Conference Program (pdf)

• Welcome from The TAANA President & Announcements

11am - 12noon

California Nursing CE: 1.00
Texas CLE: 1.00
Alabama CLE: 1.00
New York CLE: 1.00

Introduction by Hahnah Williams

• Kathleen Russell, JD, MN, RN
  National Council of State Boards of Nursing
  Chicago, Illinois

Learner Objectives:

1. Describe the states authority to regulate the health care system.
2. Explain the purpose for creation of National Practitioner Data Bank (NPDB).
3. Distinguish between reportable and not reportable state licensure adverse actions.
4. Identify the regulatory body roles and responsibilities in reporting state licensure adverse actions to the NPDB.
5. Identify the nurse’s available response actions to an NPDB report.

Presenter Bio:

• Kathleen Russell, a lawyer and a nurse, is an Associate Director in the Division of Nursing Regulation for NCSBN. Kathleen’s professional background includes 40 years of nursing, legal, and non-profit leadership experience. She practiced nursing as a pediatric clinical nurse specialist and nursing educator, and law as a trial attorney. At NCSBN, she is responsible for services provided to member boards related to investigation and discipline, National Practitioner Data Bank reporting, alternative to discipline programs, substance use disorder, licensure fraud and most recently cannabis.

12noon - 1pm

California Nursing CE: 1.00
Texas CLE: 0.00
Alabama CLE: 1.00
New York CLE: 1.00

Introduction by Lorie Brown

• Natasha Davis, MBA-M, BSN-RN, CEME, CSMA
  Impact Branding Consulting, Inc
  Snellville, Georgia

Learner Objectives:

1. Develop strategic growth plans for revenue and profits.
2. Develop quantifiable KPQ's and KPI's for daily operations.
3. Identify and eliminate money leaks in their financial department driving greater performance.
4. Develop products that sell themselves within 24 hours using the rapid Lead to Close strategy.
5. Position, apply and profit from the Brand First Principles.

Presenter Bio:

• Natasha is a Branding Strategist and Corporate Trainer. As a certified expert in email & social media marketing, branding, speaker and trainer. She thrives on fixing problems and eliminating frustrations for companies and their executives. Over the past 13 years, Natasha has worked with several companies, government agencies and small business owners to assist them in enhancing their brand equity, brand loyalty, customer satisfaction and marketing strategy through the power of impactful branding. Her clients affectionately refer to her as "The Chief Visionary" because of her ability to quickly identify issues, find solutions, get results and improve outcomes. Through the application of her Brand First Principle and Proactive Pivot Strategy, clients experience on average 30% increases in cash flow and profit margins.

1:15pm - 2:15pm

California Nursing CE: 1.00
Texas CLE: 1.00
Alabama CLE: 1.00
New York CLE: 1.00

Introduction by Diane Knoblauch

• Jonathan Stewart, JD, MS, RN, CPPS, CPHRM
  BETA Healthcare Group
  Vancouver, Washington

Learner Objectives:

1. Explain the goals of communication and resolution programs (CRPs).
2. Describe the essential elements of successful CRPs.
3. Discuss the barriers to full CRP implementation and hazards of partial or inconsistent application.

Presenter Bio:

• Jonathan D. Stewart is a Director of Risk Management and Patient Safety at BETA Healthcare Group, where his work includes assisting health care organizations to plan and operationalize communication and resolution programs (CRPs). He has over ten years of risk management experience, in both public and private health systems. As a nurse attorney, Jonathan has served TAANA as a Director, Secretary and as its 32nd President. He currently serves on the steering committee of the Washington Patient Safety Coalition and, along with his wife, on the Patient and Family Advisory Council of their local hospital in Vancouver, Washington. Jonathan received his masters degree in nursing (health policy) from the University of California at San Francisco, his law degree from the University of Tulsa, and a certificate in clinical bioethics from Loyola University Chicago. He is currently pursuing a Master of Science in human factors and system safety through the Lund University Faculty of Engineering. Jonathan has been admitted to the bars of California, Washington, Alaska and the U.S. Supreme Court.

2:45pm - 3:45pm

California Nursing CE: 1.00
Texas CLE: 1.00
Alabama CLE: 1.00 (ethics)
New York CLE: 1.00 (ethics)

Introduction by Katherine Anselmi

Session 4. Nursing Students Perceived Impact of Simulated Legal and Ethical Experiences on Their Nursing Practice and Documentation

• Diane Knoblauch, JD, MSN, RN
  Knoblauch Law Offices
  Ohio/Michigan
   
• Cindy Fenske, DNP, RN, CNE
  Concordia University, Ann Arbor
  Michigan

Learner Objectives:

1. Recognize the impact of simulated legal and ethical experiences on nursing practice and documentation with nursing student.
2. Understand the importance of exposing nursing students to commonly seen legal and ethical issues within the practice of nursing.
3. Identify the perceived impact on nursing practice and documentation after exposure to legal simulated event.

