On January 1st, 2011, HPNA will begin celebrating its 25th anniversary as a professional nursing association leading the way to promote excellence in the provision of palliative nursing care through leadership development, education and the support of research in the field. Happy Anniversary HPNA!http://www.hpna.org/default.aspx

HPNA Approved Educators are nurse educators who have completed the HPNA Approved Educators Workshop that prepares them to teach hospice and palliative content. There are over 500 HPNA Approved Educators. If you are interested in becoming an HPNA Approved for the upcoming course date/application. link here

The early bird discount for the 2011 AAHPM/HPNA Annual Assembly in Vancouver, BC, Canada is available now through January 05, 2011 http://bit.ly/fH5iY5

HPNA Research Scholars Program accepting applications for the 2011 Kathleen Foley Palliative Care Retreat October 11-13, 2011, Montreal, Quebec Application deadline for the 2011 program is January 15, 2011. Learn More http://www.hpna.org/DisplayPage.aspx?Title=Research%20Scholars%20Program

HPNA is pleased to welcome incoming president Todd Hultman, PhD APRN-BC ACHP. Dr. Hultman, who begins his second term on the HPNA Board of Directors in 2011, is a Palliative Care Nurse Practitioner at Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH). His term as president will begin January 1, 2011.

HPNA Membership has launched an online journal titled Expressions. Creative works of HPNA members will be posted in an electronic journal for public viewing on the HPNA website. We are currently accepting poems, stories, narratives, etc. that depicts hospice and palliative nursing. Submissions can be sent to chadr@hpna.org or nancyt@hpna.org in the National Office. Members can also mail send their creative works to the National Office of HPNA.

FREE For HPNA Members. 3 Dementia Care E-Learning Courses and earn a total of 4.5 Contact Hours- Register through "Members Only" at www.HPNA.org

2011 ELNEC Train-the-Trainer Courses Announced! co-sponsored by HPNA
June 16 & 17, 2011 - Denver, CO and July 28 & 29, 2011 - Atlanta, GA Register online

Hospice and Palliative Nurses Association now has 42 Local Chapters and 18 Provisional Groups across the United States. Go to http://www.hpna.org/ChaptersList.aspx to find your local chapter!

Pediatric Live Chat Tomorrow at 3PM Eastern!!! Free HPNA Event!!!

http://www.hpna.org/DisplayPage.aspx?Title=Live%20Chat

Hospice and Palliative Nurses Association (HPNA) offers online continuing education courses related to Care of the Family Caregiver. For more information about HPNA's online courses, visit our website, www.HPNA.org and click on "E-learning. Nurses who complete the course and pass the corresponding exam will be awarded nursing contact hours.

Registration now open for the 2011 AAHPM/HPNA Annual Assembly
February 16-17, 2011 Vancouver, Canada www.aahpm.orgDon’t miss ……HPNA 25th Anniversary Festivities! / 8 HPNA Pre conferences

HPNA Welcomes 2 Newly Chartered Chapters!
Congratulations to the 2 newlyapproved Chapters of HPNA, which were approved by the HPNA Board of Directors this month: East Central Iowa and Lake City/Gainesville (FL)! HPNA now has 44Chapters across the United States! To contact these chapters or one in your area, please visit the following link: http://www.hpna.org/Groups_Home.aspx

New HPNA Product . Core Curriculum for the Hospice and Palliative Administrator Is Now Available! ISBN 978-1-934654-23-1 Editor: Janet Snapp RN MSN OCN CHPN® FPCN
160 pages 2010 http://www.hpna.org/SpecialtyShoppe.aspx

“The Future of Nursing: Leading Change, Advancing Health Report Released” Important study from the Institute of Medicine in 2009 on the future of nursing in end of lifehttp://bit.ly/96ovtf

HPNA members. Register now for the Annual Assembly in Vancouver February 16-19 2011 at the Early Bird rate! http://www.aahpm.org/education/conf/geninfo.html

HPNA now has 43 Chapters across the United States and an additional 18 Provisional Groups! Contact your local group today http://www.hpna.org/ChaptersList.aspx

Registration now open for the Hospice & Palliative Nurses Assoc Annual Assembly in Vancouver, Canada on Feb 16-19, 2011 http://bit.ly/aWAVqM

STILL AVAILABLE!!! FREE E-Learning Course For HPNA Members: Dementia Care.Understanding the Diagnosis, Embracing the Diversity, and Upholding the Dignity at the End of Life" . Members must go through the Members Only section www.HPNA.org to access the course for free. 1.5 Contact Hou

Now there are 28 E-Learning programs available to HPNA members and non-members! Continuing nursing education contact hours are awarded to the programs. Log into http://www.hpna.org/Member_Login.aspx?xxxx to access E-Learning programs that are available to HPNA members at a discounted fee or offered free. Non-HPNA Members – Go to http://www.hpna.org/DisplayPage.aspx?Title=E-Learning

