About One DNP

I earned my "terminal practice" degree in nursing from the University of Tennessee Health Sciences Center in a journey of excitement and challenge. It inspired me to advocate for an all encompassing clinical credential rather than continuing the hodgepodge of nonsensical initials. I hope these entries will provide entertainment and insight into the Doctor of Nursing Practice experience, which will soon be the entry standard for all advanced practice nurses.

Wednesday, November 23, 2011

Occupy With Grace

From the Engage with Grace rally to revolutionize end-of-life planning . . . 


Occupy With Grace

Once again, this Thanksgiving we are grateful to all the people who keep this mission alive day after day: to ensure that each and every one of us understands, communicates, and has honored their end of life wishes.

Seems almost more fitting than usual this year, the year of making change happen. 2011 gave us the Arab Spring, people on the ground using social media to organize a real political revolution. And now, love it or hate it - it's the Occupy Wall Street movement that's got people talking.

Smart people (like our good friend Susannah Fox) have made the point that unlike those political and economic movements, our mission isn't an issue we need to raise our fists about - it's an issue we have the luxury of being able to hold hands about.

occupy_with_grace_logo

It's a mission that's driven by all the personal stories we've heard of people who've seen their loved ones suffer unnecessarily at the end of their lives.


It's driven by that ripping-off-the-band-aid feeling of relief you get when you've finally broached the subject of end of life wishes with your family, free from the burden of just not knowing what they'd want for themselves, and knowing you could advocate for these wishes if your loved one weren't able to speak up for themselves.

And it's driven by knowing that this is a conversation that needs to happen early, and often. One of the greatest gifts you can give the ones you love is making sure you're all on the same page. In the words of the amazing Atul Gawande, you only die once! Die the way you want. Make sure your loved ones get that same gift. And there is a way to engage in this topic with grace!

Here are the five questions, read them, consider them, answer them (you can securely save your answers at the Engage with Grace site), share your answers with your loved ones. It doesn't matter what your answers are, it just matters that you know them for yourself, and for your loved ones. And they for you.

theoneslide

We all know the power of a group that decides to assemble. In fact, we recently spent an amazing couple days with the members of the Coalition to Transform Advanced Care, or C-TAC, working together to channel so much of the extraordinary work that organizations are already doing to improve the quality of care for our country's sickest and most vulnerable.

Noted journalist Eleanor Clift gave an amazing talk, finding a way to weave humor and joy into her telling of the story she shared in this Health Affairs article. She elegantly sums up (as only she can) the reason that we have this blog rally every year:

For too many physicians, that conversation is hard to have, and families, too, are reluctant to initiate a discussion about what Mom or Dad might want until they're in a crisis, which isn't the best time to make these kinds of decisions. Ideally, that conversation should begin at the kitchen table with family members, rather than in a doctor's office.

It's a conversation you need to have wherever and whenever you can, and the more people you can rope into it, the better! Make this conversation a part of your Thanksgiving weekend, there will be a right moment, you just might not realize how right it was until you begin the conversation.

This is a time to be inspired, informed - to tackle our challenges in real, substantive, and scalable ways. Participating in this blog rally is just one small, yet huge, way that we can each keep that fire burning in our bellies, long after the turkey dinner is gone.

Wishing you and yours a happy and healthy holiday season. Let's Engage with Grace together.




To learn more please go to www.engagewithgrace.org.This post was developed by Alexandra Drane and the Engage With Grace team.

Thursday, November 17, 2011

The Sandusky Teaching Moment: Unfortunate Silence

It started with a many suspicions and a random post of the Penn State fan forum.

Perhaps more accurately, it started with molestation and loyalty to the institution over the community.

The ongoing reports out of Penn State for the past two weeks have brought forth discussions and elicited strong emotions from those in every sphere of my life.  At first, I started quoting the standard mandatory reporting regulations for sexual assault and how Child Protective Services, at least in Kentucky, do not accept third-party reporting - it has to come from the victim, the witness, or the individual the victim or abuser discloses to. I thought Joe Paterno's retirement at the end of the season announcement was bold and bordering on arrogant, and was exceedingly irritated that many news reports focused on his firing and the unfortunate silence that led to the end of a great coach's career. I did not graduate from a university with a BCS championship-claiber football program, so I have a hard time relating to the initial student protests of his ousting in light of the allegations.

More details concerning the access Jerry Sandusky had to the facilities after his employment immediately brought forth the thought "this is beyond cover up - there are probably others paying in kind to have access to these boys or to keep quiet." With records missing from Sandusky's charity Second Mile, non-communication with the university lawyer following McQueary's report to Paterno, District Judge and Second Mile contributor Leslie Dutchot letting Sandusky go home without bail, Sandusky's interview with Bob Costas where he admitted to showering with the boys appropriately, and police reports on victims going back to 1998, the rabbit hole gets deeper and deeper.

Teaching Moments
In the real world, these kinds of stories are opportunities for all of us to open the dialogue on healthy relationships. Since this story broke, I have asked many of my patients with young children if they have had these conversation and if this story has affected the family in any way. Most report a heightened sense of awareness and want to introduce or re-empasise body rights and choice. This article provides several useful tips: How to Talk to Your Child About Molestation For the teen or tween: Talking to Teens about Paterno, Penn State, and the High Price of Bystanding.

Every state is different, however mandatory reporting for teachers, healthcare professionals, and law enforcement are generally standard. Some states extend the duty to report to all residents, but this is not typically well known. To look up the statues that apply to you, visit State Laws on Reporting and Responding to Child Abuse and Neglect.

