If you are anything like me, everywhere you turn you are hearing about the opioid epidemic. Michigan statistics from multiple sources report unintentional drug poisoning deaths on the rise, and the majori-ty being opioid and heroin related. In 2015, Michigan saw its third con-secutive year of record drug overdose deaths. That year, 1,981 people died from drug overdoses, up 13.5% from 2014, ranking us 18th nation-ally. Also, if you are like me, you may find yourself overwhelmed by this war, or wondering what possible impact you personally can have in what may feel like a “David and Goliath” conflict? Like me, you may also have updated your DEA, and you committed to following chronic pain patients closer? Maybe you are working hard to assure you are

integrating the CDC guidelines for prescribing opioids for chronic pain? In recent months, I have been driven to deeper contemplation about who I am as a nurse and what that means in this health-related epidemic. A muddy epidemic storm catalyzed by mental health issues, social norms and expectations, physiologic and biochemical dependency and reactions, ultimately mixed with management of pain, a completely subjective experience. I learn more and more “how to’s” but find myself more often asking what is the essence of me, and my colleagues, as nurses in this fight? Despite all my education and practice, never in my career, have I seen a greater need to revisit and energize the actualization of my foundation - a foundation of caring. The value for the theoretical foundations for what we do as nurses is visible and valid in our war on addiction. Caring and nursing are so interwoven that nursing would not be nursing

without the act of caring. But what does this mean in caring for an addict? Or in caring for the family of an addict?

Earlier this year at a public town gathering in a rural Michigan community, I heard the un-censored testimonies of several addicts who are currently using, addicts in recovery, and par-ents whose children lost the battle of addiction. Their testimonies carried one theme, simple

but profound; each spoke of the need for “someone to care” and take interest in their strug-gle. They spoke of addiction already being so isolating and stigmatizing that it was unanimously the intentional “moving toward them” by someone else (often a stranger) to begin the first

step of the recovery journey. As nurses, we are everywhere! We hold posts in families, community organizations, and professional settings. The essence of what we do, and who we are, can provide an unwritten network of caring for those around us struggling in the darkness of addiction. We are in posi-tions to move toward addicts, those recovering and families affected. As we wage war against the power of the opioid crisis, where do you see your own personal impact?

Ideas/resources for involvement : -Know and implement the CDC guidelines for prescribing opioids in your practice -Help families and at-risk communities to obtain Narcan Training

-Participate in community gatherings that are talking openly about the epidemic and working on local actions

-Familiarize yourself with treatment options in your area especially Hope Not Handcuffs. -Consider moving into addiction treatment in your practice with medication assisted treatment

(MAT) and actualizing of the Education Waiver.

LETTER FROM THE PRESIDENT

Gretchen Schumacher PhD, GNP-BC, FNP, NP-C

Summer Newsletter 2017

Inside this issue:

Letter from the

President

1

Legislative Update 2

MICNP Members

In The News

3

MICNP Partner

featured: NSO

4

MICNP PAC 5

MICNP Chapter

Corner

6

Upcoming Events 7

MICNP LEGISLATIVE UPDATE

HB 5400 was signed by MI Governor Snyder on January 9, 2017! It was introduced in February 2016 by State

Representative Ken Yonker to:

• Add Clinical Nurse Specialists (CNSs) to the Michigan Public Health Code, allowing for specialty certification

for their profession and adding them to the MI Board of Nursing

• Allow NPs, CNMs and CNSs to prescribe physical therapy, speech therapy and order restraints

• Allow NPs, CNMs and CNSs to prescribe Schedule II-V drugs under delegation and non-scheduled drugs autonomously

It is now Public Act 499 of 2016, and went into effect on April 9, 2017. Click HERE to read details on HB 5400

passage implications for your NP practice. We view the passage of HB 5400 as an important step in the

continued journey towards achieving full practice authority for Michigan NPs.

We encourage you and your colleagues to schedule a meeting with your legislator in Lansing, your local district,

or invite them to your workplace to see APRNs in action! (click HERE to find your House legislator) Please

email MICNP Executive Director Olivia McLaughlin at olivia@micnp.org with any feedback you get from

legislators or staff.

