Over 500 members in the CTNIG and still growing. Not too shabby since we stared with just over 20, four and a half years ago.
From this pool of members, many of you must have a few hours a week to offer to the CTNIG. Imagine what we can accomplish if you were to volunteer these hours to being part of the CTNIG executive.

With the resignation of Heather Brandan as president and several other executive position vacancies, there are plenty of opportunities for our members to become involved in the next phase of the CTNIG, taking it to new heights.
There are currently openings for president, communications officer (secretary), executive editor.
In November we will have further openings for finance officer (treasurer), membership officer and president-elect.

Mentoring for these positions will be provided. So open yourself to learning and leadership and endless possibilities!!!
Seriously consider what you have to offer to the CTNIG and what the CTNIG can offer you. This can be a very good match for both.

Please contact Darka Neill, past president, to discuss executive positions and duties.

darka_neill@sympatico.ca

The  Registered Nurses' Association of  Ontario (RNAO), with support from the Government of Ontario, is currently developing a guideline for RNs & RPNs on risk  assessment & care of suicidal ideation & behaviour. I am currently a volunteer panel member in the group developing the guideline.  As part of the development  process, we want to obtain feedback on the draft  guideline from users of health care services, as well as from nursing representatives, other health care  disciplines, health care administrators and association  stakeholders.   I would like to ask you to consider forwarding your name and contact information to the RNAO as a stakeholder reviewer. The review will be  conducted in approximately July 2007 (or  later). Should you choose to participate, you will be acknowledged in the published document.  

If you would like to participate, please complete the online stakeholder  registration form at:

http://www.rnao.org/Page.asp?PageID=924&ContentID=1636

Kim M. Watson, RN,  DPHN, MScN
kwats@mnsi.net
 

African bantu medicine man, Mandaza Kandemwa offers teachings on healing, peacemaking and community

when:     Tuesday, JUNE 19, 2007 , 7 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.

where:     Auditorium,  Bridgepoint Health Center
               14 St. Matthews Road, Toronto  
               (Entrance: One block north of  Gerrard on Broadview)

suggested contribution:  $10.00 (more if you can, less if you can't)

*All contributions will go to the support of Mandaza's Zimbabwe community.

http://www.spiritualityinhealthcare.net

Since you included me in the Hospital News article on CTNIG last year, re healing art, I want to share my news.  I have been invited to participate in a large contemporary art exhibition in Florence, Italy next month with the opening June 15. I am sending three paintings.  A famous Italian artist Silvia Fossati is curating the show and she taught me engraving in the late  80's.  I am thrilled with the invitation!

Thanks for your support.

Highlighted Article:
Mahoney, J. (2006). Do you feel like you belong? An online versus face-to-face pilot study. Visions: The Journal of Rogerian Nursing Science, 14(1), 16-25.
 
A fascinating study of the impact of on-line versus face-to- face learning with 39 graduate-level nursing students. The purpose was to examine similarities and differences in perceived boundaries as evidenced by a sense of belonging. No statistical differences were found between the two groups indicating that both groups had a sense of belonging; this supported Rogers premise that human and environmental fields are unbounded.
 
Highlighted Article:
Suter, E.  Baylin, D. (February, 2007). Choosing art as a complement to healing. Applied Nursing Research,  20(1), 32-8.
Art ` la Carte is a volunteer program that enables long-term care patients to decorate their hospital room with an art print of their choice. Thirty-seven participants were interviewed to evaluate the program. The data suggest that art adds a personal touch to the sterile hospital environment, facilitates interaction between staff and patients, and provides positive distractions. Choosing a work of art also helps patients to regain a sense of control.
 
Highlighted Article:
Rew, L.  Barrow, E.M. (January/March, 2007). State of the science: Intuition in nursing, a generation of studying the phenomenon.  Advances in Nursing Science. 30, E15-E25.
The authors conducted a review of literature in the Cumulative Index for Nursing and Allied Health database to find all articles related to the use of intuition in nursing care. Each study found was analyzed for research approach and results. Data appears to support the importance of teaching intuition to students and novice nurses, and using it in clinical practice. 

View entire article <Here> .
First Study Published on Healing Touch and Recovery from Alcoholism and Addictions

Highlighted Article:
The first published study on the use of Healing Touch with patients undergoing recovery from alcoholism was conducted by Rita Dubrey CSJ, RN, MSN, CASAC, CHTI, with assistance from a grant provided by the Healing Touch International Foundation

A randomized study design was used where patients admitted to an inpatient hospital received either Healing Touch or readings from the Big Book (used extensively in alcohol treatment recovery programs). Those in the Healing Touch group received the chakra connection and magnetic passes on days 8-10 of their stay.  Results of the study indicated that patients receiving Healing Touch had significant reduction in feeling upset and in their level of pain, were less tense and were calmer.
  
