHNA) and the Little Village Chamber of Commerce, young girls had access to beautiful dresses to make their prom night memorable on Saturday, April 14, In addition, mental health education was provided by registered nurses to promote beauty, health and wellness for years to come. The topic for the health workshops was stress management and goal setting. Many girls left inspired to find activities to control their stress levels and seek out opportunities in nursing. IHNA hopes to continue to provide health workshops for Farragut s High School students in the near future. Over 235 dresses were collected, over 60 of which were donated by IHNA (donations received from the community). Shoes, jewelry and purses were also collected. 60 adolescent girls benefited from the education session and received a prom dress with accessories for their prom night. 5

6 Valle del Sol, AZ The Valle del Sol Chapter, in partnership with the American Heart Association and the Black Nurses Association, is one of the top 100 finalists in Cause An Effect, a State Farm crowd-sourced philanthropic initiative. The Check for Life program, a blood pressure screening program in Greater Phoenix, is designed to help some of the most underserved communities in Arizona. Qualified nurses go to local barbershops and beauty salons that serve predominantly Hispanic and African American communities and teach the barbers, stylists and their staff to do blood pressure screenings. When clients come in to get their haircut they also have the option of receiving blood pressure screening and valuable health information and resources. This program has already saved countless lives by raising awareness of the potential consequences of having high blood pressure and by educating individuals on the importance of checking their blood pressure regularly. It s simple to support our cause and vote visit the State Farm Facebook page by clicking here com/statefarm/app_ ?app_data=checkfor-life, then click on the Vote button to show your support for Check for Life. Please encourage your volunteers, colleagues, friends and family to vote and help spread the word on Facebook! Washington DC Chapter The DC Chapter is happy to report on the accomplishments of several of its members. Several members completed their nursing studies: Alexis Andino (BSN); Cesar Visurraga and Angelica Pucha (Family Nurse Practitioner Program at the University of Maryland). Visurraga, also passed his boards as a Certified Nurse Anesthetists. Maria Robinson was appointed for full time faculty at the Baltimore Community College this Spring Carol Lake was newly appointed to the Mary s Center Carmen Ramirez was hired as Chair & professor of the newly credentialed School of Nursing Ana G. Mendez University, Wheaton Campus in Maryland. Health Policy & Legislative Affairs Supreme Court Review of the Affordable Care Act by Mirian Zavala The Affordable Care Act was challenged in the state of Florida almost immediately after it was passed into law on March 23, This challenge obtained traction in January 31, 2011 when Judge Vinson of the federal district court in Tallahassee invalidated ACA. Judge Vinson s argument was the lack of proof that there would be a limit of federal power if the compulsory health insurance purchase remains intact. The Supreme Court initially considered if a decision should be postponed until 2015 when individuals will be fined for not buying health insurance. Apparently, some of the proponents and opponents of ACA do not want to wait. Its constitutionality is currently under judicial review by the Supreme Court. The issue is can Congress mandate individuals to purchase health insurance under the Commerce Clause? Those that are espousing a middle ground are requesting salvaging some of the provisions. Others say the mandate is intertwined to the provision of not excluding individuals with pre-existing conditions, which means if it is also struck down, ACA may fall apart. Also, under consideration is the provision of expanding Medicaid coverage to 16 million individuals, which may tread on states rights. The Supreme Court is considering whether this provision is coercive because the states risk losing billions in funding if the states do not comply. The Supreme Court will announce its decision in June NAHN Update 2012 NAHN Special Awards The National Association of Hispanic Nurses (NAHN) wants to encourage everyone to apply or nominate someone to one of the 2012 NAHN Special Awards. NAHN established the Ildaura Murillo-Rohde Award for Education Excellence, the Henrietta Villaescusa Community Service Award, the Janie Menchaca Wilson Leadership Award, and the Sarah Gomez Erlach Humanitarian Award to honor and provide special recognition to Hispanic nurses throughout the United States. These Special Awards honor NAHN members for their excellent work in nursing education and in the community, as well as for the spirit and dedication they demonstrate in serving the Hispanic community. The awards are an opportunity for NAHN members to be commemorated and celebrated for their extraordinary achievements and to be recognized for their exceptional accomplishments within the discipline of nursing. The 2012 NAHN Special Awards will be presented at the Annual NAHN Conference Awards Ceremony in San Juan, Puerto Rico. Let s recognize the outstanding contributions our members make to the nursing profession and their community. Go ahead and nominate one of your peers and/or nominate yourself!!! Deadline to apply for the Awards is May 31, For more information and to download the different award application packets, visit 6