Presenter Bio:

• Ms. Knoblauch is a nurse-attorney dual licensed as nurse and attorney in Ohio and Michigan. She began her nursing career as a diploma nurse, obtained her BSN from Madonna University, and MSN from Wayne State University with a major in primary care. She was certified as an adult nurse practitioner through the American Nurses Association and the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners. From 1981 to 1991 her clinical practice focused on primary care and occupational health. Her last clinical practice as a nurse practitioner in occupational health was in 1991 at the University Michigan Medical Center. While attending law school, she was an assistant professor of nursing at Medical College of Ohio (now University of Toledo) in the undergraduate and graduate programs, participated in developing the Nurse Practitioner program and was one of the first two faculty in that program. Throughout her foray through academe she continued to work at the University of Michigan SICU. Ms. Knoblauch has practiced as an attorney since 1994. Her law practice, focuses on estate and trust planning, elder law, nursing and farming. She retired from clinical nursing practice in December 2018, but continues to provide lectures and seminars on legal and ethical issues in nursing. Ms. Knoblauch represents nurses before the Michigan and Ohio Boards of Nursing and currently serves on the Board of Directors of The American Association of Nurse Attorneys. She has been a member of TAANA since 2001 and participates in the NSO nurse-attorney referral program.
   
• Cindy Fenske graduated with a BSN from Valparaiso University and an MS in Medical-Surgical Nursing from the University of Michigan. She earned her Doctor of Nursing Practice degree from Oakland University in Rochester Hills, Michigan. She was a faculty member at the University of Michigan for thirty-two years prior to leaving to start a nursing program at Concordia University Ann Arbor. Her teaching responsibilities include physical assessment, medical-surgical nursing, and fundamentals all in the classroom and physical assessment, nursing skills, and simulation all in the laboratory setting. Dr. Fenske is a member of Sigma Theta Tau International Honor Society of Nursing and was a member of the State of Michigan State Board of Nursing from 2013-2019. Dr. Fenske has published articles on the use of simulation and innovative teaching strategies to assess and enhance learning. She is a faculty advocate, consultant, and trainer for Pearson Educations virtual community, The Neighborhood 2.0. Her research includes strategies to improve the development of clinical judgment and inter-professional teamwork skills through the use of simulation.
  

3:45pm - 4:45pm

California Nursing CE: 1.00
Texas CLE: 1.00
Alabama CLE: 1.00
New York CLE: 1.00

Introduction by Katherine Anselmi

Session 5. Using Malpractice Claims Data to Identify Risks in Nursing Practice

• Jennifer Flynn, CPHRM
  Aon/Nurses Service Organization (NSO)
  Fort Washington, Pennsylvania
   
• Lynn Pierce, BSN, RN, CPHRM
  CNA Healthcare Risk Control
  Atlanta, Georgia

Learner Objectives:

1. List the leading allegations made against nurses in malpractice lawsuits.
2. List the leading allegations made against nurses in Board of Nursing complaints.
3. Identify key risk management tools that nurses can incorporate into their practice.

Presenter Bio:

• Jennifer Flynn, CPHRM, is Risk Manager for Nurses Service Organization in the Healthcare Division of Aon’s Affinity Insurance Services, Inc. Specializing in risk management and having worked in the health care insurance business for over 18 years, Jennifer is dedicated to educating nurses and health care professionals on professional liability risks and offers strategies to mitigate those risks by supporting patient safety principles and developing quality management programs. In addition to being a frequent national speaker on healthcare risk and liability, Jennifer is also a published author on various risk management topics. Jennifer is a Certified Professional in Healthcare Risk Management and is a licensed Property & Casualty agent. She earned a BA in Psychology from Arcadia University in Glenside, Pennsylvania.
   
• Lynn Pierce, RN, BSN, CPHRM, is Risk Control Director for CNA Healthcare Risk Control. Prior to joining CNA, she worked in such clinical settings as emergency, surgical and cardiac critical care, and cardiac and orthopedic rehabilitation services. She has served as a director of risk management in acute care hospitals and integrated health care systems and has held leadership positions in risk management, quality, HIPAA privacy, environmental and patient safety, case management, corporate compliance, Workers’ Compensation and infection control. In 2002, she became a certified legal nurse consultant, achieved the LEAN Green Belt Certification and a certified Workers’ Compensation professional in Georgia. She earned her associate degree in nursing from Dalton College in Dalton, Georgia and a BSN from the State University of West Georgia in Carrollton, Georgia and is currently attending Spring Arbor University with plans to graduate with a Masters in Nursing as a Family Nurse Practitioner.

