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Practice Focus Groups

The 2007 NYSNA Voting Body approved a bylaws change that removed references to Clinical and Functional Practice Units, replacing them with Practice Focus Groups. The Board of Directors has approved five Practice Focus Groups (PFGs):

NYSNA members are encouraged to join a PFG. Your choice, stored with your membership information, allows you to attend that group’s annual business meeting and to run for a leadership position within that group. Each PFG has a five-member executive committee: a chair, vice-chair, and three members at large.

PFGs are based on patient populations, and offer collaborative opportunities for RNs that service these populations, emphasizing practice issues and systems improvement. Please review the descriptions to determine which group best reflects the patients you primarily work with, or the area in which you would like to gain more information or experience, then register in Members Only or by e-mail.

Practice Focus Groups

Adult Health

Members of this PFG provide health promotion and maintenance, illness care, and rehabilitation to adults.

2011-2012 Elected Members

Vera Odoms, RN, MS, BSN, Chairperson
Kimberly Velez, RN, MSN, Vice Chairperson
Shirley Nicholas, RNC, BSN, Member-at-Large
Christopher Kowal, BS, MSN-MOL-Ed, RN, CCRN-CMC-CSC, Member-at-Large

Family/Maternal Child Health

Members of this PFG provide family-centered nursing and assist this population in dealing with actual and potential health problems.

2011-2012 Elected Members

Elisa A. Mancuso, RNC-NIC, MS, FNS, Chairperson
Carlene Daley, RNC, MSN, WHNP, Vice Chairperson
Valerie Bowers, RN, Member-at-Large
Jacqueline Grant, RN, MS, Member-at-Large
Judith Kelly, RN, MSN, FNP-C, Member-at-Large

Behavioral Health

Members of this PFG provide wellness promotion through coping skills and identification, prevention, care, and treatment of populations with mental health concerns, behavioral problems, stress-related disorders, substance abuse problems, and psychiatric disorders.

2011-2012 Elected Members

Elaine Green, RN, MPA, Chairperson
Nathan Sull, RN, BSN, Vice Chairperson
Velta Simmonds, RNC, BSN, Member-at-Large
Vanessa Hanley, RN, BSN, Member-at-Large
Ari Moma, RN, MSA, Member-at-Large

Public Health

Members of this PFG, which includes community health nurses, provide health promotion, primary nursing care, maintenance, and protection of individuals and communities.

2011-2012 Elected Members

Christine W. Saltzberg, PhD, MS, PHCNS-BC, Chairperson
Cecelia Pennyfeather, RN-BC, MSN, ACRN, Vice Chairperson
Patricia Hurld, RN, BSN, Member-at-Large
Sarah Marshall, RN, MS, CCE, CBC, Member-at-Large

Gerontological Health

Members of this PFG provide health promotion and maintenance, illness care, and rehabilitation to older adults and others in long term care settings.

2011-2012 Elected Members

Anne Cardnale, RN, GCNS-BC, Chairperson
M. Nancy Cordaro, RN, BSN, MPS Vice Chairperson
Tanya Drake, RN, MSN, Member-at-Large
Barbara Delo, RN, BA, Member-at-Large
Mabel Unubun, RN, BSN, M. Ed, Member-at-Large

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