Meet the Candidates - 2003

Alabama Nurse, Jun-Aug 2003

Vice President(Vote for 1)

Debbie Kirk, MSN, CRNP

Districts 5

ASNA Activities: Current Vice President ASNA, Chair Membership Committee

Statement of Qualifications: I have served as Vice President for ASNA the past two years. I would love the opportunity to continue to work on membership for the organization and build on the projects that have been started by the Membership Committee.

Views of the Issues: As Vice President of ASNA, my major responsibility was to chair the Membership Committee. I have done this the past two years and feel that many positive changes have been made. However, I feel that my job has only begun and would like the opportunity to continue. The committee has been looking at different avenues to increase and retain its members. (Wellness Cruise). As your Vice President, I would like to continue to increase our membership.

During this past year I have enjoyed serving as your Vice President. It has not only been a rewarding experience, but I have had the privilege of working side by side with true professionals. The dedication toward nursing that I have witnessed among the board members has truly been an inspiration. I would like to continue to work with such dynamic professionals. Thank you for your consideration.

Lori Lioce, BSN, RN

District 10

ASNA Activities: District 10 Membership Chair, 1998 Director, Board of Directors, National Student Nurses Association.

Statement of Qualifications: I am presently completing my Masters in Nursing Administration at the University of Alabama in Huntsville. I believe my experience as Director for the National Student Nurses Association prepared me for service on many other Boards of Directors. I underwent a week long training process in New York to serve over 30,000 nursing students. I served as the Community Health Chairperson while serving in the elected position of Director for NSNA. I am currently serving as Vice-Chair for the Montessori School of Huntsville and Co-Chair of the Technology Committee for the Junior League of Huntsville.

Views of the Issues: I believe that nursing professionals must be proactive in their nursing organizations to address the issues of overtime, safety, medical errors and professionalism in nursing today. As a united group of professionals we must diligently research and address the nursing issues facing our profession today to make an impact for nurses across the State of Alabama. This is only possible, if we unite to increase the membership voice of ASNA.

Secretary (Vote for 1)

Jeanette Free, MSN, RN

District 5

ASNA Activities: Vice President, secretary ASNA (two terms) Chair Bylaws Committee, Finance Committee, Continuing Education Committee.

Statement of Qualifications: I have been a member of my state nurses' association throughout my 30-some year nursing career and since my retirement in 1999. I was a member of the ASNA Continuing Education Committee for many years and of the Finance Committee for the past two years. I served on the Board as chair of the Community Health section and for two terms as secretary of the Association. Most of my nursing career was as a public health nurse with the Alabama State Department of Public Health where I held various leadership positions including State Director of Public Health Nursing and being at the table with other health care professionals to influence the board picture which includes the high cost of health care and the ever-increasing knowledge base required of providers.

Views of the Issues: The issues nurses choose to address and the way we address them will define who we are and how we look to those who are not nurses - including those who are considering nursing as a career choice. How should we address continuing competence, proving nurses worth, workplace advocacy, patient rights, the nursing shortage? Our professional nursing organization is a vital forum for strategizing and then acting toward resolution of the issues important to nurses. Through ASNA and ANA we can also create opportunities to be at the table with other health care professionals - to influence the broader picture including problems evolving from the cost of health care, and the ever-increasing knowledge base required of providers.

What one cannot do alone all can do together by combining our individual strengths: talents, financial support, knowledge and experience. We have the opportunity through ASNA to put our minds and voices together as we work toward maximizing the potential of nursing.

BiIHe Ward, MSN, RN

District 8

ASNA Activities: Interim secretary ASNA, Chair Ethics and Human Rights Committee, member of ASNA CE Committee.

Statement of Qualifications: Knowledgeable of professional issues and practitioners at local level. Knowledgeable of available community resources at local level.

Views of the Issues: In this time of shortage, we need to remain cognizant of our ethics values while providing the most competent, efficient care to our patients while maintaining a humanistic and caring approach.

ANA Delegate (Vote for 8)