7 Nursing Instructor Opening Nursing Instructor Hillsborough Community College (Tampa, Florida) is seeking applications for three Nursing Instructor positions. These are tenure-track faculty positions beginning with Academic Years 2012 to 2013 (August 2012). The instructors may be assigned to any of the three nursing campuses: Dale Mabry, Plant City or SouthShore. Instructors take turns teaching daytime and evening classes. The positions require at least: (1) a Master's degree in Nursing and (2) a current Florida registered nursing (RN or ARNP) license or eligibility to receive the license. Prefer applicants with: (1) experience teaching college-level nursing students. See the College s Jobs website to complete the two step application process: (1) complete and save your online application and (2) submit an application (and attached documents) to be considered for an advertised position. Review the Supplemental Information and Additional Documents Required sections on the HCC advertisement for information concerning the submission of (1) copies of graduate transcripts, (2) foreign transcript evaluations, and (3) nursing licenses. The hiring manager may close the advertising for this position without notice when they receive sufficient applicants to interview. Hillsborough Community College is an Equal Opportunity Employer and encourages diversity in all areas of the campus community. NAHN Elections The time is getting closer when NAHN voting members will be able to vote for their favorite Nominees for NAHN Elected Positions. The list of all Nominees is available at You can also access the Nominations/Voting web section with all related information directly at org/2012nahnelections.html or by clicking on the NAHN home page link on the middle of the site, Voting will be done electronically this year so it is very important that you keep your eyes open for the with your ballot link. Voting will start on Monday, June 4, 2012 and will close on Friday, June 22, NAHN By-laws The new NAHN Bylaws have been posted on the NAHN website at the About NAHN section ( org/aboutnahn.html). These bylaws were approved by the membership at the business meeting on July 2011 in Las Vegas. You can access the bylaws also directly at If any member would like to submit changes to the bylaws for the membership to consider at the July meeting, please your changes to Dr. Adelita Cantu (cantua2@uthscsa.edu). New NAHN Corporate Member NAHN is pleased to welcome Parkland Health and Hospital System as its newest Corporate Member. Largely located in Dallas County, the core of Parkland Health & Hospital System is Parkland Memorial Hospital, which was established in 1894 by the city of Dallas to care for the city s indigent residents. Today, Parkland staffs 770 beds hospital, not including 65 neonatal beds, with a $1 billion budget employing more than 9,000 people. Parkland serves the community not only as a public health provider but as a safety net provider, academic medical center, regional provider of specialized care and an innovator in community health care. Though faced with the challenges of a growing community while operating a facility at capacity, staff continue to strive to provide remarkable care to all patients. Serving the immediate area a Level I Trauma Centers, Parkland provides care to all in a critical time of need. Fifty percent of all trauma cases in Dallas County are treated at Parkland. Since it was established in 1962, Parkland s regional burn center has been regarded as among the best facilities of its kind in the country and it is currently the second largest civilian burn center in the U.S. In the event of a disaster, whether natural or man-made, Parkland serves as the regional resource. Numerous staff members are experts in the area of disaster preparedness and routinely consult with other cities and health care facilities on a national and international basis. 7

8 Parkland Health & Hospital System also includes the Community Oriented Primary Care program, which consists of 11 health centers located throughout the county in areas of highest need. Partnering with Dallas Independent School District has also allowed Parkland to place 11 Youth & Family health clinics within schools to improve access to preventive and primary care. Parkland is also home to a number of community driven programs including the Injury Prevention Center of Greater Dallas, Victim Intervention Program and the North Texas Poison Center. With the commitment of the Dallas County voters and the generous support of the philanthropic community, Parkland has embarked on a facility development project that will replace and expand our current patient care capacity. The project, to be located on a site adjacent to the current site, will expand our bed capacity by 28 percent to 862 beds. The new facility is on track for completion in For more information about Parkland, visit parklandhospital.com. NAHN Advertisers Please remember to support the NAHN web advertisers (through May 31, 2012). These companies have chosen to financially support NAHN. Indian Health Services Department of Veteran Affairs Drexel University Online International Lactation Consultant Association Many thanks also to the following advertisers of this newsletter: Georgetown University (Washington DC) Hillsborough Community College (Tampa, FL) NAHN Job Board Did you know that NAHN s Career Headquarters has some wonderful