President’s Message
MASPAN Fall Conference
We have just finished our fall conference and I am so pleased that all of you enjoyed the speakers as
much as you did. This conference was a great time for celebrating our nursing specialty as well as
gaining knowledge to enhance and improve our daily practice. We rely on you to articulate what you
would like to see for educational offerings in your evaluations, and we do take all your comments and
suggestions seriously.
Transparency
One of my initiatives is for MASPAN to become more transparent. A “mini” informal business update will
be provided at each of our conferences, keeping members aware of activities. Utilizing this newsletter, I
hope to provide a brief overview of the various committees and their work. Strategic planning and
education will be the highlighted committees in this issue.
Strategic Thinking
Our January board meeting is dedicated to strategic thinking. First and foremost, MASPAN is guided by
the implementation and revision of its strategic plan. It is the process where decisions are made
allocating the resources to pursue this strategy. In order to determine where we are going, MASPAN
needs to know where we stand on goals and objectives, now termed as measureable outcomes. Our
goals and responses or outcomes deal with at least one of these key questions: What do we do? For
whom do we do this for? And how do we excel at this? Most importantly, our strategic plan makes sure we
are going in the right direction for you, our members. The goals and objectives are summarized into the
mission and vision statement. Our mission is to advance nursing practice through education, research
and promotion of ASPAN standards. MASPAN’s vision is to be the pre-eminent nursing component
organization for quality in the perianesthesia specialty providing exceptional professional development.
By tailoring the strategic plan to provide exceptional and quality educational seminars, we are meeting
our number one outcome. When milestones are reviewed, usually timelines are reviewed, revised,
tightened up so that at the end of the time period (yearly, every 3 years, every 5 years) goals are reached
as a result of omitting some strategies, modifying others and adding still others. Meg Beturne, our
strategic thinker extraordinaire, keeps us on task at our annual board meeting in January to review our
goals and action making sure we are following the plan. Many thanks go to Meg for all her hard work as
she keeps us on track and moving forward!
Educational planning
As we plan our educational conferences, we strive to meet the needs of all of you. Surveys are sent out
and reviewed, searching for the right speakers based upon your suggestions and ideas. As many of you
are aware, the latest survey suggested Donna White, which the board followed up on and low and behold
– what a fantastic find she was! Little did we realize how powerful her message on compassionate care
would be! What an impact!! Please know that we do go over the evaluations and take all the comments
and suggestions seriously. Thank you to whoever suggested Donna in the first place!
ASPAN seminar
In addition to the fall conference, I hope many of you were able to attend ASPAN’s seminar: Complexities
and Challenges of Perianesthesia Nursing: Across the Ambulatory and Perianesthesia Continuum held
November 12th at Lawrence Memorial Hospital School of Nursing in Medford.
Your Education Committee
The Education committee, under the direction of Ann Marie McLaughlin, continues to work diligently to
provide a high caliber of speakers. Many, many hours are spent searching so please keep those
suggestions coming! A special thanks to Karen Annetti, Catee Murphy, and Maureen McLaughlin as
members of the committee for all their hard work. From personal experience, I can attest to the work
involved in planning, contacting potential speakers, obtaining content outlines and biographical
information, sending in the application for contact hour approval, mailings and food service
arrangements. Special kudos to Karen for her work at the tables with the baskets and raffles.
Fundraising
And speaking of fundraising, a huge round of thanks to all the units who donated baskets for our
scholarship raffles. What an unbelievable assortment! With your help, MASPAN is able to offer a variety
of scholarships- you only need to apply! Next March’s conference will return to the UMass Medical
School in Worcester and already we have several speakers lined up. Stay tuned to the website for further
details.
More to come on your BOD . . . .
This is the beginning of several articles focusing on the board; who we are and what we do. The board
itself represents a variety of perianesthesia nurses practicing in different settings. We are always looking
for new members to join. With this in mind, I encourage each and every one of you to consider attending
a board meeting.
Thank you!
One final note of appreciation, our grand total for MASPAN’s mission for Myrna was phenomenal. We
sent over 30 boxes to Afghanistan!! Please read Myrna’s response in the newsletter. From the bottom of
my heart, many thanks to each and every one who contributed. Your generosity and true spirit of giving
knows no bounds!
