American Holistic Nurses Association (AHNA)

Geriatric Activities

• Launched GeroFocus section of AHNA Web site
• Access to recent articles, upcoming events, continuing education, useful Web links
• Had geriatric keynote speaker at 2007 annual meeting
• Incorporated language about care of older adults into scope and standards document

• Publications and Position Statements
• Presentations, Workshops, and Seminars
• Education Modules, Programs, and Learning Tools

Publications and Position Statements

• *The upcoming Spring 2007 issue of Beginnings, the AHNA member magazine, will be completely devoted to the theme of Age and Life Transitions, including articles about caring for the elderly.
• *The upcoming Fall 2007 issue of Beginnings, the AHNA member magazine, will be completely devoted to the theme of Palliative care, including articles about pain management and end-of-life care for the elderly.
• *Recently published articles on geriatric related topics in Beginnings, include:
  • Cantwell, Joan. (2006). "Expressive Arts in a Hospice Setting."
  • Eliopoulos, Charlotte. (2005). "New Educational Opportunities to Improve Competencies in Geriatric Care."
  • Balzer Riley, Julia. (2005). "From Age-ing to Sage-ing: A Profound New Vision of Spiritual Eldering."
  • Eliopoulos, Charlotte (2005) "AHNA Joins in National Collaboration in Geriatric Nursing."
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• *Recently published articles in the Journal of Holistic Nursing, include:
  • Rew, Lynn. (2006). "Being in Tune with Life: Complementary Therapy Use and Well-Being in
  • Residential Hospice Residents."
  • Cruse, B. & Prazak, M. (2006) "Humor and Older Adults: What Makes Them Laugh?"
  • Nichols, E., Sullivan, T., Ide, B., Shreffler-Grant, J. & Weinert, C. (2005) Complementary Therapy,
  • Chronic Illness and Older Rural Dwellers."
• Highlighted GeroNuseOnline.org in various issues of the AHNA e-mail newsletter

Presentations, Workshops, and Seminars

• * Developed four geriatric-care continuing educational modules for dissemination to nurses in the U.S. and abroad. The modules are available through the AHNA website and can be downloaded free of charge. For a nominal fee, contact hours are granted for the completion of the self-study packet. Modules include:
  • Safe Integration of Complementary and Alternative Therapies in Geriatric Care
  • Spirituality in Geriatric Nursing Care
  • Self-Care for Geriatric Nurses
  • Aging with Chronicity: Overview and Resources
• * Added a special section to the AHNA website titled GeroFocus, an online resource for nurses seeking specialized information about caring for older adults.

Education Modules, Programs, and Learning Tools

• * On June 7-10, 2007 the American Holistic Nurses Association will hold its 2007 Annual Conference entitled “Wheel of Life: Celebrating Transitions” at the Granlibakken Conference Center, Tahoe City, California. Feature keynote speaker Mathy Mezey EdD, RN, FAAN, the Director of the Hartford Institute for Geriatric Nursing at NYU will discuss the care of older adults and how holistic nurses can play a key role in humanizing the hospital experience and helping to assure good outcomes.

  The American Holistic Nurses Association invites you to collaborate with hundreds of holistic nurses at the annual conference this June. Join together for a few inspiring days near beautiful Lake Tahoe to explore the mysteries of life’s journey and to celebrate the incredible experience of aging and life’s transitions.

   

  Nurses can receive up to 21.7 contact hours. Learn more or register online at http://www.ahna.org/events/2007.html. You can also download a full conference brochure at http://www.ahna.org/events/brochure.pdf

   

  Questions? email conference@ahna.org or call Miriam Hillson, Conference Planner/Coordinator, at (800) 278-2462, Ext. 14.

   

  AHNA is an accredited provider of continuing nursing education by the American Nurses Credentialing Center’s Commission on Accreditation. Provider approved by the California Board of Registered Nursing, Provider #10442.

• * Featured workshop at the 2006 National Conference “Integrative Approaches for the Major Health Challenges of Older Adults”
• * Featured workshop at the 2005 National Conference “We’re All in This Together! From Age-ing to Sage-ing…a Profound New Vision of Growing Older.”

Congratulations to NCA specialty nurse award winner - Charlotte Eliopoulos, RN, MPH, ND, PhD!

Note:indicates activities that occurred prior to NCA grant funding
Bold text indicates activities that occured after NCA grant funding