job openings in many different positions around the U.S.? If you or someone you know is looking for a new opportunity, don t forget to check out Below are some of the jobs as of May 28 th, RN Charge Nurse Part Time at Legacy Health (Portland, Oregon) RN - Admissions - Broward County Full Time at Hospice of Broward County (Fort Lauderdale, FL) Registered Nurse Full Time at Saint Francis Hospital (Newark, DE) Bilingual Case Manager -- RN Full Time at Aetna, Inc (Blue Bell, PA) RN Medical Management Nurse - Workers Compensation Full Time at Zenith Insurance Company (East Norriton, PA, Woodland Hills, CA, Orange, CA, Sacramento, CA) Bilingual Director, Home Care Full Time at BAYADA Home Health Care (Dover, New Jersey) Nursing Academic Coach/Success Coach Full Time at City Colleges of Chicago (Chicago-Malcolm X College) Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) Part Time at Massachusetts General Hospital (Boston, MA) Director, Nurse Midwifery Program Full Time at Kirby Bates Associates (Boston, MA) Manager, Chronic Care Program Full Time at Montefiore Medical Center (Bronx, NY) Chief Nursing Officer - Tallahassee Memorial Healthcare Full Time at Witt/Kieffer (Tallahassee, FL) License Practice Nurses Full Time at Indian Health Service (IHS) (Nashville TN) Ambulatory care nurses Full Time at Indian Health Service (IHS) (Nashville TN) ER/ICU/CCU RN Full Time at Indian Health Service (IHS) (Oklahoma Area) OR/PACU RN Full Time at Indian Health Service (IHS) (Oklahoma Area) Public Health nurse Full Time at Indian Health Service (IHS) (Oklahoma Area) Registered nurses Full Time at Indian Health Service (IHS) (Albuquerque NM) Med/Surgery nurses Full Time at Indian Health Service (IHS) (Albuquerque NM) Public Health nurses Full Time at Indian Health Service (IHS) (Albuquerque NM) Ambulatory care nurses Full Time at Indian Health Service (IHS) (Albuquerque NM) ER/ICU/CCU nurses Full Time at Indian Health Service (IHS) (Albuquerque NM) Also, don t forget to encourage your employer to post job openings on the NAHN Career Headquarter page!! Our fees are very reasonable and the money collected benefits YOU, our members! Contact NAHN s Executive Director/CEO Celia Besore at director@thehispanicnurses.org for more information NAHN Annual Conference Conference Registration The 2012 NAHN Annual Conference is getting closer! Join us on July 17-20, 2012 at the beautiful Caribe Hilton Hotel in San Juan, Puerto Rico and earn up-to 19 CEUs! Complete information about the conference, as well as the meeting brochure, the link to register to the conference and the hotel link to book your room is at: Important Deadlines Early bird conference registration: June 1, 2012 Regular registration rates: June 2, 2012-July 1, 2012 Onsite registration rates: Starts on July 2, 2012 Pre-conference: July 17, 2012 NAHN Conference: July 17-20,

9 Vitas Program NAHN Is partnering with VITAS Innovative Hospice Care to bring End-of-Life Nursing Education Consortium Core Curriculum to NAHN s Annual Conference. Don t miss attending this outstanding program, limited to the first 50 paid attendees at no additional cost Continuing Education Units (CEUs), a Certificate of Attendance; a 1,000+ page syllabus; Training-Specific Designation; and Meals (Breakfast, lunch, and a snack break). Nurses spend more time with patients and families who are facing the end of life than any other health professional. Nurses are intimately involved in all aspects of end of life/palliative care and they address the myriad of needs facing individuals at this time of life. Expert nursing care has the potential to greatly reduce the burden and distress of those facing life s end and the ability to offer support for the many physical, psychological, social and spiritual needs of patients and their families. The National Association of Hispanic Nurses is partnering with VITAS Innovative Hospice Care to bring this educational curriculum to our nurse members at this year s annual conference. This educational project will be conducted through the End-of-Life Nursing Education Consortium (ELNEC), a national nursing education initiative administered by the American Association Colleges of Nursing (AACN) and City of Hope. Objectives that will be covered: Describe the role of the interdisciplinary team in providing quality palliative care for patients. Discuss aspects of assessing psychological, spiritual, and social domains of patients and families facing a life-threatening illness or event. Identify common symptoms associated with end-of-life processes for patients across the life span. Identify communication characteristics that patients and families expect of health care professionals. Verbalize an understanding of grief and loss issues as they relate to complex or traumatic circumstances. The ELNEC Curriculum also includes several common threads integrated throughout. These major themes include: The family as the unit of care. The important role of the nurse as an advocate. The importance of culture as an influence at the end of life. Interdisciplinary care is essential for quality care at the end of life. Who Should Attend? Staff nurses Staff development educators Advanced practice nurses Nursing administrators/management CE providers Nurses in Medical, Surgical, ICU & Palliative Care Units Registration Deadline: June 30, 2012 For complete information about this program, visit Conference Roomates Wanted Several NAHN Annual Conference attendees are looking for potential roommates. We encourage everyone looking for a roommate to check or post your request in NAHN s Facebook page at facebook.com/home.php?