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Nursing Community Monthly Roundup – June 2022

OADN continues our federal advocacy on your behalf as a member of the Nursing Community Coalition, where we work to ensure that nurses are supported and that nursing education is funded.

NCC Steering Committee Sends Letter to House of Representatives supporting passage of H.R. 6087, the Improving Access to Workers’ Compensation for Injured Federal Workers Act
On June 7, the Nursing Community Coalition (NCC) Steering Committee sent a letter on behalf of the NCC to members of the House of Representatives supporting passage of H.R. 6087, the improving Access to Workers’ Compensation for Injured Federal Workers Act, which would retire outdated barriers in the Federal Employees’ Compensation Act (FECA) that limit the ability of Nurse Practitioners (NPs) to provide care and treatment for injured or ill federal employees.

NCC Thanks Congress for Introducing a Resolution Honoring and Recognizing National Nurses Week 2022
On June 8, sixty-two members of the Nursing Community Coalition (NCC) signed onto a thank you letter to Senate Nursing Caucus Co-Chairs, Sen. Jeff Merkley (D-OR) and Sen. Roger Wicker (R-MS), as well as Rep. Eddie Bernice Johnson (D-TX-30), one of the three nurses in Congress, and House Nursing Caucus Co-Chair, Rep. David Joyce (R-OH-14), along with more than 70 bipartisan members in the House and Senate, for introducing S.Res.626/ H.Res.1100- A resolution supporting the goals and ideals of National Nurses Week, to be observed from May 6 through May 12, 2022.

NCC Sends Letter Supporting Legislation to Address Workplace Violence
On June 9, May 11, fifty-three members of the Nursing Community Coalition (NCC) signed onto a letter to Sen. Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), and original Senate cosponsors, supporting introduction of the Workplace Violence Prevention for Health Care and Social Service Workers Act (S.4182) in the Senate and strongly urging passage of this important legislation this Congress.

Message from the CEO – July 2022

Donna Meyer

Dear OADN Members:

The Fourth of July is upon us, a holiday I have always enjoyed for its patriotic songs, joyous parades, and festive fireworks. It is a day to gather together with family, friends, neighbors, and our fellow Americans as we celebrate the independence of our country. This year is no exception, but I also reflect on the sacrifices so many individuals have made for our country in the name of freedom and democracy. For all of you reading this message who are part of the United States Armed Forces, I along with the entire OADN community, would like to thank you for your dedicated service to our country. Although we face many challenges in our country, I still believe we are fortunate to live in a land of opportunity and we must always remain hopeful for the future. So many around the world desire to have the same possibilities and privileges that we often take for granted in our country. May we always remember the plight of the others, express gratitude to all who serve, honor those who made the ultimate sacrifice defending our freedom, champion the change we wish to see, and be proud to hang the American flag.

I am thrilled to share this year’s OADN Convention theme, Owning Your Influence, embodies the same spirit of Independence Day as it focuses on the profound impact of each nurse educator to be a champion for meaningful change and calls on all of us to recognize and leverage the important contributions, we make every day as leaders in our communities. Every year the OADN Convention delivers thought-provoking and innovative educational sessions to our members. This year will not disappoint as we will welcome general session speakers who are owning their influence and championing change in nursing education at the international, national, and local levels.

We are excited to welcome speakers from our host city New Orleans and surrounding area who will be sharing their own stories of impact. This includes Scharmaine Lawson, FNP-BC, PMHNP-BC, FAAN, FAANP, who is an award-winning author, nurse entrepreneur, and nationally recognized speaker. Many of you will recognize Dr. Lawson from her various media appearances including the Today Show and the CBS Evening News. Tracey Moffatt, MHA, BSN, RN, who serves as System Chief Nursing Officer for Ochsner Health, will kick off this year’s general sessions with a talk on the importance of the associate degree pathway and the major investments and partnership her system has made with the local community college nursing program. Following this session, we will hear from Ecoee Rooney, DNP, RN, NPD-BC, SANE-A, DF-AFN, also of the New Orleans-based Ochsner Health System where she serves as Director of Nursing Leadership Development. Dr. Rooney will discuss the importance of self-care while navigating the complex challenges of our current healthcare environment. Deborah Ford, MSN, ADN, RN, Chief Nursing Officer and Vice President of Quality, Ochsner Clinic Foundation, will deliver the Saturday morning general session about the importance of investing in yourself and finding your voice as a leader. OADN is also delighted to welcome back Dr. Sharrica Miller, Ph.D., CPNP-PC, RN, who will moderate a general session panel to discuss what educators can do to address racism in nursing. All panelists were members of the ANA Commission to Address Racism in Nursing education work group and will share their perspectives.

