THE PRESIDENT’S PAGE
Igniting Professionalism in Your Practice Jacque A. Crosson, MSN, RN, CPAN
Jacque A. Crosson MSN, RN, CPAN, served ASPAN as Secretary from 2008-2012 and participated on several committees and work teams including Clinical Practice, Research, Policies and Procedures/Bylaws and Standards and Guidelines. In her home state of Arizona, she is Past President of the Arizona Perianesthesia Nurses Association from 2006-2007. Jacque is a Clinical Operations Manager for John C. Lincoln North Mountain Hospital, a Level One Trauma center, where she has twenty-four hour responsibility over preop and PACU. Valuing the importance of teamwork and elevating practice standards, Jacque still provides bedside care, which is her passion, but more importantly, models leadership and clinical practice skills. She is a champion of certification and is a member of the ABPANC Leader Resource Team. Jacque holds a Bachelor of Science in Health Arts from the University of St. Francis and a Masters in Nursing from the University of Phoenix. She is a Certified Post Anesthesia Nurse.
SHOWTIMEÓ DEVELOPED a fabulous, widely popular character in Nurse Jackie. Struggling with addiction and a multitude of personal issues, she has become, for many, the face of professional nursing.1 While very entertaining, and at times providing somewhat realistic drama, is this the role model that we want the public to embrace? I believe that television viewers everywhere understand the difference between fact and fiction. Perianesthesia nurses understand the importance of professionalism and its impact on society. As
Jacque A. Crosson, MSN, RN, CPAN, Clinical Operations Manager Preop/PACU, John C. Lincoln North Mountain Hospital, Phoenix, AZ, and President of the American Society of PeriAnesthesia Nurses, 2014-2015 Conflict of interest: None to report. Address correspondence to Jacque A. Crosson, John C. Lincoln North Mountain Hospital, 250 E. Dunlap Avenue, Phoenix, AZ 85020; e-mail address: [email protected]. Ó 2014 by American Society of PeriAnesthesia Nurses 1089-9472/$36.00 http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jopan.2014.03.009
Journal of PeriAnesthesia Nursing, Vol 29, No 3 (June), 2014: pp 167-169
of December 2013, a Gallup survey asked respondents to rate the ‘‘honesty and ethical standards’’ of professions. Once again, as in the past, nursing dominated the leaderboard at 82%.2 This is no accident. Nurses spend more time with patients than any other member of the health care team, developing a relationship while providing competent, evidence-based care. Professional practice is multifaceted with nonnegotiable characteristics. According to the American Nurses Association 2001 code of ethics, nurses retain accountability and responsibility for the quality of practice and conformity with professional standards of care.3 The professional perianesthesia nurse integrates these values into practice along with many other key traits. Vital to success is attitude. Demonstrating a positive, upbeat demeanor allows for modeling compassionate behavior while setting an example for all members of the health care team. Recognizing and utilizing appropriate dialogue creates a culture
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of inclusion, allowing for successful handoffs, comprehensive management of patient care issues and the building of collegial peer to peer relationships. Surrounding yourself with current practice and the ability to apply ASPAN’s Perianesthesia Nursing Standards, Practice Recommendations and Interpretive Statements to your work environment establishes you as a practice leader in your department.4 Being recognized as a resource allows you to apply the written recommendations to practice challenges in real time. As a clinical expert providing exemplary patient care, you are a perpetual mentor and a constant resource always available for peers. Embrace student nurses and welcome them as future perianesthesia nurses. How better to demonstrate the importance of nurturing and valuing novices, then to support them and offer a unique experience in our perianesthesia world? Share the vast knowledge and wisdom you possess to imprint a very impressionable mind with our specialty. As a professional perianesthesia nurse, teacher and mentor, enthusiastically embrace the role of igniting professionalism in your department. Recently, the 2010 Institute of Medicine Future of Nursing report supported the importance of professional nursing through the following recommendations5: Nurses should practice to the full extent of their education and training. Nurses should achieve higher levels of education and training through an improved education system that promotes seamless academic progression. Nurses should be full partners, with physicians and other health care professionals, in redesigning health care in the United States. Effective workforce planning and policy making require better data collection and information infrastructure. This is not new information to nursing. Professional perianesthesia nurses understand the importance of continuing education to remain current with new trends in anesthesia and emerging technology in surgical and other invasive procedures. They extensively collaborate with multiple members of the health care team to provide efficient, timely and competent care to patients. In
an environment as fast paced as our specialty, knowledge and experience allow the professional perianesthesia nurse to provide expert care to patients. Maintaining clinical relevance and obtaining a baccalaureate or advanced degree in nursing remains a priority for many perianesthesia nurses. Seeking to understand the future of health care and its impact on nursing implies accepting responsibility for developing policy and being present for its implementation. Regarding ethical behavior, perianesthesia nurses respect patient decisions, as well as ethnic and cultural diversity. As patient advocates, we understand the patient’s right to self-determination.6 As teachers, we provide appropriate and accurate information so that our patients can make informed decisions, even after receiving informed consent from their physicians. With the utmost integrity, honesty and morality, perianesthesia nurses practice within professional boundaries, earning the trust and admiration of our patients. Think of the many times that a nervous and scared patient opened up to you about a personal issue or concern that they were afraid to tell anyone else! With compassion and empathy, perianesthesia nurses erase the worry to ease fears so that the surgical experience can be a positive one. Perianesthesia nurses build and develop professional relationships with all members of the health care team. Understanding appropriate boundaries, they collaborate so that the patient receives optimal care with the best outcomes. Maintaining clinically competent care allows for relationships based on mutual respect among all caregivers. Always be proactive when it comes to optimizing a patient for their procedure, ensuring that all necessary testing has been completed. Problem solve and advocate when any identified clinical concerns arise. Whether intentional or not, as a professional perianesthesia nurse, you are a leader. All members of the health care team follow your lead as you consistently model practice behaviors, physician interactions and interact respectfully with patients. Finally, give back to your professional organization. You have vast experience in your specialty and have much to offer your colleagues. Volunteer to assist with local educational seminars,
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offer to help with a component project, or challenge yourself to run for a Board position. Never hesitate to be present at the policy table when decisions are made or changes to practice are recommended. Always keep the ‘‘big picture’’ in mind when determining the future of our specialty. While it can be tempting to solve chal-
lenges at a local level, our specialty reaches both national and international practice settings. Who better to determine the future of perianesthesia nursing than perianesthesia nurses! Lead by example and engage your peers in being involved in their specialty. Model the way by igniting professionalism.