Thank you all- Kathi
We have just finished our fall conference and I am so pleased that all of you enjoyed the speakers as
much as you did. This conference was a great time for celebrating our nursing specialty as well as
gaining knowledge to enhance and improve our daily practice. We rely on you to articulate what you
would like to see for educational offerings in your evaluations, and we do take all your comments and
suggestions seriously.
Transparency
One of my initiatives is for MASPAN to become more transparent. A “mini” informal business update will
be provided at each of our conferences, keeping members aware of activities. Utilizing this newsletter, I
hope to provide a brief overview of the various committees and their work. Strategic planning and
education will be the highlighted committees in this issue.
Strategic Thinking
Our January board meeting is dedicated to strategic thinking. First and foremost, MASPAN is guided by
the implementation and revision of its strategic plan. It is the process where decisions are made
allocating the resources to pursue this strategy. In order to determine where we are going, MASPAN
needs to know where we stand on goals and objectives, now termed as measureable outcomes. Our
goals and responses or outcomes deal with at least one of these key questions: What do we do? For
whom do we do this for? And how do we excel at this? Most importantly, our strategic plan makes sure we
are going in the right direction for you, our members. The goals and objectives are summarized into the
mission and vision statement. Our mission is to advance nursing practice through education, research
and promotion of ASPAN standards. MASPAN’s vision is to be the pre-eminent nursing component
organization for quality in the perianesthesia specialty providing exceptional professional development.
By tailoring the strategic plan to provide exceptional and quality educational seminars, we are meeting
our number one outcome. When milestones are reviewed, usually timelines are reviewed, revised,
tightened up so that at the end of the time period (yearly, every 3 years, every 5 years) goals are reached
as a result of omitting some strategies, modifying others and adding still others. Meg Beturne, our
strategic thinker extraordinaire, keeps us on task at our annual board meeting in January to review our
goals and action making sure we are following the plan. Many thanks go to Meg for all her hard work as
she keeps us on track and moving forward!
Educational planning
As we plan our educational conferences, we strive to meet the needs of all of you. Surveys are sent out
and reviewed, searching for the right speakers based upon your suggestions and ideas. As many of you
are aware, the latest survey suggested Donna White, which the board followed up on and low and behold
– what a fantastic find she was! Little did we realize how powerful her message on compassionate care
would be! What an impact!! Please know that we do go over the evaluations and take all the comments
and suggestions seriously. Thank you to whoever suggested Donna in the first place!
ASPAN seminar
In addition to the fall conference, I hope many of you were able to attend ASPAN’s seminar: Complexities
and Challenges of Perianesthesia Nursing: Across the Ambulatory and Perianesthesia Continuum held
November 12th at Lawrence Memorial Hospital School of Nursing in Medford.
Your Education Committee
The Education committee, under the direction of Ann Marie McLaughlin, continues to work diligently to
provide a high caliber of speakers. Many, many hours are spent searching so please keep those
suggestions coming! A special thanks to Karen Annetti, Catee Murphy, and Maureen McLaughlin as
members of the committee for all their hard work. From personal experience, I can attest to the work
involved in planning, contacting potential speakers, obtaining content outlines and biographical
information, sending in the application for contact hour approval, mailings and food service
arrangements. Special kudos to Karen for her work at the tables with the baskets and raffles.
Fundraising
And speaking of fundraising, a huge round of thanks to all the units who donated baskets for our
scholarship raffles. What an unbelievable assortment! With your help, MASPAN is able to offer a variety
of scholarships- you only need to apply! Next March’s conference will return to the UMass Medical
School in Worcester and already we have several speakers lined up. Stay tuned to the website for further
details.
More to come on your BOD . . . .
This is the beginning of several articles focusing on the board; who we are and what we do. The board
itself represents a variety of perianesthesia nurses practicing in different settings. We are always looking
for new members to join. With this in mind, I encourage each and every one of you to consider attending
a board meeting.
Thank you!
One final note of appreciation, our grand total for MASPAN’s mission for Myrna was phenomenal. We
sent over 30 boxes to Afghanistan!! Please read Myrna’s response in the newsletter. From the bottom of
my heart, many thanks to each and every one who contributed. Your generosity and true spirit of giving
knows no bounds!
