National Network of Career Nursing
Assistants
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Dear Friends
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The new emphasis on the leadership roles of nursing assistants is definitely emerging as an important issue to consider in the work setting and also for career advancement and peer support. However, new roles require new skills. The Leadership Program stands out as a program to prepare nursing assistants to work effectively in these new roles.
Includes special sessions designed to help the NA develop strategies for Provisional Chapter Development, Being a Member of a Care Planning Committee, Working with Mentors, Legislators and Public Policy Officials, Fund Raising and community support for Your Chapter, Newsletter Development, and others.
Reports: Nursing assistant groups and organizations will report on Chapter activities, NA Week Activities, local coalition building, how barriers were overcome, and innovative program activity.
Special reports: Many nursing assistants provided testimony, reports, or worked on behalf of NAs with federal and state legislators or public policy officials. Reports include HCFA Abuse and Neglect Committee, HCFA Nutrition and Hydration Committee, Congressional Briefing on Training Needs, Task Force on Male NAs, Task Force on Training and Career Advancement, and others.
National Awards: The Annual "Most Service Years" Award for Nursing Assistants nationwide will be presented.
Previous recipients include:
1999 - Margaret Peek CNA, GA - 55 years
1998 - Ivory Allen STNA, OH - 46 years
1997 - Elsie Tisdale-Davis CNA,VA - 48 years
1996 - Margaret Fletcher STNA, OH - 48 years
1995 - Betty Brewer STNA, OH - 47 years
1994 - Roberto Taloria, CNA, GA - 47 years
The second award presented annually, is the honorary membership in the National Twenty Year Club to a non-nursing assistant who has worked on behalf of NAs for 20 or more years.
HONORARY MEMBERS OF THE NATIONAL TWENTY YEAR CLUB
1999 - Carter Catlett Williams MSW, Rochester, NY
1998
- Dr Mary Harper, Retired director of Long Term Care for the National Institute of Mental Health and current director of the Mary Harper Gero Psychiatric Hospital in Tuscaloosa, AL.
- Elma Holder and Sarah Berger, Directors of the National Citizens Coalition for Nursing Home Reform.
- Elise Nakhnikian, Editor, Contemporary Long Term Care
Scorecard: Those attending complete a scorecard about the extent to which they worked on the Imperatives or "To Do" List for the year (see attached).
Here is how YOU can contribute to the Forum from your own facility: Discuss the following questions in your own group or inservice Program, then bring or send your answers and concerns to the Forum email to ([email protected]) or mail to the address listed belowa. What issues are facing today's nursing assistants?
b. What are you doing in your facility or area to address these concerns?
c. What tips do you have for others about working with the care planning committee.
d. In what ways has your job changed with MDS, PPS and managed care?
e. What helps the experienced Career-Nursing Assistant remain in the position?
f. What do you need from a supervisor and inservice person in order to work most effectively?
g. How do you make the work place a safer place for yourself and the people in your care?
h. How do you want to be recognized for your efforts and accomplishments?
i. What training or supervision do you need in order to train new nursing assistants?
j. Others__________________Costs and Funding Travel, hotel and registration costs do not need to create a barrier to attending. Here are some ways you may be able to generate funds for expenses:
a. Your facility may want to send you as a representative of the safety or care planing committee.
b. Your organization or facility may conduct a fund raising event to cover these costs.
c. Local vendors who provide services to your facility may want to fund your trip.
d. The United Way may be able to advise you about local grants that can be used for training purposes.
e. The District Nurses Association or Directors of Nursing group may want to sponsor you to this conference.
