The AACN GKC Chapter is pleased to announce the launch of our new Authentic Leadership Mentor-Mentee (ALM-M) program, set to begin this summer. The aim of this program is to foster the professional development of future AACN leaders through authentic leadership mentoring. The program will pair existing AACN GKCC board members with three selected students from around the greater Kansas City area. Soon, we will put out a call for applications. Eligible students will have successfully completed at least one semester in an accredited ADN or BSN pre-licensure nursing program, show verification of active full-time enrollment, anticipate graduating and passing NCLEX within one year of starting the ALM-M program, and have plans to pursue nursing positions in critical or progressive care upon graduation.

The program will start at the beginning of the students’ senior year and continue for three years. During the first year, students will learn about critical and progressive care nursing, the AACN professional organization, authentic leadership and healthy work environments, and what it means to serve on a professional nursing organization board by working close with their AACN GKCC board mentor. These students will transition from student to new graduate nurse during their second year in the ALM-M program. They will continue working closely with their mentor as they take on an Elect board position. During their final year in the ALM-M program, these students will have completed their first year in nursing practice and will assume an AACN GKC Chapter board position. The program comes full circle as these new board members become mentors for newly selected ALM-M students.

The AACN Greater Kansas City Chapter is dedicated to mentoring student nurses, for they are the future of our profession. Please help spread news of this exciting opportunity through-out your work settings, academic institutions, and wherever you might encounter interested student nurses. 

Why did you become a nurse?
I chose nursing because I thought it would be a good job, then during nursing school I fell in love with the idea of nursing. I love helping others when they are at their most vulnerable time in life.


What about your job makes you most proud?
I don't look at my "job" as a job, it is my passion. It is what defines who I am. I love watching the kids improve. I enjoy making a difference not only to the patient, but also their family. I find satisfaction in the ups and the downs. When we lose a patient, I find peace in allowing the parent to climb in the bed to hold their child one more time. While that same night I can let another parent hold their "baby" for the first time in a long time. I love knowing that I made a difference in someone's life "today" even if it was for just a moment.

Tell us about a recent extraordinary patient care experience as a critical care nurse.
The most recent extraordinary patient care experience I had was with a 9 month old who has a terminal illness and who lived in our unit for over 10 weeks. He was critically ill for most of his stay and then by the grace of God he started to improve. I thought as many did that this day would never come but it did and now he is home with his family.  

At the end of a busy day, how do you find balance in your life?
My family and friends are my balance at the end of a day. My friends know what I have been through and my family simply just makes me appreciate what I have. I thank God everyday that my child isn't laying in one of the beds I work with and pray that the others get to leave soon. I am humbled by what I do.


How has AACN impacted your career?
AACN has played a huge role in my career. I took one of the first pediatric CCRN exams that was offered. They have provided me with a foundation to what I do and helped elevate my nursing skills and knowledge. They empower me to take a stand when I know I am right, to voice my opinion, and to approach each situation with confidence.

Jessica Luark (CCRN)-St Luke’s Hospital-Cardiac ICU
Ali Ruckman (CCRN)-St. Luke’s Hospital-Cardiac ICU
Laura Amos (CCRN)-St Luke’s Hospital-Cardiac ICU
Morgan Brulez (CCRN)-St. Luke’s Hospital-Cardiac ICU
Amber Peterman (CCRN)-St. Luke’s Hospital-MSTICU
Amy Bell (CCRN)-St. Luke’s Hospital-Neurosciences ICU/House Supervisor
Suzanne Cummings (CCRN)-St. Luke’s Hospital
Lauren Dhans (CCRN)-The University of Kansas Hospital-Neuroscience/ENT ICU
Alicia Klausner (SCRN)-The University of Kansas Hospital-Neuroscience/ENT ICU
Katie Clausen (PCCN)-The University of Kansas Hospital-Unit 62
Cassie Davis (CCRN)-The University of Kansas Hospital-Medical ICU
Lynelle Pierce (CCRN for 30 Years!!)-The University of Kansas Hospital-Critical Care
Danielle Jones (CCRN)-The University of Kansas Hospital-Medical Surgical ICU
Erin Inciardi (CCRN)-The University of Kansas Hospital-Medical Surgical ICU
Ray Pettigrew (CCRN)-The University of Kansas Hospital-Cardiothoracic ICU
Rachel Lanaghen (CCRN)-The University of Kansas Hospital-Burn Center
John Diederich (CCRN)- The University of Kansas Hospital-Medical Transplant ICU
Claire Peterman (CCRN)-The University of Kansas Hospital-Medical Transplant ICU
Charis Grosdidier (CCRN)-The University of Kansas Hospital-Cardiac ICU
Austin Hunter (CCRN)-The University of Kansas Hospital-Cardiac ICU

Caryl Goodyear Bruch PhD, RN is a long-time member of both national AACN and our local chapter. Recently, she left her position as the Director of Professional Resources and Leader-ship Development for Children’s Mercy Hospital, Kansas City, MO to join national AACN as a Senior Director for the American Association of Critical-Care Nurses (AACN).

In this new position, Caryl is responsible for the Organizational Effectiveness Department, also called the Research Pod. The focus of this department is to facilitate strategic work and improve the organization's effectiveness. “We complete environmental scanning, target data analysis on a variety of data that we gather and also improve communication amongst and between departments. I have 9 direct reports. In addition to this work, this department also leads and manages the AACN CSI Academy, which is a leadership program targeted to direct care nurses helping them improve and sustain patient and fiscal outcomes in their workplace. We currently have 6 cohorts in this program, Indianapolis, Raleigh/Durham, Boston, Austin, Phila-delphia and New York. We have completed the first 3 and I was honored to have served as the lead faculty for the Raleigh/Durham area. This is an exciting new program and I encourage all to go to the AACN website and check out the In-novation Database which contains all the projects to date. Go under "education" then AACN CSI Academy.” -Goodyear Bruch

Congratulations Caryl and thank you for your years of service to the local chapter. You will be missed!

