Portal de Periódicos da CAPES

President's message

2003; Elsevier BV; Volume: 17; Issue: 5 Linguagem: Inglês

10.1016/s0891-5245(03)00153-6

1532-656X

Margaret Brady,

Leadership, Courage, and Heroism Studies

Recently, I had an opportunity to revisit the escapades of Captain Buzz Lightyear while watching Buzz Lightyear of Star Command: The Adventure Begins with two preschoolers. As always, I enjoyed the adult humor in this “children's” animated adventure, while the two young boys cheered for Buzz and talked about the evil emperor, Zurg, and his dark forces. At the end of the story, all three of us recited the pledge—with proper hand signals and enthusiasm in our voices—and vowed to be good space rangers and carry the fight against evil “to infinity and beyond.” While watching this video, I started to think about the other messages that these young brothers were learning amid the flashing lights of space guns, the shooting of rocks from star cruisers, and other special effects. Listening more carefully to the words of Buzz, Mira Nova, the Little Green Men, XR, and Booster, I heard them talk about the need for partnership (“everyone needs backup”), accepting one's responsibilities, and following the established rules of conduct that are necessary if evil is to be conquered. Buzz is gently admonished by his space ranger partners at one point and is told that the rules apply to everyone. The Little Green Men declare that “we are one, we are united, and we are powerful.” Similarly, Buzz Lightyear keeps repeating that the power of good is a strong thing and that evil never wins. Finally, his Star Command adventure ends successfully with Buzz professing his belief in hope, freedom, and justice. He will protect these rights to infinity and beyond The words that I had heard provided me with food for thought, so I decided to talk with these two little boys about the story. They knew that Buzz and the other characters were not real people, but the words of Buzz and the others were real to them and important in their lives. In this teachable moment, these two young boys told me why everyone needs a partner to help you get your work done and how following rules keeps you from getting into trouble and maybe getting hurt. In their simple way of expressing their thoughts, they told me why it is important to have hope for a future that will let little kids grow up and be happy, to have freedom to do things that are fun without “the bad guys” saying you cannot do certain things, and to have justice so that boys and girls can live in a safe world with their families. As pediatric nurse practitioners (PNPs), we are committed in each of our own unique roles as health care providers to do our best so that all children will have a bright future characterized by hope, freedom, and justice. In the words of Buzz Lightyear, the power of good is a strong thing. Indeed, we at NAPNAP do many good things for children and their families, but that does not mean that we cannot and should not do more. We need to go to infinity and beyond to ensure the children's issues and causes are addressed. I would like to address two areas that I believe continue to deserve special attention: NAPNAP's advocacy role with legislators and the continued promotion of children's literacy and reading programs by PNPs. I ask you to increase your advocacy efforts in some very simple ways. NAPNAP has a legislative listserv that is activated when issues of political importance arise. Joining this listserv and voicing your opinion to legislators on key child-focused bills that are up for discussion and vote are two simple actions that are examples of the power of good that you will be doing. Currently, NAPNAP has about 440 members enrolled in its legislative listserv. We need to double that number in the next year. Legislators need to know that, in NAPNAP, “we are one, we are united, and we are powerful”. Thus, I urge those of you who have not done so to become a listserv partner. NAPNAP needs all of its members to back up the efforts of our Washington Representatives. For those of you who are already on the listserv, recruit a new partner. Secondly, if you are not a member of a local chapter, become a member. Likewise, if you know of a chapter member who is not a member of national, talk to that person and tell him/her about the importance of joining our national organization. We need to see greater numbers of PNPs who are members of both national and their local chapter. Regional representatives are now in place to provide greater visibility and assistance with NAPNAP advocacy efforts and projects. Your Executive Board will evaluate the effectiveness of this regionalization plan. Similarly, the Executive Board and regional representatives