AACN/Joint Commission Resources online series begins next month.

AACN and Joint Commission Resources (JCR) are co-sponsoring a series of online programs that focuses on issues important to acute and critical care nurses and other practitioners. Healthy Work Environments will lead off the series of three topics, each offering three presentations that can be accessed either live or later from the Web conference library. The other topics are Reducing Medical Errors and Palliative and End-of-Life Care.

Representing AACN to discuss Healthy Work Environments on Thursdays, Feb. 5, 12 and 19, is Kathy McCauley, PhD, RN, BC, FAAN, FAHA, a past AACN president who is associate dean for academic programs and associate professor of cardiovascular nursing at the University of Pennsylvania School of Nursing. McCauley is also a clinical specialist in cardiovascular nursing at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania. Representing JCR is consultant Terrance Shea, MPA, BSN. All presentations are scheduled from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. (CST), with time allowed for questions from participants.

The lead-off presentation Feb. 5 will be around the AACN Healthy Work Environment Standards, introduced in 2005 and endorsed by leading healthcare associations. AACN believes that the link between healthy work environments and patient safety, nurse retention and recruitment and, thus, the bottom line, is irrefutable. The Standards--which set out the ingredients for success as skilled communication, true collaboration, effective decision making, appropriate staffing, meaningful recognition and authentic leadership--are available online at www.aacn.org/hwe.

The presentation will continue Feb. 12 with Implementing the Healthy Work Environment Standards and Feb. 19, with Healthy Practice Environments for Internationally Recruited Nurses. You can register for this program now by visiting the JCR Web site at www.jcrinc.com. Cost is $249 per Web conference or $600 for all three topics within a series. The entire nine-session Web conference series will be available for $1,800.

Presentations around Reducing Medical Errors are scheduled for Thursdays, June 10 (2008 Joint Commission National Patient Safety Goals), June 17 (Mistake-proofing Healthcare) and June 24 (Ensuring Reliable Care). Presenting are, on behalf of AACN, Patricia R. Ebright, RN, DNS, associate professor at Indiana University School of Nursing, and on behalf of JCR consultant Roberta Fruth, RN, MS, PhD, FAAN, a past AACN board member.

Presentations around Palliative and End-of-Life Care are scheduled for Thursdays, Oct. 7 (Palliative Care Isn't Just End-of-Life Care), Oct. 14 (Family Presence in Critical Care) and Oct. 21 (End-of-Life Care). Presenting are, on behalf of AACN, (Oct. 7) Patsy Treece, RN, MN, a critical care research nurse with the Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care at the University of Washington, and (Oct. 14 and 21) J. Randall Curtis, MD, MPH, FCCP, professor of medicine at the University of Washington and director of the Harborview/UW End-of-life Care Research Program. Presenting on behalf of JCR is consultant Beth Glassford, RN, MS, MHA, CHE, a past member of the AACN Certification Corporation Board of Directors.