KEYWORDS:
immunization, nursing, network, outreach, web, education, resources, lifespan, partnerships, dissemination

BACKGROUND:
The American Nurses Association (ANA), through the American Nurses Foundation (ANF), has been involved in immunization initiatives for over eight years. On September 30, 2000, the CDC awarded ANF a three-year cooperative agreement entitled, Immunization Nursing Network Provider Outreach Web Education and Resources (INNPOWER). It is anticipated that this project will become a one-stop online resource for nurses to access the most accurate, current and scientific information on immunizations.

OBJECTIVE(S):
To increase the awareness and knowledge of nurses and other health care professionals about immunizations across the lifespan and provide access to accurate and timely immunization information, with the intent of improving immunization coverage levels among the population.

METHOD(S):
The INNPOWER project goals are to disseminate current immunization information to nurses and other health care professionals through www.innpower.org and listserv; create and enhance partnerships to collaborate on our immunization initiatives; create continuing education programs focused on immunization across the lifespan; conduct a self-assessment tool among state and professional partners to compile a database about immunization issues and trends concerning access, missed opportunities, policies and record keeping; implement demonstration projects in the Constituent Member Associations (CMAs); revise immunization position statements; develop authoritative guiding principles for immunization nursing practice; establish the database necessary to develop a professional certification for nurses who immunize children and other age groups.

RESULT(S):
Through this project, nurses and other health care professionals are educated about issues related to immunization, vaccine safety and delivery across the lifespan.

CONCLUSIONS(S):
Lessons learned as well as observations on various components of this project will be shared.

LEARNING OBJECTIVES:
Workshop participants will be able to:
1) Describe the initiatives of this immunization outreach project;
2) Explain the elements necessary for project replication;
3) Define the benefits of developing and sustaining partnerships to achieve common goals.