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This pilot project tested the feasibility of a community-based partnership between community clinics and food pantries as an approach to combat diet-related illnesses and engage low-income individuals in healthcare. Many communities possess both kinds of agencies, which serve similar clienteles and are geographically near each other, but these types of agencies rarely have partnered. The "LINKS" program built partnerships between clinics and food pantries at 2 sites. For more than 6 months, the clinics conducted health screenings and provided referrals during scheduled pantry food distributions. Results indicate that clinics can effectively partner with food pantries, an overlooked resource for health promotion.

In response to the need for a clear definition of continuing competence, a task force of nursing leaders, which included a health care consumer representative, developed a definition of continuing competence. The task force reviewed extensive literature and engaged in thoughtful, directed dialogue. This article describes the process and product of its work, Statement on Continuing Competence in Nursing: A Call to Action. The statement distinguishes between competence and competency, expresses beliefs about continuing competence, defines continuing competence, and calls on stakeholders to work actively to ensure continuing competency in nursing as a method to assure safe patient care.

Nursing certification acknowledges professional achievement and competent practice. To establish the importance of certification, it is necessary to determine the value that primary and secondary stakeholders place on certification. The Infusion Nurses Certification Corporation (INCC) participated in a national study on the Value of Specialty Nursing Certification. As a function of describing INCC's stakeholders, demographic characteristics of infusion nurses were examined. Using the Perceived Value of Certification Tool (PVCT), certified and noncertified nurses and managers were surveyed. The study clearly showed that CRNI certification is a valued credential.