National Screenings of Award-Winning THE AMERICAN NURSE to Begin This May

National Nurses Week, which proudly celebrates the role nurses play in delivering the highest level of quality care to their patients, begins May 6 with special screening engagements of the award-winning documentary THE AMERICAN NURSE (DigiNext Films). The American Academy of Nursing's Excellence in Media Award winner highlights the work and lives of five American nurses from diverse specialties, also exploring important topics such as aging, war, poverty and prisons.

"At some point in our life each of us will encounter a nurse, whether it's as a patient or as a loved one," said the filmmaker, Carolyn Jones. "And that one encounter can mean the difference between suffering and peace; between chaos and order. Nurses matter."

The movie, which was made possible by a grant from Fresenius Kabi, is being presented locally through sponsorship by the Future of Nursing: Campaign for Action, a joint initiative of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF) and AARP, together with the American Nurses Foundation and Carmike Cinemas, which has made up to 150 of its theatre locations available as host sites for the National Nurses Week screenings. Fresenius Kabi (www.fresenius-kabi.us) is a global health care company that specializes in lifesaving medicines and technologies for infusion, transfusion and clinical nutrition. The company's products and services are used to help care for critically and chronically ill patients.

THE CAMPAIGN for Action works in all 50 states and the District of Columbia to implement recommendations of the Institute of Medicine (IOM) to advance nursing. The Campaign's state "Action Coalitions" and other Campaign partners are expected to host at least 50 screenings of THE AMERICAN NURSE, from California to Florida. Ten percent of the proceeds will go to help local efforts to advance nursing.

"I know that audiences will walk away from this movie with a much deeper understanding of the important roles that nurses play, and how vital nursing is to improving quality of care in the home, community, classroom and hospital," said Sue Hassmiller, PhD, RN, FAAN, the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation senior adviser for nursing and director of THE CAMPAIGN for Action. "We are thrilled to be working with Carmike and Carolyn Jones to deliver this powerful message."

"Nurses Week is a time to honor and appreciate the lifeblood of the healthcare system," said Susan Reinhard, PhD, RN, FAAN, chief strategist for the Center to Champion Nursing in America, a joint initiative of AARP, the AARP Foundation, and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and operational arm of the Campaign. "THE AMERICAN NURSE movie does an excellent job of recognizing the complex roles that nurses fill and we're so glad to be part of this."

To accommodate a maximum number of nursing professionals interested in experiencing the movie together with their family, friends and an appreciative public, screenings have already been booked at a growing number of Carmike Cinemas entertainment complexes, with more locations being added to satisfy additional demand. An up-to-date list of theatres playing THE AMERICAN NURSE can be found at www.diginextfilms.com/tan, which includes links to purchase advance tickets. Organizations interested in hosting a National Nurses Weeks screening should contact Larry Meistrich - lmeistrich@nehst.com.

Domestic Nursing Shortage

The United States will need 1.1 million new registered nurses over the next eight years, according to the American Nurses Association (ANA). Demand for healthcare services is growing rapidly due to aging Baby Boomers, combined with millions of newly insured people and a shortage of primary care providers. A portion of all proceeds from the film will benefit the American Nurse Scholarship Fund, which has already awarded past scholarships, with more planned in 2015.

Complimentary Passes for Select Local HS Students Interested in Nursing

30 local HIGH SCHOOL students in a number of regions with an interest in pursuing nursing careers will be selected to receive complimentary passes to attend THE AMERICAN NURSE, courtesy of Fresenius Kabi - the founding and sole sponsor of THE AMERICAN NURSE Project, book and documentary.

"At Fresenius Kabi, we are inspired every day by the compassion and expertise of nurses," said John Ducker, CEO, Fresenius Kabi USA. "We strive to bring these qualities to the work we do, which has one ultimate purpose: to put lifesaving medicines and technologies in the hands of nurses and others who TAKE CARE of patients. Fresenius Kabi is honored to sponsor attendance to THE AMERICAN NURSE by students across the country. This project is an important investment in the future of nursing, which is an attractive career option for students, and the need for new nurses has never been greater."

Nurses Attending THE AMERICAN NURSE Can Earn Continuing Education (CE) Credits

Information for nursing professionals interested in securing discounted continuing education credit hours for attending the film is available at: http://ce.nurse.com/course/web231/the-american-nurse. Approximately 11,000 nurses have already earned CE Credit via www.nurse.com for viewing and attending THE AMERICAN NURSE.

Carmike Cinemas President of Alternative Programming & Distribution and DigiNext Co-Founder Bud Mayo stated, "Since its initial theatrical debut during last year's National Nurses Week we have played this inspirational movie with tremendous regional success, backed by support from statewide and local nursing associations and a wide range of other healthcare organizations. With this year's commemoration we are delighted to partner with The American Nurses Foundation and THE CAMPAIGN for Action in a coordinated effort to present THE AMERICAN NURSE across a national footprint of Carmike and select theatres, showcasing the critical importance and contributions of these largely unsung heroes of the healthcare profession."

Critical Acclaim for THE AMERICAN NURSE...
"Tears are almost inevitable."
-The New York Times, ANITA Gates
"This is one of the best films you'll see this year, documentary or otherwise."
-The Aisle Seat, Mike McGranaghan (also named it a 'Top 2014 Documentary')

About DigiNext, LLC

The future of film distribution, DigiNext (www.diginextfilms.com) has developed a comprehensive worldwide, direct-to-consumer (DtoC) movie release platform. The platform showcases the talents of today's most talented and passionate directors and producers of independent features as well as issue-based documentaries, providing them with a unique and customized way to drive additional value and recognition of their work. DigiNext offers filmmakers a domestic theatrical release, plus a global, targeted reach to worldwide audiences. Brands and marketers can also access pre-selected targeted audiences via DigiNext's end-to-end platform. DigiNext is a joint venture partnership between Carmike Cinemas (CKEC), the nation's fourth largest theatrical exhibitor - with approximately 2900 screens across 41 states - and Nehst Out, creator of a content distribution system reaching 70+ countries via electronic sell-through including digital downstream, DVD and other ancillary revenue opportunities.

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