Bulletin Board

B U L L E T I N

B O A R D

Grab a Pen and 2.6 Million Friends The National Breast Cancer Coalition is in the midst of a very aggressive campaign to collect 2.6 million signatures on petitions urging President Bill Clinton and Congress to spend $2.6 billion for breast cancer research before the turn of the millennium. Why 2.6 million? That's the number of women in the U.S. who are currently living with breast cancer and its impact on their lives. Join AWHONN in working to generate the 2.6 million signatures: log onto the internet at http://www. natlbcc.org and sign an on-line petition; call (800) NBCC-838 and leave a voicemail petition that includes your name and address; or call the

NBCC headquarters at (202) 9730590 to get a package of petitions. The drive culminates with a rally planned for May 6th on the National Mall in Washington, DC, when the coalition will present the petitions to the president.

Birthing: Our Own Stories Expand your own experience of the birthing process, and help patients understand different elements of birthing, such as epidurals, midwives, episiotomies, Cesareans, and twins, just to begin, with the new "Birth Stories " video library. Since no two births are alike, Birthing Stories presents a collection of short stories that takes the viewer through the complete birth process-problems and procedures.

For more information about "Birth Stories, " call (800) 326-2082.

Surf's up for Nurses As the global internet community continues to grow, hundreds of sites are springing up to support nurses in both their practices and the interchange of information. Where's a novice nurse surfer to begin? Try Lippincott-Raven's recently released

Mark These Dates! Date

location

Event

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Seattle, WA

AWHONN Regional Workshops: Critical Elements of Mother-Baby Assessment; Regional Analgesia During Labor and Birth: Principles and Parameters of Care; Pharmacology for the Advanced Nursing Practitioner; (800)673-8499ext. 161 1

Caribbean cruise

"Updating Our Nursing Skills," a cruise featuring workshops on improving patient care and professional identities; high-tech equipment, and criiical care challenges. Contact Judy D'Angelo, RN, CCRN; (800) 582-7824

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(Departing San Juan, PR)

Chicago, IL

AWHONN Regional Workshops: Criiical Elements of Mother-Baby Assessment; Regional Analgesia During Labor and Birth: Principles and Parameters of Care; Pharmacology for the Advanced Nursing Practitioner; (800) 673-8499ext. 161 1

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Atlanta, GA

Eighth Annual Emory Breastfeeding Conference: Breastfeeding in the '90sResearch and Practice; Angela Lipsmeyer; (4041 727-8415

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Boston, MA

"Human Teratogens: Environmental Factors Which Cause Birth Defects," sponsored by Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Department of Continuing Education; (617)432-1525

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Boston, MA

AWHONN Regional Workshops: Criical Elements of Mother-Baby Assessment; Regional Analgesia During Labor and Birth: Principles and Parameters of Care; Pharmacology for the Advanced Nursing Practitioner; (800)673-8499ext. 161 1

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Washington, DC

The 1997 AWHONN Pre-Convention Continuing Education Program; (800)673-8499,ext 1612

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Washington, DC

The AWHONN 1997 Convention: Capitol Opportunities; (800) 673-8499

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San Francisco, CA

AWHONN/Mosby Perinatal Case Management Conference; (800) 826-1877

On-going

Call for location

The AWHONN Fetal Heart Monitoring Principles and Practices Workshop; call AWHONN Fax-on-Demand (800)395-7373to request fax document Kilo

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(To submit information for possible inclusion into this calendar, fax complete event information to "Lifelines Calendar" at 202-737-0575, or E-mail "[email protected]."I

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“Nurses’Guide to the Internet, ” the first nurse-exclusive handbook targeted exclusively at World Wide Web and other internet sites of interest to nurses. This book features a no-nonsense introduction to the ‘net, web sites, list servers, and Usenet groups. Look for this hot new release in your local bookstore, or call Lippincott-Raven at (800) 777-2295 to order the handbook. The internet offers a host of sites supporting nurses’ professional development. Check out some of the most popular addresses: Medsearch America provides a host of recruitment resources at http://www.medsearch.com. And while you’re there, check out the detailed employer profiles and job listings at gopher://gopher.medsearch.com:9001/1.

