President's Message
So far, 2023 looks to be a year of “revenge travel” with many postponed trips now rescheduled and individuals, families, and groups eager to fly off to destinations the world over. That's why we want to make sure that you are aware of the many helpful sections of the ATHNA website as you prepare your travelers. If you have not already checked out the Educational Resource, it is a must see! There is a wealth of educational material in an interesting format designed to make learning fun and not rote. We continue to provide updated information in a shorter format through our blog, Travel Bytes. If any of our members are interested in writing, we are always looking for contributions to these features and the website.
In response to the revised ACIP guidelines for Rabies PrEP, ATHNA has received a grant from Bavarian Nordic to develop an on-demand educational program on rabies prevention. It will include FREE CE, including pharmacology credit, and will be available on our learning management system (LMS) first quarter of 2023. It is our hope that our LMS will become a popular and improved educational method to help our members keep current while also meeting their professional development goals and requirements.
Please explore our updated members-only content. In the expanded Membership Portal look for regular additions of clinic tools i.e., forms that may be useful in your practice; a listing of 2023 travel health courses and conferences; a career center for employers to post jobs and members who are seeking employment; and a printable membership certificate to hang in your office. A travel health nursing glossary and model core curriculum for our specialty can be found there as well. And if you are a new member, we have added a new Member Checklist to help you benefit from all that ATHNA has to offer.
Throughout this year, we will continue to keep you informed with monthly Constant Contact messages. Our new Communications Committee is working on a host of new internal and external communications. And in the past year, ATHNA has renewed its commitment to advocacy – an example can be seen in our letter to the CDC about the need for more ID training for Mpox vaccine administration (on the ATHNA homepage).
Despite the Covid pandemic, ATHNA membership has continued to grow monthly, and we are now approaching 3000 members! Remember- our membership is free, so encourage your colleagues to join. In coming months ATHNA will announce its 2023 election cycle when we seek new directors for our all-volunteer board. Perhaps you are interested in making a stronger commitment to our specialty? Or seek more networking with travel health nursing colleagues and experts? If so, be on the lookout for the Call for Nominations announcement this winter. ATHNA is always eager to promote diversity within our organization and we will be looking for new board members who represent diverse geographical locations, educational backgrounds, and occupational settings.
If you have not already purchased a copy of our Travel Health Nursing: Scope and Standards of Practice, you can access it here. Please help us promote highest quality travel health care. Help us promote the use of this foundational text with your fellow colleagues and your management. The Scope & Standards is now the standard of care for travel health nursing in the United States and no Travel Health Clinic should be without it!
Have a safe and enjoyable winter season!
Sandy Weinberg, ATHNA President