With 2023 and Next Generation NCLEX quickly approaching, we will be joined by Jason Schwartz, the National Council of State Boards of Nursing Director, for a general session entitled Next Generation NCLEX: Countdown to Launch! Our final general session speaker will be internationally recognized simulation expert Margaret Verkuyl, NP-PHC, MN, who will be speaking on how nurse leaders in Canada are joining together to transform nursing education through virtual simulation and the implications for associate degree programs in the United States.

I am pleased to share with you that this year all Friday morning workshops will be included in the cost of your general registration fee, and will no longer entail an additional fee! This represents a tremendous value and cost savings for all attendees. There will be seven workshops to choose from on a host of topics including active learning strategies, accreditation, simulation, and many more.

This year’s all-day workshop, Next Gen in Every Class: From Fundamentals to NCLEX and Beyond, will be offered at an additional fee on Thursday, November 17th and will be presented by Tim Bristol, Ph.D., RN, CNE, ANEF, FAADN, FAAN and Karin J. Sherrill, MSN, RN, CNE, ANEF, FAADN. Participants will develop a plan for success that enhances Next Gen teaching in the classroom under the guidance of two of the leading experts on the subject.

Finally, I am pleased to announce OADN partners, CastleBranch and the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN) will be sponsoring the faculty and student posters. The sponsorship provides a monetary award for first, second, and third place award recipient. OADN appreciates their generous support in recognizing the excellence of faculty and students.

Personally, this year’s convention is bittersweet for me as I began my leadership role as OADN President in New Orleans in 2012. I will now approach a full circle moment as I leave my position as OADN’s first Chief Executive Officer. I hope to see many of you in New Orleans this November as we reminisce over the last ten years and look forward to the future together.

 

 

Donna Meyer, MSN, RN, ANEF, FAADN, FAAN
Chief Executive Officer, OADN

Nursing Community Monthly Roundup – May 2022

OADN continues our federal advocacy on your behalf as a member of the Nursing Community Coalition, where we work to ensure that nurses are supported and that nursing education is funded.

NCC Sends Letter to Congress Outlining Top Legislative Priorities
On May 6, sixty-two members of the Nursing Community Coalition (NCC) signed onto a letter urging Congress to take action on top legislative priorities that impact nursing education, practice, and research. This letter comes as we kick off National Nurses Week 2022.

NCC Hosts Virtual Congressional Briefing and Roundtable Discussion during National Nurses Week
On May 10, the Nursing Community Coalition (NCC) held a virtual congressional briefing and roundtable discussion to highlight issues impacting nursing education, practice, and research. NCC members provided an overview to more than 100 guests, both on and off Capitol Hill, on trends within academic nursing and the workforce, while outlining requests to support our current and future nurses.

NCC Submits Testimony to House and Senate Appropriations Subcommittees
On May 11, fifty-nine members of the Nursing Community Coalition (NCC) signed onto written testimony submitted to the House and Senate Appropriations Subcommittees on Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education. The testimony featured the coalition’s funding requests of $530 million for the Title VIII Nursing Workforce Development Programs and $210 million for the National Institute of Nursing Research for Fiscal Year 2023.

40 Senators Support FY 2023 Funding for Title VIII in Senate Dear Colleague Letter 
On May 25, forty Senators signed onto a Senate Dear Colleague letter circulated by senate Nursing Caucus Co-Chair, Senator Jeff Merkley (D-OR) requesting $530 million for Title VIII Nursing Workforce Development Programs in FY 2023.

National Commission to Address Racism in Nursing Releases Foundational Report

The National Commission to Address Racism in Nursing has issued a new foundational report that explores the impact of systemic racism on the nursing workforce and delivery of nursing care. The report closely examines the effects that racism has on nursing education, policy, research, and practice.

“These reports explore how racism shows up in our profession. We invite you to read each document with an open mind and heart, and with the empathy and thirst for knowledge that define excellence in nursing. How might this information influence you and your nursing practice? How might it be fuel for improving our profession, and the health, educational, and social systems in which we engage and work?”

