NEW YORK NURSE: July/August 2009
by Erin Silk
Saratoga Springs, the site of this year’s NYSNA Convention, will give nurses the opportunity to recharge in the city that’s known for its healing springs. Exploring our theme, “New Challenges, New Opportunities,” Convention will identify issues essential to your profession and provide a forum for ideas to help you flourish in these uncertain times.
Here are some of the highlights that await you at this year’s Convention:
Thursday, Oct. 8 officially kicks off Convention with plenary sessions especially for NYSNA bargaining unit members. The Congress of Bargaining Unit Leaders will meet to discuss issues of RNs at work and speaker Glenna Cole Slattery will share the history of the National Labor Relations Act and how it has affected nurses. This year’s annual brunch features a presentation by members of the executive board of the new National Federation of Nurses and conferral of the Delegate Assembly Award. The Delegate Assembly will convene and LBU members are invited to participate in discussions that will help guide the future of the association. In the afternoon, attendees will be treated to a performance by Holly Near, a singer, songwriter, actor, and activist.
Join us on Thursday evening for the Nursing Research Awards Dinner, as we celebrate your colleagues and hear from the recipient of the 2008 Distinguished Nurse Researcher Award, Patricia W. Stone.
As always, Convention’s key component is continuing education. Choose from four CE tracks designed to focus on your area of interest. Scheduled to run concurrently on Friday and Saturday, the popular sessions from 2007 are back with offerings in Clinical Innovations, Contemporary Issues, Legislative Advocacy and Professional Development. Hear from the experts in your field on hot topics such as “Healthcare Reform: The Path to a Single Payer System” and “Compassion Fatigue: The Cost of Caring.” Contact hours will be awarded.
Linda H. Aiken gets things started on Friday with her timely presentation on “Safe patient handling: What research tells us.” More than half of practicing nurses will experience a musculoskeletal injury sometime during their careers. Dr. Aiken, a widely published nurse researcher, will share findings that can improve patient handling practices and prevent injuries to both nurses and patients.
NYSNA President Linda O’Brien and Barbara Zittel, executive secretary of the New York State Board for Nursing will report on the professional issues at the first Voting Body session. The finance committee will be available to discuss the association’s finances and NYSNA’s Parliamentarian will answer questions about Voting Body procedures and assist members who want to write resolutions.
Practice Focus Group (PFG) members will also meet on Friday to share issues raised during the individual PFG meetings. The five PFG’s include adult, family/maternal child, behavioral, public and gerontological health. During this forum, members will have the opportunity to interact with council members and propose ways to address practice concerns.
After a full day of sessions, browse the Exhibit Hall for information about career opportunities, nursing schools, and new products and services.
Are you a morning person? Saturday’s early risers can get some exercise and raise funds for Nurses House, an international organization that assists RNs in need. After you register, you will be mailed a sponsor sheet. Ask colleagues, friends and family members to sponsor you with a donation. Bring your completed sponsor form and any donations you’ve collected with you to Convention. It’s that easy! The first 50 people to send in their entry fees will receive Nurses House t-shirts and prizes will be awarded to the top four fundraisers.
Saturday offers a special session for nursing students with a “scoop on scope” presentation on what every future nurse needs to know about RN scope of practice, legal and regulatory requirements.
On Saturday evening, add a bit of elegance to your Convention agenda with two special events. The annual Awards Ceremony will honor your fellow nurses as we recognize their achievements, followed by the semi-formal dinner - your chance to celebrate in style with old friends and new.
Endnote speaker Pippa White will bring Convention to a passionate close with tales spun from the diaries, journals and letters of Florence Nightingale, Clara Barton, and Dorthea Dix. Transport yourself to the times of these trailblazing professionals. White’s performance is a poignant reminder that these heroes were much more than angels of mercy.
At the end of the Voting Body session, NYSNA election results will be announced and President-elect Karen Ballard, MA, RN, will officially take the helm as President of NYSNA.
Don’t miss out on this opportunity to advance your profession and discuss with colleagues what’s happening in health care today. Make it easy on yourself with our exclusive on-line registration. Visit nysna.org and click on “Convention 2009” for more information!