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ANNA News
ANNA will host its 12th biennial Health Policy Workshop (HPW), June 24-25, 2013, at the Hilton Garden Inn, in Washington, DC. Workshop participants will learn about health policy issues and have the opportunity to visit Capitol Hill to educate their Members of Congress about the impact of kidney disease on their constituents. In addition, prior to the workshop, Webinars will be held to inform members about the legislative process.
Mother's Day, college and high school graduations, and Father's Day are right around the corner. If you are shopping for a special graduate, parent, or any occasion and plan to purchase gifts online at Amazon.com, please consider connecting to Amazon.com through the ANNA website. For every item you purchase on Amazon.com, ANNA will receive a referral fee.
Thank you to the many members who invited colleagues to join ANNA during the 2012 calendar year. A total of 317 members recruited 491 colleagues to join ANNA! Of those recruiters, 37 recruited 3 or more members and will receive a FREE 1-year ANNA membership as part of the 2012 "Free for 3" membership program. Of the 37 recruiters, 19 recruited 5 or more colleagues and were entered into a drawing for a free registration to the 2013 National Symposium in Las Vegas.
The results of ANNA's elections have been finalized. Sharon Longton, BSN, RN, CNN, CCTC, of Southgate, MI, was elected to serve as ANNA President-Elect, and Charla Litton, MSN, APRN, FNP-BC, CNN, of Haughton, LA, was named National Treasurer. Paula Richards, MSN, RN, CNN, was elected Northeast Vice President, and Phyllis Wille, MS, RN, FNP-C, CNN, was named North Central Vice President.
Venous needle dislodgement (VND) is a potential serious complication of hemodialysis therapy. In 2012 ANNA created a collaborative special project workgroup to review VND occurrence, consequences, and recommended practices, and to develop strategies and resources on VND. The Venous Needle Dislodgement Special Project Workgroup conducted a literature review and also surveyed nephrology nurses about their experiences with VND and their recommendations for needed resources.
ANNA's online continuing education bundles specifically designed for dialysis technicians now feature new content. Two Dialysis Technician Education Packages are available in ANNA's Online Library. Each education package includes an assortment of relevant content for the hemodialysis technician from ANNA national programs and offers at least 7 contact hours.
The American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) created new accreditation criteria that take effect in 2013. ANNA’s Continuing Education Approval Board (CEAB) has reviewed the current Guidelines for Continuing Education Approval and developed some clarification of areas, adding language to forms, creating additional policies, and adding some new information to forms. At the same time, CEAB also updated its information to reflect current needs and practices.
ANNA's Specialty CNE Packages, which are available in the Online Library, now feature new educational content. A set of continuing nursing education (CNE) programs has been compiled for each of the following nephrology specialty areas: Acute Care, Administration, Advanced Practice, Chronic Kidney Disease, Hemodialysis, Pediatrics, Peritoneal Dialysis, and Transplant.
On July 2, 2012, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) issued a proposed rule that would update Medicare policies and payment rates for end-stage renal disease (ESRD) facilities paid under the ESRD Prospective Payment System (PPS) for calendar year (CY) 2013. The proposed rule also would strengthen incentives for improved quality of care and better outcomes for patients through improvements to the ESRD Quality Incentive Program (QIP).
ANNA is pleased to announce an exciting change that will enhance the functioning of what we once called Special Interest Groups (SIGs), now called Specialty Practice Networks (SPNs). Through ANNA Connected, SPN members are automatically subscribed to SPN eGroups that connect them with other members with the same interests. You'll be "SPiNning" with the valuable information you'll receive. The SPNs have tapped into the excellent specialty practice talent in our general membership.