OADN was invited to be an inaugural member of the Commission in January of 2021, and OADN members were asked to provide comments on the report’s initial draft in early 2022.  OADN CEO Donna Meyer, MSN, RN, ANEF, FAADN, FAAN served as a commissioner for the report’s education workgroup, with Teaching and Learning in Nursing Editor-in-Chief Anna Valdez, Ph.D., RN, PHN, CEN, CNE, CFRN, FAEN, FAADN and OADN Board of Directors Member Jayson T. Valerio, DNP, RN serving as subject matter experts for the report’s education section.

 

Download The Full Report

 

The History of Racism in Nursing

This report centers the experiences of nurses of color in U.S. history and how structural and systemic racism have hindered access to educational and professional opportunities as well as institutional power. The report also reviews some of the ways in which these nurses resisted, challenged, and achieved within the structures of racism.

Additionally, the report explains and critiques the central place that whiteness has occupied in histories of American nursing. More contextualized historical studies about the experiences of nurses of color and studies that explore the complicity of the nursing profession in perpetuating racism are needed.

Read this section

Contemporary Context

What does racism look like in the 21st Century? This essay examines power, privilege, and prejudice in nursing today. By looking at our history, we can understand the current inequities and discriminatory practices that hinder the progress of nurses of color.

Read this section

Education

Racism in nursing education has been prevalent since its beginning with roots in white supremacy. Today both students and faculty of color experience negative environments and limited opportunities.

Creating equitable and inclusive learning environments will lead to increased access and opportunities for students, faculty, and staff. This will eliminate many barriers and gaps that prevent success.

Read this section

Policy

Due to the systemic nature of policies, they are a significant means by which racism within nursing is perpetuated.

A commitment must be made to eliminate racism in existing policy. Additionally, new policies that address past harms and advance the nursing profession are needed.

Read this section

Practice

The impact of racism in the nurse’s work environment has significant implications on staff retention and physical and psychological safety. By viewing racism as a preventable harm, it is possible to see how it can be confronted through changes to structures, beliefs, policies, and practices.

This report also explores the ethical obligations to develop a culture where all staff and patients are treated fairly. Included are suggestions for how health care organizations can create an inclusive and civil culture.

Read this section

Research

Nursing research is overwhelmingly conducted by white nurse researchers. Research done with minoritized communities leaves impressions of exploitation and mistrust. Minority nurse researchers are key to address health disparities and inequities.

Current structures for research funding from healthcare institutions and governmental agencies are inequitable and must change. Bold funding decisions can level the field and lead to positive disruption.

Read this section

OADN CEO Announces Retirement

Donna Meyer

Dear OADN Members,

On June 1, 2015, I had the distinct privilege of becoming the inaugural Chief Executive Officer of OADN. Serving as your CEO over these past seven years has been the highlight of my professional career and has made a profound impact on my life in many ways. My journey with OADN began in the late 1990’s when I was the Director of Nursing Education at Lewis and Clark Community College, and I became involved with the Illinois Chapter of OADN. It was evident from the start that OADN was unlike other associations, it was special. I discovered a tight-knit community of trusted colleagues and supportive friends all of whom shared my passion for associate degree nursing education. Little did I know then this sense of community and belonging that I was fortunate to find would catapult my professional nursing career to leadership roles beginning with the Illinois OADN Chapter, and ultimately at the national level from my term as President to the first CEO. It has truly been the most remarkable journey, all of which began by taking a simple step to become involved thanks to encouragement from respected peers.

OADN has been on a truly remarkable journey as well. Formerly operated by an association management company, OADN became an independently operating  association with its own operations team in 2018. This transition was a milestone for OADN as the organization skyrocketed to national prominence. I am extremely proud of the significant strides OADN has made over the last several years growing to a highly respected, national nursing organization. OADN is a pillar in the nursing community and the strongest voice for associate degree nurses and ADN educators in the country, a true embodiment of our mission as “the national voice and a pivotal resource for community college nursing education and the associate degree pathway.”

During my tenure as CEO, OADN was called upon by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation to offer its expertise for a national dialogue on nursing and the future direction of nursing academic progression, which later led to the establishment of the critically important National Education Progression in Nursing Collaborative (NEPIN). Another memorable and meaningful accomplishment was the initiation of the Academy of Associate Degree Nursing by OADN. It was a highlight of my career to be awarded the distinction of Fellow of the Academy of Associate Degree Nursing (FAADN), the only such honor reserved exclusively for associate degree nursing education. It has been a privilege to oversee our membership growth, develop strategic relationships with valued sponsors and partners such as CastleBranch and the ACEN, initiate the Alpha Delta Nu Nursing Honor Society, the COVID-19 Task Force and DEI Committee, and most recently the launch of the OADN Leadership Institute. I have seen firsthand how OADN has evolved to meet the needs of our members and become a beacon for nurse educators around the country and throughout every stage of their professional development.

