A Message From the Chief Nurse

Readiness Tiers

Officers recently received an e-mail memo from the Office of Force Readiness and Deployment management presenting the reorganization into 4 tiers of response to emergency situations. Please review the expectations with your supervisor and obtain concurrence prior to selection of a tier. All officers are required to log onto http://ccrf.hhs.gov/ccrf/ofrd_officer_questionnaire.htm to complete the survey and indicate their preference for response tiers and response team selection. To maximize public health efficiency and our deployment process, you are strongly encouraged to respond by May 8, 2006.

The National Strategy for Pandemic Flu Implementation Plan

The National Strategy for Pandemic Flu Implementation Plan was released May 3, 2006. This can be found on the web at http://www.whitehouse.gov/homeland/pandemic-influenza-implementation.html

Public Awareness Effort

For decades, the Commissioned Corps of the U.S. Public Health Service has worked behind the scenes and without fanfare to provide critical public health services to Americans in need. The impact of the Corps on the individuals and communities served is tremendous and can be shared through the art of story telling and interviews with reporters. We are undertaking a new media relations effort to bring the Commissioned Corps into the homes of Americans. To be considered for inclusion in this effort, please tell us your story by completing an Active Duty Officer Bios Database Intake Form. This form is online at www.MyCCStory.org.

Associate Recruiter Policy

A new policy was designed to standardize and support the recruitment of qualified candidates into the Commissioned Corps through a structured Associate Recruiter program. After application and selection to this program, the policy requires Associate Recruiters to participate in at least 2 qualified recruitment initiatives in a 12 month period. Please refer to the policy at http://dcp.psc.gov/PDF_docs/2316ARP.pdf for additional information and guidance on the program. While this is a specific program that I encourage you to explore, it is important to remember that every nurse has a responsibility for recruiting and creating the next generation of nurses. Additional information is forthcoming on this topic.

MOU Clarification for Clinical Service Hours

The Nursing Professional Advisory Committee Minutes for March 2006 related to clinical service hours has created some confusion and great inquiry.

The intent of the message was to convey that the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Veterans Administration (VA) is under review and is designed to allow Commissioned Corps officers to obtain the clinical hours to meet readiness and clinical proficiency requirement by service within VA facilities that agree to participate. Please stay tuned for additional information as the details become available.

Nurse Award Recipients

The 2006 US Public Health Service Award Recipients were announced at the COA Professional Conference this week. Join me in congratulating our colleagues.

COA Mable May Wagner Award for Clinical Practice Excellence:
Stephanie Walker, Hastings Indian Medical Center, IHS

COA Lucille Woodville Memorial Award for Maternal Child Excellence:
LCDR Elizabeth Boot, Phoenix Medical Center, IHS

COA JD Lane Investigator Award
CAPT Latricia Robertson, HRSA

Nurse Responder of the Year AND overall OFRD Commissioned Corps Responder of the Year
CAPT Andrew Stevermer, Region X, HHS/OS

You can read more about the recipients and their award-winning efforts on the N-PAC website later this month.

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