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Celebrating Nurses: 'Blessing'
Celebrates Nurses Week
Lehigh Valley Chapter member Kim Dologite
holds a replica of the Nightingale lamp
during the Blessing of the Hands ceremony
at St. Luke�s Hospital, Bethlehem, Pa.
Photo by Betsy Toole, St. Luke�s Hospital
In celebration of Nurses Week and Florence
Nightingale�s birthday, the Lehigh Valley Chapter of AACN joined the St. Luke�s
Hospital Network, St. Luke�s Hospital School of Nursing and St. Luke�s Hospital
School of Nursing Alumni Association for the second annual �Blessing of the
Hands� ceremony.
Approximately 40 nurses attended the event at
the St. Luke�s Hospital, Bethlehem, Pa., where Emily Jean Gilbert, director of
pastoral care, led the group in the �Blessing of the Hands.� However, the
blessing was given simultaneously at all campuses of the St. Luke�s Hospital
Network, at the Visiting Nurses Association, at the St. Luke�s Hospice and in
the patient care units.
Chapter President Gyl Corona, RNC, MSN, CCNS,
CCRN, delivered opening remarks. Kim Dologite, RN, MSN, a chapter member and
education specialist at St. Luke�s Hospital, portrayed Florence Nightingale as
she carried a replica of the Nightingale lamp. The lamp, which was commissioned
by the St. Luke�s Hospital School of Nursing Alumni Association after obtaining
permission from the Nightingale Foundation in London, England, is lit and
carried at all appropriate alumni and School of Nursing functions.
Chapters-Without-Walls Concept Can
Overcome Barriers
By Judy Lang, RN, BS, CCRN
Region 18 Chapter Advisory Team
Representative
Is maintaining chapter membership records a
frustration? Is chapter paperwork overwhelming? Do you put off completing
chapter activity worksheets because your records aren�t in order? Are you
pressured to fulfill membership expectations? Are your chapter leaders exhausted
because the same core group does all the work and is facing burnout?
Perhaps the answer to resolving these and other
chapter issues lies within the �chapters-without-walls� concept.
The chapters without walls approach arose after
several chapters in Region 18, serving Alaska, Idaho, Oregon, Hawaii and
Washington, experienced declining membership and dwindling leadership pools.
Meeting the challenges of dwindling resources
and energies, coupled with the frustration related to membership recruitment and
tracking, can be quite overwhelming. Arising from these frustrations, the
concept of �chapters without walls� was created.
Under the chapters-without-walls philosophy, all
national AACN members within a respective geographic region are chapter members
and all can attend any chapters-without-walls seminars or educational offerings
for the same fee.
The national membership list, which is updated
as new members join, is available from AACN. Address labels for this membership
pool can be obtained easily online at
http://www.aacn.org. Each
chapter is provided two complimentary lists each calendar year. Because the list
is maintained by National, chapters are relieved of this cumbersome task.
The environment that is created allows chapters
to redirect their resources and energies and further pursue the mission and
values of AACN at the local level. The main intent is to increase the circle of
influence and to provide regional support.
When the Walls Came Down
The Northwest Evergreen Chapter of AACN,
Everett, Wash., is one of AACN�s oldest existing, active chapters. Approximately
10 years ago, the chapter decided to eliminate local membership dues and
requirements and obtain their membership list directly from national AACN. When
this unique philosophy and policy was presented at the Region 18 fall meeting in
1995, it was met with enthusiasm.
As the chapters-without-walls concept took hold,
Region 18 chapter leaders presented a poster at AACN�s National Teaching
Institute and Critical Care Exposition in 1996 in Anaheim, Calif. As a result of
this networking opportunity, the Pacific Crest Regional Chapter in Medford,
Ore., and the Mt. Rainier Chapter in Tacoma, Wash., adopted the practice. The
Columbia Wheatland Chapter in Richland, Wash., has since joined the others.
Since transitioning to chapters-without-walls
status, these chapters have developed a renewed structure that has revitalized
membership. It also has prevented burnout and need to �recycle� chapter
officers.
For additional information about chapters
without walls, e-mail Judy Lang at
Jmlang@cdsnet.net or Membership
and Chapter Specialist Dennis Maggi at (800) 394-5995; ext. 339; e-mail,
Dennis.Maggi@aacn.org.
Share Chapter Successes at NTI
Did your chapter receive a Circle of Excellence
Award last year or has your chapter found an innovative way to encourage members
to become more involved and step into leadership positions? Has your membership
grown because you have found success with unique recruitment approaches?
Why not share your ideas with other chapter
representatives from across the country by submitting a chapter speaker proposal
for AACN�s National Teaching Institute and Critical Care Exposition, May 17
through 22, 2003, in San Antonio, Texas? The deadline to submit proposals is
Nov. 9. Presenters receive complimentary airfare, registration and two nights
hotel accommodations.
For more information or to receive a chapter
speaker proposal packet, call (800) 394-5995 for Chapter Specialist Dennis Maggi
at ext. 339 or Chapter Associate Mitzi Inman at ext. 365.
What's on Tap
Arizona
The Greater Phoenix Area Chapter will present
�Modern Ventilator Management in ARDS� on Sept. 5 at the Veterans Administration
Medical Center, Phoenix, Ariz. For more information, contact Bobbie Wiles at
(480) 988-3526; e-mail, dbwiles@worldnet.att.net.
Illinois
The Northwest Chicago Area Chapter will present
�The Art and Science of Fluid Management� on Sept. 18, 2002, at Lutheran General
Hospital, Park Ridge, Ill. For more information, contact Marilyn Arnold at (630)
833-4824; fax, (630) 993-4232; e-mail,
marnold@emhc.org.
New Jersey
The Northern New Jersey Chapter will present
�Critical Care Pharmacology Update� on Sept. 20 at Chilton Memorial Hospital,
Pompton Plains, N.J. For more information, contact Janice Wojcik at (973)
754-3423; fax, (973) 754-3259; e-mail,
janice.wojcik2@verizon.net.
Pennsylvania
The Lehigh Valley Chapter will present
�Nurse-Fest 2002� on Sept. 16 and 17, 2002, in Bethlehem, Pa. For more
information, contact Deborah Kumar at (610) 967-6161; fax, (610) 965-6210;
e-mail, debi@nurse-beat.com.
Does your chapter have a program or special
event coming up? Send the information to AACN News, 101 Columbia, Aliso Viejo,
CA 92656; fax, (949) 362-2049; e-mail,
aacnnews@aacn.org.
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