#!/pages/national-association-of- Hispanic-Nurses/ Hotel Availability NAHN has had to expand its Caribe Hilton room block several times. Make your hotel reservation NOW while there is still space available at the hotel! Become a NAHN Tweetcaster! Calling all users of Tweeter! If you are coming to the Annual Conference and you tweet, NAHN invites you to become a Tweetcaster and share the NAHN Annual Conference with others! It s easy and fun, and all you need to do is: Have a Twitter account Tweet using the hashtag #NAHN12 when you post Read and write Tweets during the Conference Not attending the NAHN Annual Conference? Follow it by reading the NAHN Tweeter stream or If you are interested in becoming a Tweetcaster, please contact Celia Besore at director@thehispanicnurses.org. Thanks to our Conference Sponsors NAHN would like to extend a big THANK YOU to the following Annual Conference sponsors (as of 5/28/12). We will continue to accept Conference sponsors/advertisers until June 15, Eli Lilly - Platinum Sponsorship (Friday Gala) Coca-Cola Company - Opening Reception UnitedHealth Group - Career Fair Pfizer Inc - Bronze Sponsorship Excelsior College - Emerald Sponsorship University of Illinois at Chicago, College of Nursing - Emerald Sponsorship Eli Lilly - Conference Bag Sponsorship Johns Hopkins University - Conference Bag Sponsorship Eli Lilly - Neck Wallet/Badge Holder Sponsorship Atlantic Health System - Advertisement Betty Irene Moore School of Nursing at UC Davis - Advertisement Brookline College - Advertisement Genex Services Inc. - Advertisement Maimonides Medical Center - Advertisement MJHS (Metropolitan Jewish Health System) - Premium Advertisement 9

10 Nathan Adelson Hospice - Advertisement New York-Presbyterian Hospital and Healthcare System - Advertisement The University of Arizona College of Nursing - Advertisement UW-Milwaukee College of Nursing - Advertisement Yale-New Haven Hospital - Advertisement Please Visit our Exhibitors Another big THANK YOU to our Conference Exhibitors (as of 5/28/2012): Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality Betty Irene Moore School of Nursing at UC Davis Case Western Reserve University, School of Nursing Children s Hospital Boston Children s Hospital Los Angeles Children s Medical Center Dallas Children s Mercy Hospital and Clinics Cigna Department of Veteran Affairs (HRRO) Diversitynursing.com Eli Lilly Emory University School of Nursing Excelsior College FDA Office of Women s Health Fortis College Frontier Nursing University Froedtert Health Gannet HealthCare Group Goldfarb School of Nursing Barnes - Jewish College HRSA s Bureau of Clinician Recruitment Services Humana Johns Hopkins Hospital Johns Hopkins University Lee Memorial Health System Loyola University New Orleans School of Nursing Mayo Clinic MinorityNurse.com National Council of State Boards of Nursing (NCSBN) National Library of Medicine Northern Kentucky University College of Health Professions Oakland University, School of Nursing OHSU School of Nursing Parkland Health and Hospital System Shionogi Inc. Sparrow Health System St. Jude Children s Research Hospital The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society Tourette Syndrome Association UnitedHealth Group Universidad del Sagrado Corazon University of Alabama at Birmingham School of Nursing University of California Schools of Nursing University of Illinois at Chicago, College of Nursing University of Nevada, Reno - Orvis School of Nursing University of Washington, School of Nursing US Navy Recruiting Command Vanderbilt University School of Nursing VITAS Innovative Hospice Care NAHN Second Annual Career Fair The UnitedHealth Group is the Premier Career Fair Sponsor for the Second Annual Career Fair to be held at the 37th Annual NAHN Conference. Bring copies of your resume and explore new opportunities at the UnitedHealth Group s booth, as well as the booths of many of our exhibitors. Let s Get Social We want to invite our members to get social and join the NAHN Social Media sites. Become a fan of the NAHN Facebook page and follow our tweets on our Twitter page. Click on the links below and join us now! NAHN Facebook Fan Page: NAHN Twitter or nahnnursing. NAHN LinkedIn: groups?mostpopular=&gid= Corporate Members Profiles Children s Mercy Hospitals and Clinics Children s Mercy Hospitals and Clinics, one of the newest member of the National Association of Hispanic Nurses (NAHN), employs more than 1,500 nurses, making it the largest job category at the hospital system. Twenty percent of our employees are minority, and we want our minority employees to know we value their background and culture, says Cheri Hunt, RN, Vice President and Chief NAHN would like to thank Koi for the scrub wardrobe gift given to our National President in recognition of Nurse Week 10