References 1. Nurse Jackie-Official Site – Showtime. 2014. Available at: http://www.sho.com/sho/nurse-jackie/home. Accessed February 27, 2014. 2. Gallup, Inc. Honesty/Ethics in Professions 2013. Available at: http://www.gallup.com/poll/1654/honesty-ethics-pro fessions.aspx. Accessed January 26, 2014. 3. Milton C. Accountability in nursing: Reflecting on ethical codes and professional standards of nursing practice from a global perspective. Nurs Sci Q. 2008;21:300-303.
4. American Society of PeriAnesthesia Nurses. 2012-2014 Perianesthesia Nursing Standards, Practice Recommendations and Interpretive Statements. Cherry Hill, NJ: ASPAN; 2012. 5. Institute of Medicine. The Future of Nursing: Leading Change Advancing Health. 2010. Available at: http://www. iom.edu/Reports/2010/The-future-of-nursing-leading-changeadvancing-health.aspx. Accessed February 4, 2014. 6. Cole C. Implied consent and nursing practice: Ethical or convenient? Nurs Ethics. 2012;19:550-557.
Igniting Professionalism in Your Practice Jacque A. Crosson, MSN, RN, CPAN
Jacque A. Crosson MSN, RN, CPAN, served ASPAN as Secretary from 2008-2012 and participated on several committees and work teams including Clinical Practice, Research, Policies and Procedures/Bylaws and Standards and Guidelines. In her home state of Arizona, she is Past President of the Arizona Perianesthesia Nurses Association from 2006-2007. Jacque is a Clinical Operations Manager for John C. Lincoln North Mountain Hospital, a Level One Trauma center, where she has twenty-four hour responsibility over preop and PACU. Valuing the importance of teamwork and elevating practice standards, Jacque still provides bedside care, which is her passion, but more importantly, models leadership and clinical practice skills. She is a champion of certification and is a member of the ABPANC Leader Resource Team. Jacque holds a Bachelor of Science in Health Arts from the University of St. Francis and a Masters in Nursing from the University of Phoenix. She is a Certified Post Anesthesia Nurse.
SHOWTIMEÓ DEVELOPED a fabulous, widely popular character in Nurse Jackie. Struggling with addiction and a multitude of personal issues, she has become, for many, the face of professional nursing.1 While very entertaining, and at times providing somewhat realistic drama, is this the role model that we want the public to embrace? I believe that television viewers everywhere understand the difference between fact and fiction. Perianesthesia nurses understand the importance of professionalism and its impact on society. As
Jacque A. Crosson, MSN, RN, CPAN, Clinical Operations Manager Preop/PACU, John C. Lincoln North Mountain Hospital, Phoenix, AZ, and President of the American Society of PeriAnesthesia Nurses, 2014-2015 Conflict of interest: None to report. Address correspondence to Jacque A. Crosson, John C. Lincoln North Mountain Hospital, 250 E. Dunlap Avenue, Phoenix, AZ 85020; e-mail address: [email protected]. Ó 2014 by American Society of PeriAnesthesia Nurses 1089-9472/$36.00 http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jopan.2014.03.009
Journal of PeriAnesthesia Nursing, Vol 29, No 3 (June), 2014: pp 167-169
of December 2013, a Gallup survey asked respondents to rate the ‘‘honesty and ethical standards’’ of professions. Once again, as in the past, nursing dominated the leaderboard at 82%.2 This is no accident. Nurses spend more time with patients than any other member of the health care team, developing a relationship while providing competent, evidence-based care. Professional practice is multifaceted with nonnegotiable characteristics. According to the American Nurses Association 2001 code of ethics, nurses retain accountability and responsibility for the quality of practice and conformity with professional standards of care.3 The professional perianesthesia nurse integrates these values into practice along with many other key traits. Vital to success is attitude. Demonstrating a positive, upbeat demeanor allows for modeling compassionate behavior while setting an example for all members of the health care team. Recognizing and utilizing appropriate dialogue creates a culture
167
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of inclusion, allowing for successful handoffs, comprehensive management of patient care issues and the building of collegial peer to peer relationships. Surrounding yourself with current practice and the ability to apply ASPAN’s Perianesthesia Nursing Standards, Practice Recommendations and Interpretive Statements to your work environment establishes you as a practice leader in your department.4 Being recognized as a resource allows you to apply the written recommendations to practice challenges in real time. As a clinical expert providing exemplary patient care, you are a perpetual mentor and a constant resource always available for peers. Embrace student nurses and welcome them as future perianesthesia nurses. How better to demonstrate the importance of nurturing and valuing novices, then to support them and offer a unique experience in our perianesthesia world? Share the vast knowledge