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...
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 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.
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.
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.
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.
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:
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.
During February, ATHNA continues to wish you peace and joy and the promise of 2021 as the year we see an end to this pandemic.
Stay safe and healthy,
Sandy Weinberg, Interim ATHNA President
If you have not already done so, ATHNA encourages its members to subscribe to the free Immunization Action Coalition's Weekly IAC Express email publication for the latest information about vaccines approved for use in the U.S. IAC is considered an invaluable resource for all nurses in our specialty and the current issue that features new Covid-19 content in the Ask the Experts column is just one example.
In conjunction with ATHNA's Vaccinator Clearinghouse Initiative, we share these excellent resources for any clinician who wants to update/ refresh their vaccine administration skills. The currently available Covid-19 vaccines are both delivered via the intramuscular route in adults.
First Webinar: Rabies Counseling: FAQ's in the Pre-Travel Encounter
Annually, as a member benefit, ATHNA offers a unique opportunity for professional development in travel health nursing. Usually offered as small group meetings at members' homes around the country, the 2021 series will, of necessity, be scheduled monthly via Zoom. Registration is now open for the February 24, 2021 session and ATHNA members will soon receive their email invitation with more program details and a registration link.
Not sure how to prepare study abroad students? Wondering about resources for students with anxiety or eating disorders? Looking for new ways to fund student health services?
Whether you practice within a college health service or care for college students in another setting, the newly published Principles and Practice of College Health is a worthwhile guide for delivering comprehensive quality health services to this population. Just released by Springer, this important text is edited by John A. Vaughn, M.D., Director of Student Health at Duke University since 2013 and Anthony J. Viera, M.D., Chair of the Department of Family Medicine and Community Health at Duke.
Richards JA, Rosselot GA
J Travel Med, Volume 28, Issue 1, 2021, taaa202
https://doi.org/10.1093/jtm/taaa202
Past Presidents Julie Richards and Gail Rosselot recently published an article in the Journal of Travel Medicine about the implications of ANA specialty recognition for Travel Health Nursing here in the US. The Perspectives piece is timed to coincide with the soon to be published Travel Health Nursing: Scope and Standards of Practice. According to Julie, "We believe specialty recognition will go a long way to recognize travel health nursing professionalism and promote quality care for travelers and the communities they impact. We hope travel health professionals in all 50 states can benefit." The article details the process for specialty recognition and its benefits, including the opportunity now to establish a U.S. certification for travel health nurses comparable to other U.S. nursing certifications.
ATHNA will feature an article on this website introducing the new Scope & Standards when they become available early in 2021.
By now we all know that conquering this pandemic will "take a village" and in Westchester County, NY organizations are encouraging good Covid-19 practices with a variety of different messages. One local church shared their message about continued mask use this way...
Are you working on COVID-19 Vaccine implementation? Learn strategies for building trust around vaccination at the National Forum on COVID-19 Vaccine , February 22-24. Check out the agenda and register today....
Dr Karl Neumann is well known to many of us in travel health nursing. Karl is a pediatrician very active in travel medicine, a longtime friend of ATHNA, and the author of the very popular and helpful web newsletter Kids Trav Doc.
We have learned that Karl has contracted Covid and now is in the hospital. Unfortunately, we have no more details, but we are sure Karl would appreciate hearing from many of us. If you want to wish Karl a rapid and full recovery, please send your message to Dr. Karl Neumann at travhealth@aol.com.
The current issue of the Immunization Action Coalition IAC Express is an Ask the Experts Special Edition devoted to questions about mRNA COVID-19 vaccines.Do you have a question about these vaccines? Chances are very good that the IAC expert panel will address your concern and provide an explanation that you can share with your travelers.
NY Times "Answers to All Your Questions About Getting Vaccinated for Covid-19"
Read Past President Gail Rosselot's NY Times Letter about this important issue and how nurses can respond https://nyti.ms/3pVLjhZ
Immunization Action Coalition establishes dedicated Covid-19 Vaccination webpage with wealth of information, resources, and FAQ's.
Although not available in U.S.your patients may have questions.
CDC has recently offered several excellent educational webinars on the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines.
To access archived webinars and learn of upcoming programs, go to the COCA website
The NYTimes is providing daily coverage on the pandemic and vaccination efforts in its free dedicated webpage: The Coronavirus Outbreak
Johns Hopkins continues to provide updates on Covid-19 cases, vaccines, and other developments in this pandemic on its Coronavirus Resource Center