11 Nursing Officer at Children s Mercy. Children s Mercy was founded on the commitment to provide the highest quality care to every child, a promise we can fulfill only if we understand how to work well with culturally diverse children, families, and colleagues. To live up to our standards of family-centered care, we must offer a culturally competent staff, accessible systems, and an environment of inclusiveness. By becoming a member of NAHN, we are celebrating our minority nurses and allied professionals. Children s Mercy Children s Mercy has one of the highest levels of nursing specialty certification in the nation, including certification in pediatrics, pediatric oncology, pain, operating room and critical care, among others. Children s Mercy was only the third pediatric facility designated by the American Nurses Credential Center as a Magnet institution, as well as the first hospital in Kansas and Missouri to receive the designation. The National Association of Hispanic Nurses is delighted to count Children s Mercy as one of our Corporate members, said Angie Millan, MSN, RNP, CNS, president of NAHN. Children s Mercy s efforts to staff their hospital with culturally sensitive and language competent staff is a model that more hospitals should incorporate to reflect the growing Hispanic population. Children s Mercy is one of only a handful of hospitals across the country that offers a Latino/Hispanic Family Advisory Board, Consejo de Familias Latinas and Hispanas. The board meets monthly and offers advice on hospital improvement. Each year, approximately 45,000 patients visit the Children s Mercy Pediatric Care Center and about 25 percent are Spanish-speaking families. In order to meet the needs of these families, Children s Mercy offers the CHICOS Clinic (Clínica Hispana de Cuidados de Salud), a program where pediatric residents with moderate Spanish proficiency or better can complete a bilingual, cross-cultural care curriculum as part of their primary care training regimen. The CHICOS model allows the residents to speak Spanish with patients and families, with an interpreter acting as a communication safety net in the exam room and as a language coach for the resident. Residents are also supervised by faculty physicians fluent in Spanish. In order to provide comprehensive language access coverage 24 hours a day, seven days a week, Children s Mercy employs a variety of communication resources, including staff interpreters, interpreters from outside agencies, and interpretation over the phone. Children s Mercy provides access through interpreters in over 150 languages. Children s Mercy is also piloting a new video-remote interpreting service. This service allows a mobile video unit, which can access a remote interpreter with the push of a button, to travel around the clinic for instant access to a live interpreter. Excelsior College School of Nursing: An NLN Center of Excellence According to the Gallup organization, nursing is the most trusted profession in America, yet there is no denying that a major shortage of practicing registered nurses is looming: nearly 250,000 or more by Without a sufficient number 11 of RNs in the workforce, the health of all Americans will be in jeopardy. More needs to be done to increase the ranks of practicing RNs and Excelsior College, home to the largest school of nursing in the nation, is doing its part. A private, nonprofit college, Excelsior is a proud corporate member of the NAHN. Its School of Nursing was created through grants from the W.K. Kellogg Foundation, first for an associate degree program in 1973 and then a bachelor s program in In 1999, the College introduced its master s program for nurses. Combined, more than 17,000 men and women are pursuing a degree in the School, the majority of which are in the associate degree program. Diverse Issues in Higher Education reports that Excelsior is the top associate degree producer for all minorities and fourth overall for Hispanic students. Across all nursing degree levels, nearly 1,150 Hispanic students are pursuing their degrees at Excelsior. More than the largest nursing program in the nation, though, it is a recognized leader in nursing education. Accredited by the National League for Nursing Accrediting Commission, Excelsior s School of Nursing has been designated a Center of Excellence in Nursing Education by the National League for Nursing, one of only five schools to have achieved this honor three consecutive times. In a field dominated by women, Excelsior has four times been named as the Best School for Men by the American Assembly for Men in Nursing. Further evidence of its commitment to supporting the learning, knowledge and professional development of nurses, Excelsior is home to the Tau Kappa Chapter of Sigma Theta Tau International, Honor Society of Nursing. Ideally suited to the needs of the adult learner, Excelsior s programs are delivered at a distance. Students can work full time and maintain family obligations while advancing their education with the benefit of numerous student and academic support services. Excelsior has decades of experience helping students achieve their educational goals: the LPN/LVN who wants to become an RN, an RN seeking to earn a bachelor s degree and the nurse who wants to specialize in clinical systems management, informatics or nursing education in a master s program. For more information on the nursing programs at Excelsior College visit Grand Canyon University Phoenix-based Grand Canyon University (GCU) also recently joined NAHN. GCU is dedicated to promoting and advocating educational, professional and leadership opportunities for Hispanic nurses, and this partnership will enable the University to work closely with and offer expertise to other members. We have a diverse body of faculty, staff, students and alumni at Grand Canyon University, so this partnership felt like a natural fit for us, said Dr. Anne McNamara, dean of GCU s College of Nursing. Living and working in an area with a large Hispanic population, we very much recognize the need to support and promote opportunities for Hispanic nurses.