Next Nursing Assistant Teleconference Cancer Related Issues Lorraine Thayer, RN, MSN
September 22, 2010 3-3:30pm ET, Fee includes one contact hour. $20 HPNA member / $30 non-member. http://bit.ly/bdsHRe

2010 HPNA Clinical Practice Forum – “Breathing Easier” September 17-18, 2010 – Minneapolis online registration available until Friday Sept 3. http://bit.ly/GisgH

2010 HPNA Clinical Practice Forum - Breathing Easier: Palliative Care and Advanced Pulmonary Disease September 17-18, 2010 Minneapolis, MN Register online through September 3, 2010 http://bit.ly/GisgH

Next FREE Live Chat is Tomorrow!
August 31, 2010 11:30AM EST
Guest speaker, Pam Dalinis, MA, BSN, RN "Bioethics: Questions and Answers"
http://www.hpna.org/DisplayPage.aspx?Title=Live%20Chat

Check out the HPNA YouTube channel. It has the newest "Just a Minute" Series videos, announcements, and information. Visit the HPNA channel!

http://www.youtube.com/user/HPNAinformation#p/a

Next FREE Live Chat "Bioethics: Questions and Answers" August 31, 2010 11:30PM EST
Special guest speaker – Pam Dalinis, MA, BSN, RN http://bit.ly/d8FUGA

TODAY is the last day to sign up for HPNA's Clinical Practice Forum at the discounted early bird price. Save! http://bit.ly/GisgH

Friday Aug 13 is early bird discount deadline for HPNA Clinical Practice Forum in Minneapolis Sept 17-18. Register today! http://bit.ly/GisgH

TODAY - 4pm EST HPNA FREE Live E-Chat Session: "Advocating for Nursing" Host SR. Policy Advisor Bill Applegate http://bit.ly/cY7N3r

Upcoming HPNA FREE Chat Event "Advocating for Nursing: Q & A With HPNA's Legislative Firm" August 11, 2010 Speaker Bill Applegate 4:00PMESThttp://www.hpna.org/DisplayPage.aspx?Title=Live%20Chat

HPNA is now offering convenient one half-hour online continuing education courses!
Nurses who complete the course and pass the corresponding exam will be awarded 0.5 nursing contact hours. HPNA members pay $10 and non-members pay $15 for the course.
First Course is: · Delirium: Characteristics, Assessment Tools, Prevention Interventions and Management. For more information about HPNA's online courses, visit our website, www.HPNA.org and click on "Education", "E-learning."

2010 HPNA Clinical Practice Forum - September 17-18, 2010 - Minneapolis, MN
“Breathing Easier: Palliative Care and Advanced Pulmonary Disease” Early bird registration until August 13th. Full Conference Registration

Upcoming FREE Online Chat Session:

"Advocating for Nursing: Q & A With HPNA's Legislative Firm" with special guest speakers, Bill H. Applegate - Senior Policy Advisor, and Chris Rorick - Policy Advisor of Bryan Cave LLP

Advocating for Nursing
August 11th, 4:00PM EST

HPNA Approved Educator Workshop
August 21, 2010
8:00 am - 5:00 PM
Embassy Suites New Orleans
http://bit.ly/bHeKYo

Join an HPNA chapter today! See what is going on in Hospice and Palliative Nursing in your local area!http://www.hpna.org/ChaptersList.aspx?x

New E-Learning Course: GI Symptoms in Hospice and Palliative Care Patients 1 contact hour. Price $30. Member price #20. Objectives: Identify gastrointestinal problems that hospice/palliative care patients face. Explain the pathophysiology of the GI symptoms. Identify treatments available for GI symptoms. http://hpna.org/DisplayPage.aspx?Title=E-Learning

HPNA Approved Educator Workshop August 21, 2010, New Orleans, LA. Prepares RN’s to teach Clinical Reviews to RNs and NA’s http://bit.ly/bHeKYo.

HPNA Releases Updates to Guiding Principles

HPNA has released updated and revised Public Policy Guiding Principles http://bit.ly/cNENLh

Free HPNA Live Chatt "Being Witness to Suffering" TODAY 1pm ET. HostKerstin McSteen, RN, MS, CNS, ACHPN®.
http://bit.ly/a9Oq1E

HPNA Capital Hill Update

On May 19th, three representatives from HPNA conducted face-to-face meetings with congressional leaders in Washington, D.C. Carrying an overall message of cooperation and support, HPNA completed 6 meetings throughout the day, discussing the future of hospice and palliative nursing in the nation's health care system and building relationships with the legislators and their congressional staff. The following Representatives and Senators were visited by HPNA:

