President's Message

Chris Shay-Downer, RN, BSN, CCTC
President, ITNS

I humbly thank you all for allowing me the opportunity  to serve this year as President of this fabulous organization!  Despite the fact that these are probably the largest shoes I've ever been asked to fill in my life, you can be sure of one thing....that I will work with your Board of Directors to fulfill the mission and goals of ITNS and to promote our growth and development. Read more.

Welcome New Board

Four new board members were installed at the 19th Annual Symposium in October. To learn about your new board, meet them here.

ITNS Featured in Chicago Tribune

In case you missed it, ITNS collaborated with Media Planet to be a part of a special 12- page insert on Transplantation for the Chicago Tribune, published on 12/17/10.  ITNS wrote an article focusing on the transplant nurse and an accompanying advertisement from ITNS was also published, with a link to our web site. Jeff Arnovitz, ITNS Board Director of Marketing, took the lead on this project. Other contributors were Dr. Cindy Russell and Christine Shay-Downer.

The Chicago Tribune runs 540,000 print copies daily with a readership of 1.2 million; plus an extra 2 million+ read the Chicago Tribune online. Our article and ad reached a massive number of people.   Also, we have guaranteed rights to the PDF of the 12-page insert that we sent to our membership.  Hopefully, you were aware of this or perhaps read the article earlier. If not, check it out here.  

Ann Herbage Busch Received VA Award

ITNS member Ann Herbage Busch, MS, RN, ACNS-BC, CWOCN, FAAN received the Veterans Affairs (VA) National Transplant Program's first- ever Under Secretary for Health Award for Excellence in Transplant Care Practice. Ann is a Liver Transplant Clinical Nurse Specialist (CNS) at the Portland Veterans Affairs Medical Center (PVAMC) in Portland, Oregon. She received her award from Dr. Gerald Cross, Acting Under Secretary for Health, at the VHA National Leadership Board Meeting in Washington, DC, last January. Read more

Pediatric Conference Draws Crowd

The first Pediatric Transplant conference sponsored by the International Transplant Nurses Society (ITNS) and in collaboration with the International Pediatric Transplant Association (IPTA) was held on December 3-4, 2010 at the Sheraton Hotel in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. We planned for 75 pediatric nurses but ended up with an impressive 136! Read more.

Research Update

Read about grant recipients and results here.

Staff RN Special Interest Group Update

The staff RN Special Interest Group (SIG) is an exciting, motivated group. We reviewed the last ITNS learning/needs assessment and identified some key areas for workshop development in the future. Read more. 

Advanced Practice Nurse SIG Shares Goals

This year's annual APN SIG meeting was a success with participants from around the world contributing to issues relevant to international APN practice, including the recently released Scope and Standards of Transplant Nursing Practice.  This year's SIG was lead by Jeff Arnovitz MSN, CNP, CCTC.  Projects and goals were discussed for the upcoming year.  The group will communicate upcoming events, activities and projects through our email roster so check your inbox for information. Read more. 

Education SIG Update

For starters, the Education SIG met at the ITNS Annual Symposium in Minneapolis.  Thanks to all who attended.  The goal of the ED SIG is to provide educational opportunities for our membership and the patients and providers we serve.  Here is a quick update about what we will be doing over the next year. Read more. 

Beth Kallenborn Moves On

It's hard to believe a year has come and gone.  It feels like just yesterday I was writing my first address and now my last.  It was another great year for ITNS!  The 19th Annual Symposium and General Assembly in Minnesota was well received and attended.  Weather, travel challenges, and shopping temptations aside, the Symposium offered outstanding speakers, abstracts and poster presentations. Despite all the economic challenges we all face daily, ITNS continued to develop outstanding educational offerings for both patients and health care professionals.  We even reached our all time high membership!  Way to go!!!  Pat yourselves on the back for a job well done.  The Special Interest Groups (SIG) continue to grow and develop projects.  We also introduced a new SIG for Transplant Managers and Administrators at the Symposium in Minnesota that was well attended and already on a roll with ideas and projects. Call the ITNS office at 412-343- ITNS to see how you can get involved in this new SIG. Read more from Beth.

