Fall 1999 Newsletter

From the President

To paraphrase from a previously popular rock song "we’re going to party ‘cause it’s 1999!" The new millennium is fast approaching and Xi Alpha is on the move. The Board is continuing plans for applying and receiving the Chapter Key Award at the Biennial Convention in San Diego. At the Regional Conference in Austin, Texas, we will be extending the invitation to all chapters in Region 3 to come to Nashville for the next Regional Conference. Our programs are expanding to include luncheon meetings. Xi Alpha is co-sponsoring many continuing education offerings on a variety of topics. We hope to induct not only those extraordinary students currently enrolled at Middle Tennessee State University School of Nursing who are eligible for membership in Xi Alpha, but anticipate many new community leaders as well. 1999 will be a very exciting and busy year.
What are your thoughts as we approach the year 2000? Did you make any special New Year’s Resolutions for this last year of the current millennium? If so, what kind of resolutions were they - personal fitness, weight loss, smoking cessation? - more time with family? - more attention to spiritual/religious matters? How many of us included more involvement with our professional associations? - specifically Sigma Theta Tau International? If that was not one of your goals for the year - think about it.
Involvement in Sigma Theta Tau can take many different forms. Think about your particular talents and let us know. There is a committee just waiting for your input! The slate for upcoming vacancies on the board is being prepared by our nominations committee chair, Jean Hastings - let her know if you are interested in running for office. Involvement at the local level can lead to additional opportunities. Getting to know members across the state, the nation, and the world can happen through this International organization. Our hosting of the next Regional Conference will provide many avenues for fulfilling involvement at the International level. Attending the Regional and International Conferences/Conventions can be a wonderful boast in the arm for the professional part of you that may be getting bogged down with the every day frustrations at the work place.
This newsletter provides you with information on the many opportunities for involvement on the local level. If there are topics you’d like to have on the agenda - if there is a speaker you’d like to suggest, - or a meeting time that you think is worth a try, - just let me or someone on the board know, - we are open to your suggestions. This organization both needs and appreciates membership involvement. See you on February 26th.

Xi Alpha Officers:

Karen Ward, President
Shayne Hitchcock, President-elect
Barbara Draude, Vice-President
Lynn Parsons, Secretary
Pat O’Leary, Treasurer
Frances Carson, Counselor

1999 Region 3 Conference:

Susan H. McKinney

"Journey into Nursing’s Future" is a fitting title for the Region 3, 1999 Conference. The Regional 3 Conference is being held in Austin, Texas on February 19-20, 1999. The focus on Friday, February 19 will be on several topics including a panel discussion of media and health industry experts who will share important light on how the media portrays nursing. The Woodhull Study on Nursing and the Media will also be addressed. Judith Wakim, EdD, RN will be presenting "Enhancing Global Connection" and Linda Covington, Ph.D.,RN will present on "Embracing Nursing’s Diversity".
The second day of the Conference, February 20,1999, will focus on analyzing strategic planning opportunities at the international and chapter levels as well as promoting collaboration and diversity at the chapter level. Susan H. McKinney, MSN,RN will speak on "Achieving Chapter Excellence Through Self-Evaluation". Karen Ward, Ph.D.,RN and Shayne Hitchock, BSN, RN will also be attending.
As one can see, our Xi Alpha Chapter will be well represented at the Conference and will bring back strategies for leadership networking both within and among chapters!

Research Corner:

