ITNS E-Update
April 15, 2010

Transplant Nurses Day Celebration

The Fifth Annual Transplant Nurses Day takes place on Wednesday, April 21, this year and ITNS is helping 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 Scope and Standards for Transplant Nursing. Celebrate with recognition displays, luncheons, presentations, speakers, local news coverage, etc. Your Transplant Nurses Day kit order MUST be received by 12 noon Friday, April 16, to ensure delivery. 

OptumHealth Care Solutions' Spotlight on The Nebraska Medical Center
Extraordinary Innovations in Transplantation and Oncology Conference
July 20 - 21 | Omaha, Nebraska

Stay Informed of Medical Advances in Transplantation and Oncology at this Complimentary Accredited Conference!  Visit the conference Web site for more information.

The fundamental goal of The Nebraska Medical Center is to provide patients with extraordinary care. Join us as clinical experts highlight novel techniques and unique, innovative services in support of this crucial objective, setting the course for advances in the areas of oncology and solid organ and blood/marrow transplantation. Conference topics include:

• Updates, innovations and future directions in cancer treatments and solid organ and blood/marrow transplantation;
• Issues faced as pediatric transplant recipients transition into adolescent and young adult transplant survivors;
• The long and complex course for patients and health care providers before, during, and after organ and blood/marrow transplantation;
• Non transplant or surgical procedures utilized in the care of patients with cancer and/or solid organ compromise or failure; and
• In overview of the unique characteristics of a center of excellence and how patients benefit from receiving comprehensive care at such a center.

Register Now for this FREE conference! Contact us at : education@optumhealth.com

Day 1: Organ Transplantation
Day 2: Oncology/BMT

Who should attend:

Transplant Nurses, Transplant Coordinators, Nurses, Managed Care Nurses, Oncology Nurses, Case Managers, Physicians, Medical Directors, Medical Management Staff, Reinsurance Managers, Social Workers

ITNS Web site

Over the past year, the ITNS web site has been completely revised. We hope that you find the site, user friendly and helpful. The members only section is now working.  Currently, in this section are pdf files of membership by Country and then Alphabetically.  We include usernames and passwords on the back of membership cards as members join or renew for future reference.  The usernames and passwords were created using the e-mail that we have on file for you as your username, and then your first name in CAPS as the password.

WANTED! - ABTC Examination Committee

American Board of Transplant Certification - Certified Clinical Transplant Nurses to apply for a 3-year position on the Examination Committee.  Responsibilities include:

• Annual review of the exam questions (2 day meeting face-to-face in the spring)
• Write and review new test items
• Approve items to be used for the transplant nurse exam.
• Attend occasional teleconferences/web based meetings to discuss questions
• Review examination form secured online format twice per year
• Encourage fellow team members to write the exam

Annual meeting is usually held in Kansas City and the ABTC will reimburse airfare, lodging, transportation and meals for the meeting.

We are a group of nurses who come from all over North America and are committed to ensuring the exam is up-to-date with current practice, valid and reliable.  We come from all areas of organ transplantation and we even manage to have some fun!  Remember, you must be certified to participate.

If you have any questions, feel free to contact Annemarie Kaan - Committee chair at akaan@providencehealth.bc.ca or send a cover letter and your CV to:

Sheila O'Neal
Executive Director - ABTC
PO Box 15384
Lenex, KS 66285-5384  USA
soneal@goamp.com

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.  Topics include Reconstructive Sugery: A New Frontier; Outcomes of Liver Transplantation for NASH Cirrhosis; Extended Criteria / DCD Donor Experience in Australia; Relationships Between A Transplant Hospital, Donor Hospital and OPO.

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 (new announcement)

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.

Transplant Greeting Cards Available through Organ Buddies, Inc.

 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.