New Updates!
- ATHNA Creates Vaccinator Clearinghouse for Employers and Members
- Administering IM Injections: Resources for Updating Your Skills
- Donate: Help ATHNA Achieve U.S. Certification
- What's News: IAC Announces New, Comprehensive Covid-19 Webpage
- What's News: Announcements on Sanofi YF Vaccine Supply for 2021
- NED 2021 Starts in February
- Springer Publishes Principles and Practice in College Health
The American Travel Health Nurses Association (ATHNA) is the professional organization for travel health nurses in North America. ATHNA is committed to professional development, networking, research and advocacy in the specialty of travel health nursing. We offer our members resources for travel health clinics, CE programs, a unique, regional conference day, monthly updates, regional contacts, and much more...
Mission Statement
It is the mission of ATHNA to advance nurses engaged in the care of all travelers through professional development, evidence-based practice and advocacy.
The Specialty
The travel health nursing professional, not to be mistaken for the "travel nurse," is an official ANA recognized nursing specialty. Travel health nursing is defined as "the specialized nursing practice that advances the well-being of all travelers, both domestic and international, in all phases/stages of travel and in all clinical settings." Travel health nurses provide travelers with pre-travel preparation, in transit support, and post- travel evaluation and management as may be needed. By contrast, travel nurses move around the country and supplement staffing at various hospitals during times of peak capacity.
ATHNA Pandemic Vaccination Clearinghouse
Effective 1/15/2021
The American Travel Health Nurses Association (ATHNA) recognizes the current need for vaccinators to help mount a massive national immunization effort against Covid-19 in this country. To assist in this campaign, ATHNA has established this Clearinghouse webpage. Any agency or organization-public or private- is encouraged to post free of charge available vaccinator positions-full or part time, volunteer or paid- to support local, state and federal vaccination services.
ATHNA members are strongly encouraged to participate in this national effort and post their availability on this Clearinghouse site. If you are not a member and wish to participate, please consider joining ATHNA. Membership is free through June 2021.
To post available vaccinator positions, or as an ATHNA member to post your own availability, please contact sweinbergRN@gmail.com.
- Available positions are posted under National for organizations with openings in more than one state and by State for positions only in that state.
For posting, Employers and Volunteer Organizations should identify states where positions are available, whether positions are paid or volunteer, and their contact information.
- Members' interest and availability contact information will be posted alphabetically by State.
Members should provide the following information for posting:
- Your name
- Your contact email
- Indicate: full time, part time, or both
- Indicate: Voluntary or paid positions or both
- In what state(s) are you currently licensed as a nurse?
- What is the county and state of your residence?
Disclaimer
All information provided on the ATHNA.org website is provided for information purposes only and does not constitute a legal contract between ATHNA and any person or entity. Listings come from agencies, organizations and individuals, but are not checked or endorsed by ATHNA. Readers are encouraged to carefully research any offering to insure that it meets their professional needs. ATHNA posts vaccinator listings for the convenience of members and potential employers. A posting does not constitute an endorsement or recommendation. ATHNA explicitly makes no representations or guarantees about listings or the accuracy of the information provided.
ATHNA posts vaccinator opportunities based on the information provided by the employer or organization offering a position. ATHNA makes no guarantee about positions listed and is not responsible for safety, wages, working conditions, or other aspects of employment or a volunteer position. It is the responsibility of each individual to research the integrity of the organization(s) to which he/she is applying and to verify the specific information pertaining to the posting. Members should exercise due diligence and use common sense and caution when applying for or accepting any position.
Employers and members are encouraged to request reference information from each other as needed to establish qualifications, credentials and overall fit between the employer and the applicant. For privacy and protection when applying to a position online, it is advisable not to give social security numbers or provide credit card or bank account information. All listings are posted at the discretion of ATHNA. We will not post positions that appear to discriminate against applicants on the basis of race, color, religion, creed, age, national origin, disabled or Vietnam Era veteran status, sexual orientation, disability, or gender. ATHNA also reserves the right to refuse to post positions that do not support the interests of our organization.
Donate to ATHNA
Help Us Achieve U.S. Certification for Travel Health Nurses
Last year was a seminal year for ATHNA and travel health nursing when we achieved specialty recognition from the American Nurses Association. Soon the foundational text for our specialty, Travel Health Nursing: Scope and Standards of Practice, will be available from the publisher. Now the ATHNA Board of Directors is set to focus on a new and very important goal: the achievement of U.S. certification for our travel health nurses.
As many of you know, there is currently no professional nursing certification for travel health nursing in the United States. Unlike other specialties- occupational health nursing, oncology nursing, ambulatory nursing and the like- travel health nurses have as yet to achieve an equivalent national certification. Lacking a U.S. specialty credential, some nurses have undertaken international or interdisciplinary certificates and courses to demonstrate professional achievement. However, none of these are specific to professional nursing, nor do they confirm knowledge of U.S. standards of care. Now that our specialty has obtained formal recognition in this country, we can proceed to establish a U.S. certification that adheres to the eligibility and renewal criteria consistent with the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC). We can achieve equal standing with other U.S. nursing specialties.
ATHNA envisions a certification process that will feature a professional portfolio rather than an examination and we have already initiated contact with organizations that can help us achieve this goal as early as 2022.
But we need your financial support! As you know, during this pandemic crisis, ATHNA has waived all membership dues. We know how Covid-19 has affected so many of you. However, the process for creating a legally recognized professional certification has a cost. And we don't want to wait until this health crisis is over to start the certification process.
Please consider making a donation today to ATHNA's Certification Fund. As a 501(c) (3) organization, your donation is tax deductible to the extent allowed by law. No amount is too little. And every donation will help us towards this important professional goal.
Thank you!
ATHNA is tax-exempt under Section 501(c) (3) of the US Internal Revenue Service and is registered with the NY State Charities Bureau.
President's Message
Dear Members,
If we think back to this time last year, no one could ever have imagined what was in store for us during 2020...and it's a good thing. Beginning in March, life as we once knew it turned upside down. We experienced the lockdown, people started working from home and everyone was on Zoom...for work, school, meetings, exercise classes and socializing. Face masks became a fashion statement and public health terms became part of the vernacular such as social distancing and herd immunity.
During this time, ATHNA has remained on moratorium to allow our Board of Directors to participate in pandemic response activities. However, we have continued to concentrate on some important ATHNA business:
- We have updated our Bylaws which are posted on the website.
- In light of the pandemic and its effect on travel, we are maintaining no dues through June 2021 at which time we will re-evaluate.
- We continue planning for the NED, which will provide unique educational opportunities, beginning in February 2021, via Zoom. Members will receive an email with details about registration. Each educational activity will be free for viewing, with a fee for CE credit.
- ATHNA continues to collaborate with ANA, and we expect the publication of Travel Health Nursing - Scope and Standards of Practice, First Edition (2021)), in early February
- We are embarking on two new initiatives: a Vaccinator Clearinghouse to help staff the national vaccination effort and a Fundraising Campaign to develop a U.S. certification for travel health nurses.
Although we are currently experiencing a surge in COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations, we are also reaching a milestone in the pandemic. Vaccinations with two COVID-19 vaccines have begun.
Although we are currently experiencing a surge in COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations, we are also reaching a milestone in the pandemic. Vaccinations with two COVID-19 vaccines have begun.
As 2021 begins, ATHNA wishes you peace and joy as we all look forward to a new year of Hope!
Stay safe and healthy,
Sandy Weinberg, Interim ATHNA President
