Public Art: Drawing the Line Against Cancer

Two of NOEP’s favorite partners, Alpheus Media and MD Anderson Cancer Center, teamed up on an exciting new campaign that began Saturday, Jan. 18: “Help Draw the Line Against Cancer“. My son Zac and I were two of approximately 100 Central Texans who joined together on that gorgeous day to assist. On Frank’s public art wall in downtown Austin, we painted a 30-foot red line through the word “Cancer” to symbolize the need to eradicate this disease. We also wrote personal tributes on the wall to mourn losses and celebrate lives.

Among the fantastic people we met there, some shared their stories in interviews. We look forward to what comes next!

–Lisa Kathleen Watson

Meet TNA’s New Executive Director

We are happy to announce that Cindy Zolnierek, PhD, RN was recently appointed the Executive Director of the Texas Nurses Association.

Cindy has been a “career-long member” of the American Nurses Association, and is passionate about the nursing profession. She served as TNA’s Director of Practice from 2007 to 2011.

Cindy has worked in the nursing profession for over 30 years, as a staff nurse, a clinical nurse specialist, and in nurse executive positions in Michigan and California. She is an expert in adult psychiatric/mental health nursing. Her dissertation entitled The lived experience of non-psychiatric hospitalization for people with severe mental illness explored the experience of people with severe mental illness in medical-surgical settings, as well as how nurses can better serve this population.

Please join NOEP in welcoming Dr. Zolnierek to the Texas Nurses Association family!

Cervical Health: What Nurses Need to Know

New Year’s resolutions are SO last week. But the entire month of January is about Cervical Health Awareness. This month reminds us about the link between HPV and cervical cancer, as well as HPV prevention, and the importance of screening for early detection.

Human papillomavirus (HPV) is the most common sexually transmitted disease in the United States.  There are an estimated 6.2 million new infections annually.  Most infections resolve spontaneously, but an estimated 20 million people have persistent HPV infection, believed to be responsible for nearly all cases of cervical cancer.

There are two HPV vaccines licensed by the FDA and recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). These vaccines are Cervarix and Gardasil. Both vaccines are effective against diseases caused by HPV types 16 and 18, which cause most cervical cancers. Additionally, Gardasil has been tested and licensed for use in males, and also protects against HPV types 6 and 11, the types that cause most genital warts.

Cervarix and Gardasil are licensed, safe, and effective for females ages 9 through 26 years. CDC recommends that all 11 or 12 year old girls get the 3 doses (shots) of either brand of HPV vaccine to protect against cervical cancer. Girls and young women ages 13 through 26 should get HPV vaccine if they have not received any or all doses when they were younger.

Literature suggest that nurses and other healthcare providers are not equipped with the knowledge and awareness that would cause them to recommend the HPV vaccine to their patients and their patients’ parents. Many healthcare providers are misinformed about HPV infection, its consequences and cervical cancer screening, and are less comfortable vaccinating younger patients (the age group for which it is routinely recommended) than older adolescents. At the same time, adolescent females, their parents, and providers are generally interested in vaccines that prevent HPV and other STDs; and recommendations for vaccination by providers are persuasive. Health care providers must be well informed to educate patients and families.

Equip yourself with the knowledge necessary to prevent HPV and cervical cancer. Take NOEP’s course on Preparing Tomorrow’s Nurses in Cervical Cancer Prevention, available for 0.66 contact hours of no-cost continuing nursing education. If you’re in the Houston area, consider attending the annual HPV and Cervical Cancer Summit on Jan. 22. Cancer survivors attend free.

NOEP Nursing Faculty Partner Named Fellow

Suzy Lockwood PhD, MSN, RN, OCN, FAAN, a core member of the NOEP Steering Committee, was named a Fellow of the American Academy of Nursing (AAN) at the AAN’s annual meeting on October 19, 2013 in Washington, DC. Dr. Lockwood is a nursing professor and director of the Center for Oncology Education & Research at Texas Christian University in Fort Worth, Texas.

Fellows of the Academy–one of the most prestigious honors in nursing–are nominated and selected based on their leadership skills and commitment to the profession. The Academy is comprised of more than 2,000 nurse leaders in education, management, practice, policy and research. Fellows represent all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and 19 countries.

Dr. Lockwood is certainly well deserving of this honor, as she has significantly contributed to the nursing profession through her expertise and leadership in oncology nursing. Her efforts to encourage nurses to specialize in oncology involve developing new oncology educational models for undergraduates and graduate students. Dr. Lockwood has presented at more than 40 cancer-focused presentations to community members and leaders.

Dr. Lockwood has been an active member of the NOEP Steering Committee for more than six years, and has proved to be a strong advocate for oncology nursing education. She also serves on the National Ovarian Cancer Coalition Board of Directors and leads the Woman’s Cancer Group for the American Cancer Society.

Thank you Dr. Lockwood for all that you do for NOEP, for your students, for the nursing profession, and for cancer patients who have benefited from your expertise, passion, and advocacy!