Thank you all- Kathi
Previous Presidential Messages
Fall 2011 Mayflower Volume 22 Issue 4
The Journey continues . . . . . .
Kathi Saball, MS, RN, CPAN, CAPA
Greetings from Sunny Florida!
Greetings from Sunny Florida! As many of you are aware, my career path has taken me on
quite a few unexpected twists and turns. Since April, I have been on a travel assignment in
Tampa Florida, working in a Spine Center of Excellence for University Community Hospital
System. This has been a tremendous opportunity for me; I am completely out of my comfort
zone with learning opportunities all around me!
Truth found in an old adage
For the last two years, I have come across an old adage in a variety of settings. Recently, I
was reminded of this when I heard someone speaking and in his lecture repeated several
times: “Where your treasure lies, there your heart will be also.” I thought to myself: my
heart and soul lie within perianesthesia nursing and what a treasure it is. After all, are we
not working in an area that encompasses all phases of perianesthesia nursing? Are we not
providing the best possible care to patients emerging from anesthesia? Are we not the
patients’ advocate? Are we not providing safe, effective care for these patients?
Our role and responsibility
No matter where we are or how long we have been there, we are the heart of our most
precious treasure-the patient. It is our role and responsibility to care and provide for these
patients utilizing the standards that govern us.
My “treasure”
I realize my “treasure” is caring for each and every individual to the best of my ability. I try
to convey that thought everyday. The patients deserve the best care by individuals who are
professional, competent and most importantly, caring. In addition, I carry my standards
book with me everyday and strategically place it in various parts of the desk- just waiting
for fellow coworkers to ask about ASPAN and MASPAN.
Pain management
One very important aspect of our care involves pain management. I have noticed on many
occasions, several staff members use PCA for pain control rather than managing pain
directly. Of course, this has been an opportunity for me to add my two cents! Recently, a
patient coming out of extensive surgery and anesthesia, in a tremendous amount of pain,
commented when a young nurse kept saying to press your button when you have pain—“I
keep pressing it but no one comes!”
What is the actual message here???
Patient advocate
We are the patient’s advocate. We provide safe effective care. Was the above reference
really the correct method for pain management? There have been several discussions
involving pain management and for the most part, I know I have the staff at least thinking a
little differently if not changing their practice. They do watch me and observe how I handle
pain with my patients. Ultimately, I hope to have them learn by example. (A copy of
guidelines on pain and comfort magically appeared on the PACU desk the following day!)
Heart of this great treasure
As a traveler, I am looked at differently. I may not be part of the regular staff but I am
someone who is proficient and competent in perianesthesia nursing care. I hope that my
care and practice reflects all that the mission and vision of MASPAN and ASPAN
encompass. I hope that they will learn not only myself but from the patients as well. After
all, the patients are the heart of this great professional treasure.
Kathi Saball, MS, RN, CPAN, CAPA
Summer 2011 Mayflower Volume 22 Issue 3
A funny thing happened on the way to the Presidency!
Kathi Saball, MS, RN, CPAN, CAPA
Honor and a privilege
It is an honor and a privilege to serve MASPAN and you as President for the next two years. I hope to
meet many of you at our conferences as well as some other events we have in store for MASPAN. I
would like to tell you a little about myself as I feel it is important that you know me and understand some
of my goals for this term.
Perianesthesia passion
I have been in nursing for almost 40 years with the last 25 immersed in the perianesthesia specialty. I
realized my true passion was perianesthesia nursing almost immediately and have embraced all that
this specialty has to offer. I have been active in MASPAN and ASPAN for several years serving as a
committee member for ASPAN’s Membership and Marketing Committee, Pediatric Specialty Group,
Education Approver Committee and Clinical Practice Committee as well as MASPAN member-at-large,
Finance Director and now, your President.
Life’s irony
Life’s irony has not been lost on me. Until recently, the majority of my career has been at a community
hospital in Concord, MA. I have been extremely fortunate to have “grown up” in this setting working from
staff nurse to nurse manager in PACU, while attending college and earning a Bachelor’s degree from
Rivier College and most recently, a Master’s degree in Nursing Leadership and Business Management
from Regis College in Weston. As the nurse manager, I was blessed to have managed as well as
worked alongside such a dedicated professional group. The staff is extraordinary and I am very proud to
say, 98% certified. It was a great working environment. We were more than just colleagues, we were a
family all working together. And for that, I am very proud and truly grateful. That is, until October 14,
2010 when I suddenly found my position impacted due to restructuring.
