ITNS E-Update
March 29, 2010

Patients Can Participate in Third Annual Transplant Nurses Day Essay Contest - Deadline is April 5

The Third Annual Transplant Nurses Day Essay Contest will allow patients to nominate an ITNS transplant nurse who has made a difference in their lives. The contest is special because there will be TWO winners--the nurse who is nominated and the patient who writes the essay.  The winning essay will be featured in a future issue of the ITNS Newsletter reaching 1,800 readers in 26 countries around the world. In addition, the nominated ITNS nurse receives a $100 cash award and $100 to apply toward ITNS store items or an ITNS educational program.

The theme of this year's essay is "What a Difference My Transplant Nurse Makes!" Any transplant patient who was previously or is currently under the care of an ITNS member is eligible to enter. The essay must fit on one page and can be up to 500 words. Submission instructions will be available on the ITNS web site mid-February to make it easy for you to explain this wonderful opportunity to your patients. The deadline for submission to the ITNS office is Monday, April 5, 2010. Let your special patients give back to you and show all that you do!

** Please Note: The nominated nurse MUST be a current ITNS Member.

Start Planning your Transplant Nurses Day Celebration

The Fifth Annual Transplant Nurses Day takes place on Wednesday, April 21 this year and ITNS is gearing up to help our members celebrate in Chapters and workplaces around the world. This day recognizes all that we do and all that we have accomplished as a group, including the newly established Scopes and Standards for Transplant Nursing. Celebrate with recognition displays, luncheons, presentations, speakers, local news coverage, etc. Don't forget to order your Transplant Nurses Day kit from ITNS.

ITNS Nursing Lectures at ATC

Once again, ITNS will offer Nursing Lectures at ATC.  The Lectures will be held on Monday and  Tuesday, May 3rd and 4th at the San Diego Marriott Hotel and Marina.  

2010 ITNS European Symposium

Join ITNS in Berlin, Germany for the 2010 European Symposium - Transplant Nursing: Improving Patient Outcomes, June 18 - 10, 2010. 

19th Annual ITNS Symposium and General Assembly - Mark your calendar

The Theme - Transplant Nursing: Reflections on Caring. The Symposium is scheduled for October 28 - 30, 2010 in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

ITNS Pediatric Symposium - Mark your calendar

The Theme - Pediatric Transplantation: Understanding the Challenges, Promoting Innovative Practice, and Preparing for the Future. The Symposium is scheduled for December 3 - 4, 2010 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

ITNS Winter Workshop 2011 - Mark your calendar

The ITNS Winter Workshop for 2011 is scheduled for February 19 - 20, 2011 at The Catamaran Resort in San Diego, California USA

ITNS Transplant IQ Series

People who ordered the ITNS Transplant IQ Series are now enjoying the convenience and educational benefits of the Series in their own workplace, no travel necessary. 

The ITNS Transplant IQ Series was developed to allow the CTCRC to become more accessible to the highest number of nurses in the least costly manner. While individuals can purchase the DVDs as a set or by specific topic, hospitals and transplant centers will find the ITNS Transplant IQ Series to be a tremendous resource for training large numbers of nurses at a low rate per person. Individual viewers will receive CEU and CEPTC credits by taking the IQ post-test included in the supplemental materials with each DVD and paying a small fee. The Transplant IQ Series is made possible through a grant from Astellas Pharma US.

UNOS Transplant Management Forum

Have you checked out the Web page devoted specifically to the 2010 UNOS Transplant Management Forum? You can find everything you need to know about this one of a kind conference scheduled for April 21-23 in Orlando. We have grouped together information for attendees, sponsors, and exhibitors and have included a comprehensive agenda and a brief description of every plenary and breakout session we plan to offer. You can even register for the conference and book your hotel room online.  Whether you are new to the field or have years of experience, you will find a session that is perfectly suited to you. Please forward this information to anyone you think might benefit from this conference. We look forward to seeing you in Orlando.

Transplant Greeting Cards Available through Organ Buddies, Inc.

This March, in honor of April's National Organ Donor Awareness Month, Organ Buddies Inc. will launch the 3rd edition of the Transplant Greeting Cards. The cards were developed to help and encourage transplant recipients to send a note of gratitude to their donor/donor families. Sets of eight cards with envelopes are free thanks to the support of Astellas Global Inc. The only cost is for postage. To the cards and to order the cards, please visit the Organ Buddies Web site.