NURSE EDUCATORS!! CONFERENCE AT UMD/SON!

I had a really good time today with colleagues, co-students, professors and speakers.  Today's Main Conference was part of the three-day Institute for Educators in Nursing and Health Professions, Excellence in Teaching Nursing, presented by the University of Maryland, School of Nursing!  I'm so proud, because I am a part of this Institute.  A portion of my Master's education is through the Institute.

I always sit up front--as close to the instructors as possible, so I can make eye contact with them.  I did it in the Keynote/Endnote Speeches and in each class.  We learned so much and I met and networked with some very nice people, who have allowed me to mention them here ON MY BLOG!  I'M SOOOOO EXCITED!

I was also able to pass the word on to some Psych Nurses in attendance, so I'm hoping they'll drop by, check the blog out and comment and/or write an article!  Thanks, Psych Educator Colleagues!

I've also posted a couple of photos from the conference.  Me between  (on the RIGHT) Institute Co-Director (and one of our professors), Louise Jenkins, PhD, RN and (on the LEFT) my classmate and Institute Poster Presenter, Susan Dukes, Maj, USAF, MA, MS, CCRN, CCNS, RN

Me with Anita Stineman, PhD, RN, a presenter at the Institute.  Her seminar on Pre-Post Clinical Conferences was very informative and I enjoyed it!

FEATURED NURSE EDUCATORS from the Institute for Educators Conference

• SUSAN BOYER, MEd, RN, FAHCEP, Executive Director of VNIP (Vermont Nurses In Partnership), an organization dedicated to supporting nurse development.  Her organization has initiated a movement to provide curriculum for and regulate nursing preceptorships.  She gave a very energetic lecture--at the Institute for Educators on March 11, 2010.  Check out her website at www.vnip.org!
• DEBRA WEBSTER, EdD, MS, RNBC, of SALISBURY UNIVERSITY, Salisbury, MD.  She was a Poster Presenter on 'Addressing Academic Uncivility in Nursing Education'. She can be reached at dawebster@salisbury.edu
• TRACY BARR, BSN, RN, CEN, TRACY KOSTELEC, BSN, RN, CEN and Monica Nelson at Mercy Medical Center, who were Poster Presenters on 'Writer's Block: Improving Nurses' Professional Writing Skills'.  Their In-House Workshops educated the Mercy Medical Center nurses on Basics, Getting Published, Grant Writing!  20% of their attendees have gotten published!!  This is something I'm very interested in.  I want to become (more) published and learn how to write grants!  Tracy Kostelec can be contacted for more information at tminard@md.mercy.com

It was also a pleasure meeting Julie Cook, MSN/MPH, RN, PHCNS, who works with the Programs of Assertive Community Treatment (PACT) at the University of Maryland Medical System (UMMS)

NURSE EDUCATORS IN PSYCHIATRY and OTHER SPECIALTIES

Here's a link to updates in standard texts and references in the field.
Peace, Sylvia
http://www.whatcounts.com/blog/lww/lippincott-authors

ADVANCE PRACTICE NURSES

WHERE ARE ALL MY CNSs and PMHN-NPs?
I'd like to hear from you!  Email me if you'd like to write an article about what you do, what you've learned, what you like the Health Reform to do for the Severely and Persistently Mentally Ill (SPMI).  Fresh ideas are always welcome!

WHAT TYPE OF SETTING DO YOU WORK IN?

Are you:

• In a psychiatric hospital (state or privately owned/operated)?
• At an outpatient clinic
• In a community health setting
• Working for a mental health managed care company or the mental health divsion of a managed care company?

What settings have you liked? Hated?  What would you want to change?

I wanna hear from you!

Peace, Sylvia

JOINING NURSING and/or NURSING SPECIALTY ORGANIZATIONS--HAVE YOU?

How many of you have joined specialty organizations in the past?  Have you kept your membership current?  Why not?  What organizations have you joined?

I joined the BNA GWDCA (Black Nurses Association of the Greater Washington, DC Area) yesterday and HAD A BALL!  I networked and it felt GOOD!  I've attached some photos ...ENJOY!

TOP PHOTO--Past Nurse of the Year Honorees--1981-2009!

CENTER PHOTO--

Howard University Division of Nursing Senior Student, Erica Davis receives a Dr. Johnella Banks Memorial Scholarship!!

Millicent Gorham, Executive Director, National Black Nurses Association with me at our table!

NEW PSYCHOTHERAPEUTIC AGENTS

There's another new Atypical Antipsychotic  used as an adjunct for Bipolar Disorder on the market since August 2009.  It's called SAPHRIS(R) (asenapine).  Here's a link to the site:
http://www.saphris.com/saphris/index.jsp     It has most of the intended actions and side effects of its predecessors.  Let me know what you think about it. Have you used it yet?
Here are a couple of links to articles about it, too!
http://www.pslgroup.com/news/content.nsf/medicalnews/852576140048867C852576DB007F5883?OpenDocument&id=&count=10