Over these challenging past two years of a global pandemic, in collaboration with the OADN Board of Directors, I have endeavored to guide OADN with an innovative and resilient spirit to support our members and elevate our collective voice and impact for community college nursing education. At the same time, like many others, I have reflected on my own personal goals and now more than ever, I realize time is a finite treasure. Therefore, it is truly a bittersweet moment that I formally announce my retirement from OADN, effective December 31, 2022. The decision to step down from my role as OADN CEO was not an easy one, but with the support of my wonderful family and dear friends, I look with excitement to the future as I contemplate the next steps in my personal and professional journey. I will always remain a passionate advocate for associate degree nursing, however, I truly believe a good leader recognizes when the time comes for new leadership. I have no doubt that OADN will continue to grow and flourish under the new CEO’s direction because its greatest strength remains unchanged, and that strength is you. You are what drives OADN to pursue excellence. You are the fiercest advocates for associate degree nursing. You are what makes OADN so special. As such, you are also the reason why my decision to retire was so difficult. This extraordinary opportunity to serve OADN has allowed me to meet so many of you amazing, inspiring, and talented individuals over the years. I have been humbled by your call to serve and grateful for your loyal friendship and support. You are the foundation and heart of OADN. I thank each of you, our wonderful OADN members, for your dedicated support of my leadership over the years and your steadfast commitment to our profession, our students, and the communities we serve.

I would also like to express my gratitude for all of the dedicated volunteers who have served with me, and supported me, on the OADN Board of Directors over the past ten years, first in my role as President and then as OADN’s CEO. Thank you to the exemplary operations team at OADN as well, consisting of Bryan Hoffman, Mary Dickow, Amy Owens, and Harriet McClung. They have been by my side supporting OADN and me personally, and I feel very fortunate to be surrounded by such gifted individuals. While I am stepping away from OADN as CEO, I am not going far. I am very pleased to announce that I will begin my term as an OADN Foundation Board member beginning January 1, 2023. I am excited to be able to support OADN in this new role and direction.

I hope you will join me in New Orleans this November 18 -20, 2022, for my final OADN Convention as your CEO. It is fitting that my first OADN Convention as President was in 2012 at the Hyatt Regency in New Orleans. We are once again returning to this exact location, and so my remarkable journey with OADN, one that all began by taking a simple, first step of getting involved, has now come full circle. I look forward to reminiscing over the last ten years while embracing the bright future ahead for OADN, together.

With immense gratitude,

 

 

Donna Meyer, MSN, RN, ANEF, FAADN, FAAN
Chief Executive Officer, OADN

National Report Underscores the Importance of Associate Degree Nursing Programs

The Center for American Progress has published a new report entitled How To Ease The Nursing Shortage In America.  The report underscores the important role that community colleges and the associate degree pathway plan in ensuring a robust, diverse nursing workforce.  The report addresses “three main constraints that prevent higher education institutions from graduating more nurses: a shortage of nurse educators, a lack of clinical placements for student nurses, and inadequate campus facilities and equipment.”

The conclusion issues three policy recommendations with additional specific exemplars provided.

Policy Recommendations

  1. Expand the capacity of educational institutions to enroll and graduate nurses while improving access and outcomes for student nurses of color and overall population health
  2. Federal and state actors should introduce new proposals to expand clinical placement capacity and fund pathways from ADN programs to BSN programs
  3. Create standing bodies to document and advise on issues of recruitment, training, and retention

Read the full report here.

 

Nursing Community Monthly Roundup – April 2022

OADN continues our federal advocacy on your behalf as a member of the Nursing Community Coalition, where we work to ensure that nurses are supported and that nursing education is funded.

NCC Sends FY 2023 Appropriations Requests to House and Senate LHHS-ED Appropriations Subcommittees
On April 11, fifty-eight members of the Nursing Community Coalition (NCC) signed onto letters to the House and Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies outlining the funding requests of $530 million for Title VIII Nursing Workforce Development Programs and $210 million for the National Institute of Nursing Research for FY 2023.

NCC Sends Letter to Congress on COVID-19 Waivers
On April 25, forty-nine members of the Nursing Community Coalition (NCC) signed onto a letter urging Congress to take action to make waivers permanent beyond this Public Health Emergency (PHE).

