NN&I - August 2010

Nursing Update 20 Nephrology News & Issues August 2010Subscribe to our free eNewsletter at www.nephronline.comCalifornia RNs call a strike over ratios, retirementAs many as 13,000 registered nurses from hospitals through-out California issued a one-day strike notice May 28 over patient care shortcomings at their facilities, the California Nurses Association announced. The association said the strike revolves around the nurse-to-patient staffing ratio. Secondarily, the RNs say they are fighting to protect their retirement, which is a key factor in recruitment and retention of experienced nurses. In November, a neutral fact-finder chosen by the University of California and the CNA made contract recommendations concerning staffing and benefit protections that the univer-sity system has refused to adhere to. In March, more than 40 state legislators wrote to UC President Mark Yudof encour- aging UC to accept the fact-finder's recommendations. At UC Davis, internal staffing documentation from last year found that one-third of the shifts were short one or more RNs in each unit than what was required by the indi-vidual patient acuities on those shifts, the CNA said. "We are often short staffed and there is no break relief coverage," said Shirley Toy, an RN and member of the bar-gaining team at UC Davis. "We need break relief RNs on every shift on every unit. Our patients deserve uninterrupted patient care when RNs are on break or lunch." Conference preview ANNA offers sessions for new APNs American Nephrology Nurses' Association Fall Meeting Oct. 9-11 Las Vegas For more information or to register, visit www.annanurse.org The Conference As the rate of kidney disease climbs, the need for qualified nephrology nurs-es is intensifying. To help meet this need and keep nurses well educated, the American Nephrology Nurses' Association (ANNA) is once again offering its Fall Meeting for Nephrology Nurses, Managers, and Advanced Practice Nurses. The meeting is designed for practi-tioners of all levels who work in a wide variety of nephrology areas. To help attendees tailor their education, ses-sions are organized into the following tracks: advanced practice, clinical prac-tice, management/leadership, current hot topic or issue, and pharmacology content. Participants will also network, attend special events, and earn con-tinuing education contact hours. In the exhibit hall, attendees will meet with vendors displaying the latest products and services. Program There will be five optional precon-ference workshops this year (three full-day sessions and two half-day sessions). The full-day sessions, offered Friday Oct. 8, are "The RN new to nephrology practice," "Making the transition as a new APN into nephrology practice," and "The new nephrology nurse man-ager." The half-day sessions will follow the next day and are "The kidney-liver Connection" and "Managing errors in a learning and fair culture." The conference's opening general session will follow, with nursing leader Connie Curran, EdD, RN, FAAN, pre-senting the talk, "The role of nurses at decision-making tables in today's health care environment." Concurrent sessions continue Oct. 10-11 with a broad range of offerings such as: Emotional intelligence and its role \037 in the workplace Blurring of boundaries in the age of \037 social media Community-acquired vs. hospital-\037 acquired MRSA in the patient with CKD Home safety \037 Pharmacology 202 \037 Chemical exposure in the workplace \037 Diabetes mellitus: new drugs \037 Gary Inglese, director of U.S. health care reimbursement for Baxter Healthcare, will present the closing ses-sion Oct. 11 entitled, "Bundling: what will it mean?" Inglese will explore cur-rent bundling practices and what can be expected in the future. Continuing Education Attendees can earn up to 11.5 contact hours of continuing nursing education (CNE), plus additional contact hours for the preconference workshops. Up to 450 minutes of pharmacology credit is available at the conference. Certification Exams On Oct. 8, the Nephrology Nursing Certification Commission will offer the certified nephrology nurse (CNN) exam, the certified dialysis nurse (CDN) exam, the certified nephrology nurse/ nurse practitioner (CNN-NP) exam, and the certified clinical hemodialysis technician (CCHT) exam. Applications may be downloaded at www.nncc-exam.org. NursingUpdate_NN&I_0810_5.indd 20 7/15/10 4:16:20 PM