Maine ENA Newsletter Archive

President's Corner

Barry Worthing, RN
Maine Medical Center

I would like to take a moment to remind you why ENA is here. ENA is here to support the members. In Maine we do this by administrating ENPC and TNCC, by holding educational meetings 3-4 times per year in varying locations.

We also have representatives for injury prevention and legislative action. We have advocated for Maine members at the national level and have had an impact which resulted in a revamping of a long standing ENA program.

But, there must be more we can do. Do you have questions? Do you want to get involved in ENA at the local or national level? Do you want to know how other ED’s in the state do things? Ask yourself “What else can ENA be doing for you”?

Come to a meeting, contact a board member, or myself. ENA belongs to the membership.

Barry Worthing, RN
President

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New Members

Maine ENA would like to welcome the following new members:

• Anna Robinson
• Leah Scott
• Pamela Morin
• Karen Curis
• Julianne Ontengco
• Kelley Dube
• David Byers
• Ellen Golding
• Timothy Noonan
• Denise Carcieri
• Kathryn Coffin
• Elizabeth Palmer

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Leadership Opportunity

Director of Emergency Services - RN
Bruce Mast & Associates, Inc.

Be an integral member of a team of dedicated professionals and help lead this 25-bed critical access hospital through its continuing growth and into a preeminent position among Maine healthcare providers. As the ED Director, have the opportunity to influence the overall effectiveness of the organization and contribute to its long-term growth and viability.

To be successful in this role, you must:

• Be able to create strong, interpersonal relationships; demonstrate strong leadership skills
• Build a strong, cohesive team that routinely delivers effective, patient-focused care
• Assume full P & L responsibility and effectively manage all of the assets entrusted to the ED department
• Lead the design and execution of the processes/infrastructure of the ED
• Actively build the critical interfaces between the ED and...
• The community you serve to be sure they view your hospital as their first option for their medical needs
• Other hospital departments
• EMMC for the transfer of patients when necessary

Qualifications:

• RN from an accredited School of Nursing
• Maine License or ability to obtain within a short period of time
• 5+ years nursing leadership experience with a minimum of 2 years Emergency Nursing

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ENPC

2007 Courses

• May 10, 11
• July 9, 10
• October 4, 5

Central Maine Medical Center. Lewiston

ENPC instructor Courses

• June 7

Central Maine Medical Center. Lewiston

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TNCC

2007 Courses

• February 8, 15
• June 6, 13
• September 11, 18
• November 6, 13

ENPC instructor Courses

dates to be announced

Notice

Free manuals while funds are available for all ENPC and TNCC courses scheduled in 2007!

Course coordinatators must contact either Carmen Hetherington or Geneva Sides.

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Annual Meeting and Education Day

In September Maine ENA held the Annual Meeting and Education Day at the Hilton Garden Inn in Auburn. Thirty five registrants attended and five nurses joined ENA that day.

The speakers were:

• Jen Messinger, RN who spoke on "Emergency Preparedness for Families with Children with Special Needs”
• Polly Campbell, RN, director of the Sexual Assault Forensic Examiner Program, who discussed the SANE program and the plan to have a SANE available for every hospital ED in Maine.

A returning favorite was Steven Johnson, Esq. with a lively discussion about the legal and ethical issues surrounding the care of difficult patients in the ED.

A brief business meeting was held where it was announced that Andrea Varnum, RN was re-elected for another 2 year term as Secretary/Treasurer and Jane Dunstan, RN was elected as the new Board Member at Large. Congratulations to them both!

Current ENA Resolutions were briefly discussed to instruct the delegates how the membership wanted them to vote at the General Assembly in San Antonio.

An excellent lunch was served and enjoyed by all. There was plenty of time left to visit and network.

The meeting was sponsored by Retavase. A representative was available with product information and handouts.

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Emergency Departments Employment Opportunity

Maine General Medical Center, Waterville Campus

We are looking for nurses with a passion for Emergency Nursing!

We currently have several positions available to accommodate our newly renovated and expanding emergency department.

• Excellent Patient Satisfaction
• Collaborative Practice Between Nurses and Physicians
• New Behavioral Health Suite
• Future Electronic Record and State of The Art Equipment
• Competitive Salary and Benefits
• Great Opportunity for Personal and Professional Growth!
• State of Maine RN License Required
• ED Clinical Experience Preferred but We Are Willing to Train Exceptional Candidates

Call and Learn More About The Opportunities We Have To Offer!

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Maine ENA Award Winners

The Annual awards were presented at the Maine ENA Meeting at the Hilton Garden Inn in September, by Karen Taylor, the Chairperson of the Nominating Committee.

Robin Hall with Karen Taylor

Robin Hall, RN works in the Emergency Department at Maine Medical Center, won the Excellence in Clinical Practice Award.