f. Some scholarships may become available to eligible nursing assistant mambers who also agree to use the principals of this conference in their own facility or organization.Sponsors
The Annual National Leadership Program and the National Forums are sponsored and conducted by the National Network of Career Nursing Assistants (NNCNA). The Programs are held each year in conjunction with the National Citizens Coalition for Nursing Home Reform's Annual Meeting (NCCNHR). The NCCNHR is a coalition of more than 70 different agencies and organizations who work with our citizens who are elderly and/or disabled. To view a program for the conference click here Annika put in link to NCCNHR Annual meeting
Credits and Registration
Nursing assistants or others can gain 8 of the 12 required hours toward their Leadership Certificate by attending the Leadership Conference on September 30 (cost- $35). Additional hours can be gained by attending classes and workshops sponsored by NCCNHR on October 1-3 (cost- $225 or volunteer service hours to NCCNHR). Other options for gaining credit include being on a responder panel during the NCCNHR conference, helping to draft a testimony or Position Statement for a Congressional Hearing, meeting with your governor or mayor, developing strategies for inclusion of NAs in care planning and others.
Hotel
Crystal Gateway Marriott Hotel, 1700 Jefferson Davis Highway Arlington VA 22202. Conference rate - $125 for single, double, triple or quad occupancy. Please call the hotel directly (703) 920 3230 or toll free at (800) 228 9290 for reservations. You must identify yourself as attending the NCCNHR annual meeting to get this rate. Additional information about ground transportation and other is in confirmation packet.
Success 2000
The 2000 Leadership Training Program prepared more than 450 nursing assistants in special skills associated with leadership in their facilities and peer groups. Following completion of the Program, trainees are expected to follow an agreed upon plan of action in their own setting. As an added support, mentors provide individual follow-up as the student applied new skills in the back-home setting.
It is exciting to see how quickly and energetically many graduates are able to apply new skills to create positive changes in their own facility or geographic areas. Some have worked with Mayors, city Council member or local legislators for community awareness.
Participants also developed a series of Position Statements in the areas of: Staffing, Education and Mentoring, Wage and Benefits, Abuse and Neglect, and Career Development. These statements represented the combined concerns of those attending. Nursing assistants and nursing assistant groups and organizations across the country provided additional input. A booklet containing the Position Statements, and Tips for working in positive ways with administrators, committees, legislators, public policy officials, organizations and the media is in process. Watch for more info about the release of this important publication.
Future Plans
In order to make this important training truly accessible to nursing assistants who may not be able to attend the DC Program, the Leadership Training Program also will be offered in at least 10 different states or geographic areas during the next two years. To obtain additional information about how you can host a Leadership Training Program in your area contact CNAP at ([email protected])
Action Steps:
- Develop self-directed groups.
- Foster NA participation on planning committees for local, state and national policy groups and in inservice meetings or workshops.
- Develop guidelines and dialogues for nursing assistant responder panels. Encourage groups and organizations to incorporate NA Responder Panels in their conferences and workshops
- Create Position Statements on specific topics identified by NAs as critical to the care they provide.
- Involve additional chapters and groups in planning for the National Forum and other projects.
- Expand the Nursing Assistant as Authors Program.
- Develop a comprehensive plan for contributing to journals and other publications
- Publish or disseminate the findings of the Position Statement Project by Nursing Assistants.
Action Steps:
- Develop a "National Code of Ethics and Bill of Rights for Nursing Assistants."
- Provide Leadership Training to nursing assistants.
- Promote career development programs for nursing assistants on local, state and national levels.
- Provide guidelines for a Nursing Assistants Speakers Bureau.
Action Steps:
Action Steps:
- Promote peer support, group development for nursing assistants on facility, local, state and national levels.
- Develop a on-going program of mentoring for nursing assistant leaders and Chapters.
- Maintain regular contact with chapters and the Nursing Assistant Leadership Council.
- Seek funding for Task Force and Chapter Development.
Action Steps:
- Develop a clearinghouse for nursing assistant related resources.
- Seek funding to develop and implement a Resource Center for Nursing Assistants that can be replicated in other parts of the country.
For more information contact:
Genevieve Gipson RN MEd RNC, Director,
National Network of Career Nursing Assistants,
3577 Easton Road, Norton, Ohio 44203,
(330) 825 9342. (330) 825 9378-fax.
[email protected] - email
Send Your Comments & Feedback to:
[email protected]