AAOHN at the Crossroads
The AAOHN Board has established a Re-visioning Task Force to examine the external and internal influences on our profession and on our association, and to determine how we can position ourselves for greater sustainability going forward. Our work force and our workplaces are changing- we need to understand these influences in order to manage the change so that we can continue to be effective.

As a Northeast Representative to the AAOHN Board and member of the Re-visioning Task Force I am asking all Northeast members to please provide comments, suggestions or feedback to this committee as soon as possible. There are several ways you can do this. The links below should bring you to the AAOHN home page where, if you log in, you will be able to respond to a survey, or obtain a fax-back form, or initiate direct dialogue/blog with President-elect Kay Campbell. We want to know how your job has/is changing; what skills you find are needed- or wish you had; what services AAOHN should provide; what partners we need to link with; what bylaws changes may be necessary, etc.

This is a great opportunity to speak your mind and be part of this managed change, and I thank you in advance for your thoughts and considerations to this process.

RVTF Survey
Fax-back Feedback Form
Dialogue with Dr. Campbell

NJSAOHN awarded AAOHN Chapter of the Year
Richard Kowalski RN, MSA, COHN-S, AAOHN President hands Sandra J Cinque, BA, RN,COHN-s/CM, NJSAOHN President, the AAOHN Chapter of the Year Award for a State/Region at the National Symposium in Salt Lake City, Utah.

The purpose for this award is to encourage AAOHN chapters to develop strong association programs in all areas that are responsive to member needs.

The judging criteria looked at the Chapter's goals and objectives, membership, education and training, networking/collaboration, presentation of the entry and finally one of the following categories: community service, professional organizations, governmental affairs or public affairs.

New Jersey Multistate Licensure Compact:
The legislation has been reintroduced by Herb Conway, Jr., the primary sponsor of the bill A1866 on January 24, 2008. It has been referred to the Assembly of Health and Human Services Committee. For more information please refer to this web address.

http://www.njleg.state.nj.us/bills/BillView.asp?BillNumber=A1866

We will inform you if we need to start another letter campaign. Stay tuned

Practice Alert: Know Your State's Standing Orders!
Nurses-especially advanced practice nurses-are continuing to encounter vigorous efforts to legislate limits to their scope of practice. Due to the recent discovery of a 2006 practice alert issued by the New York State Office of the Professions, AAOHN is urging its members keep abreast of their state's legislative actions and contact their state board of nursing for scope of practice updates.

In many cases, state boards of nursing do not sufficiently inform the nurse population of changes or proposed changes that will impact the limits of their practice. Ultimately, each nurse is responsible to make themselves aware of their state's scope of practice.

Don't unknowingly find yourself in a legally liable position!

For contact information for your state board of nursing, visit the National Council of State Boards of Nursing.

The New York State Office of the Professions 2006 alert can be found at www.op.nysed.gov/nurse-standingorders.htm.