Sandra Howe with Karen Taylor

Sandra Howe, RN is the Director of Emergency Nurses at MaineGeneral Medical Center in Waterville. Sandi is the winner of the Leadership Award.

Both winners were presented with a plaque and flowers. There were several staff members on hand from both emergency departments to congratulate them.

If there is anyone you work with that you would like to nominate for an award, please watch for the call for nominations in the Spring 2007 Maine ENA newsletter.

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The Next Maine ENA Board Meeting

December 8, 2006
Winslow, Maine
9:00 am to 12:00 pm

Please contact any Board Member or Committee Chair for directions. Everyone is welcome!

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CEN Review Questions

From CEN Review by Renee Simonin Holleran

1. Reliable indicators of pain in the neonate include all of the following except:
   1. Squeezing their eyes shut
   2. Palmar sweating
   3. No change in the heart rate
   4. Nasolabial furrow
2. Stimulation of the nociceptors cause the release of:
   1. Histamines
   2. Endorphine
   3. Enkephalins
   4. GABA
3. The medication ketamine is classified as a:
   1. Sedative-hypnotic
   2. Dissociative 4 agent
   3. Local anesthetic
   4. Non-ovoid analgesic
4. The transport team is called to a referring facility to transport a patient who has been involved in an ATV accident. He is awake and alert, but in acute respiratory distress because of a severe pulmonary contusion and multiple rib fractures. His O2 sat is 90% on high flow O2. Because of the length of the transport, the patient is intubated using RSI for oxygenation. He is given europium to facilitate his oxygenation. During the 3 hour transfer, which medications will the patient require for comfort?
   1. Midazolam and europium for sedation and amnesia during the length of the transport from the referring to the receiving facility.
   2. Fentanyl and europium for sedation and analgesia during the length of the transport from the receiving to the referring facility.
   3. Morphine and europium for analgesia and to facilitate oxygenation during the length of the transport from the referring to the receiving facility.
   4. Fentanyl, midazolam, and europium for sedation, amnesia, analgesia, and to facilitate ventilation and oxygenation.
5. Massage may be effective in relieving pain in selected situations because:
   1. It decreases the blood flow to the injured area.
   2. It causes retention of the toxins to only the injured area
   3. It releases the patient’s endorphins through relaxation
   4. The patient wants it no matter what others may say.

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CEN Review Answers

1. C. No change in the heart rate

   Indicators of pain in the neonate include changes in heart and respiratory rates, including both bradycardia and tachycardia.

2. A. Histamines Stimulation of the nociceptors causes the release of histamines, serotonin, bradykinens, prostaglandins, potassium, and acetylcholine.
3. B. Dissociative 4 agent Ketamine is a dissociative agent that causes dissociation between the thalamoneocortical and limbic systems, preventing higher centers from perceiving visual, auditory, and painful stimuli.
4. D. Fentanyl, midazolam, and europium for sedation, amnesia, analgesia, and to facilitate ventilation and oxygenation. The patient will require medications that will provide sedation, amnesia, analgesia, and assist in facilitating oxygenation and ventilation.
5. C. It releases the patient’s endorphins through relaxation

   Research has demonstrated that massage therapy may be useful in decreasing patient pain in selected situations because:

   1. it causes the release of endorphins through relaxation
   2. it releases toxins from the injured area
   3. touch has been demonstrated to assist in pain management
   4. it increases blood flow to the injured area

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Spring ENA Meeting & Education Day

In September, five Maine ENA Delegates Attended the National ENA General Assembly in San Antonio, Texas.

From left to right: Carol Grant, Sandie Weagle, Barry Worthing, Carol Minnis, and Carmen Hetherington

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Maine ENA Winter Meeting & Education Day

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2005 Scholarship Winner Passes CEN Exam

Kim Couture, RN recently used her Maine ENA Scholarship winnings to take and pass the CEN exam.

Kim works in the ED at the MaineGeneral Medical Center Augusta Campus.

Congratulations Kim!

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Maine ENA Leadership Meeting

Tentative topics:

• New Initiatives in Patient Safety
• Risk Management

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Maine ENA Educational Scholarship

Still Available!

Maine ENA will be offering a yearly educational scholarship in the amount of $250.00 for certification or re-certification of CEN, ENPC, TNCC or another ENA sponsored course on an annual basis to one individual. It will be awarded at the Annual MENA Meeting in September.

Requirements: ENA member and worked in the ED for the past year.

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Maine ENA Newsletter Info

Carol Minnis, RN, CEN
Maine General Medical Center, Waterville

Maine ENA and I would appreciate any input to our newsletter. This would include:

• Nursing Stories
• Clinical Narratives, “The Work of Nursing”
• What’s going on at your hospital?
• Awards
• Tips and Solutions

Advertisement rates

• 1/4 page :$15.00
• 1/2 page :$30.00
• full page :$60.00

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