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Nurses’ Call features conference announcements, employment listings and links to a whole list of other nursing web sites at http://www.n pl.com/-nrs-call/. Head straight for what’s known as the virtual mall for nursing at Nursing Network Forum. This page, operated by Mid-Atlantic Network Associates, Inc., definitely features one-stop shopping at http://www.access.digex.net/-nurse /nursnet3.ht.

ATTN: Researchers! An exciting new opportunity is available to AWHONN members and others who are interested in developing their research skills. Plan now to participate in a 2-week summer institute at the University of Pennsylvania that will help novice researchers and nurses interested in expanding their skills focus on research design, methodology, proposal writing and funding opportunities. Learn from experienced and established nurse scientists. The goal of the summer institute is to assist participants in developing a proposal that can be submitted to potential funding sources upon completion of the 2week course. Ruth York, PhD, RN, FAAN, chair of AWHONN’s Committee on Research, is organizing the institute. Tentative dates for the courses are scheduled for early summer. Obtain updated applica-

tion information from the AWHONN FAX-ON-DEMAND: call (800) 395-7373 and request FAX document #620.

Capitol Opportunities Ahead Make plans now to attend the AWHONN 1997 Convention, “Capitol Opportunities,” June 15-18, at the Sheraton Washington Hotel in Washington, DC. This year’s program will feature a unique “Nursing Opportunities Track” of sessions specifically targeted a t helping nurses discover employment opportunities available in this time of tremendous change for nursing, and a chance to take a visit with legislators on Capitol Hill. If you are not an AWHONN member, or have not received your preliminary program and registration materials, call (202) 662-1615 to learn about the registration discounts available to members.

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To submit information for possible inclusion into this Bulletin Board, fax complete event information to “Lifelines Bulletin Board” at (202) 737-0575, or E-mail “[email protected]. ”

February 1997

When I think of my mother or my daughter attempting to navigate our health care system, I want to cry out “danger!“

(continued fmm page 72.) annual health examination! Yet, I was unpleasantly surprised to learn my new female physician did not do Pap smears or clinical breast examinations. I was sent to one place for a mammogram and another for laboratory work. I then went on a search to find a gynecologist who was included in my health plan. (No one-stop shopping in this health care system.) As a breast cancer survivor, I brought an insider’s perspective in gaining access to cancer therapy. I chose female physicians and nurses to care for me. And although many thoughtful and caring people helped me through that experience, the help I received from my oncology clinical specialist will always stand as a stellar example of someone providing excellent women’s health care. What is the secret of her success? She took the time and concern to answer even the “hard” questions and patiently helped me make good choices. When I think of my mother or my daughter attempting to navigate our health care system, I want to cry out “danger!” These experi-

I Ensuring Women’s Health To ensure my own good health as a woman, I need to: Seek age-related screenings for heart, cancer, and other familial health problems annually. Engage in physical activity regularly. Eat a balanced diet frequently. Balance my efforts among tasks I must do, want to do, and those that others want me to do. Manage stress and routinely take time out just for myself. Act on knowledge about contraception, prevention of sexually transmitted diseases, risk-taking behaviors, substance abuse, immunization, seat belt use, and personal safety. Questions I need to ask my primmy health care, dental, and other insurance pmviden: How often should I plan for routine screening examinations? What routine screening examinations are covered? At what level or amount? Given my current health status and familial risk, what do I need to do to improve my health? Am I engaging in any behaviors that pose a risk to my health? What health resources (books, individuals, support groups, organizations) are available to me? How will w e as a team create a partnership for my health?

February 1997

ences bring tears of joy and tears of anger. Despite our desire to deny, we have helped create some of the health care mess. Now, as our mothers told most of us when we were young, it’s time to clean it up.