and wisdom you possess to imprint a very impressionable mind with our specialty. As a professional perianesthesia nurse, teacher and mentor, enthusiastically embrace the role of igniting professionalism in your department. Recently, the 2010 Institute of Medicine Future of Nursing report supported the importance of professional nursing through the following recommendations5: Nurses should practice to the full extent of their education and training. Nurses should achieve higher levels of education and training through an improved education system that promotes seamless academic progression. Nurses should be full partners, with physicians and other health care professionals, in redesigning health care in the United States. Effective workforce planning and policy making require better data collection and information infrastructure. This is not new information to nursing. Professional perianesthesia nurses understand the importance of continuing education to remain current with new trends in anesthesia and emerging technology in surgical and other invasive procedures. They extensively collaborate with multiple members of the health care team to provide efficient, timely and competent care to patients. In
an environment as fast paced as our specialty, knowledge and experience allow the professional perianesthesia nurse to provide expert care to patients. Maintaining clinical relevance and obtaining a baccalaureate or advanced degree in nursing remains a priority for many perianesthesia nurses. Seeking to understand the future of health care and its impact on nursing implies accepting responsibility for developing policy and being present for its implementation. Regarding ethical behavior, perianesthesia nurses respect patient decisions, as well as ethnic and cultural diversity. As patient advocates, we understand the patient’s right to self-determination.6 As teachers, we provide appropriate and accurate information so that our patients can make informed decisions, even after receiving informed consent from their physicians. With the utmost integrity, honesty and morality, perianesthesia nurses practice within professional boundaries, earning the trust and admiration of our patients. Think of the many times that a nervous and scared patient opened up to you about a personal issue or concern that they were afraid to tell anyone else! With compassion and empathy, perianesthesia nurses erase the worry to ease fears so that the surgical experience can be a positive one. Perianesthesia nurses build and develop professional relationships with all members of the health care team. Understanding appropriate boundaries, they collaborate so that the patient receives optimal care with the best outcomes. Maintaining clinically competent care allows for relationships based on mutual respect among all caregivers. Always be proactive when it comes to optimizing a patient for their procedure, ensuring that all necessary testing has been completed. Problem solve and advocate when any identified clinical concerns arise. Whether intentional or not, as a professional perianesthesia nurse, you are a leader. All members of the health care team follow your lead as you consistently model practice behaviors, physician interactions and interact respectfully with patients. Finally, give back to your professional organization. You have vast experience in your specialty and have much to offer your colleagues. Volunteer to assist with local educational seminars,
169
THE PRESIDENT’S PAGE
offer to help with a component project, or challenge yourself to run for a Board position. Never hesitate to be present at the policy table when decisions are made or changes to practice are recommended. Always keep the ‘‘big picture’’ in mind when determining the future of our specialty. While it can be tempting to solve chal-
lenges at a local level, our specialty reaches both national and international practice settings. Who better to determine the future of perianesthesia nursing than perianesthesia nurses! Lead by example and engage your peers in being involved in their specialty. Model the way by igniting professionalism.
References 1. Nurse Jackie-Official Site – Showtime. 2014. Available at: http://www.sho.com/sho/nurse-jackie/home. Accessed February 27, 2014. 2. Gallup, Inc. Honesty/Ethics in Professions 2013. Available at: http://www.gallup.com/poll/1654/honesty-ethics-pro fessions.aspx. Accessed January 26, 2014. 3. Milton C. Accountability in nursing: Reflecting on ethical codes and professional standards of nursing practice from a global perspective. Nurs Sci Q. 2008;21:300-303.
4. American Society of PeriAnesthesia Nurses. 2012-2014 Perianesthesia Nursing Standards, Practice Recommendations and Interpretive Statements. Cherry Hill, NJ: ASPAN; 2012. 5. Institute of Medicine. The Future of Nursing: Leading Change Advancing Health. 2010. Available at: http://www. iom.edu/Reports/2010/The-future-of-nursing-leading-changeadvancing-health.aspx. Accessed February 4, 2014. 6. Cole C. Implied consent and nursing practice: Ethical or convenient? Nurs Ethics. 2012;19:550-557.