The "coach" position is a gray area, as evidenced by Penn States's policy that you report to your superior before reporting to the police or emergency teams. While it is in the rhelm of possibility that a federal mandatory reporting act could pass as a result of this tragedy, the Center for Ethical Youth Coaching posted an excellent guide for action when a coach, or anyone, witnesses child abuse: Procedures for Handling Abuse

May communities have domestic violence and sexual assault shelters that provide community outreach.  The Center for Women and Families is one of our city's greatest gifts and they provide information on spotting, preventing, and healing from these traumas: Educational Brochure Library

Of course, no OneDNP post would be complete without a nursing mention. When stories of abuse break like this, many victims relive their own traumas and can experience setbacks, especially when in the midst of therapy. It is important when providing care that nurses are aware of the effects of vicarious trauma and transference issues. To learn more about preventative healing and self-care, visit Reveal, Release, Reconnect

Remember that silence kills mind and body. The arguments many nurses make to avoid reporting peers for issues such as substance abuse  - ruining a peer's career, not wanting one's name connected with the report, fear of retaliation or disbelief, looking bad on the profession, practice, or organization - are the same reasons the powers at Penn State rationalized their silence. And no, it's not different.

Tuesday, November 1, 2011

Highlights from APNA 25: Psych Nurses Have More Fun

This was my second year attending the American Psychiatric Nurses Association annual conference, and the experience again renewed my enthusiasm for live CEU events. There were plenty of excellent speakers, exhibition (sales) booths, and poster presentations, but that is not what makes this a must-do yearly event. It is the camaraderie within the profession and the fact psych-nurses know the importance of having a good time. Here are a few of my personal highlights.

   


Venue: Disneyland Hotel
An excellent location to blend education and fun. Although the place was under construction and wi-fi was a bit spotty, the staff managed to make it magical. We had an awesome renovated room in adventure tower with a view of the evening fireworks. Since we were not run ragged with sessions and the conference ended early on Saturday, there was plenty of time to explore downtown Disney and the parks without the need for car rental or long monorail/bus rides. There were excellent places to eat (Napa Rose for high-brow, Trader Sam's for sips and apps), wonderful spa (ask for Carlos), and a fine collection on shops with live music until 10 or later every night. There were plenty of pens and pads along with a good selection of breakfast and boxed lunch choices. And Pluto, of course!



    

Inspiration: Jean Watson
Her presentation Caring Science and Psychiatric Nursing: Relationship and Emergence of Human Spirit included a singing bowl meditation and an honest discussion on how PMH nurses can use authenticity, interconnectedness, and belonging as instruments of healing.  While speaking on esoteric topics is commonplace in my CAM conferences, I was delighted her powerful delivery made it into an area that does not like to stray far from evidenced-based practice. "Being" is not a concept easily researched through science!  Jean was referred to often throughout the rest of the conference - I gave her a nod in my presentation on the role social networking plays in world connectedness - and she had a huge line of folks waiting to shake her hand following her talk. I studied her middle-range theory of human caring in my MSN program, but there is nothing like a personal illustration by the creator to bring life to a concept that seems more simple and obvious on paper than it does in clinical practice. Watson Caring Science Institute


Mentorship: Pat Cunningham
My advisor won this year' award for excellence in practice and we whooped it up when they presented her award. What is amazing about Pat from a student perspective is her ability to individually listen to each of us, evoke the best practice and thought out of ourselves, and to use that blunt humor so characteristic of the best psych nurses. I imagine her patients feel the same way!




Trend: Integrative Therapies
Last year there were a few posters that addressed CAM use by nurses and I was excited, but this year saw an explosion! Mindfulness training, supplement and nutrition use, and schools of nursing integrating various CAM certifications as part of their psych-np programs are just some of the new blends of therapies to benefit our patients.  I found out one of my current teachers has been using hypnotherapy with some of her pediatric clients and a former psychiatrist colleague has been instrumental in establishing integrative practices in the Long Beach VA's mental-health program. I am excited that the future may hold a number of niches I fit into without having to carve them out on my own. There may be opportunities to expand NP ability to practice certain CAM therapies as part of their scope of practice similarly to how MDs already have, and I would love to be a part of making that happen.

 
   
Coolest Product: Mindability
This product was cool for 2 reasons. First, all the promo literature was on a flash drive that I was able to use to store my presentation when I could not find mine (it resurfaced in my backpack yesterday). Second, the rep gave me a fun wallet card targeted to control emotional reactions. It included some great phrases such as:
  • "If I'm reading this, it means I'm more upset than is good for me."
  • "However I'm feeling is exaggerated"
  • "Whatever I am thinking is distorted." 
  • "Whatever I'm thinking about saying or doing, DON'T, until I calm down."

If reality TV stars had these in their pockets, there would be no reality TV stars! In all seriousness, this brought out a new idea for PTSD group I hope to use during clinical soon.

   

International Perspective: Holland
While a group of use were relaxing by the pool area in between sessions, a fellow nurse from Holland decided to sit and chat with us. I found it interesting that while the US is trying to establish mental health parity, in Holland, they have decided those with mental illness will now have to pay over-and-above the standardized government health insurance rate for supplemental coverage if they want psychiatric services. We also had an interesting conversation about different nursing roles and marijuana bars.





Obligatory Gala: California Dreamin'
Hosted on Adventure lawn, the Friday night reception was included in the conference registration rather than having to purchase separately. An excellent buffet and cash bar (boo!) was well staffed, and the all-dentist band made for a wild evening. The dance floor was defiantly too small for this crew as all-ages crowded it and boogied down. Later we went to my room for a wine tasting wind down that resulted in one of my classmates deciding to commit to the ascot. Pittsburgh better watch out in 2012!