90 Representatives Support FY 2023 Funding for Title VIII in House Dear Colleague Letter
On April 27, ninety Representatives signed onto a House Dear Colleague letter circulated by Representatives Suzanne Bonamici (D-OR-01) and Rodney Davis (R-IL-13) requesting $530 million for Title VIII Nursing Workforce Development Programs in FY 2023.

Message from the President – May 2022

2022 – 2025 OADN Strategic Direction: Shaping the Future of Associate Degree Nursing Education Together

Dear OADN Members:

I hope you are enjoying a lovely spring.  We are having a late start this year in Michigan but the spring flowers are starting to bloom ushering in a new season filled with opportunities.  OADN is looking forward to a future of opportunities as well, which is evident in the OADN 2022-2025 Strategic Direction.  We are focused on supporting our greatest asset, our members.

I am excited to share with you our 2022-2025 Strategic Direction for OADN.  Most people think of strategic planning as boring long days but our sessions were interactive, productive, thought-provoking, and fun.  The Board of Directors and operations team left the sessions in February with renewed energy and an excellent draft of our strategic direction.  This plan will build upon our existing resources, programs, and member-focused benefits while helping to strengthen our collective voice and impact on associate degree nursing education.  The plan includes the following three (3) Strategic Priorities.

Priority 1: ADVOCACY

OADN is the leading advocate for Associate Degree Nursing Education

Under this priority, we plan to fortify our advocacy efforts.  In addition to helping us protect our shared interests and values, this plan will also ensure the associate degree pathway is preserved and promoted as an essential entry point into the nursing profession. Our future advocacy and outreach energies will focus on greater member presence and volunteer engagement to help strengthen our impact on this critically important pathway into the nursing profession.

PRIORITY 2: EDUCATION

OADN is the expert resource for Associate Degree Nursing Education and ADN Educators

The development of a high-impact, data-driven research agenda is imperative. We must identify essential data points currently missing from literature and resources to fill those gaps and advance ADN education and policy on a larger platform. Our goal is to develop a clearinghouse of ADN resources that will contain up-to-date, relevant data and best practices that are easily accessible to our members. In addition, OADN will work to build a bureau of subject matter experts who can provide direct consultation and guidance to OADN members as needed.

PRIORITY 3: LEADERSHIP

OADN is the choice for Associate Degree Nursing Leadership and Faculty Development

You shared your stories of stress and frustration dealing with constant leadership turnover and faculty shortages within your school programs, and we listened. OADN has worked diligently to develop professional development resources and educational offerings over the years to address your concerns. Future leadership offerings will be designed to meet your unique needs while offering significant continuing education credits. We believe the newly launched OADN Leadership Institute will be recognized as the gold standard for ADN leadership and faculty development, and we envision the OADN Leadership Institute Certificate will be a highly regarded, in-demand designation that is an exclusive benefit for OADN members.

The OADN Mission, Vision, and Values continue to be an important part of this new strategic direction.  These are woven within our priorities and will continue to be a focus as we move forward with the implementation phase of our plan.  I will also be calling upon you to share your time, talents, perspectives, and expertise to help strengthen our collective voice and impact on the associate degree pathway. There will be many ways to get involved in this significant undertaking to operationalize the 2022 – 2025 OADN Strategic Direction, so please consider joining me and our OADN community to help shape the future of Associate Degree Nursing together.

As always, feel free to contact me at laura.schmidt@oadn.org with suggestions or questions. We know we have a lot of work to do over the next three years but I am confident that with your help and feedback, we will be successful and keep OADN STRONG.

With sincere gratitude for all you do for your students and OADN,

 

 

Laura Schmidt, DNP, FNP-BC
President, OADN

 

Medical Errors, Criminalization & Just Culture: What Faculty and Students Should Know

This guest blog was authored by Sandra Y. Walker, EJD, MS, RN, FAADN, Dean of Technical Studies at Central Ohio Technical College. Dr. Walker serves on the board of directors for the OADN Foundation and is a Fellow of the Academy of Associate Degree Nursing

 

Many nurses have been following the news related to former nurse RaDonda Vaught who was charged with reckless homicide in the death of a patient because of medical error.  The timeline of this case may be found at https://www.tennessean.com/story/news/health/2020/03/03/vanderbilt-nurse-radonda-vaught-arrested-reckless-homicide-vecuronium-error/4826562002/  Recently, Ms. Vaught was found guilty of the lesser charge of criminally negligent homicide and gross neglect of an impaired adult, and sentencing is pending.