Senator Ron Wyden (OR)- Member of Senate Finance Committee, Sponsor of The Palliative Care Education and Training Act
Representative Frank Pallone (NJ)- Chair of the Energy & Commerce Health Subcommittee Representative
Bill Pascrell (NJ)- Member of Ways and Means Health Subcommittee
Representative Jay Inslee (WA)- Member of Energy & Commerce Heath Subcommittee
Representatives Lois Capps (CA)- Member of Energy & Commerce Health Subcommittee, Co-Chair Congressional Nursing Caucus Representative
Carolyn McCarthy (NY)- Chair, Education & Labor Children and Families Subcommittee, Co-Chair Congressional Nursing Caucus

Each Congressional leader was identified for a formal visit based upon their influence of nursing legislation in Congress, including holding positions on important Congressional Committees and the Congressional Nursing Caucus. HPNA looks forward to working with each congressional office to further improve and advanced the field of hospice and palliative nursing. HPNA would like to thank Bill Applegate and Chris Rorick of Bryan Cave, LLP for organizing this efficient and effective visit to "The Hill". To view pictures from the visits, please utilize the following link: Pictures from Capitol Hill

HPNA launched 2 new e-learning programs! Dying a Good Death: Terminal Dehydration and Anorexia http://www.hpna.org/PicView.aspx?ID=1251
Lab Test Interpretation http://nurseslearning.com/syllabus.cfm?CourseKey=5390
There are 15 courses in the HPNA e-learning library!

Be sure to view HPNA's updated guiding principles for public policy!

http://www.hpna.org/DisplayPage.aspx?Title=Guiding%20Principles

Nominations for the 2011 HPNA Awards Due June 1, 2010
http://www.hpna.org/DisplayPage.aspx?Title=Awards

Become an HPNA State Ambassador! Learn More...http://www.hpna.org/DisplayPage.aspx?Title=State%20Ambassadors%20Program

Today is last day for the early bird registration for the ELNEC – CORE Train-The-Trainer Course In Collaboration with HPNA June 10 & 11, 2010 – Pittsburgh, PA Save $50 http://www.hpna.org/register_elnec.aspx

Happy Nurses Day! HPNA is offereing a FREE CE Opportunity with the follow E-Learning Course. Today only, May 6 "Caring for the Family Caregiver" is available free of charge! To take the course log into Members Only on our website. http://www.hpna.org/Member_Login.aspx Thank you for all you do!

Title: Certification Chat: Answering Your Questions Date: Wednesday May 5, 2010Time: 1:30PM EDT
HPNA will be hosting its next live chat event on Wednesday, May 5th from 1:30PM-2:00PM EST. The topic for the session will be NBCHPN® Certification: Answering Your Questions. A very special guest "chatter" is scheduled to appear, Dawn Zwibel, Assistant Director of Certification for NBCHPN®. Ms. Zwibel will be answering your questions about the certification exam, recertification through HPAR, testing locations, exam preparation, along with other related topics.
http://bit.ly/9jv2Yb

Celebrate National Nurses Day With a FREE CE Opportunity From HPNA.On Thursday, May 6th, "Caring for the Family Caregiver" will be available to HPNA members FREE of charge! http://www.hpna.org/DisplayPage.aspx?Title=E-Learning

New HPNA E-Course This Week!

New HPNA E-Learning Course Just Launched...The Ethics of AICD Deactivation! http://www.hpna.org/DisplayPage.aspx?Title1=E-Learning

Registration open! HPNA Approved Educator Workshop August 21, 2010 8:00 am - 5:00 pm
Embassy Suites New Orleans, LA http://www.hpna.org/register_gcrttt.aspx

HPNA will be hosting its next live chat event on Wednesday, May 5th from 1:30PM-2:00PM EST. The topic for the session will be NBCHPN® Certification: Answering Your Questions. A very special guest "chatter" is scheduled to appear, Dawn Zwibel, Assistant Director of Certification for NBCHPN®. Ms. Zwibel will be answering your questions about the certification exam, recertification through HPAR, testing locations, exam preparation, along with other related topics.

We hope to hear from you on the next chat!!!

Title: Certification Chat: Answering Your Questions Date: Wednesday May 5, 2010Time: 1:30PM EDT

Live Chat Page Link

Nominations for 4 HPNA awards are being accepted: Innovation in Palliative Nursing Care , Friend of HPNA, Marion Ryan Artistry in Palliative Nursing, New Investigator Research Award A completed application package must be received in the National Office no later than June 1, 2010 for the majority of the awards. Faxes and emails will not be accepted. http://www.hpna.org/DisplayPage.aspx?Title=Awards

The 2010 HPNA Clinical Practice Forum - Breathing Easier: Palliative Care and Advanced Pulmonary Disease is only 5 months away! Registration is now open!!!