[Front row l to r: Former State Representative

Ken Yonker, Governor Rick Snyder (seated),

Linda Taft, President ANA-MI, Cathy Lewis, MI-

CNS Board Member, Katie Lavery, Michigan

Affiliate of American College of Nurse-Midwives,

Ann Sheehan, MICNP Immediate Past President.

Back row l to r: Former State Senator Mark

Jansen (had previously sponsored Senate Bill 2),

Monika Miner, WSU College of Nursing, Teresa

Wehrwein, Special Assistant to the Dean, MSU

College of Nursing, Brian Sapita & Jeff Snyder

(former staffers to Rep. Yonker), State Senator

Mike Shirkey, Heather Nicholoff (MICNP

lobbyist), Kheder Davis & Associates. ]

ARTICLE FROM MICNP ATTORNEY DONNA J. CRAIG, RN, JD. Medicare Reimburses for Cognitive Care Planning Services More than 5 million individuals in the United States are currently affected by Alzheimer’s disease or other related de-

mentias, with more than 510,000 of those patients living in Michigan.[1] Across this country the care and support for

these 5 million individuals are borne by more than 15 million family caregivers who, it is estimated, provide unpaid care

equivalent to 18.2 billion hours of care at a value of more than 230 billion dollars per year.[2] To ensure coordination of

care for patients diagnosed with various dementias and to limit caregiver burnout, it is imperative that clinicians, patients,

and caregivers discuss the needs of patients and caregivers, including all available resources to support care objectives.

When clinicians provide services aimed at improving the detection, diagnosis, care planning and coordination of care for

individuals with Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias, patient care is improved and valuable resources are provided

to the patients and their caregivers. In support of these goals, Medicare now provides reimbursement to healthcare pro-

viders who are eligible to report and submit claims for evaluation and management services (e.g. physicians, nurse practi-

tioners, clinical nurse specialists, and physician assistants). Click HERE to read the full article and find out who could

benefit from cognitive care planning services.

Page 3

Patrick Hawkins,

DNP, ANP, NP-C

received the 2017

AANP State NP

Award for Excellence

(MI). An educator,

advocate & mentor, Dr.

Patrick Hawkins was

described as a dedicated

& passionate NP in the

award nominations. He

has planned & imple-

mented several

healthcare initiatives to bring continued support to

the Flint community.

Former State Representative Ken

Yonker received the 2017 AANP State

Advocate Award (MI). Rep. Yonker in-

troduced House Bill 5400 in February 2016

(see page 2). Through several meetings,

thoughtful discussion and compromise, he

was able to effectively bring key stakehold-

ers in the medical & nursing community

together in support of advancing the bill.

Throughout the legislative process, aware-

ness and recognition of the important role

of nurse practitioners in the changing landscape of health care has

persistently been highlighted in a positive manner. We are deeply

appreciative knowing that Rep. Yonker shared our desire that

Michigan’s nursing environment would be counted among the best

in the nation and that all citizens of the state have improved access

to high quality, cost-effective health care.

MICNP member MaryLee

Pakieser, MSN, RN, BC-FNP was

elected to the Board of Directors for

the American Nurses Association for a

two-year term beginning January 1,

2018 as Director-At-Large.

MICNP member Michelle Pardee,

DNP, FNP-BC was elected to serve

as Secretary/Treasurer for the Michi-

gan Primary Care Consortium through

December 2018.

MICNP member Susan

Sirianni, DNP, ACNP-BC,ANP-

BC,CCRN was given a 2017 Sepsis

Hero award by the national Sepsis Alli-

ance. The awards honored those who

have made a significant contribution to

sepsis awareness and education among

both the general public and healthcare

professionals.

MICNP member Gretchen

Schumacher, PhD, FNP-BC, GNP

-BC was elected as the American

Academy of Nurse Practitioners as

Region 5 Director. Beginning June 25,

2017, she will be a part of AANP’s

Board of Directors. Region 5 includes

IL, IN, MI, MN, OH & WI.

MICNP MEMBERS – IN THE NEWS

MICNP student member

Danielle Bastien, RN was presented

a research grant award from nursing

honor society Sigma Theta Tau Interna-

tional-Lambda Chapter.