12 HISPANIC HEALTH CARE INTERNATIONAL Call for Evidenced-Based Manuscripts Hispanic Health Care International is the official journal of the National Association of Hispanic Nurses. This peer-reviewed journal serves as an interdisciplinary forum for the dissemination of information for clinical practice, education, research, and policy on issues concerning Hispanic/Latino populations in the United States. Hispanic Health Care International invites practitioners, faculty teaching in clinical doctoral program, and clinical doctoral students to contribute the following types of articles evidenced-based practice and research: Nilda (Nena) Peragallo Elias Provencio-Vásquez Editors-in-Chief Katherine Maidenberg Managing Editor Margaret Avila Clinical Editor Case Studies. Case studies are major articles that demonstrate clinical excellence and application of evidence-based practice. Articles may address any aspect of clinical care from prevention through acute illness to rehabilitation and palliative care. Submissions should present the step by step process of clinical decision making and address available evidence on epidemiology, etiology, pathophysiology, clinical presentation, evaluation and management, and therapy or interventions. An abstract of 200 words or less required. Desired length is 8-24 manuscript pages. Literature Reviews. Reviews provide insightful summaries of the most important research on the selected topic and draw clear conclusions with implication for practice. Articles should be 4-8 manuscript pages. Brief Reports. Brief reports are concise articles that are 4-8 manuscript pages. To submit a manuscript, please send an with a cover letter and the manuscript to Clinical Editor Margaret Avila at mavila04@gmail.com. 12

13 As a corporate member, GCU representatives will have an opportunity to build strong relationships with others in the industry, as well as host webinars to promote the sharing of information and ideas among NAHN members. The National Association of Hispanic Nurses has taken great responsibility to meet the call for action for the Future of Nursing. One specific recommendation is to ensure that nurses engage in lifelong learning. This is why I believe that partnering with Grand Canyon University makes sense, as it will provide our members with equal access to further their educational goals, said Angie Millan, MSN, RNP, CNS, president of NAHN. News from Our Corporate Members Coca-Cola Recognized as one of U.S. Best Brands Continues to Work to Combat Child Obesity In a survey conducted in 2011, the National Journal found Coca Cola to be one of DC s most respected brands. The survey was given to DC insiders and measured different companies role in public debate, integrity, and influence in the Washington, DC area. Coca-Cola was also included in FORBES 2012 Most Reputable Companies in the U.S. The Coca-Cola Company moved up 18 spots to No. 7. Coca-Cola with its industry partners established the school beverage guidelines in the U.S. which voluntarily removed sparkling, full-calorie beverages from primary and secondary schools. The result was a reduction in beverage calories delivered to schools by 88+ percent in the first half of school year. MedImmune Launches a New Non-Branded Patient Education Portal NAHN Corporate Member MedImmune (Advocacy) is pleased to announce its most recent educational initiative a new portal when you log on to MedImmuneAdvocacy.com now provides access to two unique ordering systems that both offer FREE patient education materials that help advocacy groups and other organizations deliver easy to read information for patients or parents navigating the journey of prematurity or influenza. Fight the Flu Patient Education Program The MedImmune Advocacy Flu Education Program offers informative and relevant patient education materials for families, patients, and healthcare workers. Pieces highlight key facts about the flu and promote awareness of the importance of vaccination to prevent the spread of flu. The flu materials are delivered via the same easy online ordering resource as the Special Delivery system, available 24/7 at no charge. All Flu titles will be available in English and Spanish. Available patient education pieces will include: Understand The Facts About Flu Help Protect Yourself & Your Family From the Flu Get Vaccinated The Flu Vaccine For Healthcare Workers Special Delivery Handle With Care Launched in 2009, the Special Delivery Handle With Care program has delivered over half a million educational pieces through organizations and is designed to help parents of babies born early navigate the premature journey. Like our new Flu program, Special Delivery Handle With Care Customized Patient Education is an innovative program that provides an easy and efficient online ordering system, including a wide range of free materials to help partners meet their goals of education and support of premature infants and their families. The Special Delivery Handle With Care ordering site has not changed, nor your log in and registration information. It is the same easy-to-use system that you have ordered prematurity materials from before. You can preview each piece and order up to 100 pieces per item selected and place up to 6 orders per year. Currently, there are twelve pieces available including: Keeping My Baby Healthy After Discharge * Special Needs Of My Late-Preterm Baby * RSV: Is My Baby At Risk? * Glossary: Understanding The Language Of Prematurity * Understanding Premature Infant Lungs * Top 5 Reasons for Hospitalizations For Infants Less Than 1 Year Of Age * Smoking & Your Premature Baby * Helping Myself, Helping My Baby, Helping Others After Discharge Keeping a Positive Attitude When My Baby Comes Early Tracking MyBaby s Growth & Development Medical Care Costs Helping Parents Navigate the Premature Journey (5 Steps at Birth Kit) The first seven are also available in Spanish. Access now to both the flu and the prematurity advocacy programs is easy and begins by logging on to MedImmuneAdvocacy.com or HandleWithCare.com. Both will bring you to the new portal. 13