This was a difficult case as many nurses can empathize with the challenges nurses face in providing care in today’s often stressful healthcare environment.  Readers may also question precisely why the authorities elected to prosecute Ms. Vaught – this post will not speculate on this; however, prosecutorial documents are available for review at the tenessean.com link above.

The challenge for the prosecution was to prove the elements of negligence, which is defined as “a failure to behave with the level of care that someone of ordinary prudence would have exercised under the same circumstances.”  https://www.law.cornell.edu/wex/negligence

There are four elements that must be proven to establish a clear case of negligence (https://www.law.cornell.edu/wex/negligence ):

  1. the existence of a legal duty that the defendant owed to the plaintiff (the injured party)
  2. defendant’s breach of that duty
  3. plaintiff’s sufferance of an injury, and
  4. proof that defendant’s breach caused the injury (typically defined through proximate cause

Nurses are guided/regulated by their state’s nurse practice act.  The National Council of State Boards of Nursing (NCSBN) advises “Safe, competent nursing practice is grounded in the law as written in the state nurse practice act (NPA) and the state rules/regulations. Together the NPA and rules/regulations guide and govern nursing practice.” https://www.ncsbn.org/npa.htm  The nurse practice act is a good source to clarify the professional nurse’s duty as articulated in rule and law.  Expert witnesses who speak to standards of care may also help establish the nurse’s duty.

In this case, the facts of the case were not in dispute.  Ms. Vaught stated that “she allowed herself to become “complacent” and “distracted” while using the medication cabinet and did not double-check which drug she had withdrawn despite multiple opportunities”.  https://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2022/03/25/1088902487/former-nurse-found-guilty-in-accidental-injection-death-of-75-year-old-patient  This leaves the jury little choice but to compare the nurse’s actions against the required elements of negligence.  One cannot ignore the nurse’s duty and the acknowledged breaches of that duty, or the fact that a patient was harmed.

That being said, there is a larger systemic issue that must be acknowledged.  The healthcare system has worked to establish multiple patient safety initiatives, yet error and patient harm remain a major concern.  Medical errors have been identified as the third leading cause of death in the United States, claiming 250,000 to 400,000 lives every year.  https://www.cnbc.com/2018/02/22/medical-errors-third-leading-cause-of-death-in-america.html  Obviously, more must be done, and healthcare leadership must lead the charge.  It is critically important that leaders create an environment where direct care providers are supported, and systems are in place to prevent bypassing safety protocols.  It should never be the norm, as was stated in this case, that nurses routinely override the system to access needed medications.  Nurses in particular must be supported as they are often the last checkpoint before medications or treatments are provided to a patient.  For example, nurses must be comfortable questioning orders that seem out of line with standard protocol and there should be no retaliation for any nurse who does so.

Critically important is the role of nursing education in the prevention of patient harm.  It is vitally important that nurse educators teach about duty and accountability for one’s actions, the importance of patient safety, and adherence to standards of care.  Education about just culture should be a part of every healthcare provider curriculum – not solely as a reaction when harm has occurred, but more importantly to prevent said harm from ever occurring.  An ISMP analysis identifies multiple points at which the system failed:  https://www.ismp.org/resources/criminalization-human-error-and-guilty-verdict-travesty-justice-threatens-patient-safety  Nurse educators should not shy away from cases such as this – separate from the debate about where to lay blame, much can be learned, and patient harm could be averted.

In the Vaught case, although it is without question that the nurse administered the wrong medication, there was certainly more that contributed to this unfortunate outcome.  It is to be hoped that a full root cause analysis has been conducted and all points at which the system failed are being examined.  The entire healthcare system owes that to our patients.

OADN Foundation Announces Scholarships, Awards, and Research Grant for 2022

The OADN Foundation promotes the mission and vision of OADN, through the development of resources, the recognition of scholarship and excellence in associate degree nursing education. The Foundation is pleased to announce the applications are now being accepted for the numerous scholarships and awards. The Foundation is excited to announce that the level of funding to support associate degree nursing scholarships and awards has been increased by over $10,000.00 with two additional scholarships, amounting in over $30,000 in scholarships. Apply today!

This is exceptional benefit for all OADN members and students.

Application deadline is June 15th and notification of award recipients will be September 1.

View and download applications on the OADN Foundation page.