Much like the rest of the Massachusetts work force and economy, healthcare and many hospitals have
succumbed to downsizing, restructuring, and layoffs. For the first time, I have had to seriously look
inward and focus on my journey of where I will be going.
Change
Webster defines change as something to alter; to make different; to pass from one state to another; as, to
change the position, character, or appearance of a thing.1 Not many of us like change, perhaps we even
fight it tooth and nail. Change forces us to look outside of our comfort zone. When forced to make
changes, it becomes an opportunity to make improvements, grow, and expand. It takes a lot of soul
searching, but change can be a good thing. With that in mind, I explored the possibility of travel nursing
and am now on my first assignment in Tampa, Florida. The hospital is part of a large medical system,
soon to be part of Adventist Health Systems. I continue to work in PACU as a staff nurse and am
enjoying the new learning that goes with a new job. My background has served as a great resource in
addition to ASPAN and MASPAN, but this change has provided me with enhancement of my own
professional growth and knowledge. I am getting to practice outside of my comfort zone- seeing how other
parts of the country practice and learning new techniques. Of course I am getting my share of teasing –
being asked many times to say “quarter” and “park the car”! If I didn’t accept change and take a leap, I
may have become quite stagnant and not done anything. Now I get a chance to share, grow and learn as
well as promote ASPAN and as always, putting in a plug for MASPAN!
Advocates for change
As nurses, we all should be advocates for change. With our direct impact in health care, we have a voice
in decision making, affecting the quality of patient care. I urge you to come out of your box – we know
what is best for our patients. Take that step forward and become the change agent that our patients need
and deserve!
Become involved
Becoming involved in MASPAN and ASPAN is one way of implementing change. Join ASPAN and
your component, come to a conference and see what others are doing through networking. For those of
you that are already members, get more involved! Come to a board meeting, become a member-at-
large, help change some of your practices by following ASPAN standards- be the voice of change! We
have a very powerful dedicated organization, let MASPAN and ASPAN work for you! Walt Whitman,
American poet and Civil War Nurse wrote: “For what is the present but growth out of the past?”2 Learn
from the past and promote change: Embrace it and make it better! Be involved! I did and so can you!
Congratulations to Katrina!
Special congratulations to Katrina Bickerstaff! During national conference (which I might add was
phenomenal!!) Katrina was elected Treasurer of ASPAN for the next 2 years!
Thank you
Thank you to all the members who attended our meet and greet on Tuesday night. I loved meeting each
one of you!! A belated happy PANAW and Nurses Week to you all!
Kathi Saball, MS, RN, CPAN, CAPA
References:
1. Webster’s dictionary. Definition of change. Available at: http://www.webster-dictionary.
org/definition/Change. Accessed May 1, 2011.
2. Domrose C. The Civil War and Nursing. Nursing Spectrum - New England. 2011 May/June; 27-34.
The Journey continues . . . . . .
Kathi Saball, MS, RN, CPAN, CAPA
Greetings from Sunny Florida!
Greetings from Sunny Florida! As many of you are aware, my career path has taken me on
quite a few unexpected twists and turns. Since April, I have been on a travel assignment in
Tampa Florida, working in a Spine Center of Excellence for University Community Hospital
System. This has been a tremendous opportunity for me; I am completely out of my comfort
zone with learning opportunities all around me!
Truth found in an old adage
For the last two years, I have come across an old adage in a variety of settings. Recently, I
was reminded of this when I heard someone speaking and in his lecture repeated several
times: “Where your treasure lies, there your heart will be also.” I thought to myself: my
heart and soul lie within perianesthesia nursing and what a treasure it is. After all, are we
not working in an area that encompasses all phases of perianesthesia nursing? Are we not
providing the best possible care to patients emerging from anesthesia? Are we not the
patients’ advocate? Are we not providing safe, effective care for these patients?
Our role and responsibility
No matter where we are or how long we have been there, we are the heart of our most
precious treasure-the patient. It is our role and responsibility to care and provide for these
patients utilizing the standards that govern us.