14 Choose Influenza/Fight the Flu or Premature Infants/Special Delivery your log in information has not changed. Enter your existing address and password to preview these free materials. These pieces will continue to be customized with NAHN s logo and information. The key code for first time users is NAHN11 (FOR NAHN MEMBERS ONLY). Other News Policies Give States More Flexibility to Establish Affordable Insurance Exchange The Department of Health and Human Services has announced new policies to help States develop Affordable Insurance Exchanges. These will allow insurance-buyers to choose from a range of private health insurance plans. The measure was announced by Secretary Kathleen Sebelius and will take effect in More information at: New Research Summaries Compare Nonpharmacologic Therapies for Treatment-Resistant Depression HHS Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) released a new research review and corollary plain-language summaries for clinicians and consumers to help make treatment choices for patients diagnosed with treatment-resistant depression (TRD). These products summarize evidence on the effectiveness and efficacy of four nonpharmacologic treatments: electroconvulsive therapy, repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation, vagus nerve stimulation, and cognitive behavioral therapy or interpersonal psychotherapy. Comparative clinical research on nonpharmacologic interventions for TRD is in its infancy. Many clinical questions about efficacy and effectiveness remain unanswered. For more information, visit ahrq.gov/index.cfm/search-for-guides-reviews-and-reports/?p ageaction=displayproduct&productid=792&pcem=po Spanish-Language Breast Cancer Novela A downloadable novela, Be Brave They re Your Breasts Se Valiente Son Tus Senos, offers a compelling story that dispels common myths about breast cancer among the Latino community. This unique and culturally sensitive educational tool can be used as a resource by community health centers, hospitals and others to help promote early detection and treatment. The novela is provided in Spanish and English, and hard copies are available. Funded by the Breast Cancer Fund of the National Philanthropic Trust, the novela is available through SHARE, Self-Help for Women with Breast or Ovarian Cancer. See for more information. New Support for Consumer-Driven, Nonprofit Health Plan in Maine, Oregon, and South Carolina The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has awarded support to Maine Community Health Options, Oregon s Health CO-OP, and Consumers Choice Health Insurance Company in South Carolina to launch a new private non-profit, consumer-governed health insurance company. Created by the Affordable Care Act, CO-OPs encourage innovative, consumer responsive health insurers to compete with more traditional carriers in the individual and small business markets. Beginning in 2014, CO-OPs will offer plans through the Affordable Insurance Exchanges and in the open marketplace. In addition to giving consumers more choices and improving competition in their States, as consumer-run insurers, CO- OPs will operate differently from traditional insurance companies. More than half of the Board of Directors must be the customers or members of the CO-OP, and all directors must be elected by a majority vote of the members, improving accountability and transparency. Under the Affordable Care Act profits gained by a CO-OP must be used to lower premiums, expand benefits, or improve quality. For more information on the CO-OP program and recent awardees, please visit: Top Ten Highest Paying Nursing Specialties According to Diversity Nursing, the top ten highest paying nursing specialties (national average) are: Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist Nurse Researcher Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner Certified Nurse Midwife Pediatric Endocrinology Nurse Orthopedic Nurse Nurse Practitioner Clinical Nurse Specialist Gerontological Nurse Practitioner Neonatal Nurse Source: 10-highest-paying-nursing-specialties-national-average HHS and Education Launch New Stop Bullying website A revitalized website has been launched to inspire children, parents, and teachers to take action against bullying in schools and communities. The initiative is led by Health and Human Services and Arne Duncan, Secretary of Education. The website provides a variety of information about prevention of bullying and of the dangers of cyber bullying, Information about state laws and policies, videos, and activities for schools 14

15 to work against bullying. There are also sections dedicated to parents, so that they can get tips on how to talk to their children about this sensitive topic. Evidence Lacking to Support Surgery for Pelvic Pain According to a new research review on Chronic Pelvic Pain (CPP) from HHS Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ), despite the extensive use of invasive surgical procedures to treat women with noncyclic CPP, there is little evidence to support a surgical approach. The review found that no surgical approach is superior to a nonsurgical or comparative surgical approach. While the prevalence of noncyclic CPP rivals other widely studied conditions, there is little research assessing CPP therapies, particularly nonsurgical interventions. More information is available on the Effective Health Care Program Web site, Most Pressing issues for Nursing in 2012 From DiversityNursing.com 1. Advanced degrees are no longer optional The IOM s recommendation for 80% of all RNs to have a baccalaureate degree by 2020 has not veered too intensely into the old ADN vs. BSN quagmire. Instead, the profession is focusing on ways to engage nurses in lifelong learning so that associate degree nurses can find realistic ways to obtain BSN degrees. In addition, BSN nurses are encouraged to be leaders in evidence-based practice and research and it s becoming more common and crucially, more expected for nurses to pursue master s degrees. And the creation of the doctor of nursing practice degree has taken off better than anyone could have expected. In the last six months, any time nurse executives get together, the conversation always turns to who has already entered a program and how long it s going to take the rest of the group to do so. 2. Patient engagement gets real If you haven t found a way to drive home the importance of patient experience to direct-care nurses, find it now. You know how much reimbursement is at stake, but the rank and file caregivers still don t get it. The term patient experience has a way of annoying bedside caregivers. We re not Disneyworld, is a common refrain; people don t want to be in the hospital. I m here to save patients lives, not entertain them, is another common complaint. Experience isn t about mollycoddling patients, however, or how flashy the in-room entertainment system is and that s what you need to help nurses understand. In fact, the nurse-patient relationship has always been about patient experience. Your best nurses instinctively know this. They already create a good patient experience. They help patients understand their care, involve families in decision-making, coordinate multidisciplinary care, sit with patients to explain complex diagnoses, and even, occasionally, have time to offer a quick hug or hand to hold. These are the nurses who get letters from patients and families after discharge and these letters are all about the patient experience. This is how you need to phrase patient experience with nursing staff so they understand it s not just a program, but a way of life. At the same time, nursing needs to own the cause. They may not be responsible for it in isolation, but they are literally at the center of this issue. They should take the lead and drive the agenda. 