The article, "The Role of Healing Touch in the Treatment of Persons in Recovery from Alcoholism," is published in the Counselor: The Magazine for Addiction Professionals in their December 2006 issue.

View the article <Here> .

Meenakshi Khatta, MS, CRNP
Topics in Advanced Practice Nursing eJournal.  2007;7(1) ©2007 Medscape

Complementary/alternative medicine (CAM) has been defined as, "diagnosis, treatment and/or prevention [that] complements mainstream medicine by contributing to a common whole, by satisfying a demand not met by orthodoxy or by diversifying the conceptual frameworks of medicine."[1] The majority of patients suffering from pain due to musculoskeletal conditions will use some form of CAM.[2]

Persistent pain may be associated with morbidity such as depression and anxiety,[3-7] physical disability,[6,8-13] and sleep disturbance.[11,14,15] Despite the prevalence of pain in musculoskeletal disorders, effective treatments are not without severe side effects. Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) may cause serious morbidity and mortality.[16-19] Opioids, although effective, may cause constipation, altered mental status, and falls.[20-22] When traditional treatments are ineffective or cause morbidity, patients either have to suffer in pain or seek alternative treatment.

Many different CAM modalities are used to treat pain; amongst the most popular are:

* Acupuncture;
* Mind-body therapy;
* Herbal preparations;
* Ayurvedic therapy;
* Nutritional supplements; and
* Spinal manipulation.

This article reviews the effectiveness of each of these modalities based on the best evidence available in the form of randomized clinical trials (RCTs) or systematic review of such studies.

Summary: CAM and Pain Management
The evidence as presented in this article indicates that some forms of CAM can be effective for relief of pain. They offer hope for patients who face adverse effects from the use of NSAIDs and opioids. However, the evidence for some of these studies is not compelling. This may be due to the unique challenge of conducting rigorous trials in CAM. For example, performing a sham acupuncture treatment could be logistically difficult.

Conducting rigorous clinical trials in CAM is also difficult due to the culture that prevails among people who choose such modalities, many of whom believe in these therapies and are unwilling to participate in being randomized. Product quality is also a challenge. Herbal preparations and nutritional supplements are regulated by the US Food and Drug Administration in a different manner from either over-the-counter or prescription drugs. Therefore, there is great variability in their quality, which may affect research.

Advanced practice nurses (APNs) face multiple challenges when patients ask for their input about CAM therapies. Patients seek advice from their providers regarding the validity of the CAM research and its application. APNs have to be cognizant of herb-drug and herb-food interaction. Since CAM is consumer driven, people believe in the modality they choose. While APNs need to be supportive of their patients' choices, they also may need to advise caution and provide education about the best ways to integrate therapies to achieve desired results.

The NurseInsure Program is an optional benefit offered to the RNAO membership through Marsh Canada. NurseInsure was established to meet the business insurance needs for an increasing number of RNAO members including, but not limited to, nurse practitioners, nurses in independent practice, and community health nurses. The coverages that are available to meet these needs are commercial general liability, property insurance, practice interruption, and crime coverage.

Nurses have the responsibility to determine whether the services that they are providing for clients, such as complementary therapies, fall within the scope of practice as defined by the College of Nurses of Ontario (CNO).

Through the NurseInsure Program you have access to competitive premium rates for a variety of insurance types, and levels of risk coverage.

Coverages available include:

• Liabilities arising from alleged/actual negligence in connection with the member's provision of professional services rendered within the scope of practice as defined by the CNO
• $1 million, $2 million, and $5 million coverage options available
• Premiums range from $175 to $340 per year

Business Insurance:

• Commercial General Liability - Slip/Fall
• Property Coverage - Physical loss or damage to practice's equipment, contents or building
• Practice Interruption - Extra expenses incurred in the event of business loss, including associated lost income
•  Crime - Theft of money or employee dishonesty or fraud
• Premiums start at $920 depending on options chosen

For more information or to purchase NurseInsure coverage call Marsh at 1 888 711 8399.

This is only an outline of the policy and should not be relied upon. Certain policy exclusions and limitations may apply in any given fact situation and limit the amount excluded and payable under this insurance coverage. Full terms and conditions of this insurance, including all exclusions and limitations are described in the policy document, a copy of which can be obtained from Marsh. Marsh does not guarantee or make any representation or warranty that insurance can be placed on terms acceptable to a client.