Journal of
Infusion Nursing The Art and Science of Infusion Nursing
EDITORIAL
I Never Stop…Caring
T
his year INS’ overarching theme that’s strategically guiding our work is drawn from our acronym, INS, and begins with “I Never Stop… .” Although you can fill in the blank with many choices, INS’ focus will be promoting lifelong learning for infusion nurses. One pillar of our mission is our commitment to advancing quality education. As an added feature to each 2014 Journal of Infusion Nursing issue, I’ve invited prominent nurse leaders to write a guest editorial from their perspective and experience. I’m delighted that Karen Daley, ANA president, kicks off this feature in this issue. For 13 years, Gallup polling has shown that nurses are ranked the most trusted professionals in America,1 and for good reason. Our patients know that we are the ones who spend time with them, keeping them healthy or helping them heal. Nurses tend to wounds and provide chemotherapy and other infusion care. We coordinate care as part of a multidisciplinary health care team. Nurses explain procedures and educate patients for transitioning from health care facility to home. And of course, we will hold the hand of any patient who wants reassurance. The advancement and implementation of technology in our work has made a significant difference in patient outcomes and satisfaction. Infusion nurses make placing vascular access devices virtually pain-free. Using ECG-guided visualization to confirm catheter tip placement eliminates delays initiating patient treatment. And while we’ve embraced technology, infusion nurses have not lost sight of the importance of the personal touch. We value the relationships we develop with our patients. By virtue of what we do and where we do it, not only are we addressing the patients’ infusion care needs, but meeting their emotional needs as well. Home infusion nurses create bonds with their patients as do infusion nurses in the acute care setting, whether it’s a patient they’ve seen for the first time or one who’s returning. It is a credit to the nursing profession that, as much responsibility as we have, we take the time to improve our skills and knowledge base constantly. We show our patients that we are serious about giving them the best care possible when we attend professional meetings, in-services, and webinars; read and write for journals; pursue graduate education; perform research and share results with colleagues; and get certified in our specialty. Because technology is changing so swiftly, we have to keep up with the latest devices and techniques. We never stop learning because we love our work, and we care about improving the well-being of our patients. Nurses also show they care by incorporating research findings in their practices. Evidence-based practice requires curiosity and a willingness to change procedures. Performing nursing tasks “the way we’ve always done them” is no longer acceptable. High-quality patient care demands that nurses learn from research and develop new methods of care based on those studies.
Mary Alexander, MA, RN, CRNI®, CAE, FAAN INS Chief Executive Officer Editor, Journal of Infusion Nursing
DOI: 10.1097/NAN.0000000000000027 VOLUME 37
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NUMBER 1
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JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2014
Copyright © 2014 Infusion Nurses Society
17
Copyright © 2014 Infusion Nurses Society. Unauthorized reproduction of this article is prohibited.
JIN-D-13-00069.indd 17
12/25/13 12:34 AM
Continue your passionate work, your learning, your mentoring, your teaching. Never stop caring for your patients, yourself, others, and our specialty. Caring—it’s what we nurses do so well!
The author of this editorial has no conflicts of interest to disclose. REFERENCE 1. Advanceweb. Nurses remain most trusted professionals in America, Gallup survey says. http://nursing .advanceweb.com/News/National-News/Nurses-Remain-Most-Trusted-Professionals-in-AmericaGallup-Survey-Says.aspx. Published December 5, 2012. Accessed November 20, 2013.
18 Copyright © 2014 Infusion Nurses Society
Journal of Infusion Nursing
Copyright © 2014 Infusion Nurses Society. Unauthorized reproduction of this article is prohibited.
JIN-D-13-00069.indd 18
12/25/13 12:34 AM
Infusion Nursing The Art and Science of Infusion Nursing
EDITORIAL
I Never Stop…Caring
T
his year INS’ overarching theme that’s strategically guiding our work is drawn from our acronym, INS, and begins with “I Never Stop… .” Although you can fill in the blank with many choices, INS’ focus will be promoting lifelong learning for infusion nurses. One pillar of our mission is our commitment to advancing quality education. As an added feature to each 2014 Journal of Infusion Nursing issue, I’ve invited prominent nurse leaders to write a guest editorial from their perspective and experience. I’m delighted that Karen Daley, ANA president, kicks off this feature in this issue. For 13 years, Gallup polling has shown that nurses are ranked the most trusted professionals in America,1 and for good reason. Our patients know that we are the ones who spend time with them, keeping them healthy or helping them heal. Nurses tend to wounds and provide chemotherapy and other infusion care. We coordinate care as part of a multidisciplinary health care team. Nurses explain procedures and educate patients for transitioning from health care facility to home. And of course, we will hold the hand of any patient who wants reassurance. The advancement and implementation of technology in our work has made a significant difference in patient outcomes and satisfaction. Infusion nurses make placing vascular access devices virtually pain-free. Using ECG-guided visualization to confirm catheter tip placement eliminates delays initiating patient treatment. And while we’ve embraced technology, infusion nurses have not lost sight of the importance of the personal touch. We value the relationships we develop with our patients. By virtue of what we do and where we do it, not only are we addressing the patients’ infusion care needs, but meeting their emotional needs as well. Home infusion nurses create bonds with their patients as do infusion nurses in the acute care setting, whether it’s a patient they’ve seen for the first time or one who’s returning. It is a credit to the nursing profession that, as much responsibility as we have, we take the time to improve our skills and knowledge base constantly. We show our patients that we are serious about giving them the best care possible when we attend professional meetings, in-services, and webinars; read and write for journals; pursue graduate education; perform research and share results with colleagues; and get certified in our specialty. Because technology is changing so swiftly, we have to keep up with the latest devices and techniques. We never stop learning because we love our work, and we care about improving the well-being of our patients. Nurses also show they care by incorporating research findings in their practices. Evidence-based practice requires curiosity and a willingness to change procedures. Performing nursing tasks “the way we’ve always done them” is no longer acceptable. High-quality patient care demands that nurses learn from research and develop new methods of care based on those studies.
Mary Alexander, MA, RN, CRNI®, CAE, FAAN INS Chief Executive Officer Editor, Journal of Infusion Nursing
DOI: 10.1097/NAN.0000000000000027 VOLUME 37
|
NUMBER 1
|
JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2014
Copyright © 2014 Infusion Nurses Society
17
Copyright © 2014 Infusion Nurses Society. Unauthorized reproduction of this article is prohibited.
JIN-D-13-00069.indd 17
12/25/13 12:34 AM
Continue your passionate work, your learning, your mentoring, your teaching. Never stop caring for your patients, yourself, others, and our specialty. Caring—it’s what we nurses do so well!
The author of this editorial has no conflicts of interest to disclose. REFERENCE 1. Advanceweb. Nurses remain most trusted professionals in America, Gallup survey says. http://nursing .advanceweb.com/News/National-News/Nurses-Remain-Most-Trusted-Professionals-in-AmericaGallup-Survey-Says.aspx. Published December 5, 2012. Accessed November 20, 2013.
18 Copyright © 2014 Infusion Nurses Society
Journal of Infusion Nursing
Copyright © 2014 Infusion Nurses Society. Unauthorized reproduction of this article is prohibited.
JIN-D-13-00069.indd 18
12/25/13 12:34 AM