Book Review

Barb Schroeder RN, CNS
Transplant CNS, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota

Making Health Care Whole

Puchalski. CM & B. Ferrell (2010) Making Health Care Whole: Integrating Spirituality into Patient Care. Templeton Press.

Read more about

Body, Mind, and Spirit Preparation Before Transplant Surgery

Barb Schroeder RN, CNS
Transplant CNS, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota

Having surgery is one of life's most difficult experiences. Even pre-approved, scheduled surgery for minor procedures can produce considerable anxiety and feelings of helplessness in patients. It is a time of ultimate vulnerability and loss of control, and it brings us face to face with our mortality. In addition there is fear of pain, the unknown, disability, disfigurement, loss and embarrassment.

They may also fear the outcomes of surgery and dependency on others. This is a huge psychological burden patients must face, in addition to the difficulties of their medical problem. Read more. 

Complications Post Liver Transplant

Judy Gierlach, RN, BSN, CCTN, Clinical Research Coordinator and Pre-Liver Transplant Coordinator

Read about major neurologic, renal, and cardiac complications post liver transplant in recipients over 65 years of age. Find out more here.

Chapter Update

Mimi Funovits, RN, BS, CCTC

I am trilled to report that four new ITNS chapters were chartered at the 18th Annual ITNS Symposium in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The Greater New York Area ITNS Chapter, led by President Megan Stack, was the first chapter chartered in July this year. Next to charter was the Montreal ITNS Chapter with President Angela Burns. They developed their chapter shortly after hosting the successful 2009 ITNS Symposium in their city. The Italian chapter, with Juri Ducci at the helm, was founded this year after their hard work to develop a transplant meeting in Naples. And submitting their chapter charter just before our Symposium was The National Capital Area ITNS Chapter in Washington, DC.  Their chapter founder is Penelope Keaney.  Congratulations go out to all of our newest chapters! Read more.

Transplant Nurses Day

Let us Help You Celebrate Transplant Nurses Day! 

This year's 6th Annual Transplant Nurses Day takes place on Wednesday, April 20 and ITNS headquarters has everything you need to make the celebration complete, including party supplies and fun giveaways. Click here to see the entire selection of items and an order form.  But it's not all about the party. Click here to download an entry form and learn how your patients can nominate you for the Transplant Nurses Day Essay Contest. But hurry, the deadline for entry is Monday, March 28. Happy Transplant Nurses Day!

ITNS Board of Directors

President Emeritus 10-11 Beth Kallenborn, RN BSN CCTC,Kallenbornea@upmc.edu; President10-11 Chris Shay-Downer, RN BSN CCTC, shayc@ccf.org;
President-Elect 10-11 Renee Bennett, RN BSN CNOR CCTN,Bennetr@ccf.org;
Secretary/Web Director 10-12 Sharie Lewis, RN BSN CCTN, lewissha@methodisthealth.org; Treasurer 09-12Karla Weis, RN BSN CCTC,Weis.Karla@mayo.edu;
Chapter Development Director 09-11 Mimi Funovits, RN BS CCTC, funovitsm@upmc.edu; Marketing Director 09-11 Jeff Arnovitz, RN MSN CNP CCTC, arnovij@ccf.org or jwvitz@aol.com; Newsletter Director 10-12 Julie Hudson, RN MSN CCTC, hudso026@mc.duke.edu;
Education Director 10-12 Lecia Snell, RN MSN CCTN, lsnell@nebraskamed.com;
Research Director 09-11Cindy Russell, RN PhD, russellc@missouri.edu;
International Director 09-11Christiane Kugler, RN PhD, Kugler.christiane@mh-hannover.de; International Director 10-12Marjo van Helden M.vanHelden@nier.umcn.nl;
Executive Director (non-voting)Beth Kassalen, MBA, beth@itns.org.