NORTHWEST NEVADA-DISTRICT ONE Winter 2005-06 Update

Nevada RNformation, May 2006 by Razor, Beatrice (Betty) Ramirez

Communication is critical to any successful project in our spread out district. Therefore we rely heavily on the e-mail system in providing pertinent or important information to our members. To keep members informed that do not have e-mail we copy all e-mails and send them out quarterly.

But no system is totally effective and we still question if we are providing appropriate services.

Some questions we would like our members to answer include:

* What is your major nursing professional concern?

* If there was one thing the Nevada Nurses Association could do for you-what would that be?

All district projects evolve around the five major goals of the association:

1. Increase nursing scholarship funds

2. Provide educational opportunities for members

3. Increase awareness of the national "Celebrate Nurse Week"

4. Increase members' participation in the legislative process affecting nursing

5. Increase recognition of members' achievement

The districts holiday dinner concludes our annual activities in a social atmosphere and recognition of those retiring from the board; but it also commences the activities on 2006 with installation of new board members.

I am always amazed by the dedication of our retiring board members, Deloris Middlebrooks, Virginia Ennis, and Barbara Stanfield. Thank you for all your time and efforts on behalf of professional nursing in Nevada.

The current board members are Brenda Hording, Pam Johnson, Cathy Dinauer, Carol Vickrey, Therese Black, Jeannette McHugh, Jackie Alexander, Janet Bryant, Susanne Byrne, and Beatrice Razor. Welcome aboard to a fascinating experience.

The "Nursing News" flyer was kicked off at the end of 2005 as a clearing house for CEU presentations availability in the area and to provide a medium for giving "Kudos" for deserving nurses. We don't know if this has been well received or even needed. The next flyer will be distributed via the e-mail in the first week of March. We would appreciate receiving your comments-pro or con. We will be highlighting the "Nurse of Achievement Honorees" in the following edition. Don't forget May 12th is the big evening.

The board has kicked off the annual nursing scholarship raffle in February. Each year our members make contacts for donations and have increased the number and value of the great prizes, for this we thank you. On top of that you have become great "sellers." We hope to be able to double the amount of our scholarship donations.

The drawing of the winners of the raffle will be part of the fun activities at the Spring Symposium on April 29th where we will also "Celebrate Nursing-Past-Present & Future." Be sure to bring mementoes of your nursing career to display. The symposium will be an outstanding and unusual focus on community health issue. see the information on page 5.

Right on the heel of the symposium will be the "Legislative Roundtable" on June 3rd where nurses can meet their legislators and ask question about any issue. The focus will be an understanding of the legislative process and how nurses can be vital elements in promoting positive changes. What questions do you want us to ask your legislator? See page 6.

Another on-going goal is the "Ambassador Program" to promote nursing at health fairs and through presentations at high schools. We need you help with information on the time and place of such planned activities. If we don't know about it, we can't be there! Two other segments of this program are nurses assisting and counseling Girl Scouts to attain their nursing badges and "expert" nurses mentoring new graduates through their first year in nursing to develop professionally and develop visible nursing power. We have nearly 30 volunteers for this "ambassador programs."

A new goal is to locate nurse leaders from specialty groups so they can disseminate legislative information to their members quickly when the need arises. I am personally looking for Hispanic nurses to form a loose group that will promote nursing to the Hispanic population. There has also been interest in contacting black and Filipino nurses as well.

We are asking for your help in that we feel 2007 legislative session may be critical for nursing. There is a need for volunteers to be on the legislative committee. Nearly 90% of the communication will be by e-mail or conference calls. Those who live in or around Carson City can be invaluable by sitting in at legislative committee meeting and bringing reports back to the NNA legislative committee. We expect some very important legislation proposed this next year that will affect all nurses. Be involved and volunteer!

You may contact me via my cell phone 775-560-3350 or e-mail contact at etbtty@worldnet.att.net

Yours fondly,

Beatrice (Betty) Ramirez Razor RN, BSN, CWOCN

President, District 1

Nevada Nurses Association

Beatrice (Betty) Ramirez Razor RN, BSN, CWOCN

President, District 1

Nevada Nurses Association