ASTNA

Article Outline

• New president's greetings
• Copyright

Back to Article Outline

New president's greetings 

Well, I hope everyone has recovered from yet another successful AMTC. It is always great to meet up with old friends and colleagues in the industry. It is hard to believe that I have had the opportunity to do something that I love for the past 15 years. What a dynamic job involving the most enthusiastic, dedicated people in the industry!

I'd like to take the opportunity to introduce myself and reflect over the association's accomplishments over the past year. As an association we are known for our continued commitment to provide quality education for the transport professional. This is evidenced by the ongoing revisions to the TNATC and TNATC instructor courses. We provide, on average, 8-10 courses annually for transport nurses, paramedics, and respiratory therapists. We have published the Standards for Critical Care and Specialty Fixed-Wing Transport, edited by Denise Treadwell. The new Flight Nursing Core Curriculum Workbook, edited by Heather McLellan, also was developed last year, and an updated core curriculum will be available in 2005. A new CFRN review course also was conducted at AMTC and was very successful: 47 transport nurses attended, and 13 sat for the CFRN examination after completing the course.

Transport nursing has evolved tremendously over the past decade. The technology provided in the out-of-hospital arena has become increasingly more complex. Transport personnel are asked to transport sicker patients longer distances in all modes of transport, not just air. The need to acknowledge all aspects of our profession has prompted ASTNA, in collaboration with the Emergency Nurses Association, to evaluate a ground transport or transport nurse certification. A role delineation study has been developed and presented to the membership for input. This is your opportunity to be heard and provide valuable information to the ASTNA and ENA boards.

Safety continues to be at the forefront of the industry. Our safety committee is one of the fastest growing committees, with nearly 40 members. This committee has revised the safety position paper that is available on the ASTNA Web site. The association also has had representation and input on the AAMS safety committee and the AMSAC council. It is apparent that safety is a commitment that our association supports.

As president of ASTNA, I look forward to an exciting year. As a board, ASTNA will continue to be the voice of the profession. I encourage all transport nurses to become a member and be heard. Many challenges lie ahead as an industry. Collectively, as one voice, we can make a difference.