Benefits of a Nurse Managed Wellness Program Based at a Senior Center

Judy Campbell

One of the defining characteristics of the 21st century will be an aging U.S. population. The American Association of Retired Persons (1995) projects by the year 2000 older adults will comprise 15% of the population, and by 2030, will comprise over 20% of the population. This represents 70 million people or a doubling of the current number of older adults in America.
The challenges of an expanding aging population facing health care professionals are becoming more dramatic. Historically, American culture has approached aging in a negative manner with a cultural bias toward youthfulness and productivity. Myths about aging are slowly being replaced with facts. The impact of aging has been shown to vary with the physiological changes that occur with age, the individual’s adaptive resources, and a person’s mental and emotional perspective (Hooyman & Kiyak, 1996).
Current literature points toward an increased interest in health promotion and disease prevention for the older adult. For example, the U.S. Department of Health (1990) report, Health People 2000, set overall goals for various age groups to increase the span of healthy life. Specific goals for the 65-year-old group ranged from increasing participation in organized health promotional programs and screening services in community based-settings to reducing chronic disabling conditions and their accompanying dependencies. Inherent in these goals is the improvement of functional independence of the aged (Ebersole and Hess, 1998).
The development and operation of the nurse-managed wellness program, Nurse on Duty, is an outgrowth of the research about the importance of health promotion among the aging and the recommendations by ANA that nurses provide services through nurse-managed centers. Nurse on Duty (NOD), a nurse-managed wellness center, has been operational for over six years and has been housed at the local senior center in Murfreesboro, TN. The NOD program has attempted to integrate knowledge about healthy aging with the processes of behavioral change to bring about more independent living and higher quality of health within the population served.
The NOD program has provided at broad range of screening services, individual counseling, health educational programs, and management services for participants with chronic illnesses. Through weekly clinic hours, the participants are able to attend and choose from among several services provided by the nurse manager and BSN nursing students. Additional screening and educational programs are offered regularly throughout the year.
During the operation of the NOD program, evaluation of the outcomes of the services and program has been sought. In January of 1998, a survey was mailed to 205 adults who participated in NOD programs and services the previous year. A sample of 111 respondents (54% return rate) provided a self-report of their participation and impressions of the nurse-managed wellness program. Some 48% of those responding to the survey indicated that they attended specific educational and wellness-oriented programs during the year. Blood pressure screening was the most frequent wellness service received during the past year by 94% of those responding. Other examples of services utilized widely were blood sugar analysis (70%), weight monitoring (68%), and nail and foot care (35%).
Respondents were asked to respond to twenty-five statements on behaviors that they had changed after receiving services at NOD. Participants reported a significant number of changes in several of their daily habits or lifestyles since getting services at NOD. A brief summary of some of the results included: 60% of those reporting indicated that they had lost or maintained weight, 49% increased or started exercising regularly, 50% lowered salt intake, 42% have lowered their blood pressure, 51% felt more satisfied with their lives, 46% have worried less about their health, and 47% feel better about staying in their present living arrangement.
Bivariate correlation’s measured by respondents reporting on the survey tool were significant when associated with groupings of some health, social and emotional variables. Both services received (.44) and programs attended (.35) showed a significant correlation (over .20 is significant at a < .05 level) to practicing healthy behaviors. Increased knowledge was significantly (.41) correlated to participating in nurse consultations, and increased knowledge (.41) was significantly correlated to maintained independence.
A series of t-tests were run on data comparing the number of nurse consultation visits of those who participated weekly or several times a month to those who participated a few times a year. Some of the significant findings showed participants who consulted more frequently with the nurse reported greater life satisfaction, physical and mental health much improved, and visits to NOD created a greater sense of independence and control over their life.
The results of the analysis of this survey confirms the notion that the model of a nurse managed wellness program with senior adults can provide the impetus for positive changes in lifestyles of older adults. The study also demonstrates the effectiveness of the nurse’s role as promoter of healthy lifestyles. In the past older adults have not always been viewed as suitable targets for health promotional activities. However, programs such as NOD can be viewed as a force for change in time to take on the challenges of enhancing the health and well being of the growing numbers of aging Americans.

American Association of Retired Persons, (1995). A profile of older Americans. Washington, D.C.:Author.
Ebersole, P., & Hess P. (1998). Toward healthy aging: Human needs and nursing response. St. Louis: Mosby.
Hooyman, N.R., & Kiyak, H. A. (1996). Social gerontology : A multidisciplinary perspective. Boston: Allyn & Bacon.

Scholarship Information:

A meeting was held on January 14 for the purposes of organizing the committee for this year. At this time, the committee would like to encourage nominations for the scholarship created in honor of Patsy Forrest. The criteria for applications are:
1. Enrollment in the MTSU baccalaureate program in nursing AND/OR Membership in Xi Alpha Chapter
2. Submission of an application including a written statement of personal and professional goals in nursing
3. Willingness to sign a formal agreement for money usage
4. Participation in a possible interview process

The purpose of this scholarship is to recognize outstanding scholarship by qualified individuals who have or will advance knowledge in the areas of Nursing science and practice. If you wish to apply yourself, or to nominate someone else for this honor, application materials are available through Karen Ward (898-5845, office number 239, CKNB, MTSU campus) or Lynn Parsons (898-2444, office number 226, CKNB).

The committee would also like to encourage you to contribute to the chapter’s scholarship efforts. We would like to establish another award in the near future. Please send in a contribution with the tear sheet provided at the end of this newsletter. You may make donations in honor or in memory of someone if you desire.

Continuing Education Opportunities:

"Cardiac Care Update": February 13, 1999
8:00 am – 12:30 pm at Middle Tennessee State University, School of Nursing, Cason Kennedy Nursing Building, Murfreesboro, TN. The well known speaker will be Penny Vaughn, MSN RN, Program Director of the Critical Care Program of the University of Tennessee. Ms. Vaughn has been a critical care nurse educator for 27 years and is founding editor of Critical Care Nurse. Call 898-5950 to reserve a space.

"Increasing Your Scholarly Productivity: Presenting and Publishing", May 6, 1999
8:00 am – 12:00 noon, at Middle Tennessee State University, School of Nursing. The speaker will be Suzanne Prevost, PhD, RN NHC Chair of Nursing Excellence, MTSU School of Nursing. Call 898-5950 for more information.

"Thriving Through Change", May 6, 1999
1:00 pm – 4:00 noon, at Middle Tennessee State University, School of Nursing. The speakers will be June Blankenship Pugh, MS, RN, CS and MaryAnn Woodword-Smith, MSN, RN, CS. This will be a highly interactive workshop, which will focus on thriving in a rapidly changing healthcare environment. The emphasis will be on making positive choices that will help participants grow beyond surviving change to thriving through change. Skits, group exercises and humor, as well as brief didactics, will provide useful information in an entertaining format. Call 898-5950 for further information.

"The Dynamics of Elderly Caregiving: A Celebration !", May 14, 1999, 8:30 am – 4:00 pm, at the St. Clair Street Senior Center. More information on program will be available later. Contact 898-5950 for further information.