NSNA 51st Annual Convention Draws 3,000 Attendees: Newly Elected Board of Directors Makes History as Most Diverse

Alabama Nurse,  Sep-Nov 2003  

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Just under three thousand nursing students, faculty, and exhibitors from across the country packed the Phoenix Civic Plaza April 237 -27 for NSNA's 51st Anniversary, with the theme: "Nursing - the hottest Profession You'll Ever Love." The week-long convention was packed with educational and fun events, including a glorious opening session, awards ceremony, exhibit hall of 300 exhibitors, House of Delegates business meetings, an Endnote, auction, and more.

OPENING CEREMONY AND KEYNOTE: The Opening Ceremony was highlighted by an inspired Native American Dance performance by Brian Hammill, who received a standing ovation. Silence filled the room for the presentation of colors by the Arizona-based Color Guard, and a special military honor was marked by the commission of Tricia Mims, president of Texas Nursing Students Association, as an ensign into the U.S. Navy Nurse Corps. The opening also included a clip from NSNA's award-winning history video "Not for Ourselves but for Others," produced by Envision, Nashville, TN, as well as greeting: from President Bush, the Mayor's Office, Ruth Corcoran, EdD, RN, CEO, National League for Nursing, and Barbara Blakeney, MS, APRN, president American Nurses Association. Keynoter Tom Smith, MS, RN, senior vice president, Nursing and Patient Care Services, The Mount Sinai Hospital, New York City, elaborated on the convention theme, highlighting a commitment to nursing excellence. "Presence is the heart and fundamental foundation of our work as nurses," Smith stated. "We must be present in developing our relationships with patients and families. We must listen carefully to patients and never stop the journey to discovery of knowledge for patients or ourselves." The Opening Ceremony and Keynote were sponsored by Nurses Service Organization, Hatboro, P. A.

ELECTION RESULTS-2003-2004 BOARD OF DIRECTORS The following officers were installed at the close of the House of Delegates meeting on Saturday, April 26, 2003. The year's Board of Directors makes NSNA history as the most diverse group ever consisting of three men, and five individuals from underrepresented populations.

President: Matthew Arant, Lincoln Memorial University Corbin Campus, Corbin, KY; Vice President: Allison R. Webel, Ohio State University, Columbus, OH; secretary/Treasurer: Michael J. Brakel, Hawaii Pacific University, Kaneohe, HI; Imprint Editor: Mandy Young, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT; Breakthrough to Nursing Director: Nakisha L. Grey, Medical College of Georgia, Augusta, GA; Directors: Ebony Williford, Mt. Carmel College of Nursing, Columbus, OH; Melisa Andrea Wilson, Florida State University, Tallahassee, FL; Cheri Adair, University of Maryland, Baltimore, MD; Andy Byerly, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT; Ex-Officio-Chair of the COSP Planning Committee: Jennifer Kibler, Barton College, Wilson, NC.

2003-2004 NOMINATING AND ELECTIONS COMMITTEE

Chairperson: Julianna S. Hunt, Floyd College, Rome, GA; Amber D. Lipscomb, Mt. Carmel College of Nursing, Columbus, OH; Evelyn M. Martin, St. Mary's School of Nursing, Huntington, WV; and Mina Ibarra, Golden West College, Huntington Beach, CA.

RESOLUTIONS ADOPTED

The House of Delegates passed the following resolutions, in support of

* Raising Awareness of the Plight of the Uninsured and Demonstrating Broad Support for Action on the Issue

* Increased Awareness of Aiding the Bereaved Child Whose Parent(s) Have Died

* Increasing Cord Blood Banking for Bone Marrow Transplantation

* Mandatory Patient-Nurse Staffing Ratios to Maximize Patient Safety and Quality of Care, and Minimize Professional Burnout in Practicing Nurses

* Improving the Safety of Institutionalized Older Adults through Reduced Use of Physical Restraint

* Increasing Education and Awareness Regarding a Non-Punitive Approach to Self-Disclosure and Use of a Standardized Systems Approach for Reporting Medication Errors

* Rectifying High School and New College Students' Misconceptions/Stereotypes About the Nursing Profession in Order to Increase Recruitment into the Profession

* Joining the Appropriate Constituent Member Association of the American Nurses Association After Successful Licensure

* Protection for Volunteerism by Medical Personnel Caring for the Underserved and Underinsured

* American Red Cross Disaster Training in Planned Nursing Curricula

* Addressing the Nursing Shortage through Recruitment and Retention of Men into the Profession

* Proper Collection, Standardization, and Processing of DNA Evidence in Forensic Evidence Collection kits

* Sun Protection Education for School Age Clients

* The Program of Assertive Community Treatment (PACT) for Patients with Severely Disabling Mental Illness

* "Standardization of Education and Training of Unlicensed Assistive Personnel (UAPs) Who Are Under the Supervision and Delegative Authority of Registered Nurses Within Each State Nationwide

* Developing and Implementing Educational Programs to Inform Nursing Students and Nurses about the Smallpox Virus and the Potential Complications of the Smallpox Vaccine