MFP offers path to higher education in psychiatric and mental health

Applications are open for the Minority Fellowship Program at ANA.

The Minority Fellowship Program (MFP), an initiative staffed by the American Nurses Association (ANA) with funding from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, provides opportunities for minority psychiatric nurses to attain master’s and doctoral degrees in mental health and substance use disorders so they can provide direct care, research, education, and health advocacy to minority and underserved populations across the life span.

The MFP encourages nurses with leadership potential and commitment to a career providing behavioral health services or developing policy for ethnic and racial minority populations to apply for one of the two programs:

• Doctoral: This program provides 3- to 5-year fellowships to master’s prepared nurses, or nurses who have completed at least nine credits related to psychiatric/mental health or substance abuse and who are committed to pursuing doctoral study on minority psychiatric mental health and substance abuse issues.
• Master’s: Students admitted to or currently matriculating in a full-time accredited master’s degree program in behavioral health (psychiatric nursing) or substance abuse disorders prevention and treatment.

Applications for the 2023-2024 program are due April 30.

Since its inception in 1974, the MFP has enhanced academic resources and provided a nurturing support system for more than 500 Fellows who are providing leadership in the areas of research, clinical practice, education, administration, and policy in a variety of settings. They are leaders in research, clinical practice, public policy, administration, and community service.

This program provides nurses with stipends, dissertation support, mentoring, career guidance, intensive research and clinical workshops, and opportunities to interact with and learn from experts in a multitude of disciplines that address, for example, culture, mental health, public policy, and clinical issues.

Nurses who are passionate about improving the psychiatric and mental health outcomes of marginalized communities can learn more about the MFP and apply at apply.emfp.org.

Nurses expand their thinking in ANA Innovation Lounges

The ANA Innovation Lounges are virtual, interactive conversations where nurses can expand their thinking about innovation and its impact on the nursing profession and healthcare. Led by nurses who are taking the initiative in innovation, these sessions provide a supportive environment and real-time networking around all aspects of nursing innovation.

The 2023 ANA Innovation lounges explore equity and diversity, mobile and virtual care, and nurse engineers.

The first lounge, “Expanding possibilities: Real-world solutions for justice, equity, diversity and inclusion,” on April 19, features a diverse group of nursing leaders who will discuss their approaches to gain perspective and understanding of critical issues requiring transformative change. Lounge speakers will discuss how they infuse justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion (JEDI) principles to thoughtfully address the needs of patients, communities, and the planet. They also will explore the successful deployment of JEDI resources to create long-term sustainability to drive innovation across ecosystems.

Upcoming ANA Innovation Lounges:

• Care where you live: Nurses leading the mobile care revolution – June 21
• Nurse engineers: Building what healthcare really needs – September 20
• Virtual care in hospitals and homes: Nurses where you need them – October 18

All lounges take place 6:00 – 7:30 PM ET. Free registration is available at nursingworld.org/practice-policy/innovation/events/innovation-lounges/, where you also can view the four 2022 lounges.

For more innovation content, listen to the See You Now podcast from ANA and Johnson & Johnson. Each episode features nurse innovators, nurse allies, and other leaders working at the intersection of innovation and health through their work, by developing unique programs, devices, technologies, protocols, and treatment approaches.

The 2023 season of See You Now began with three episodes focused on redesigning work. They explore how change is in the air as new models and mindsets are embraced, revolutionizing hiring, mentorship, career planning, and more.

Learn more about See You Now and listen to episodes at nursingworld.org/practice-policy/innovation/podcast/.

ANA continues to advocate for COVID-19 vaccines and boosters

The American Nurses Association (ANA) has maintained its COVID-19 vaccine and booster advocacy with two public-facing efforts meant to remind Americans that the virus is still a threat to people of all ages.

ANA, the American Hospital Association, and the American Medical Association released a public service announcement (PSA) urging the public to stay up to date on their COVID-19 vaccines, including the updated bivalent booster when eligible. The PSA, which featured the organizations’ leaders, including ANA President Jennifer Mensik Kennedy, PhD, MBA, RN, NEA-BC, FAAN, stressed that COVID-19 vaccines, including the updated boosters, protect people from serious disease and are safe and effective (youtube.com/watch?v=6-vfnn4HJoo).
Released on February 9, the PSA continues the work the three associations have done over the past 3 years to curb the spread of COVID-19 and protect patients, communities, and healthcare professionals.

On February 13, ANA applauded the decision by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to incorporate COVID-19 vaccines into the routine immunization schedule.
“We fully support this important step to simplify and standardize the COVID-19 vaccine process for both adults and children,” Mensik Kennedy said. “This aligns with ANA’s longstanding position on immunizations. With the COVID-19 viral strain regularly mutating, even fully vaccinated individuals must continue following the regimented vaccine schedule as recommended by nurses and other healthcare professionals to maintain increased protection.”

ANA continues to call for all eligible adults and children—including those under 6 years—to get vaccinated and boosted against COVID-19. This stance aligns with ANA’s longstanding position on immunizations, which emphasizes that effective protection of the public health mandates that allindividuals receive immunizations against vaccine-preventable diseases.

