healthcare professionals use iPad to explore COVID-19 surge staffing tool

AAN Announces 2021 Class of Fellows, ANNA Wins Award for COVID-19 Surge Staffing Tool, and More Nursing News

healthcare professionals use iPad to explore COVID-19 surge staffing tool

The American Academy of Nursing (AAN) announces their 2021 Class of Fellows. The American Nephrology Nurses Association (ANNA) receives a prestigious award for its COVID-19 surge staffing tool. The American Association of Critical-Care Nurses (AACN) is offering scholarships to nurses ready to pursue their CCRN or PCCN specialty certification. A nursing podcast combines no-nonsense advice with thought-provoking interviews. Read on for more nursing news and insights.

American Academy of Nursing Announces 2021 Class of Fellows

More than 200 nurse leaders have been announced as distinguished professionals to be inducted into the 2021 Class of Fellows by the American Academy of Nursing (AAN). The inductees are recognized for their significant contributions to health and healthcare, and will officially be welcomed in October, according to AAN officials.

“I am thrilled to welcome another exceptional class of fellows to the American Academy of Nursing during a momentous time of change and progress in our collective efforts to fulfill the organization’s vision of healthy lives for all people,” said Eileen Sullivan-Marx, PhD, RN, FAAN, president of the AAN, in a prepared statement. “The Academy aims to improve health and achieve health equity through nursing leadership, innovation, and science.

“The Academy’s fellows embody our values of equity, diversity and inclusivity, inquiry, integrity, and courage, which enable us to achieve new heights of impact that advance health policy across the globe. Congratulations to this dynamic cohort of leaders who bring diverse experience and expertise to the fellowship.”

The new fellows represent 38 states, the District of Columbia, and 17 countries. Professionals were chosen through an application process. The full list of new fellows can be found online.

Explore essentials of nursing leadership in our in-depth series: Leadership and Nursing Practice Specialty.

ANNA Wins Prestigious Award for COVID-19 Surge Staffing Tool

An online program launched last year to connect nephrology nurses with healthcare facilities that are facing critical shortages of nursing staff during the pandemic is being honored for its value.

The American Nephrology Nurses Association (ANNA) has received a 2021 American Society of Association Executives (ASAE) Power of A® Gold Award for its “COVID-19 Nephrology Nurse Surge Support” interactive map, officials recently announced.

“We developed the map after states and other organizations sounded the alarm, asking us for help in recruiting nephrology nurses for COVID-19 hotspots,” said ANNA executive director Tamara Kear, PhD, RN, CNN, FAAN, in a prepared statement.

The Power of A® (association) Awards are the industry’s highest honor and recognize the association community’s valuable contributions at the local, national, and global levels. The awards spotlight “… the outstanding accomplishments of associations and industry professionals who work tirelessly to solve problems and strengthen lives, the workforce, the economy, and the world,” according to ASAE.

ANNA will be recognized during the ASAE Summit Awards reception Sept. 30. “Congratulations for exemplifying the impact associations have on the industries and professions they represent, and on society at large,” said ASAE president and chief executive officer Susan Robertson, CAE. “It’s always so incredibly satisfying to see associations going above and beyond their mission to change the world. We’re very proud to spotlight this award-winning initiative.”

Because the virus causes life-threatening kidney complications and the nationwide emergency is ongoing, Dr. Kear said the surge support map is as important now as it was when COVID-19 first emerged and will remain in use until the virus recedes.

Professional Baseball Community Funds New Nursing Scholarships

The American Association of Critical-Care Nurses (AACN) is offering scholarships to nurses ready to pursue their Critical Care Registered Nurse (CCRN) or Progressive Care Certified Nurse (PCCN) specialty certification for the first time in the organization’s history.

The funds come through contributions from the Professional Baseball Athletic Trainers Society (PBATS) and Major League Baseball (MLB) Team Physicians Association in recognition of nurses’ dedication during COVID-19 pandemic, according to the AACN, which will reportedly provide scholarships to more than 80 critical and progressive care nurses. PBATS represents athletic trainers at all 30 MLB clubs and their Minor League affiliates.

“Nurses have been on the frontlines of the COVID-19 pandemic, and we are inspired by their dedication and resilience,” said Ron Porterfield, PBATS president and director of player health with the Los Angeles Dodgers. “We wanted to recognize their hard work while helping them advance professionally at the same time.”

Each scholarship will cover a one-time certification exam registration fee and access to one of AACN’s online certification review courses. AACN members who are first-time CCRN or PCCN certification candidates can apply online for the scholarships through Oct. 18. Recipients will be notified in December 2021 and must register for and schedule their exam within six months of notification.

“Interdisciplinary collaboration and teamwork have been a hallmark of care during the COVID-19 pandemic, and this recognition underscores the value of those relationships,” said Beth Wathen, AACN president, in a prepared statement. “These scholarships will help dozens of critical and progressive care nurses earn their specialty nursing certification, which will have a lasting impact for the recipients, their colleagues and their patients.”

Applicants must meet the specific initial eligibility requirements for either CCRN or PCCN certification and must remain AACN members for the duration of the funded activity. Additional information is available online.

Funded solely by donations, AACN professional development scholarships support opportunities to help nurses continue their professional and personal growth, including health policy, evidence-based practice and leadership development, conferences, local events, skills to create a healthy work environment, and personal growth and communications.

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Podcast spotlight: Ask Nurse Alice Podcast

Alice Benjamin, MSN, APRN, ACNS-BC, FNP-C, combines no-nonsense advice with thought-provoking interviews in this engaging podcast. Benjamin learned valuable lessons along her career journey, and this podcast allows her to facilitate discussions that provide her best advice.

The most recent episodes include “Opening Up About Compassion Fatigue,” “Mental Health & Burnout,” and “What Nurses Can Do About Misinformation.”

All episodes are available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and here.

Learn more about combating burnout and compassion fatigue in our FREE on-demand webinar by Lesly Kelly, PhD, RN, FAAN: Nurse Leadership Resiliency.

Views expressed here are those of the author and do not necessarily represent the views of Elite Learning or Colibri Group. Media referenced in this news round-up does not constitute an endorsement.