My “treasure”
I realize my “treasure” is caring for each and every individual to the best of my ability. I try
to convey that thought everyday. The patients deserve the best care by individuals who are
professional, competent and most importantly, caring. In addition, I carry my standards
book with me everyday and strategically place it in various parts of the desk- just waiting
for fellow coworkers to ask about ASPAN and MASPAN.
Pain management
One very important aspect of our care involves pain management. I have noticed on many
occasions, several staff members use PCA for pain control rather than managing pain
directly. Of course, this has been an opportunity for me to add my two cents! Recently, a
patient coming out of extensive surgery and anesthesia, in a tremendous amount of pain,
commented when a young nurse kept saying to press your button when you have pain—“I
keep pressing it but no one comes!”
What is the actual message here???
Patient advocate
We are the patient’s advocate. We provide safe effective care. Was the above reference
really the correct method for pain management? There have been several discussions
involving pain management and for the most part, I know I have the staff at least thinking a
little differently if not changing their practice. They do watch me and observe how I handle
pain with my patients. Ultimately, I hope to have them learn by example. (A copy of
guidelines on pain and comfort magically appeared on the PACU desk the following day!)
Heart of this great treasure
As a traveler, I am looked at differently. I may not be part of the regular staff but I am
someone who is proficient and competent in perianesthesia nursing care. I hope that my
care and practice reflects all that the mission and vision of MASPAN and ASPAN
encompass. I hope that they will learn not only myself but from the patients as well. After
all, the patients are the heart of this great professional treasure.
Kathi Saball, MS, RN, CPAN, CAPA
Summer 2011 Mayflower Volume 22 Issue 3
A funny thing happened on the way to the Presidency!
Kathi Saball, MS, RN, CPAN, CAPA
Honor and a privilege
It is an honor and a privilege to serve MASPAN and you as President for the next two years. I hope to
meet many of you at our conferences as well as some other events we have in store for MASPAN. I
would like to tell you a little about myself as I feel it is important that you know me and understand some
of my goals for this term.
Perianesthesia passion
I have been in nursing for almost 40 years with the last 25 immersed in the perianesthesia specialty. I
realized my true passion was perianesthesia nursing almost immediately and have embraced all that
this specialty has to offer. I have been active in MASPAN and ASPAN for several years serving as a
committee member for ASPAN’s Membership and Marketing Committee, Pediatric Specialty Group,
Education Approver Committee and Clinical Practice Committee as well as MASPAN member-at-large,
Finance Director and now, your President.
Life’s irony
Life’s irony has not been lost on me. Until recently, the majority of my career has been at a community
hospital in Concord, MA. I have been extremely fortunate to have “grown up” in this setting working from
staff nurse to nurse manager in PACU, while attending college and earning a Bachelor’s degree from
Rivier College and most recently, a Master’s degree in Nursing Leadership and Business Management
from Regis College in Weston. As the nurse manager, I was blessed to have managed as well as
worked alongside such a dedicated professional group. The staff is extraordinary and I am very proud to
say, 98% certified. It was a great working environment. We were more than just colleagues, we were a
family all working together. And for that, I am very proud and truly grateful. That is, until October 14,
2010 when I suddenly found my position impacted due to restructuring.
Much like the rest of the Massachusetts work force and economy, healthcare and many hospitals have
succumbed to downsizing, restructuring, and layoffs. For the first time, I have had to seriously look
inward and focus on my journey of where I will be going.
Change
Webster defines change as something to alter; to make different; to pass from one state to another; as, to
change the position, character, or appearance of a thing.1 Not many of us like change, perhaps we even
fight it tooth and nail. Change forces us to look outside of our comfort zone. When forced to make
changes, it becomes an opportunity to make improvements, grow, and expand. It takes a lot of soul
searching, but change can be a good thing. With that in mind, I explored the possibility of travel nursing
and am now on my first assignment in Tampa, Florida. The hospital is part of a large medical system,
soon to be part of Adventist Health Systems. I continue to work in PACU as a staff nurse and am
enjoying the new learning that goes with a new job. My background has served as a great resource in
addition to ASPAN and MASPAN, but this change has provided me with enhancement of my own
professional growth and knowledge. I am getting to practice outside of my comfort zone- seeing how other
parts of the country practice and learning new techniques. Of course I am getting my share of teasing –
being asked many times to say “quarter” and “park the car”! If I didn’t accept change and take a leap, I
may have become quite stagnant and not done anything. Now I get a chance to share, grow and learn as
well as promote ASPAN and as always, putting in a plug for MASPAN!