MICNP member Patrick Crane,

DNP, RN, AG-

PCNP-BC, an

assistant profes-

sor in the under-

graduate pro-

gram at MSU

College of Nurs-

ing, has been

named a recipi-

ent of the Nurs-

ing Education

award there. His nomination stated

that "nursing is not just a job" for him and

details how he helps nurses embrace

their new vocation. Click HERE to read

a feature article in the Lansing State

Journal.

MICNP member Elizabeth Kuzma,

DNP, RN, FNP-BC has been chosen

as a 2017 Faculty Policy Intensive fellow

by the American Association of Colleg-

es of Nursing (AACN).

MICNP NP of the Year

2017

Yvette Petti, PhD, APRN-BC

was the recipient of MICNP’s 2017

NP of the Year award. She

received her BSN and a masters of

health education from the Universi-ty of Toledo, her MSN from

WSU’s School of Nursing and a

PhD from Rush University.

Dr. Petti currently serves as the

Women’s Health Program Manager

in the VA in Battle Creek, MI, and

she received a Notable Practice

Award by the US Under-Secretary

of Women’s Health, for her work

in measuring and reporting out-

comes for women’s health bench-

marks in all of West MI’s VA com-

munity outpatient clinics, and an

educational curriculum designed

after this effort has now been

adopted nationally.

MICNP SPOTLIGHT

The Nurses Service Organization

(NSO) is the preferred provider

of professional liability insurance

for MICNP and many other profes-

sional nursing associations professional

nursing associations, providing their

members with access to quality, afford-

able professional liability insurance.

Together with their affiliate, Healthcare

Providers Service Organization (HPSO),

they insure nearly 1 million individual

healthcare professionals nationwide.

Click HERE for information on obtain-

ing a premium rate quote from NSO.

Once you have your quote, the applica-

tion process is simple – you may either

submit the application through their

secure online connection, or print an

application and mail or fax it to their

office for processing.

How to Protect Your License By David Griffiths, Nurses Service

Organization As a nurse practitioner, you likely understand the need for profes-sional liability insurance to protect yourself against malpractice claims related to patient care. But did you know you also need insurance to

protect your license against action taken by a Board of Nursing

(BON)? In this situation, the event might not even be related to pa-tient care. For example, a state’s nurse practice act may include a “moral character” component, which means a BON can take ac-tion in cases such as driving under

the influence, use of illicit drugs

[Pictured l to r: Dane Stahl, Lynda Lauer, Margaret Gressle,

Kimberly Wegscheid & MICNP President-Elect Catherine

Worden]

$1,500 awards:

• Gloria LaFollette, Central & UM Flint Chapters

• Kimberly Wegscheid, Capital Area & MSU

Chapters

$1,000 awards:

• Michael Busch, Tri-Cities Chapter

• Megan Doot, Metro & MSU Chapters

• Michael Mooney, Metro Chapter

• Dane Stahl, Ann Arbor Chapter

• Stacey Swartzendruber, Flint Chapter

Page 4

MICNP 2016-2017 STUDENT

SCHOLARSHIP AWARDS

18 MICNP members were awarded scholarships for the

2016-2017 MICNP Scholarship program. The total

amount for the awards given this year was increased to

over $15,000 thanks to the MICNP board! Winners were recognized at the annual business meeting taking

place on March 18th during the MICNP annual confer-

ence in Detroit, MI.

$650 awards:

• Audrie Bedenis, Ann Arbor & UM Ann Arbor Chapters

• Leyla Berry, Ann Arbor Chapter

• Kendall Dorie, Metro Chapter

• Tara Evans, Flint Chapter

• Mallory Fox, Ann Arbor Chapter

• Sarah Frye, Metro Chapter

• Margaret Gressle, Metro Chapter

• Lynda Lauer, Metro & WSU Chapters

• Jessica Peacock, Greater Grand Rapids Chapter

• Rachel Rang, Ann Arbor Chapter

• Jessica Schultz, Ann Arbor & UM Ann Arbor Chapters

(both on and off the job), or failure to

pay child support.

The BON’s view is that licensure is a privilege, not a right. What many nurse practitioners fail to under-stand is that the BON is tasked to protect the public, not the NP.

