Initiatives

Disaster Preparedness Planning

The issue of health professional surge capacity during a major disaster has been a concern at all levels of government and for those involved in disaster planning and response. ANA and DNA strongly encourages all registered nurses who are interested in disaster volunteering to pre-register with a registry and consider a few questions when determining the most suitable registry given their personal and professional situation.

The primary message to registered nurses is:

Do not spontaneously deploy to a disaster scene. If you want to volunteer do so as a part of a coordinated effort, like a registry.
Responding through a recognized, coordinated effort helps to ensure that you do not become a victim yourself.
Responding through a recognized, coordinated effort helps ensure that your skills, knowledge and ability are most effectively used.
Responding through a recognized, coordinated effort may afford you some level of protection related to licensure recognition, professional liability and workers compensation.
Pre-registering within a registry affords you access to the necessary education and training to prepare you to respond during a disaster and to keep yourself safe.
Pre-registering within a registry and deploying through a recognized system should provide you with the necessary equipment-personal protective equipment, etc. to respond appropriately and to keep you safe.
Choosing the appropriate registry or team should be based on a careful analysis of your ability to secure release from your employer to respond, other professional commitments, and your personal/family situations and commitments. This prevents duplicative counting of important human resources.¹

¹Disaster Preparedness Planning-Volunteer Registries, November 2006 Constituent Assembly Consent Information Report

To register with the Medical Reserve Corp, download the application now. For additional information, download the brochure.

Tobacco Free Nurses: "Tobacco Free Nurses is a one-stop shop for all nurses, especially nurses who want to help their patients quit smoking and nurses who want to quit themselves. We are nurses who want to benefit nurses and patients, and promote a tobacco free society."

Programs

Nurses House | Voluntary Treatment Option Program | The Center for American Nurses | Nurse Competence in Aging (NCA)

Nurses House

A National Fund for Nurses in Need

Nurses House is a nurse-managed, non-profit organization dedicated to helping registered nurses in need. Their mission is to provide short-term financial assistance to nurses in need as a result of illness, injury, or disability. While some Nurses House guests face short- term illness or injury, others are permanently disabled. Many nurses need funds to help pay for such basics as food, a car payment, or health insurance. Nurses House has helped thousands of nurses in all 50 states to regain health and productivity.

Please invest in Nurses House. Your generosity will make a tangible and welcome difference in the lives of nursing colleagues throughout the nation. Make a donation.

If you are a registered nurse and need assistance, please complete form.

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Voluntary Treatment Option Program

The Department of State, Division of Professional Regulation and the participating regulatory boards and commissions has implemented a professional assistance program for its licensees. The Voluntary Treatment Option (VTO) program was created by the Delaware General Assembly in 1998. The purpose of this program is to help licensees, who are experiencing difficulties with chemical dependency or impairment, to confidentially access professional help while maintaining their professional status and protecting the public's safety.

For more information, visit: Voluntary Treatment Option Program

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The Center for American Nurses

The Center for American Nurses has developed an interactive web-based resource focused on nurse wellness. The information on this site is intended to be a resource on information and knowledge required to plan your career and to age as well as is possible. The information on this site has been researched to cover common challenges that nurses may face in their careers and as they become older, including health and financial challenges.

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Nurse Competence in Aging (NCA)

Nurse Competence in Aging is improving the quality of health care older adults receive by enhancing the geriatric competence — the knowledge, skills and attitudes — of the 400,000 nurses who are professionally identified as members of approximately 57 specialty nursing associations.

Nurse Competence in Aging is:

Enhancing Geriatric Activities of National Specialty Nursing Associations
Promoting Gerontological Nursing Certification
Providing a Web-based Comprehensive Geriatric Nursing Resource Center

GeroNurseOnline is a comprehensive website providing current best practice information on care of older adults. We invite you to Explore GeroNurseOnline and become a Gero Smart Nurse!

Please visit www.geronurseonline.org to learn more about current best practice on the care of older adults, grant funding and technical assistance to move forward with geriatric best practice initiatives and information on Gerontological Nursing Certification.

Nurse Competence in Aging is a 5-year initiative funded by The Atlantic Philanthropies (USA) Inc., awarded to the American Nurses Association (ANA) through the American Nurses Foundation (ANF), and represents a strategic alliance between ANA, the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) and the John A. Hartford Foundation Institute for Geriatric Nursing, New York University College of Nursing.

The Nightingale Tribute

A tribute for any registered nurse or licensed practical nurse for their years of service, to be given during the nurse’s funeral by nurse colleague or friend.

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