11am - 12noon

California Nursing CE: 1.00
Texas CLE: 1.00
Alabama CLE: 1.00
New York CLE: 1.00

Introduction by Marc Meyer

• Susan Haibeck, RN, MS, CLNC
  Haibeck and Associates Legal Nurse Consulting
  Elmhurst, Illinois
   
• Gera-Lind Kolarik, President - Evidence Video
  Evidence Video
  Chicago, Illinois

Learner Objectives:

1. Describe the three types of evidence video.
2. Discuss the purposes of video as demonstrative evidence.
3. Analyze the components needed to produce a professional video for court or mediation.

Presenter Bio:

• Susan V Haibeck, RN MS CLNC, President of Haibeck and Associates Legal Nurse Consultant is a registered nurse with over thirty years of experience, serving attorneys and their clients nationwide. She possesses a graduate degree in adult oncology nursing from Northern Illinois University and has reviewed many cancer related cases (defense and plaintiff) as well as medical records involving nursing home negligence, emergency room incidents and medication errors. She is available to develop pain and suffering reports, compose questions for depositions, coordinate "A Day In The Life" videos and locate medical experts. She administered nursing care in select videos. Ms. Haibeck was featured as one of the Vickie Milazzo Institute of Legal Nurse Consulting Success Stories in 2017. Her strong nursing background provides needed insight to the "behind the scenes" story of the institutional nursing culture and organization regarding medical related cases.
   
• Gera-Lind Kolarik is the founder and owner of Evidence Video, Inc. since 1988. She has produced over 30,000 videos and helped attorneys win over 2 billion dollars in settlements and verdicts. Ms. Kolarik specializes in brain injury, paralysis, birth injury, amputee, and death cases. After graduation from Dominican University, she worked at CBS and WBBM as an Assignment Editor and Producer. She then worked at Channel 7 in Chicago where she received an Emmy Award for spot news coverage. Ms. Kolarik was nominated for two more Emmy Awards and an Oscar for an ABC news special. She has spoken at numerous legal seminars on the use of video at trial and mediation and maximizing damages.

12noon - 1pm

California Nursing CE: 1.00
Texas CLE: 0.00
Alabama CLE: 1.00
New York CLE: 1.00

Introduction by Carolyn Dolan

Session 7. Career Options for Nurse Attorneys

This session is a panel discussion led by Eileen Talamante, Esq, RN, BSN, with participation by a panel of Nurse Attorneys who will be discussing a wide range of career options specifically suited for Nurse Attorneys in a variety of both public and private settings.

• Eileen Talamante, Esq, RN, BSN; Goodman Allen Donnelly PLLC; Glen Allen, Virginia

Panelists:

• Dr. Pamela Chambers, DNP, EJD, MSN, CRNA, APRN; Pamela Chambers Consulting; Waxahachie, Texas
• Melissa Miller, RN, BSN, JD; Deputy Chief Counsel for the Revenue Law Group, Department of Veterans Affairs Office of General Counsel; Vista, California
  
• Jackie Russell, RN, JD; Nursing Practice and Regulatory Affairs Specialist, Minnesota Nurses Association; St. Paul, Minnesota
  
• Bridget A. Neuson, RN, BSN, JD; Chief Human Resources Office and Employment Counsel, American Senior Communities
  

Learner Objectives:

1. To identify 5 or more career path opportunities for Nurse Attorneys, particularly suited for those with a dual license in nursing and law.
   
2. To identify a variety of practice related issues commonly encountered by Nurse Attorneys.
   
3. To identify 2 common ethical dilemmas commonly faced by Nurse Attorneys and the pros and cons of the various career options.
   

Presenter Bio:

• Eileen Talamante received her BSN in nursing from the University of Wisconsin and worked her way through law school as a critical care nurse, earning her law degree, with honors, from the University of Tennessee College of Law. As both a nurse and an attorney, Eileen concentrates her practice in the representation of nurses and physicians from all over the state of Virginia in licensing and discipline matters before the Board of Nursing and the Board of Medicine, as well as other health care licensees before their respective regulatory boards. Her practice covers a wide breadth of issues including board licensing, investigations, and hearings, as well as credentialing, peer review matters, third-party payor inquiries/proceedings, guardianship and risk management issues. Prior to joining Goodman Allen Donnelly in 2012, Eileen also had tremendous medical legal experience managing the complex injury and death claims arising out of the Deepwater Horizon Spill and the Vioxx Resolution Program. As a registered nurse herself, Eileen is passionate about advocating on behalf of fellow nurses and other health care providers. She regularly provides presentations and lectures to nurses, physicians, pharmacists, hospital risk managers, physicians, and medical practice managers. She brings a unique understanding and perspective regarding the myriad of difficult issues our nurses, physicians, and other health care providers face in today's complex and highly regulated healthcare environment.

