A Message From the Chief Nurse

Nurses,

While Nurses Week has past, we continue to celebrate the accomplishments and contributions you all make to improve the Nation’s health.
Here are some recognition, policy, readiness, outreach and transformation updates to keep you informed.

Recognition
Congratulations to all those officers who were promoted. We also look forward to the future promotions for the 2008 cycle. Benchmarks for 2008 have been posted to the web site http://dcp.psc.gov/.

The Nursing Category also held a successful nurse recognition day on May 5, 2007 and an invigorating Nurse Category Day at the USPHS Annual Scientific and Training Symposium. Join me in congratulating our colleagues who received awards at these events:

PUBLICATION AWARDS

• The RADM O. Marie Henry Publication Award for Clinical Practice: CAPT Angela Martinelli –NIH
• The RADM Faye G. Abdellah Award for Nursing Research: CDR Laurie Bernato, Laura Bolton, Lisa Corbett, Peggy Dotson, Scott Lauaus, Diane Merkle, Gregory Patterson, Tania Phillips, Patrick McNees, Peggy Porter Riedesel, Peter Sheehan and the AAWC Government and Regulatory Task Force–FDA
• RADM Julia R. Plotnick Publication Award for Health/Nursing Policy: CAPT Patricia L. Riley, John Arudo, Andrew Kamenju, Maureen Kelley, Lawrence Marum, Japheth Ngoya, Elizabeth Oywer, Chris Rakoum, Marla Salmon, Martha Rogers, Michael St. Louis, Stephen M. Vindigni, Agnes Waudo –CDC

MINNIGERODE NURSING EXCELLENCE AWARDS

• Hanzel Award for Administrative Activities: CAPT Donna Olive–BOP
• McLaughlin Award for Clinical Services: CAPT Bonnie Warner–IHS
• Petry-Leone Award for Health Promotion and Education: LCDR Lois K. Schumacher–IHS
• Hasselmeyer Award for Research Initiatives: Jane Fall-Dickson, PhD, RN–NIH
• Gregg Group Award for Teamwork: CAPT Karen Hench, CAPT Beverly Wright, CDR Madelyn Renteria, Maribeth Badura, Juliann De Stefano–HRSA

MABLE MAY WAGNER AWARD FOR CLINICAL PRACTICE EXCELLENCE: CDR Candice L. Cotton, Gallup Indian Medical Center, IHS

LUCILLE WOODVILLE MEMORIAL AWARD FOR MATERNAL CHILD EXCELLENCE: CDR Dana Cruz, Phoenix Medical Center, IHS

NURSE RESPONDER OF THE YEAR: CAPT Clara Cobb, Region IV , HHS/OS

Policy Update
Starting on 30 June 2007, barring unforeseen circumstances, OFRD will check and report the readiness status of officers every three months, corresponding to the following dates: 31 March, 30 June, 30 September, and 31 December. Check your readiness status at http://oep.osophs.dhhs.gov/ccrf/ to confirm that your data is current. The nurse category still needs to achieve 100% readiness status.

Also note that OFRD will perform quarterly assessments to identify those officers who meet the criteria for the field medical readiness badge (FMRB). The FMRB policy was revised 21 May 2007 and is available on the OCCO website (http://dcp.psc.gov/).

All officers should have a CV in their Official Personal File. I received feedback that when officers submit a CV in applying for a position, that their name and contact information are NOT on the CV. Please make sure you include this data so that your CV can be used for a job application.

Readiness
We have 11 nurses who are cleared for assignment on the USNS Comfort Humanitarian Mission visiting countries in Latin America and the Caribbean. Final announcements and assignments will be forthcoming.

The Commissioned Corps has also been activated for a second mission, the PELELIU PACIFIC PARTNERSHIP (PPP), to build the public health infrastructure of Pacific Rim and Pacific Island countries this summer June through September. This mission will involve 3 sequential teams of 5 U.S. Public Health Service (USPHS) Commissioned Officers each remaining with the USS PELELIU for approximately one month. Officers from all categories with strong international and practical public health experience would be useful on these teams. If you are interested, available and have supervisor support, contact your PHS agency liaison ASAP.

June 1 was the official opening of hurricane season. Are you ready to help those in need?

Nursing Leadership and Outreach
I had the opportunity to speak at the Johns Hopkins School of Nursing commencement and Sigma Theta Tau ceremonies this month. I found that students were very interested in the PHS. Please reach out to schools of nursing and let them know who you are and what you do in the PHS . Volunteer to give a presentation or attend a school meeting. We still need to recruit more nurses. If you don’t do it, who will?

I presented at the Association of State and Territorial Directors of Nursing annual conference in Kansas City this month on the importance of partnerships in public health. I urge you to look for opportunities to connect with the nursing public health leaders in your state. The HHS health priorities of prevention, preparedness and elimination of health disparities need to be translated at the local and state levels.

I had the privilege of speaking “at home” at NIH for their National Nurses Week opening ceremonies and welcome these opportunities to celebrate nursing and share our public health priorities.

Transformation
The new USPHS web site has been activated and the new call center is receiving inquiries from potential applicants . Visit the new site and refer others there to learn more about a career in the Commissioned Corps (www.usphs.gov). The nursing force strength is 1369 officers and we have many vacancies. Recruitment is a high priority for both officers and civilian and tribal nurses.

The transformation initiative is progressing and nursing has done an excellent job under the leadership of CDR Amy Anderson of defining standard billet formats for 21 nursing roles. Soon all HHS agencies will be tasked to utilize the restructured billet system to develop new billets for all active duty officers this year. For further information, please feel free to contact the Office of Commissioned Corps Operations Transformation Officers responsible for billets transformation: CAPT Byron Bailey (240-453-6101) or LCDR Henry McMillan (240-453-6026).

Comment
It continues to be a very busy time for us all and we push forward in our construction of the future. Take heart and hold fast to the importance of our mission. While the road seems long and bumpy, creating a healthier nation is worth the journey. Thank you for your dedicated service and perseverance on this journey.

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