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Chapter Recruitment Efforts Add 122 New
AACN Members
The Volusia Flagler Chapter in Florida and
the Atlanta Area Chapter in Georgia were out in force in AACN's Critical Links
member recruitment campaign during June. In fact, the Volusia Flagler Chapter
recruited nine new members to tie another Florida chapter-the First Coast
Chapter-for the lead in the campaign.
The Atlanta Area Chapter recruited six new
members, the second highest number during June.
With the 31 new members added in June,
chapters have recruited a total of 122 new members since the current campaign
began May 1. Combined with the individual recruitment results, a total of 522
new members have joined the AACN family in the current campaign.
The chapters recruiting the most new
members and reporting the largest percentage increase when the campaign ends
March 31 will each receive a $250 gift certificate toward the purchase of AACN
resources. In addition, participating chapters are entered into a prize drawing
each month for one complimentary NTI registration. The winner for June was the
Volusia Flagler Chapter.
The other chapter recruitment totals to
date are eight for the Minot Roughrider Chapter; seven each for the Southeastern
Pennsylvania Chapter, Triangle Chapter and Central Arkansas Chapter; six each
for the Greater Miami Area Chapter, Los Angeles Chapter, Western Connecticut
Chapter and Peninsula Chapter; five each for the Greater Washington Area
Chapter, San Diego Area Chapter and Siouxland Chapter; three each for the
Greater Birmingham Chapter, Metropolitan Orlando Chapter and Southern Arizona
Chapter; two each for the West Michigan Chapter, Central Pennsylvania Chapter,
Greater Reading Chapter and Mobile Bay Area Chapter; and one each for the
Chesapeake Bay Chapter, Greater Twin Cities Area Chapter, Southeast Michigan
Chapter, Three Rivers Chapter, Washtenaw County Chapter, Greater Wichita Area
Chapter, Vermont Green Mountain Chapter, Northwest Washington Evergreen Chapter,
Central Ohio Chapter, Pacific Crest Regional Chapter, Houston Texas Chapter,
Palmetto Chapter and Greater Akron Area Chapter.
For the Record
Hawaii's Big Island Chapter of AACN
recruited 13 new members during the 2002-03 Critical Links member recruitment
campaign. The chapter's total was listed incorrectly in the June issue of AACN
News.
Chapter Uses Networking to Pursue
Vision
Education Foundation of Community
Outreach Effort
Redwood Empire Chapter President
Sally Urban shows a chapter poster
display prior to the presentation of
the chapter's first Distinguished
Lecture Series program.
By Sally Urban, RN, BS, BSN
President
Redwood Empire Chapter
As its premier educational event, the
Redwood Empire Chapter hosted the first of its Distinguished Lecture Series
during National Nurses Week in May in Eureka, Calif. Kathleen Dracup, RN, FNP,
DNSc, FAAN, dean and professor at the University of California, San Francisco,
School of Nursing, and co-editor of the American Journal of Critical Care, was
the presenter. Her topic was "Nurses Make a Difference in Patient Outcomes." The
success of this event was everything I had envisioned in re-activating the local
AACN chapter in our community.
In developing the chapter, our vision was
to link nurses in the community, and to inspire, support and encourage them in
their commitment to the art and practice of critical-care nursing. To stimulate
interest in our chapter, as well as to illustrate our interest in supporting
nurses through education, we wanted to start with excellent, high-impact
presentations. We also wanted to appeal to a wide range of nursing specialties,
though our emphasis would be critical care nursing.
We began by hosting an ACLS-Experienced
Provider Course, taught by two of the contributors to the 2000 ECC guidelines,
Dr. Deems Okamato and Paul Berlin. The program gained us the trust and respect
of the nursing community. To build on our success, we wanted a premier event
that would match or exceed this course. We also wanted to demonstrate what we
could accomplish because of our connection with national resources at AACN. We
were not disappointed!
Last year, I attended the AACN Region 19
meeting in San Fernando, Calif., where I met experienced chapter leaders,
including our then Chapter Advisory Team representative Darlene Bradley, RN,
MSN, MAOM, CNS, CCRN, CEN, I picked up on not only some great ideas like poster
presentations to represent our chapter, but also on management skills. I also
had the opportunity to talk with then AACN President-elect Dorrie Fontaine, RN,
DNSc, FAAN, who suggested Dracup as a speaker for our chapter event. I also
recognized the opportunity to present the role model of a nationally recognized
nurse educator and leader.
In addition to most of our area hospitals,
sponsors for this event included our Omicron Omega Chapter of Sigma Theta Tau
International and the nursing faculty of Humboldt State University as well.
