13th Annual Atlantic Neuroscience Institute Nursing Symposium

Nurses from health care facilities throughout New Jersey will get to hear firsthand how important they are to the care of stroke patients, when humor columnist and stand-up comedian John Kawie discusses the stroke that changed his life, at the 13th Annual Atlantic Neuroscience Institute Nursing Symposium, on Thursday, September 27, 2012.

The symposium, which is open to medical professionals, is designed to provide nurses with continuing education in the field of neuroscience and promote best practices, as well as unique perspectives on the field. The symposium’s lectures cover topics relating to evidence-based practices in the care of the neuroscience patient population.

As keynote speaker, Kawie will discuss the key role that nurses played in his healing and recovery, the importance of nurses as a stabilizing factor during a patient’s hospital stay, and how he kept his sense of humor through it all.

Kawie had left a career in the aerospace industry in the 1990s to become a stand-up comedian working in concert with comedians like Howie Mandel and Dennis Miller when he experienced a stroke at age 47. While undergoing therapy, he became a consultant with Robert DeNiro, who portrayed a stroke survivor in the movie “Flawless.”

Kawie focused his energy into writing his solo show “Brain Freeze,” a journey through his stroke and its aftermath. “Brain Freeze” has been performed off-Broadway and at theaters and hospitals throughout the country, and has received critical acclaim from the national press, the medical community, and public. John is currently developing the stage performance into “Brain Freeze” the book. He also writes a humor column called “Life At The Curb” for the American Heart Association’s magazine, “Stroke Connection.”

Registration, 7:15am – 8:00am; Symposium, 8:00am – 5:00pm

Other guest presentations at the symposium will include Mary Kay Bader, a nurse at Mission Hospital, Mission Viejo, Calif., who will discuss “New Guidelines for Aneurysm Management,”; and Linda Littlejohns, RN, president and executive director of the Integra Foundation and Corporate Clinical Development, who will discuss “Neuro Anatomy and the Neurological Assessment.” Dai Wai Olson, PhD, RN, assistant professor of medicine in the department of neurology and a Level 4 staff nurse at Duke University’s Neuroscience Critical Care Unit, will return to the symposium for his presentation, “Evidence-Based Practice in Neuroscience Nursing.”

Presentations on various neuroscience-related subjects also will be offered by Atlantic Health faculty, including: “Advances in Pain Management,” by Rajesh Rao, MD of the Atlantic Neuroscience Institute; “Integrative Neurology,” by Roye Evans, RN of Atlantic Integrative Medicine; “Narrative Medicine and the Stroke Patient,” by Nancy Gross of Overlook’s Palliative Care department; and a workshop by Rita Musanti, PhD, on “Abstract and Poster Presentation Development.”

Part of Atlantic Health System, Atlantic Neuroscience Institute is the leading provider of neuroscience services in the northern New Jersey region. Our experts in adult and pediatric neurology, neurosurgery, neuroradiology and related fields deliver world-class medical services in state-of-the-art facilities, including a neuroscience inpatient unit and specialty programs and centers. For those who require neuro critical care, Atlantic Health System has a designated intensive care unit, and helicopter transport. Based at Overlook Medical Center, with services at Morristown Medical Center, Atlantic Neuroscience Institute’s multidisciplinary staff diagnoses and treats conditions such as brain tumors, concussions and other mild traumatic brain injuries, memory and cognitive disorders, neuromuscular and inflammatory disorders, pain and headaches, stroke, epilepsy, and spine, neck and back problems.

For more information, call 908-522-5671, or visit regonline.com/AtlanticNeuroNursing2012.

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