While many articles have been writ-ten on how nurse practitioners can protect themselves from malprac-tice, far fewer have focused on how

they can protect their license. Yet without a license, nurse practition-ers can’t provide patient care, signif-icantly affecting their livelihood. Click HERE to read the rest of the article How to Protect Your License.

MICNP ADVOCACY DAY

October 10, 2017 8:30 am - 4:30 pm

$75 for APRNs

$35 for APRN Students

The day’s events will include:

• Confirmed keynote

speaker: Penny Kaye Jensen,

National APRN Policy Liaison for

the Department of Veterans Af-fairs Office of Nursing Services

• Advocacy and Lobbying

101: Nancy George, MICNP

PAC Chair and Heather Nichol-

off, MICNP Lobbyist

• Legislative appoint-ments: appointments made on

the attendees behalf with their

respective State Senator and Rep-

resentative

• Capitol visit: Group will walk over together for (1) possi-

ble floor recognition if House is

still in session and then (2) pho-

tos on front East lawn steps

-Lunch provided

-CEs provided

MICNP Legislative

Reception Lansing Center

4:30-6:00 pm

Tickets $25 per person

This legislative reception pro-vides an opportunity for MICNP

members to network with invit-

ed legislators over cocktails and

hors d'oeuvres.

Event registration will open in

August at www.micnp.org.

We need YOU to donate to MICNP PAC!

MICNP PAC funds are key to having a continued

presence with the legislative process. We are

being asked to contribute to key policymakers'

state fundraising campaigns, and these events are

MICNP's opportunity to network and influence

healthcare policy in Michigan. We have many

issues still to work on, and we can't lose momentum or influence. We can

only continue to have impact through the generous donations of our

members, and last year we received donations to MICNP PAC from less

than 10% of MICNP members.

The MICNP PAC committee makes targeted donations to legislators that

support issues important to nurse practitioners so they recognize NPs

not just as their constituents but as donors. To help these efforts, we

need everyone to make a donation to MICNP PAC. The money you do-

nate provides another opportunity for our voices to be heard. A donation

in any amount helps MICNP to continue our efforts, and it is now easier

than ever to give. Click HERE for a link to the MICNP PAC page on

www.micnp.org, where you can see a list of past donors, and make a do-

nation. Thank you!

MICNP POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEE (PAC)

MICNP apparel is now avail-

able on Land’s End website!

1) It’s simple:

Click HERE to visit the

MICNP store link http://

business.landsend.com/

store/micnp/ and choose from men’s, women’s or

promotional products, then

click on ‘Apply Logo’ , then

follow the steps to place the MICNP logo on your

merchandise before pur-

chase. 2) Wear with pride!

Page 6

Check out how some of our

MICNP chapters have found

ways to give back to their local

communities:

Metro Detroit Chapter was a

sponsor of the 2nd Stomp Out Sep-

sis 5k walk on September 10, 2016

in Washington, MI and helped raise

funds & recruit walkers/runners.

MICNP member/Region 5 Rep Sue

Sirianni co-chaired the walk. Also, for

the 8th year, the Metro Chapter will

also be hosting a dinner for the

homeless at Hope Warming Center

in Pontiac on August 26, 2017 where

they will also be providing health care

to the guests.

Northeast Chapter donated chap-

ter funds to the Alpena Regional Med-

ical Center to be used as a scholar-

ship for the Pressure to Be Perfect and

Safe Sitter programs that are both

important in the lives of young girls

during their teenage years.

MICNP CHAPTER CORNER

MICNP/MDHHS GRANT-ADULT IMMUNIZATIONS The Michigan Council of Nurse Practitioners (MICNP) has been a 2016-2017 two-year grant partner of the MI Dept of Health & Human Services (MDHHS) on adult immunizations. As part of the grant, MICNP co-hosted a free educational program on adult immunization on April 1, 2017 in East Lansing, MI along with the Michigan Association of Osteopathic Family Physicians (MAOFP), Michigan Association of Family Physicians (MAFP), Michigan Pharmacists Association (MPA), Michigan Association of Physician Assistants (MAPA) and Michigan Medical Group Management Association (MiMGMA). The goal was to provide attendees with current information on adult immunization, and promote the expansion of immunization activities in practices, systems and communities. To view & listen to record-ings of the program (approx. 4.5 hours total) - click HERE for part 1 and click HERE for part 2. To download other resources to help promote adult immunizations in your practice, visit the Alliance for Immunization in Michigan (AIM)

website at www.aimtoolkit.org.