Among our 28 attendees were students, staff nurses, advance practice nurses, and
nursing faculty and management.
The presentation was relaxed and
interactive as Dracup spoke about the past, present and future of the nursing
profession. One evaluation that stated, "Best lecture I've ever attended in
nursing," made me realize that many of our local nurses had never been exposed
to the performance level of Dracup. As a result, I believe we were all motivated
to reach for higher goals in our profession, including continuing our education.
The only aspect of the program that failed
was a music tape I had planned to play after the lecture to provide an uplifting
feeling. I discovered that the music was not wanted-or needed. The inspiration
and recognition of our impact on patient care was all that nurses needed to hear
to be truly uplifted.
Submit Your NTI Chapter Proposals
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 15
through 20, 2004, in Orlando, Fla? The deadline to submit proposals is Aug. 29.
Presenters receive complimentary airfare, registration and two nights hotel
accommodations.
For more information or to receive a
chapter speaker proposal packet, visit the AACN Web site.
Regional Meetings Offer Chance to Get
Acquainted
AACN fall regional meetings offer members
and prospective members a chance to network with colleagues and learn more about
AACN and its chapters. In some regions, chapters sponsor educational programs in
conjunction with the meetings. Following are the meetings scheduled to date:
� Region 3 (Delaware, New Jersey,
Pennsylvania)-Sept. 13 in Pompton Plains, N.J. For more information, contact
Chapter Advisory Team representative Janice Wojcik at (800) 394-5995, ext. 8803;
e-mail, janice.wojcik2@verizon.net.
� Region 6 (Alabama, Georgia)-Critical Care
Nursing: Visioning Beyond the Basics; Oct. 13 and 14 at Marriott Century Center,
Atlanta, Ga. For more information, contact Carol Hinkle at (205) 877-1747 or
Mary Zellinger at (404) 712-4661.
� Region 12 (Arkansas, Louisiana,
Mississippi)-Sept. 25 through 27 in Lafayette, La.
� Region 19 (California)-Sept. 20 in San
Francisco, Calif. For more information, contact Julie McCorkle at (925)
370-7236; e-mail, jmccorkleRN@hotmail.com.
What's on Tap
California
The Santa Barbara County Chapter will
present a "Nurturing the Nurse Retreat" Sept. 26 through 28 in Cambria, Calif.
For more information, contact Celeste Richards, RN, MS, CCRN, at (805) 682-7111,
ext. 3518; e-mail, crichard@sbch.org.
Illinois
The Northwest Chicago Area Chapter will
present a program titled "Necrotizing Fasciitis" on Sept. 17 at Lutheran General
Hospital, Park Ridge. For more information, contact Andrea M. Kline at (773)
975-8835; e-mail, akline@childrensmemorial.org.
The Northwest Chicago Area Chapter will
present a program titled "Hemodynamic Case Studies" on Oct. 15 at Lutheran
General Hospital, Park Ridge. For more information, contact Andrea M. Kline at
(773) 975-8835; e-mail, akline@childrensmemorial.org.
Indiana
The Northeast Indiana Chapter will present
its 5th Annual Critical Care Potpourri on Sept. 25 in Fort Wayne, Ind. For more
information, contact Janis Boterf at (260) 749-7515; e-mail,
janbot@aol.com.
Michigan
The West Michigan Chapter will present a
"Critical Care Cram/CCRN Prep Course" on Oct. 8 and 9 in Grand Rapids, Mich. For
more information, contact Maggie Carriker at (616) 752-7055; e-mail
wmcinfo@aacn.org
or Julie Kruithof at (616) 744-7795; e-mail,
julie.kruithof@spectrum-health.org.
Ohio
The West Central Ohio Chapter will present
a CCRN Review Course on Oct. 4 and 5. For more information, contact Deb
Patterson at debbiesue@greatnurse.com.
New York
The Brooklyn Chapter will present a CCRN
Review Aug. 21 and 22 and 25 and 26 at Brookdale Hospital, Brooklyn, N.Y. For
more information, contact Deslin Francois at (718) 692-1512 or Lauretta Joseph
at (718) 856-2254.
Washington
The Northwest Evergreen Chapter will
present a CCRN Preparation Course on Sept. 12, 19 and 26 at the Pacific Campus
of the Providence Everett Medical Center, Everett, Wash.
Is your chapter planning a program or
special event? Send the information to AACN News, 101 Columbia, Aliso Viejo, CA
92656; fax, (949) 362-2049; e-mail,
aacnnews@aacn.org.
Looking to Connect With a Chapter?
To find an AACN chapter near you, visit the
AACN Web site call (800) 394-5995, ext. 365.
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