Advocates for change
As nurses, we all should be advocates for change. With our direct impact in health care, we have a voice
in decision making, affecting the quality of patient care. I urge you to come out of your box – we know
what is best for our patients. Take that step forward and become the change agent that our patients need
and deserve!
Become involved
Becoming involved in MASPAN and ASPAN is one way of implementing change. Join ASPAN and
your component, come to a conference and see what others are doing through networking. For those of
you that are already members, get more involved! Come to a board meeting, become a member-at-
large, help change some of your practices by following ASPAN standards- be the voice of change! We
have a very powerful dedicated organization, let MASPAN and ASPAN work for you! Walt Whitman,
American poet and Civil War Nurse wrote: “For what is the present but growth out of the past?”2 Learn
from the past and promote change: Embrace it and make it better! Be involved! I did and so can you!
Congratulations to Katrina!
Special congratulations to Katrina Bickerstaff! During national conference (which I might add was
phenomenal!!) Katrina was elected Treasurer of ASPAN for the next 2 years!
Thank you
Thank you to all the members who attended our meet and greet on Tuesday night. I loved meeting each
one of you!! A belated happy PANAW and Nurses Week to you all!
Kathi Saball, MS, RN, CPAN, CAPA
References:
1. Webster’s dictionary. Definition of change. Available at: http://www.webster-dictionary.
org/definition/Change. Accessed May 1, 2011.
2. Domrose C. The Civil War and Nursing. Nursing Spectrum - New England. 2011 May/June; 27-34.
Winter 2012 Mayflower Volume 23 Issue 1 Transparency Kathi Saball, MS, RN, CPAN, CAPA |
President's Page
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MASPAN President 2011 - 2013 Kathi Saball, MS, RN, CPAN, CAPA kasaball@aol.com |
Kathi Saball, MS, RN, CPAN, CAPA has over thirty-five years of
experience ranging from medical surgical, critical care and for the last
twenty years in PACU. Kathi is dual certified as both a CPAN and CAPA.
Recent masters degree awarded
Originally a diploma graduate, in 1997 Kathi graduated from Rivier
College in Nashua, NH with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Nursing,
Summa Cum Laude. Kathi graduated with her Masters in Nursing
Leadership and Business Management Program at Regis College in 2010.
MASPAN/ASPAN service
Kathi serves on the ASPAN Education Approver and the Membership
and Marketing committee and is a member of the Pediatric Specialty
Practice Group. Kathi has served as President-elect for the past two
years and previously served two terms as MASPAN Finance Director.
experience ranging from medical surgical, critical care and for the last
twenty years in PACU. Kathi is dual certified as both a CPAN and CAPA.
Recent masters degree awarded
Originally a diploma graduate, in 1997 Kathi graduated from Rivier
College in Nashua, NH with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Nursing,
Summa Cum Laude. Kathi graduated with her Masters in Nursing
Leadership and Business Management Program at Regis College in 2010.
MASPAN/ASPAN service
Kathi serves on the ASPAN Education Approver and the Membership
and Marketing committee and is a member of the Pediatric Specialty
Practice Group. Kathi has served as President-elect for the past two
years and previously served two terms as MASPAN Finance Director.
Archived Presidential Messages - A. M. McLaughlin - Summer 2009-Spring 2011
Archived Presidential Messages - Anne Halliday - Spring 2009 - Summer 2007
Archived Presidential Messages - Maureen McLaughlin - Spring 2007-Fall 2006
Archived Presidential Messages - Maureen McLaughlin - Summer 2006-Fall 2005
Archived Presidential Messages - Anne Halliday - Spring 2009 - Summer 2007
Archived Presidential Messages - Maureen McLaughlin - Spring 2007-Fall 2006
Archived Presidential Messages - Maureen McLaughlin - Summer 2006-Fall 2005
