PeriAnesthesia Heartbeat

Transcription

1 Spring 2018 Volume 2, Issue 1 PeriAnesthesia Heartbeat Inside this issue President s Message Facts about the Flu PANAW Celebrations Certified Nurses Day Meet the Board Members Upcoming Events The official newsletter of the Georgia Association of PeriAnesthesia Nurses President s Message Hello to everyone! Spring of the year brings thoughts of ASPAN National Conference. It is coming up April 29-May 3 in Anaheim, California. There will be lots of great educational and networking opportunities available. If you have not already registered to attend, I hope you will make plans to. GAPAN members will also be getting together for dinner on Monday night of the conference. Please reach out to me if you would like to join us. nati7308@bellsouth.net Betty Cantrell and I will be representing Georgia at the Representative Assembly (RA) at the National Conference where we will elect officers for the ASPAN board. Our votes are determined by the feedback that each of the members sends to the national office. So please keep that in mind next year when the request for feedback is sent out. In addition to electing the national officers, we will discuss any resolutions brought before the RA. Look for a summary for a summary of the proceedings in the next issue of the newsletter. Dana Nation, BSN, RN, CAPA GAPAN President

2 2 Our Mission Established in 1977, the Georgia Association of PeriAnesthesia Nurses contributes to the advancement of our nursing specialty practice. Rooted in education, the mission of GAPAN is to establish an organization for networking and advancement of PeriAnesthesia Nursing with an emphasis on continuing education, community service, and research. Facts for You about The Flu 2018 According to the CDC, the week ending January 20, 2018, the entire US had a widespread outbreak of the flu. Guam and Hawaii were the only US territories that had just local cases of reported influenza. This flu outbreak is being compared to the severe flu season in 2015, which had about a 19% effectiveness from the vaccine. National Geographic reports that the flu vaccine is not as effective because of the H3N2 flu virus has circulated less frequently, and communities have not had a chance to build up immunities to this particular strain. Another reason H3N2 is especially toxic this year, is that the vaccines are grown in chicken eggs, and the virus mutated while being incubated. History has also shown that H3N2 has just been one of the virus that are bad news. This year s flu is definitely bad news as there are at least 4000 people that have been hospitalized so far, almost 7 % mortality rate, and 13 children have died. So, what can we do to prevent flu infection? Prevention is the best form of protection for flu--frequent handwashing, vaccination, covering mouth when coughing, and staying home when you have symptoms of flu. If you become infected with the flu, Tamiflu can serve as treatment for it. Tamiflu is an antiviral medication, and can be used for prevention of another family member getting the flu in a home where someone with confirmed flu resides. It can also be used in shortening the life of the symptoms of the flu. Doses of Tamiflu vary depending on use of prevention or treatment. The CDC and doctors still maintain that the flu vaccine is the best way to prevent flu. Although Australia will only have approximately 10% effectiveness from vaccine, the CDC estimates that the US will have about a 30% effectiveness from vaccination. For more information, visit Tammy Cupp, RN, CAPA Legislative Chair, GAPAN

3 3 Member Achievements Have you or one of your colleagues recently accomplished something--- such as a level on a clinical ladder, recent certification, etc.?? Please send me the name and accomplishment so we can recognize him or her in our newsletter. Happy Certified Nurses Day March 19th Congratulations to the 407 CAPA and/or CPAN Certified nurses in Georgia, as of fall 2017.

4 PANAW Celebrations

5 5 Meet the GAPAN Board Members President: Dana Nation, BSN, RN, CAPA President-Elect: Betty Cantrell, BSN, RN, CAPA Secretary: Tammy Manning, RN, CAPA Treasurer: Leslie Edney, MSN, RN, CPAN, CAPA, CMSRN

6 6 Membership Chair: Keisha Franks, BSN, RN, CPAN Legislative Chair: Tammy Cupp, RN, CAPA Social Media Editor: Tammy Manning, RN, CAPA Website Editors: Dana Nation, BSN, RN, CAPA Pam Bear, BSN, RN, CAPA Tammy Manning, RN, CAPA The board members are here to serve you! Please reach out to us if you have any questions. Upcoming Events

7 7 Atlanta District meeting May 12 th at Northside Hospital Northeast District meeting June 23 rd at Gwinnet Medical Center Duluth Save the date: August 25 th GAPAN will be hosting an ASPAN seminar more details to follow when the ASPAN national office releases the official communication GAPAN State Seminar: Climbing and Conquering Challenges in PeriAnesthesia Nursing When: September Where: Country Inn & Suites in Helen Room rate = $159/ night Please make plans to attend the seminar in the beautiful north Georgia mountains!! Please remember that GAPAN offers a scholarship each fall and the Districts offer their own scholarships. Contact the president of your District for additional information and eligibility requirements.