Members recommend ANA workplace violence webinar

According to a 2022 Pulse on the Nation’s Nurses survey conducted by the American Nurses Foundation, 29% of nurses reported experiencing one or more incidents of violence in the past year. Only 20% to 60% of workplace violence incidents against nurses are reported. With assaults in healthcare facilities increasing, it’s critical that nurses are educated on the challenge of workplace violence (WPV).

ANA members who participated in the “Workplace violence against nurses: What you can do” webinar have called it “excellent and timely,” “informative and eye-opening,” and an “amazing wealth of information.”

Presented by occupational health nurse and certified professional ergonomist Lynda Enos, MS, RN, COHN-S, CPE, the webinar covers the scope and cost of WPV in healthcare for nurses, patients, and healthcare organizations; common factors related to organizational culture that can prevent implementation of successful WPV prevention programs; core components of a program to manage and prevent WPV; and what nurses can do to support effectiveness and sustainability of a WPV program and culture of safety. The webinar also provides resources from ANA and other sources that nurses can access to enhance or develop a WPV prevention program.

The positive response to this webinar makes it must-see information: 98% of attendees agreed the webinar was well presented and 96% agreed the content met their needs. The information is designed for all nurses in all practice settings.

The “Workplace violence against nurses: What you can do” webinar is free for ANA members and non-members. Register for the on-demand webinar at bit.ly/3J4VXjb.

Celebrate Nurses Month in May

The Nurses Month theme, You Make a Difference, signifies nurses’ many roles and their positive impact on the world. Nurses make a difference through and beyond direct patient care. They influence and shape health policy decisions that ensure all Americans have access to high-quality, affordable healthcare coverage. Nurses advocate for safe work environments for healthcare workers and increased safety for patients, using their voices to promote safe staffing and stronger measures to end nurse abuse. Their unique expertise and recognition as the nation’s most trusted professionals for 21 years straight has helped encourage Americans to get fully vaccinated against COVID-19 and flu.

As the nation’s largest healthcare profession, nurses ensure individuals, families, and communities receive quality patient care and services despite ongoing challenges. While the American Nurses Association (ANA) champions nurses year-round, it observes Nurses Month in May as a unique opportunity to acknowledge nurses’ invaluable contributions and invite the public to give recognition and support.

Show appreciation for nurses by engaging with the Nurses Month weekly themes.

• Self-care Week May 1-7: This week is dedicated to cultivating and maintaining optimal mental health and physical well-being.
• Recognition Week May 8-14: Honor the work of nurses who lead, excel, and innovate in our healthcare systems and communities.
• Professional Development Week May 15-21: Access resources and insights to guide nurses’ professional development.
• Community Engagement Week May 22-28: Focus on educating the community about what nurses do beyond the bedside—advocacy, shaping public policy, serving as organizational board members. Encourage them to support current and future nurses.

Free Nurses Month webinar on May 17

In the American Nurses Foundation’s 2022 Workplace Survey, 31% of responding nurses stated that their organizations could increase their overall work satisfaction by “[genuinely listening] to my voice and [addressing] my needs.”

Nurses’ voices are needed from the halls of hospitals to those on Capitol Hill. The “Asking and Advocating for What Nurses Need” webinar provides the tools and skills nurses require to speak up for their needs. An understanding of these resources can help optimize the work environment and foster a culture of self-advocacy to improve patient care.

Register for this free webinar at nursingworld.org/continuing-education/2023-Nurses-Month-Free-Webinar/.

How to show appreciation for nurses

Help raise the visibility of the nursing profession and express gratitude for nurses’ enduring commitment and expertise during this month-long recognition. All nurses, hospitals, and other stakeholders are encouraged to participate in Nurses Month to recognize nurses and educate the public about the Nurses Month activities on social media channels such as Facebook and Twitter at #ANANursesMonth and #YouMakeADifference.

To promote Nurses Month, access the Nurses Month toolkit, which includes a Nurses Month logo to use on promotional materials, in social media, and at celebrations and activities. You’ll also find tools to promote Nurses Month in local communities and media. You can download the toolkit and logo from nursingworld.org/ana-enterprise/nurses-month/.

Find Nurses Month gifts and decorations, including t-shirts, lapel pins, balloons, and buttons, at shopana.org/category/20388/Nurses-Month.html.

Other resources to share during Nurses Month include the following:

• Well-being Initiative: The American Nurses Foundation Well-being Initiative offers a variety of free resources designed to support nurses’ mental health and self-care. You’ll find guidance on coping with stress and grief, ideas for improving your sleep and practicing gratitude, stories from other nurses, and links to additional mental health resources. For more information, visit nursingworld.org/thewellbeinginitiative.
• Healthy Nurse, Healthy Nation™: This ANA Enterprise initiative encourages nurses to improve their health in six areas: physical activity, nutrition, rest, quality of life, safety and mental health. Healthy nurses are great role models for their patients, colleagues, families, and neighbors. Learn more at hnhn.org