View the Webpage!

2010 HPNA Clinical Practice Forum
September 17 & 18, 2010
Minneapolis/St. Paul Airport Hilton
Bloomington (Minneapolis area), MN

Upcoming FREE Live Chat Event on May 5th - Certification Chat: Answering Your Questions Details

NEW HPNA Online E-Learning Course: Dying and Death in the Worlds of Children" presented by Margaret Mahon, PhD, RN, FAAN,FPCN.
This teleconference delineates children who are dying and those who are experiencing grief and bereavement because of the loss of a loved one
Contact Hours: 1.00HPNA Member Price: $20.00Non-member Price: $30.00Take The Course: HPNA Members can log into Members Only to access this E-Learning program and to receive member pricing. Please visit the E-Learning area of the HPNA website for additional information on all of HPNA's online education.

Get Active in HPNA! Join a local chapter. 40 Chapters and 20 Provisional groups across the USA! Check out the Chapters area of the website for news and opportunities within a chapter near you!
View Chapter News

To help celebrate the 2010 International Year of the Nurse, HPNA has a very unique opportunity for its members to commemorate the invaluable contributions of their nursing colleagues who have died. The National Office will collect their names and photos to launch the HPNA Photo Memorial Tribute to Nursing Colleagues. View Memorial

2009 Annual Report is now available for your review. View report

New HPNA E-Learning Programs Just Announced!

These online programs allows for access to up-to-date, convenient, self-paced learning with real-time test grading and printing of your CE certificate. Continuing nursing education contact hours are awarded to the programs. Courses currently available:

• Opioids in Palliative Care
• Pain Management
• Palliative Care Algorithms and Protocols for Symptom Management
• Symptom Management: Heart Failure
• Veteran Related Issues
• Care For The Family Caregiver
• The Ethics of AICD Deactivation
• Pain Mangement in Advanced Illness and Co-Morbid Substance Use Disorder
• Dying and Death in the Worlds of Children

HPNA E-Learning Site

Have You Viewed HPNA's Position Statements?

In HPNA's role as the lead organization in end-of-life and palliative nursing care, the Board of Directors will sometimes adopt a position statement on an issue of importance to the membership. Such statements can be written in support of or in opposition to a specific position. There is also the option of deciding not to take a position but rather to acknowledge both the pros and cons of the issue. A position statement is intended to represent the position of the Association's membership on the issue. Once adopted by the Board, the position becomes the official statement that Directors and National Office staff use when asked to comment on the issue.

The development of position statements is an on-going process within the Board of Directors.

View the Position Statements!

Catch the "Live Chat" Replay

HPNA has posted a FREE replay of the "Happenings On The Hill" live chat event with HPNA Public Policy Committee Chair, Rhonda Oakes. The program, orginally held on Thursday, March 25 at 3:00PM EST, will be available for the entire month of April and features answers your questions regarding current legislation affecting nursing, HPNA public policy programs, and other “happenings on the hill”

Live Chat Replay Link

Be sure to watch for more FREE upcoming live chats!

HPNA Presents Award to Rep. Lois Capps (D-CA)

HPNA has announced that Congresswomen Lois Capps, US Representative of California’s 23rd District, is the 2010 recipient of the Friend of HPNA Award. This prestigious award recognizes an individual who supports the HPNA Mission through a demonstrated positive impact on the hospice and palliative nursing care field through public policy and/or advocacy. The honor was presented March 5th at the AAHPM/HPNA Annual Assembly in Boston, MA.

Registration in now open for the 2010 HPNA Clinical Practice Forum

Registration in now open for the 2010 HPNA Clinical Practice Forum - Breathing Easier: Palliative Care and Advanced Pulmonary Disease

September 17 & 18, 2010

Minneapolis/St. Paul Airport Hilton
Bloomington (Minneapolis area), MN

The 2010 CPF Brochure(pdf)and registration information can be found on the HPNA website! CPF Event Information

Pulmonary disease is one of the top 4 leading causes of death in America. Life-limiting illnesses, such as advanced pulmonary disease present their own unique challenges for patients living with and dying from advanced pulmonary disease. The purpose of this conference is to demonstrate the integration of palliative care and pulmonary nursing practices for end-of-life care management. This conference is designed for practicing palliative care, pulmonary care, and other professional nurses who care for patients who have been diagnosed with pulmonary disease and their families.

The forum will include interactive sessions to address: assessment and management strategies to adequately control symptoms; what does the data show and what doesn’t the evidence show for pulmonary disease management; misconceptions about opioids and respiratory depression; management of dyspnea especially when, due to its subjectivity, the patient's intensity report may not correlate with pulmonary dysfunction; the psychological aspects of care for the patient and the family; and ethics at end-of-life.