1:15pm - 2:15pm

California Nursing CE: 1.00
Texas CLE: 1.00 (ethics)
Alabama CLE: 1.00
New York CLE: 1.00

Introduction by Marlene Garvis

Session 8. Wellness Strategies for the Legal Community

• Lita Abella, JD
  The State Bar of California
  Los Angeles, California

Learner Objectives:

1. Discuss how prevalent substance use and mental health issues are among attorneys.
2. Discuss how substance use and mental health issues impair an attorney's ability to perform legal services competently.
3. Discuss wellness strategies for legal professionals, the California Lawyer Assistance Program, and other resources.

Presenter Bio:

• Lita Abella is a Senior Program Analyst at the State Bar of California. She conducts outreach and presents education programs for the Lawyer Assistance Program which assists law students, bar applicants, and attorneys with substance use and mental health issues. Prior to that, Lita worked as an investigator in the Office of Chief Trial Counsel where she investigated and assisted in the prosecution of attorneys for misconduct. She has been with the State Bar for over 7 years. Beginning in 1980, Lita served with the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) for 20 years, breaking many glass ceilings as a female and minority. She worked various assignments including but not limited to patrol, Internal Affairs, narcotics, vice, and the DARE program. She was a court-qualified narcotics expert during her years in law enforcement and attained the rank of lieutenant. Lita was also a certified AFAA group exercise instructor for 20 years and is currently a health, wellness, and fitness consultant. She has been in the industry for over 20 years. Additionally, for the past 20 years, Lita is a business owner and licensed private investigator and has worked in many areas of law including criminal defense and workers compensation. Lita holds a Juris Doctor from Western State University College of Law. While in law school, Lita was a law clerk for the Riverside District Attorneys Office and the Office of the Attorney General.

3:30pm - 4:30pm

California Nursing CE: 1.00
Texas CLE: 1.00 (0.5 ethics)
Alabama CLE: 1.00
New York CLE: 1.00

Introduction by Carolyn Dolan

• Lorie Brown, RN, MN, JD
  Brown Law Office, PC
  Indianapolis, Indiana

Learner Objectives:

1. Identify three technologies to improve efficiency and marketing in their practice.
2. Identify ethical rules an attorney must follow with these technologies.

Presenter Bio:

• Lorie A. Brown, RN, MN, JD, has a passion for supporting nurses. She is truly a nurse for nurses. She obtained her law degree from Indiana University, Indianapolis, Indiana in 1990. Lorie founded Brown Law Office, P.C. in 1999 and began working as a legal nurse consultant and representing nurses and other healthcare providers before the licensing boards. Lorie has authored three books, "Law and Order for Nurses: The Easy Way to Protect Your License and Your Livelihood," "From Frustrated to Fulfilled: The Empowered Nurses System," and "The Legal Nurse Consultant's Workbook: Turning Your Nursing Knowledge into a Successful Consulting Practice." Lorie is will be President Elect for The American Association of Nurse Attorneys in January 2020. She has a weekly blog on either www.YourNurseAttorney.com or www.EmpoweredNurses.org. She has been a keynote speaker and speaker at many regional and national nursing organization conferences and is the author of numerous published articles.

4:30pm - 5:30pm

California Nursing CE: 1.00
Texas CLE: 1.00
Alabama CLE: 1.00 (ethics)
New York CLE: 1.00 (ethics)

Introduction by Susan Matt

• Michelle Swift, CPPS, CPHRM, RN, JD
  The Doctors Company
  Placitas, New Mexico

Learner Objectives:

1. Examine the challenges to defend a medical malpractice claim involving allegations of distracted practice.
2. Recognize how electronic distractions influence personal and professional attitudes, decisions, and actions.
3. Evaluate the influence on patient care of different types of distractions present in the high-risk health care environment.
4. Educate others on how to avoid distraction from PEDs and practice situational awareness when providing patient care.

Presenter Bio:

• Michelle Swift, RN, JD, CPHRM is the Senior Patient Safety Risk Manager at The Doctors Company. Ms. Swift earned her Bachelor of Science Degree in Nursing from Westminster College in Salt Lake City, Utah. She completed her Juris Doctor Degree at Thomas Jefferson School of Law with a focus in healthcare law and is licensed by the Utah Bar Association. Her internship experience during law school included working for Sharp Hospital Corporation in San Diego, California. Prior to joining The Doctors Company, Ms. Swift worked as a medical malpractice case advisor, a pre-litigation chairman, and a medical record review consultant. Ms. Swift has 32 years of experience in a variety of settings, from hospital medical surgical nursing to pain management and psychiatric inpatient care. As a past president of the Utah Nurses Association and a state lobbyist for more than five years, she advocates for healthcare providers.