Last month, the 27th Annual Visions Symposium was held at the Ritz Charles Event Center in Over-land Park. Over 130 attendees from around the KC metro area and neighboring areas such as Columbia MO attended. Participants enjoyed a silent auction, wonderful speak-ers, networking opportunities, and great food and vendors.

Janet Pierce PhD, RN wowed everyone with her research on cellular energetics and CoQ10. Dr. Dennis Allen had the audience in stitches while discussing evidence-based management of tachyarrhyth-mias and Stephanie Meyer RN, MSN-FNP taught us how to be the best version of ourselves. Finally, Lisa Riggs MSN, RN, ACNS-BC CCRN challenged all of us to “Step Forward”.
Thank you so much to all of the local vendors and organizations that contributed to this event, and to our speakers who volunteered their time developing wonderful talks. We couldn’t do it without you!

Sneak Peek 2015: the local chapter is exploring a new venue for Visions 2015 that promises to be fun and af-fordable. We welcome your sugges-tions on how to improve our local conference and hope to see you all in 2015!!

AACN Conferences offer a broad range of learning opportunities developed by national experts. Be sure to keep a look out for more information about the following local conference.  


The 27th Annual Visions Symposium will be held on Thursday March 6th and Friday March 7th at the Ritz Charles in Overland Park, KS.  This annual program is designed to inform critical and progressive care nurses on updates in practice and changes to practice guidelines.  


Topics that will be presented include: Pediatric Head Injury, Continuous Renal Replacement Therapy, Athletic Heart, Sepsis, Adrenal Insufficiency in Trauma Patients, Street Drugs, Heat Failure and Hemorrhagic Shock, Tachyarrhythmias, and much, much more. Look for Early Bird Registration details, coming soon!

STEPH OXANDALE, RN
CARDIOTHORACIC SURGERY PROGRESSIVE CARE UNIT
THE UNIVERSITY OF KANSAS HOSPITAL

Why did you become a nurse?
I decided to enter the healthcare field after my dad passed away my freshman year of college. I didn’t know what I wanted to pursue, so I began working in the hospital as a phlebotomist to gain experience and exposure to the various opportunities within healthcare. I decided I wanted to pursue nursing shortly thereafter. I was able to see how nursing could provide that personal care to each patient and family and get them through an extremely vulnerable time in their lives.

What about your job as a nurse makes you most proud?
Being a nurse is very rewarding. I am most proud when I am able to act as a true patient advocate and help the patient make informed decisions. Nursing is not only about caring for the patient immediate needs, but also providing education and making a deep impact on the lives of our patients. I enjoy making a connection with my patient and their family and developing a trusting relationship. It makes me extremely happy and proud when I see my patients come back to the unit once they have healed. It is such a rewarding experience to see them happy, healing and enjoying their life!

Tell us about an extraordinary patient care experience as a progressive care nurse.
As a progressive care nurse I get to experience a variety of patients through the continuum of their hospitalization. The patients come to the unit in a critical state and progress to the level of wellness that they may transition home. This unique level of care allows me to use my critical thinking skills and help educate patients about their disease process.

How has AACN played a role in your career?
AACN has played an important role in my career. AACN has helped with my professional development through certification. I pursued AACN certification by obtaining my PCCN. By obtaining my PCCN it has pushed my development as a progressive care nurse to a new level and increased my education. AACN is a great support for continued development. The educational offerings that are available, especially at the local level, are outstanding.

Lisa Riggs RN, MSN, ACNS-BC, CCRN
Lean Six Sigma Black Belt
Director of Quality & Safety SLH

Lisa Riggs RN, MSN, ACNS-BC, CCRN has recently been elected to the National AACN Board. As a national AACN member since 1984, she has an extensive history with both our local chapter and AACN national. On a national level, Lisa has served on Nominating Committee in 2008-2009, and the Evidence Based Practice Workgroup in 2010-2013 (two years as chairperson).

Locally, Lisa has been a chapter member since 1990, serving in nearly every role, including serving as President from 1999-2000 and 2006-2007. She has also participated in the Education and Visions Symposium planning committee. She has also served as a CCRN Review, Publication and Critical Care Consortium Coordinator.

The Director of the National AACN Board is a three year appointment on an 11 member board, in addition to a president and president-elect.  The responsibilities of the Board of Directors are:

-Assure the organization maintains and holds true to the mission, vision and values of AACN
-Evaluates the performance of the CEO
-Participates in developing the strategic direction of the organization
-Ensure and adequately manage resources of the organization
-Maintain and strengthen AACN programs and services
-Ensure legal and ethical accounta-bility of the organization

The highest priority for the Board of Directors this year is the interviewing, selection and hiring of the new CEO. After 12 years as the CEO, Wan-da Johanson will be retiring. The second highest priority facing the Board of Di-rectors over the next few years is main-taining the mission, vision and values of AACN in the ever changing healthcare environment.

Please join us in congratulating Lisa on her appointment to this important role! 

I would like to welcome all of our new Board members who have made the commitment to serve our chapter this year. I would also like to express my gratitude to the outgoing Board members. Our new Board transition meeting occurred in June.

I would also like to express my profound thanks to our past Vision chairs – Cheryl Rader and Paula Ising who have worked extremely hard since 2010. Without their hard work, we would not have enjoyed education from such speakers as Beth Hammer, Mary Stahl, Debbie Sum-mers, Barb McLean, Christine Schulman, Kathleen Vollman and Tom Ahrens and many more. THANK YOU VERY MUCH!!!