Moving Forward As a nurse, I see this as one of our major challenges. Helping women (and ourselves) negotiate our patchwork health care system is yet only a beginning. Learning about and helping others understand the myriad tests and their outcomes to help women “take care of themselves” is nurses’ work. As women, we will benefit through persistence. Asking questions and teaching women to ask the same questions will reduce the stress and frustration associated with achieving routine health screens. We must seek health in light of the consequences of managed care models designed to contain women’s health care costs. I am influenced by Nancy Fugate Woods when she defines women’s health as comprehensive, coordinated personal health care across the lifespan. She also views women’s health from an ecologic perspective and includes an emphasis on the environments for women’s health and the public services that focus on the context of women’s health. The World Health Organization views “women’s health and development” as a complex interrelation between the health of women and their social, political, cultural, and economic situation. The women’s health paradigm is changing, particularly the notion of healthy women contributing to economic and social change. National objectives set forth in Healthy People 2000 and the Public Health Service’s Action Plan for Women’s Health propose a framework that puts prevention into action. Many medical conditions can be controlled, even eliminated, through healthier lifestyles and safer environments. Nurses, as providers and consumers, are critical in advocating, teaching, counseling, diagnosing, and treating women’s health conditions. As women and nurses, we are participating in important studies, such as the federally funded Women’s Health Initiative, the 15-year, $628 Lifelines

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million National Institutes of Health clinical study aimed at increasing our knowledge and skillful practice of caring for women. We certainly have moved well beyond definition of women’s health management as a breast check and Pap smear. Thank goodness we are more than our reproductive parts! Because we care about ourselves, we promote education and research, essential elements in developing answers to women’s health care questions, particularly about the various screening procedures and treatments. As nurses, we’ve done a good job helping women understand that pregnancy is a state of health, not disease, and that they have considerable choices about birthing newborns. We still have more to do. Domestic violence affects four million women annually, and 170,000 women are assaulted during the last four months of pregnancy. Urinary incontinence affects one in four women 55 years of age and older, and even more women when considering the lifespan of women who basically take care of themselves and yet think it’s normal to lose a few drops of water occasionally. It’s

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not. Osteoporosis is a women’s health issue, and studies are disclosing ways to prevent it. Our reproductive health provides yet another major women’s health forum. In creating a partnership with women for health, our conversations must center around physical examinations; pharmacology; preventative care; environmental exposures; immunizations; nutrition; contraception; sterilization; abortion; Pap smears; sexually transmitted diseases; sexuality; domestic violence; sexual assault; psychiatric and other behavioral problems; menstrual cycles; premenstrual syndrome; age-related complications, such as adolescence, menopause, and osteoporosis; systems review; and social problems, to name a few.

Uniquely Female Women’s health seems to be all this and more. Many nurses share a passion about women and newborns that emerges from a long tradition of meeting the unique health care needs of women. Although we share somewhat equally with men in the number of major diseases that affect us, a woman’s experience in the health care system is

significantly different than that of a man, particularly within the politics of health care. The Congressional Women’s Caucus spoke long and loud enough about the exclusion of women in clinical trials that, in 1990, the Office of Women’s Health was established. The report Women’s Health: An Intensive Summer Institute, sponsored by The Center for Research on Women and Gender of the University of Illinois at Chicago, advocates a distinct political vision that challenges oppression, domination, and patriarchy. Each of us must also learn new skills as we consider how to weave our health habits into the cloth of our lives. “An exploration of the ways women combine the materials of their lives must address this question of needed strengths, strength to imagine something new and strength to remain with it,” says Mary Catherine Bateson so well in her book, Composing a Life. As nurses, we are both women’s health care providers and consumers. Consumer action starts by spending money on obtaining the best in women’s health care. After all, taking care of ourselves is just the beginning of women’s health. ‘I

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February 7997