Preventive Cardiovascular Nurses Association and the American Holistic Nurses Association First recipients of Award
Preventive Cardiovascular Nurses Association and the American Holistic Nurses Association First recipients of Award
The Hartford Institute for Geriatric Nursing at NYU College of Nursing proudly announces the establishment of the Hartford Institute Web Award for Geriatric Excellence. The award, sponsored by the REASN (Resourcefully Enhancing Aging in Specialty Nursing) initiative, recognizes specialty nursing associations that have committed themselves to providing a geriatric presence and resources on their associations’ member Web sites.
The first two recipients of the Hartford Institute Web Award for Geriatric Excellence, announced in November 2009 at the Nursing Organization Alliance conference in Louisville, Kentucky, were the Preventive Cardiovascular Nurses Association (PCNA) and American Holistic Nurses Association (AHNA). The Web award grew out of the Hartford Institute’s Web Fellow grant program, established in 2005, in which specialty nursing organizations received small grants to designate a section or page on their Web sites to provide geriatric nursing resources to their members. There are currently 32 associations that have received a Web Fellow grant. This Web award is based on four criteria: accessibility of geriatric content on the organizational Web site, integration of this content into associations’ Web site design, geriatric-oriented navigation and links, and ease of use.
“These two associations have embraced the work they do as part of the Web Fellow program time and time again. They have embedded older-adult care into the culture and structure of their sites, and they have taken pride in the work that they do,” says Yamilee Bazile, REASN project director.
According to Jeanne Crawford, MA, MPH, executive director of AHNA, the organization began in 2005 to augment the geriatric care resources on its website. “As holistic nurses, we’re committed to our members learning about nursing care from birth to grave,” she says. “As the population ages, our holistic nurses will be more in demand, and we need to provide the appropriate skills for our members to excel in care of older adults.” Ms. Crawford acknowledged the work of Shannon Sheffield, membership coordinator, who oversees the geriatric component on AHNA’s Web site, and the Hartford Institute for its support in this effort.
PCNA developed a specific Web page dedicated to the efforts that the association is making to advance geriatric nursing education and care. The page includes information specific to preventive cardiovascular care and encourages members to link to ConsultGeriRN.org, the Hartford Institute’s clinical nursing Web site that provides extensive geriatric information to the bedside nurse. “We’re thrilled and honored to have received the award,” says Sue Koob, chief executive officer of PCNA, who credits the staff of the national office and board member Dr. Lola Coke for coordinating the geriatric content on the organization’s Web site. “Our membership is very eager to receive this type of education,” she adds.
The Hartford Institute Web Award for Geriatric Excellence will be given out to four organizations per year. Honorees receive a plaque acknowledging receipt of the award.
For more information about the Web Award and the Web Fellow initiative please contact Morgan Gange morgan.gange@nyu.edu or Yamilee Bazile yjb200@nyu.edu.
The Hartford Institute for Geriatric Nursing at NYU College of Nursing seeks to shape the quality of health care that older Americans receive by promoting the highest level of geriatric competency in all nurses who deliver care. By raising the standards of nursing care, the Hartford Institute aims to ensure that people age in comfort and dignity. Its initiatives include education, practice, research, policy, and consumer education.
REASN is a four-year initiative, funded by The Atlantic Philanthropies, Inc., to deepen the involvement of specialty nurse associations in improving nursing competencies among their members who care for older adults. This project advances the accomplishments of the Hartford Institute in promoting best practices in the care of older adults by working with specialty nursing associations to move to a higher level of engagement in geriatric care.
www.ConsultGeriRN.org
www.HartfordIGN.org
www.NICHEProgram.org