need to be appraised of key state issues that affect NP practice so that important state-based issues can be monitored and acted upon as appropriate. Your Executive Board knows that issues spread quickly from state to state. Currently, we continue to closely monitor multi-state compact efforts for licensing of registered nurses and efforts to design similar compacts for advanced practice nurses. Finally, I want to applaud those PNPs who participate in the Reach Out and Read Program and discuss the importance of early reading with the children and families they serve. Likewise, the American Library Association also sponsors a “Born to Read” program and offers practical tips about “how to raise a reader.” Both programs advocate reading to an infant soon after birth and reading every day to a child by six months of age. Setting aside a special reading time each day such as naptime or bedtime to read provides a wonderful opportunity for establishing a strong emotional relationship between a child and his/her parent(s) or caregiver(s). If you are not familiar with these two programs, they are easily accessed via the Internet (Born to Read, http://www.ala.org/alsc/born.html; Reach Out and Read, http://www.reachoutandreach.org). Also, urge parents to get a library card for themselves and their child and to ask the children's librarian for suggestions about age-appropriate books to share with their child. Reading to children is a prescription for “success” and allows them access to adventures that will take them to infinity and beyond. Just imagine, if NAPNAP's 6,700 members all talk to the families they see in their varied practices about the importance of reading to infants and young children, what a powerful good that would be. Katherine Duchen Smith, MS, RN, CPNP Fort Collins, Colorado It is a pleasure to welcome Linda Lindeke PhD, RN, CPNP, to the newly elected position of Communications Chair and to the NAPNAP Executive Board. We look forward to benefiting from her new ideas on partnerships, public relations and collaborative efforts, as well as her leadership and governance role for NAPNAP During the past two-and-a-half years, I have had the opportunity to serve as your Communications Chair for NAPNAP. I have learned a great deal in the process and owe tremendous gratitude to the NAPNAP office staff (Joe Casey in particular), our Journal staff, fellow NAPNAP Board members, and the Communication Committee. Genuine thanks to each one of you for your willingness and support during this exciting time of growth for the new NAPNAP I am happy to report we are finalizing the Spanish translation of our signature brochure, “Why a PNP is Right for Your Child”. These newly translated brochures should be available from the national office in the summer of 2003. Other newly released brochures include: “Parent's Guide to Choosing Quality Child Care” and “Teens Need Vaccines, Too!,” which underscores the need for Meningitis prophylaxis prior to leaving for dormitory life as a college freshman. We urge all members to help with the distribution of these very timely brochures NAPNAP's 25th Annual Conference will take place March 23—27, 2004, at the Hyatt Regency in Dallas, Texas. We look forward to seeing all of you at “Keeping ALL Children Healthy.” Mark your calendars now for a memorable educational experience in Dallas Application deadlines for several NAPNAP grants are approaching, including:•Funding for 23rd Annual Conference—McNeil Consumer & Specialty Pharmaceuticals will once again fund several Grants-In-Aid for qualified NAPNAP members to cover their costs for airfare and registration to NAPNAP's 25th Annual Conference in Dallas, TX, March 23-27, 2004. Applications must be postmarked by October 6, 2003 to be considered.•Pediatric Immunization Grants—Wyeth Pharmaceuticals will provide five $3,000 grants to NAPNAP members to improve immunization rates at the local level. Applications must be postmarked by December 15, 2003.•New Avenues to Health Care—Two grants of up to $1,500 are available to NAPNAP members and chapters through NAPNAP's “New Avenues to Health Care” Small Grant Program. The focus of this program is to improve children's access to health care. The postmark deadline for this grant is September 15, 2003.•NAPNAP Foundation Research Grant—To promote nursing research, the NAPNAP Foundation, Inc., will provide funding up to $2,500 to two NAPNAP members to support research projects. Deadline for applications is April 1, 2004.