A Message From the Chief Nurse

Nurses,

Spring is blossoming and so are the many activities in nursing, public health, and the Corps. Here is information to help keep you informed.

Policy Update
American Nurses Association Released the Newly Revised second edition of Corrections Nursing: Scope and Standards of Practice (first released in 1995). Corrections nursing delivers patient care within the distinctive environments of the criminal justice system, to include juvenile detention centers and substance abuse treatment facilities. Read Press Release... http://www.nursingworld.org/pressrel/2007/ANP-PRCorrectionsScopStand041107.htm

PHS Recruitment and advertisement materials will include our new tag line "America's Health Responders," and contain the web site (http://www.usphs.gov) and toll-free number for applicants to call with inquiries (1-800-279-1605). Officers on active duty, retired officers and those in the inactive reserve will use a different toll-free number (1-877-747-6227) with all of their inquiries.

The National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2007 made some significant changes in retired pay for commissioned officers, including removing the 75 percent limitation on the multiplier used to compute the retired pay of certain members of the uniformed services. Personnel Policy Memorandum 07-004, “Retired Pay Changes,” dated 20 March 2007, is available at http://dcp.psc.gov/eccis/documents/PPM07_004.pdf

I attended the World Health Day celebration of the World Health Organization regional office of the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) on April 2. The theme this year was “Invest in Health, Build a Safer Future”. Key messages included the need to consider the economic impact of emerging and re-emerging diseases, our communication challenges in epidemics, and the new International Health Regulations (IHR). The IHR is an international agreement that addresses a more robust and transparent reporting of disease, threats, and control efforts. The sessions addressed how health diplomacy influences foreign policy related to security, economics, and human dignity.

Readiness
Eight PHS nurses will be involved in the President’s effort to advance the cause of social justice in the Western Hemisphere in the Latin American mission on the USNS COMFORT. Four PHS Teams of 15 officers will deploy for one month each, beginning mid June through Oct 2007. Two PHS nurse officers will accompany each team. Medical surgical nurses are needed who are comfortable caring for pediatric and adult patients. Nurse Practitioners can deploy as medical surgical nurses, not nurse practitioners. If you are interested in participating you need to have your supervisor approval, and your Agency liaison needs to contact OFRD.

CDR Susan Orsega, Nurse Practitioner NIAID/NIH was deployed as the only public health planner with an advance team of 8 military personnel to conduct an advance assessment for the USS PELELIU mission to New Guinea, Vietnam, the Republic of the Marshall Islands and Solomon Islands. We expect nurses will serve on this mission in the future as well.

Nursing Leadership and Outreach
The Early Bird registration deadline for the USPHS Scientific and Training Symposium and the Global Summit June 3-7 in Cincinnati, Ohio is extended to April 30th, so take advantage of the discounted registration rates! Visit http://www.phscofevents.org for the latest information on the Symposium and the Summit or to register. The nurse category day will offer a rich learning and networking opportunity.

ANA is hosting an inaugural quadrennial policy conference on Nursing Care in Life, Death and Disasters June 20-22, 2007 in Atlanta, Georgia. This conference is dedicated to considering the significant health and disaster preparedness policy questions related to standards of care that can result from natural and manmade disasters. The conference is supported by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and The Association of State and Territorial Directors of Nursing. More information can be found at http://www.nursingworld.org/meetings/2007/quadpolicy/

I had the opportunity to address the Ambulatory Care Nurses Association at their annual conference in Las Vegas on the role ambulatory care nurses play in improving the health of the Nation. I also attended the Omaha System International Nursing Conference to share national perspectives on informatics. In addition I was invited to the conference of the American Association of Colleges of Nursing and shared information about our PHS student programs. Part of my message continues to be that regardless of our specialty areas we all have a role in public health.

I met with the International Nursing Coalition for Mass Casualty Education in Nashville on April 25 to identify issues related to assuring a competent and safe workforce for responding to all hazards events. This organization of nursing organizations reaffirmed its mission and revised its name to the Nursing Emergency Preparedness Education Coalition (NEPEC). PHS nurses Dr Sally Phillips, CAPT Lynn Slepski and CDR Lucienne Nelson played a significant role in this HHS sponsored event.

Look for the May Issue of FRONTLINE, the publication of the Commissioned Officer’s Association. It will feature an article on the “USPHS Nurse Category: Then and Now”. Thank you to Dr. Mary Beth Bigley for her assistance to me in preparing this article for you. http://www.coausphs.com

Comment
As you continue to struggle with demanding schedules and heavy workloads in this busy time of many changes, be reassured that “April showers bring May flowers” and the fruits of your labor will indeed blossom. Thank you for your continued commitment to plant the seeds, pull the weeds, and water the seedlings so that we can grow the flowers of health. You all make a difference in improving the health and safety of our Nation. Remember to stop and smell the roses!

Carol A. Romano, PhD, RN, FAAN
Assistant Surgeon General
Chief Nurse Officer, US Public Health Service