3. Patient safety Just as nurses should own patient experience, they need to feel ownership for patient safety as well. It has been written that quality improvement becomes one more meaningless directive from above unless nurses feel engaged in the process, involved in the plans, and accountable for the results. Preventing healthcare-associated infections (HAI) is no longer simply the right thing to do, it s become the only financially viable option. Unless nurses are educated and empowered, real progress cannot be made. 4. Cost cutting Nursing knows that hiring freezes and layoffs are a constant threat and healthcare organizations are forced to put cost cutting at the top of the agenda in As the largest budget in the organization, nursing is an easy target. Organizations can get more agile with staffing and scheduling and find creative ways to reduce cost while maximizing efficiency. Embrace change and flexibility to create the mobile, agile workforce healthcare organizations need to adapt to changing economic realities and increases in patient population. 5. Retention The nursing shortage hasn t gone away simply because the recession has eased its immediate effects. We all know the turnover rate for new graduate nurses is always high, so invest in nurse residency programs that have proven results for retention and for increasing the competency of new nurses. Chance to Win a Relaxing Weekend at Chocolate Spa A sweepstakes has been announced for nurses to be recognized for their hard work. The Give a Nurse a Break sweepstakes gives the chance to nurse to win a trip for four to the Chocolate Spa at the Hershey Hotel in Pennsylvania. The prize includes transportation, hotel accommodations, and meals for three days and two nights. To enter for a chance to win, visit 15

16 HHS Launches New Web-based Tool to Track Performance of Nation s Health Care System HHS has launched the Health System Measurement Project. This project brings together health-related datasets from across the federal government that span topical areas, such as access to care, cost and affordability, prevention and health information technology and it presents these indicators by population characteristics, such as age, sex, income level, insurance coverage, and geography. You can view the project at Advisory Committee Recommends Lowering CDC s Blood-Lead Level of Concern The Advisory Committee on Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention (ACCLPP) has issued a recommendation to drop the current level of 10 micrograms as an acceptable level of lead in blood. The recommendation is grounded on several studies that link lead to adverse health effects. The AC- CLP recommends that in the future the CDC will replace the phrasing of level of concern with the reference value. The goal is to be able to identify more children with the effects of lead poisoning, thus being able to catch the problem earlier. More information is available at lead/acclpp/activities.htm. Educational/Research Opportunities Pre/Post Doctoral Fellowship Opportunities at ASU The Arizona State University College of Nursing and Health Innovations offers two fellowships. One in Geriatric Nursing and another on Health Disparities. For more information see and health.asu.edu/t32 and SAMHSA Grants Minority Fellowship Program Grants SAMHSA is accepting applications for up to $825,000 in Minority Fellowship Program Grants, aimed to reduce health disparities and improve health care outcomes among diverse populations by increasing the number of culturally competent mental health counselors. Primary and Behavioral Health Care Integration Grants SAMHSA is accepting applications for up to $35 Million in Primary and Behavioral Health Care Integration Grants. The purpose of this program is providing for the provision of coordinated and integrated services by co-locating primary and specialty care medical services. Walden University Scholarships The Change-Maker Scholarships These scholarships will be awarded to nurses who are making a positive difference in the life of a patient, healthcare organization, or nursing practice and want to advance their career by earning a Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) through Walden s CCNE-accredited program. Walden will award one full-tuition scholarship, one $10,000 scholarship, and one $5,000 scholarship through this program. Leadership Scholarships These scholarships will be awarded to nurses who are using their leadership abilities to advance the practice of nursing, augment healthcare delivery, or improve patient outcomes and want to advance their career by earning a Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP). Walden will award one full-tuition scholarship, one $10,000 scholarship, and one $5,000 scholarship through this program. For information about the scholarships contact Johnna Sangster at (858) or johnna.sangster@waldenu.edu. PRESIDENT S MESSAGE from page 1 each other s enterprises, make significant and admirable progress, and recording impressive achievements. It is my great pleasure to invite you to the 37 th Annual NAHN Conference on July 17-20, 2012 at the Caribe Hilton in the picturesque San Juan, Puerto Rico. The theme, Healthcare Reform: Mentoring the Next Generation of Nursing Leaders, not only invites us to explore the basic and classical leadership ideas but also to identify the frameworks and approaches through healthcare reform that will develop future Hispanic nursing leaders. Through keynote speeches by outstanding scholars and many parallel sessions, the Conference presents an overview of the educational and research models that will lead to advocacy to promote health in Hispanic communities and integrate evidence-based research into clinical practice through healthcare reform. We are looking forward to seeing you in Puerto Rico! Sincerely, President, NAHN Advancing the dream through diverse nursing leaders. 16