Membership
Membership increased to 150 in 1990. Criteria for membership changed. Section members were required to meet ATS requirements, i.e. be an active member (requires doctoral preparation) or associate member (requires Master’s preparation or greater than five years experience in pulmonary nursing) of ATS. Section membership is not restricted to nurses and Section members can also be members of other sections but of only one Assembly.
Committee Activities
The charge of the Section in 1986 was to:
- Collect and disseminate data concerning nursing practice and educational needs.
- Stimulate nursing research.
- Promote interdisciplinary planning for care of individuals with lung disease.
- Facilitate communication on issues of patient care related to nursing.
The Subcommittee on Nursing Standards completed the document on nursing standards for care of the COPD patient.
A Scholarship Committee was formed to explore ways to increase funding for doctoral preparation of professional nurses who are specialists in respiratory care. A proposal to fund doctoral preparation of nurses approved by ALA/ATS Research Coordinating Committee and ALA/ATS Research Fellowship Committee.
An Ad Hoc Committee for Future Directions of the Section on Nursing completed its’ work in 1987.
The previous goals of the Section were expanded to include:
- Improved communication
- Development of standards
- Certification
- Alliances with other nursing organizations
- Recruitment
- Encouragement of research
- Grantsmanship
- Integration with other disciplines
- Provide leadership and a mechanism for communication on patient care issues.
- Collect, interpret, and disseminate data concerning nursing practice, education and research in respiratory care.
- Develop mechanisms to promote and support clinical nursing/interdisciplinary research in respiratory care.
- Promote interdisciplinary activities for the prevention of lung disease and care of persons with respiratory impairment.
A response to a survey indicated that Section members identified several problems.
- Communication Since 99% of communication occurs at the Annual Meeting, those not attending miss out on Section activities. Members identified a need for a newsletter. The ATS NEWS will be used more fully for communicating in the future.
- Recruitment of new members. A brochure will be developed to describe the benefits of Section membership.
- Certification. Should be pursued through ANA.
- Explore alliance with other nursing organizations (ANA)
- Encourage nursing research.
- Integrate other disciplines into the Section.
Research priorities for 1987 were identified as dyspnea and smoking cessation. A Research/Practice Committee was appointed to develop respiratory nursing research priorities.
Program Activities
Twenty to 29 abstracts were presented annually. Two to four abstract sessions were held annually. Themes of the abstracts included asthma, dyspnea, smoking, secretion clearance, and home ventilation. Beginning in 1988 poster sessions were presented on a regular basis. Topics included studies on smoking, mechanical support and issues in the care of children and adults. Three to five symposia were held annually. Topics focused on pulmonary rehabilitation, critical care topics, smoking, cystic fibrosis, and dyspnea. Four to ten Sunrise Sessions were offered. Scientific Forums were offered beginning in 1986 on topics such as the role of the Clinical Nurse Specialist, Nursing Diagnosis and Research. Forums were sometimes used as a mechanism for the Special Interest Groups to meet (1988 and 1990).
Several Meet the Professor sessions were held annually. Postgraduate Courses were offered in 1986, 1988 and 1989. Topics were: The Process of Developing Grant Applications; Smoking Cessation as Part of Usual Care, and Advances in Assessment and Treatment of Dyspnea.
Joint Scientific/Community Session: Growing Older with Lung Disease, Aging and Lung Disease, and Influenza and Pneumonia Prevention: Learning from Model Lung Association Programs.
