Topics on this page:
(click on link to go to section below)
Let's Get Certified! Campaign ~ updated 7/25/08
Clinical Nurse Leader (CNL)
ICU Flow Sheet
MRSA Virtual Simulation
Bar Code Expansion Project
VA Nursing Academy ~ updated 2/22/08
Nurse Executive Fiscal Courses
Nurse Manager Leadership Development Institute (LDI)
Travel Nurse Corps Program ~ updated 1/22/08
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| The Let's Get Certified! Campaign offers guidance and resources to support facility efforts in increasing the number of nurses with certification. Materials are made available for facilities to participate in VA Nursing's Let's Get Certified! Campaign. |
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The Clinical Nurse Leader (CNL) role is designed to deliver clinical leadership in all health care settings and to respond to individuals and families within a micro-system of care. As of August 2007, over 80 VA Medical Centers (VAMC) sites have requested to participate in the CNL Initiative. The CNL is expected to address and improve the following:
- Cost/financial outcomes such as length of stay, patient flow, readmission rate and registered nurse (RN) turnover
- Patient satisfaction, staff satisfaction and retention
- Quality/internal process outcomes such as medication management, patient safety, and prevention of nosocomial infections
- Practice Model Transformation such as evidence-based and collaborative, interdisciplinary practice
This initiative is targeted towards RNs with a Master’s Degree in Nursing who desire to stay in the direct care setting but practice in an advanced generalist role with a broad scope of practice and more complex level of responsibility for a specific patient care unit.
More information: American Association of Colleges of Nursing CNL site 
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The Clinical Flow sheet application will be a broad-based patient care system affecting much of the patient population, and will eliminate the need for paper-based or manually generated flow sheets to record and/or view ICU device data. This application will interface with a variety of ICU device systems and allow for storage of downloaded ICU device data into VistA.
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On January 22, 2007, the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) launched a National Prevention Initiative to reduce the number of healthcare acquired Methicillin Resistant Staphylococcus aureus. In support of this initiative, the Office of Nursing Services took the lead on partnering with the Employee Education System and the Pittsburgh staff to develop and implement virtual reality simulation technology to support staff education. Through virtual simulation, the user receives in-depth training by way of an interactive 3-D environment that role models behavior to support adult learning. This multi-sensory, self-directed method of staff training improves knowledge retention and fosters changes in the behavior of the trainee. It is expected that this project will be completed in March of 2008. The main components of the simulation (MRSA Bundle) include:
- Active Surveillance
- Hand Hygiene
- Contact Precautions
- Contact Precautions
More information: http://www.va.gov/Pittsburgh/mrsa/index.htm |
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The Bar Code Expansion (BCE) project is expected to make a positive impact on patient outcomes. The goal of the project is to decrease vulnerabilities in patient identification during specimen labeling and blood administration. This software will allow point of care documentation and specimen labeling using a hand-held PDA device and a portable printer for specimen labels. There are 6 applications to the BCE project: Specimen Collection; Blood Administration; Bar Code Medication Administration; Documentation of Vital Signs; Intake and Output; Documentation of Code Blue and Electronic Medical Record Browsing. Approximately 18 nursing staff are working on various aspects of this project such as collaboratively developing content for the I&O application and the Code Blue application. They are also working with core group members to develop education materials, as well as with a special clinical group to develop performance and evaluation measures.
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The Department of Veterans Affairs is establishing a VA Nursing Academy that will address the nursing shortage within the VA, as well as the Nation. The VA Nursing Academy Program is intended to address the nursing shortage in VA and the Nation in the following ways:
- Expanding teaching faculty in VA facilities and affiliated nursing schools
- Increasing VA recruitment and retention by enhancing clinical experiences for nursing students and expanding teaching and research opportunities for VA nurses
- Establishing scholarship programs for nursing students
The pilot began in Academic Year 2007-2008 with four partnerships competitively selected from over 42 proposals submitted between VA facilities and Schools of Nursing:
- North Florida/South Georgia Veterans Health System; University of Florida in Gainesville
- VA San Diego Healthcare System; San Diego State University
- VA Salt Lake City Healthcare System; University of Utah in Salt Lake City
- VA Connecticut Healthcare System; Fairfield University in Fairfield, Connecticut
Office of Academic Affiliations VANA Presentation Press Release
VANA RFP 2008-09
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Purpose: Train Nurse Executives related to impact of fiscal decisions, preparing them to assume this responsibility as nursing staff represent millions of dollars in people resources. VALO-developed programs provide already approved VA content on the Internet, accessed from the office, home or anywhere you have access to the Internet. VALO provides an accurate record of education participation, course tracking and certificates of completion. Help is available through EES Help Desk at eeswbthelp@va.gov.
Note: access courses via Internet by going to VA Learning Management System (LMS) and search for course number. LMS Information and help |
Basics of Budgeting (VALO) FIN0261
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Building an Operating Budget (VALO) FIN0161
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Managing Budgets Effectively (VALO) FIN0264
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Creating and Analyzing an Operating Budget (VALO) FIN0262
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A prototype didactic, face-to-face curriculum, was developed by Nurse Executives from VISN 17, ONS representatives, and Employee Education staff and based on the self-paced Nurse Manager Core Curriculum, for use by other VISNs or medical centers.
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www.travelnurse.va.gov
The TNC program provides VA facilities with VA-experienced supplemental staffing for short/long-term assignments. Further details of this program are described within the Executive Decision Memorandum. VHA National Leadership Board granted conceptual approval for the TNC pilot in October 2006.
Executive Decision Memo Executive Summary |
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