MICNP REPRESENTED AT NATIONAL AANP 2017 CONFERENCES [Below left: MICNP President/AANP Region 5 Director Gretchen Schumacher, MICNP PAC Chair/2014 AANP fellow

Nancy George and MICNP member/AANP State Rep Beth Kuzma at AANP’s Region 5 leadership meeting in Chicago.

Below right, pictured l to r: MSU CON Dean Randolph Rasch, MICNP President Gretchen Schumacher, MICNP Treasurer

Denise Hershey, former State Rep. Ken Yonker, MICNP member/AANP MI NP Excellence award winner Patrick Hawkins,

MICNP member/AANP State Rep Beth Kuzma, MICNP President-Elect Catherine Worden & MICNP Secretary Mary

Serowoky at AANP’s 2017 Annual Conference in

Philadelphia]

Page 6

Summer Newsletter 2017

Ann Arbor Chapter hosted a legis-lative meet & greet event on June 1st at Weber Inn where local legislators were invited to attend and meet MICNP members. [Pictured below:

State Rep. Adam Zemke (D-55)]

September 16, 2017

MICNP State Board

quarterly meeting at MSU College of Nurs-

ing in East Lansing, MI.

October 10, 2017 MICNP Advocacy Day

& evening legislative

reception at the Lan-

sing Center in Lansing,

MI.

October 21, 2017 MICNP Ann Arbor &

Metro Chapter(s) CE

Saturday Conference at the Suburban Collection

Showplace in Novi, MI.

November 11, 2017 MICNP Capital Area

Chapter Pharmacology

Conference at Bott Bldg

- MSU in E. Lansing, MI

from 8:00am-12:30pm.

November 12-18, 2017 National Nurse

Practitioner Week

celebrated.

MICNP 17th Annual Advanced Practice

Nursing Conference: March 16-18, 2018

MotorCity Casino

Hotel-Conference

Center in Detroit,

MI

Follow MICNP on

Twitter

@MichiganNPs

Click HERE to con-

nect with other

MICNP fans on

Facebook to discuss

NP issues, news and events.

Have you logged in lately?

We are excited to announce

that we will be upgrading our membership database and

www.micnp.org website next

month, so stay tuned! More

information to follow.

On LinkedIn? Create an account

or log-in and search Michigan

Council of Nurse Practitioners in

Groups and click to join the net-

work!

UPCOMING EVENTS

WWW.MICNP.ORG

MICNP BUSINESS Votes will be tabulated and

results announced on October

16th. Eligible candidates are current, regular members of

MICNP in good standing.

If you are interested in running

for MICNP Secretary or Treas-

urer, submit your CV and a completed ‘Nomination’ form

(click HERE) to MICNP Execu-

tive Director Olivia McLaughlin

via email to olivia@micnp.org.

If you are interested in running

for MICNP Regional Representa-

tive in Region 2 (Upper Peninsu-

la) or Region 4 (Southwest),

please click HERE.

Please note that information taken

directly from the nominations form

is used as part of the ballot. MICNP nomination

period for Secretary,

Treasurer & Regional

Representative positions

now open!

The nomination period for

the positions of MICNP Sec-retary, Treasurer and two

Regional Representatives is

now open through Sept 18th

at 12:00pm. After the nomi-

nations committee reviews the submissions, they will

organize the slate and voting

will take place from Sept 20-

Oct 11, 2017.

MICNP NEWS

DID YOU KNOW?

MICNP connected with local immigra-

tion attorneys and also fielded several

media inquiries in March 2017 after a

MICNP member who works in Detroit

and lives in Canada reported being de-

nied renewal of her work visa. The U.S.

Customs & Border Patrol later re-

versed their misinterpretation of the

visa rules that put advanced practice

nurses at risk. Click HERE for an article

by CBC News Windsor, or click HERE

to see an article from the Detroit Free

Press.

SAVE THE DATE!