South Central HPNA Chapter News

Greetings Members and Friends, 

Our Southcentral PA HPNA Chapter year is nearing an end.  We have had four excellent programs this year, hosted the premier of the Carolyn Jones film Defining Hope (through a grant from the HPNA), increased our membership, made new connections and celebrated our passion for hospice and palliative care.

Our membership has increased by 30% in the last two years!  That brings us to a whopping 27 members!  When our membership dropped to about 17, we wondered if our chapter would survive.  But hard work, determination, focus and the kindness of our membership has brought new life to our group.  Thank you all for your support in every way.

As the calendar closes, so does our business year.  We will be sending out election ballots on Nov 26.  We have some openings in our roster for next year.  We would welcome you as a board member.  Currently, we are seeking nominations for President Elect, Program Elect, Membership Elect, and Nominations. (Elect positions are preparatory for the following business year, 2020 and would assist the current board member).  Please contact Liz Winders, ewinders39@msn.com or Alyson Yost, alyjthomas@gmail.com with any questions or to let us know of your interest.  It is the best way to promote professionalism in our nursing specialty.

As I address my patients in their plans for healthcare which advancing illness, I tell them I have also completed my formal advance directive and spoken with my husband and son about my wishes.  Have you?  The HPNA is advocating for nurses to push forward the movement for advance care planning. #ISaidWhatIWant is the hashtag for their program.  I have shared this information on my own social media and encourage all of you to do the same.  Have you said what you want?

Advance Care Planning Initiative - #ISaidWhatIWant

Nearly 20 nursing specialty organizations representing more than 700,000 nurses have joined together to promote advance care planning (ACP), encouraging nurses to lead by example and establish their own advance care plan. Even though most nurses are familiar with ACP, many do not have a plan in place, and this initiative is to help nurses create their ACP.

The #ISaidWhatIWant social media initiative was developed in response to the work done at the 2017 Palliative Nursing Summit hosted by the Hospice and Palliative Nurses Association, which brought various nursing specialties together to develop a collaborative nursing agenda regarding advance care planning, pain and symptom management, and transitions and coordination of care. Following the summit, participating organizations formed work teams to develop specific programs that will ultimately seek to influence public health by engaging nurses in targeted initiatives to enhance the care and outcomes of patients and their families.

ACP is a process for patients and their families to discuss their wishes and goals of care for treatment and end-of-life care, clarify related values and goals, and state preferences through written documents and medical orders. This process can start at any time and be revisited periodically but becomes more focused as health status changes. In situations where a patient's decision-making capacity is limited, healthcare providers turn to family members to make decisions. When there have been no ACP conversations between the patient and family, family members are left to make decisions regarding life-sustaining treatment without input from the patient or with little knowledge of the patient's wishes. 

Find more information here:  https://advancingexpertcare.org/acp

As of January 1, 2019, our dues will increase (first time ever, but due to increased cost of CE’s)

General Membership                    $40 annually

Associate Membership                 $50 annually

Individual CE, nonmember          $15

Renew your membership before January 1 at lower prices!!  https://scpahpna.nursingnetwork.com/

Renew or join on our secure website and save for next year!

Our upcoming programs will be Thursday, January 17 2019, at Hospice and Community Care, Good Dr in Lancaster.  More details to follow.

As we approach our Thanksgiving holiday, we remain thankful for family, friends, colleagues, our patients.  Like the spice in our dressing and pumpkin pie, you are all the spice of our lives. 

Thank you.

Liz Winders BSN RN CHPN CHFN

President

November 16, 2018