The goal of the Professional Issues Panel on Workplace Violence and Incivility is to develop a position statement on workplace violence and incivility and detailed guidance for registered nurses and employers.  Over 500 applications were received.  Two groups have been convened to advise the association and support this important work: the Steering Committee and the Advisory Committee. Dr. Edmonson's appointment as Co-Chair of the Steering Committee is both an honor and a recognition of his willingness to share his expertise and knowledge with ANA and nurses across the country.

by Brian Moon
Modern health care is the epitome of expertise-driven work and health care workers draw on their experience every day to solve problems. The health care industry faces enormous risk as its workers retire and this expertise departs. While workforce development initiatives are underway, in some critical fields such as perioperative nursing, the pipeline for staff nurses and leaders remains a concern. Moreover, hiring alone won't solve the problem of expertise loss.
SOURCE: HOSPITALS & HEALTH NETWORKS DAILY

Flu vaccination prevented 7.2 million flu-associated illnesses, 3.1 million medically-attended illnesses and 90,000 hospitalizations last flu season, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimated today. If flu vaccination levels had reached the Healthy People 2020 target of 70%, CDC estimates that an additional 5.9 million illnesses, 2.3 million medically attended illnesses and 42,000 hospitalizations might have been averted.
SOURCE: AHA NEWS NOW

By Rachael Zimlich
Teaching is paramount in the nursing profession and critical to the management of mild traumatic brain injuries (mTBI) in particular, according to a new continuing education report. The article, published in the American Journal of Nursing by Hyatt, Kyong S. PhD, RN, FNP, a nurse scientist in the Department of Research Programs at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center in Bethesda, Md., highlights the impact of mTBI in soldiers and the impact it has not only on the patient, but their entire support system, and the nursing interventions that can provide the most benefit.
SOURCE: HEALTHCARE TRAVELER

By Rachael Zimlich
Because clinical alarms can result in serious harm to patients and they have garnered increased interest from the Joint Commission, the ECRI Institute—an independent nonprofit that researches improvements to patient care—has listed clinical alarms as the top health technology hazard of 2014. The study notes that the Joint Commission cited 98 alarm-related events in less than four years, with 80 of those resulting in death and 13 in permanent loss of function.
SOURCE: HEALTHCARE TRAVELER

What did you miss at the 2014 Texas Team Legislative Summit at the Texas Capitol?

This educational event was held to enhance the knowledge of all Registered Nurses about the Texas Team initiative, the IOM recommendations and the 2015 legislative agenda.

Click on the link below to see the key points from each of the summit speakers' speeches.

The Power of Communication
The TONE Annual Conference is considered to be one of the best and most affordable opportunities for learning and sharing in Texas. Because the conference focuses on the unique opportunities and problems that we face every day, this event has earned a loyal following of participants. For more information please click on the link below.

The House of Representatives voted on Dec. 11 219-206 to approve a $1.01 trillion spending package funding most federal agencies through September 2015, including funding to help U.S. hospitals combat Ebola. Earlier, AHA President and CEO Rich Umbdenstock called the spending bill’s Ebola funding "a good first step to ensure that hospitals have the resources necessary to properly respond to this crisis."
SOURCE: AHA NEWS NOW

Remember, you can access TONE benefits only if you keep your membership up to date. Now is the time to renew! TONE's Membership Year is September 1, 2014 – August 31, 2015. Click here to renew. 

by Rebecca Vesely
As the HEN project ends, its successes will continue to guide hospitals' quality efforts. Hospitals officials participating in the AHA/HRET HEN say the program has provided the opportunity and support to tackle longstanding issues and achieve goals. It also has allowed them to find ways to propel existing harm-prevention programs forward.
SOURCE: HOSPITALS & HEALTH NETWORKS MAGAZINE

Overall hospital prices increased 0.1% in November, and were 1.1% higher than a year ago, the Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. Prices for the subgroup of general medical and surgical hospitals increased 0.1%, and were 1.0% higher than in November 2013, according to the BLS' Producer Price Indices, which measure average changes in selling prices received by domestic producers for their output.
SOURCE: AHA NEWS NOW