•Graduate Student Research Award— The NAPNAP Foundation is pleased to offer a one-year award of $1,000 to support research by graduate students currently enrolled in a pediatric nurse practitioner programhis award is intended to encourage graduate students, who are current NAPNAP members, to participate in the research process and to stimulate interest in research regarding children and their families. The deadline for applications is April 1, 2004. For more information or applications for any of these opportunities, please call the NAPNAP National Office, toll-free, at (877) 662-7627. Applications will also be available via the NAPNAP website at www.napnap.org Nominations for the Loretta C. Ford Distinguished Fellow and Henry K. Silver Awards are due December 31, 2003. Applications for this award can be obtained from the NAPNAP national off In conclusion, it's been a joy to work with you, the membership, during my term of office. I only hope we have helped to make your role and practice as PNPs more meaningful and worthwhile in the very special job you do for children across the country and globe. My thanks and warmest wishes to you all as colleagues and nursing practitioners! Your leadership and advocacy for children, their families, and NAPNAP, is truly commendable (Send items of interest to the Assistant Editor, Ruth G. Mullins, PhD, RN, CPNP, 6382 Heil Ave, Huntington Beach, CA 92647; e-mail [email protected] ; allow a 4-month lead time for meeting announcements.) Sept. 18—21, 2003, The Los Angeles Pediatric Society 60th Annual Brenneman Memorial Lectures, Bahia Hotel, San Diego, CA. Contact: Los Angeles Pediatric Society, tel: 310-540-6240; [email protected] ; www.lapedsoc.org; fax: 310-543-2375. Sept. 25—26, 2003, “A Baby and a Breast: Challenges in Changing Times,” Upstate New York Breastfeeding Consortium, RIT Inn and Conference Center, Rochester, NY. Contact: Upstate New York Breastfeeding Consortium; tel: 585-341-6808; [email protected] . Oct. 2—3, 2003, Children With Special Health Care Needs: Coordinating Knowledge, Care & Resources, sponsored by the National Association of Pediatric Home and Community Care and the University of Massachusetts Medical School, Mystic Marriot Hotel, Groton, CT. Contact: Denise Leary, Office of Continuing Education, 508-856-3041. Oct. 8—11, 2003, National Association of Neonatal Nurses 19th Annual Conference, “Forging Pathways to Professional Renewal,” Wyndham Palm Springs Hotel and Palm Springs Convention Center, Palm Springs, CA. Contact: NANN, 4700 W. Lake Ave., Glenview, IL 90025-1485; tel: 800-451-3795; fax: 732-477-6266; [email protected] . October 15—18, 2003, The National Association of Nurse Practitioners in Women's Health 6th Annual Conference, Hyatt Regency, Savannah, GA. Contact: Carol Wiley, tel: 202-543-9693. October 30—Nov. 2, 2003, The American College of Nurse Practitioners 5th National Clinical Symposium, Cincinnati, OH. Contact: www.nurse.org/ancp; tel: 202-659-2190. Nov. 1—2, 2003, Practical Management of Common Problems in Ambulatory Pediatric Patients, 30th Annual Postgraduate Course, The Alexander Spock Symposium, The Duke Department of Pediatrics, Division of Pediatric Pulmonary Medicine, Duke Searle Center for Continuing Education, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC. Contact: Duke University Medical Center, Room 302 Bell Building, Box 2994 DUMC, Durham, NC 28810; tel: 919-684-2289; fax: 919-684-2202. Nov. 3—5, 2003, Clinical Update in Pediatric and Perinatal Medicine, sponsored by Stanford School of Medicine and Lucile Packard Children's Hospital, The Mauna Lani Bay Hotel, Big Island of Hawaii. Contact: Karen Porchet, CME Office, Lucile Packard Children's Hospital, [email protected] ; fax: 650-497-8585. Nov. 6—9, 2003, Current Issues–Future Directions, Mosby's Pediatric Health Care 2003, Wyndham San Diego, San Diego, CA. Contact: Anthony J. Janetti, Inc., East Holly Ave., Box 56, Pitman, NJ 08071-0056. Jan. 22—24, 2004, Annual March of Dimes Health Professional Conference, Preventing Birth Defects and Infant Mortality: The Epidemic of Prematurity, The Westin Hotel and Resort, Long Beach, CA. Contact: March of Dimes, Orange County Division; tel: 714-456-6706. March 5—7, 2004, Advances in the Practice of Pediatrics, Children's Hospital and Health Center, Hyatt Regency Islandia on Mission Bay, San Diego, CA. Contact: Continuing Medical Education Office—5021, 3020 Children's Way, San Diego, CA 92123; tel: 888-892-9249; fax: 858-966-8587; [email protected] ; www.chsd.org/cme. Over 50 Spanish-translated pamphlets covering topics on child health and parenting, tobacco prevention and cessation, reproductive health and substance abuse are available from Journeyworks Publishing. Free copies are available to health professionals and educators by calling 800-775-1998; sending a fax 800-775-5853; visiting the website at www.journeyworks.com; or writing to Journeyworks Publishing, P.O. Box 8466, Santa Cruz, CA 95061-8466. Prices start at 50 pamphlets for $16.00.