The Florida Nurse - August 2022

THE FLORIDA NURSE

President’s Message

Janice Adams, DNP, MPA, BSN President FNA

Happy Summer 2022!

As we continue our journey toward the FNA Membership Assembly, I want to celebrate our success this past year. In June, the American Nurses Association (ANA) held a very successful Membership Assembly in Washington DC with hundreds of constituent state member organizations attending. Florida sent six members to the assembly. Several recommendations were discussed, approved by the members and will be

effective this year. These proposals were voted on for ANA to take action:

1. The impact of climate change on human and population health.

2. Addressing verbal abuse and workplace violence across the continuum of care.

3. Nurse staffing – The ANA Nurse Staffing Think Tank Report was discussed as was the priority topics and recommendations on actionable short-term solutions to mitigate the nurse staffing crisis. The report can be found at the link below. Please share widely.

ANA Nurse Staffing Think Tank Report: https:// www.nursingworld.org/~49940b/globalassets/ practiceandpolicy/nurse-staffing/nurse-staffing-thinktank-recommendation.pdf

President’s Message continued on page 13

Notes from the Executive Director

“I was TODAY years old when….”

Willa Fuller, BSN, RN Executive Director, Florida Nurses Association

they were educated about it. That day, I learned that nurses really do save lives on a daily basis. What’s funny is that I didn’t think much about that until much later.

FLORIDA NURSE THE

Owned and Published by, Florida Nurses Association

Have any of you social media mavens seen this phrase come across your feeds? It’s just another fun way of sharing life experiences on social media. It highlights moments when someone either learns something that is surprising that they never knew, OR when they discover something they have thought to be true their entire life is not accurate at all. In my career, I call these moments my nursing epiphanies and as a preceptor (a role that I loved), I used these experiences to enhance my practice and to teach my orientees. We come to these moments in many different ways and we all have these stories. I thought it might be fun to share some of mine with you and maybe jog your memory about some of yours.

I had been a very sheltered child with a helicopter mom whose goal was to get us all through school with good grades that would lead to scholarships. My mom intervened and did many things FOR ME and I have a theory that it kind of delayed my critical thinking abilities for a time. I am not criticizing my awesome mom, just stating what I think about my cerebral development. I often had to see something or have it pointed out to me to make the next logical leap. For example, I knew what congestive heart failure was, I knew the symptoms, but in my task-oriented brain, I could only be concerned about hanging up all the IV’s at change of shift even one that was going 100cc an hour even though the patient was rattling like a baby with croup! I had a grumpy nurse who often followed me that complained bitterly about everything I did wrong and nearly empty IV’s were the flavor of the week so that was my focus! I had a “cream of the crop” preceptor who identified every teachable moment and pulled me aside to make sure I captured the impact and importance of the event. She connected the dots with me. My epiphany for that moment? What I was doing mattered. If I do the wrong thing, my patients will be affected. I knew that of course, but this moment put it directly in my view. What that did for me was make me view every patient interaction as an opportunity to gather information. We move so rapidly to get things done, sometimes forgetting that every action has an impact.

One of my first epiphanies in nursing was that I could learn from other peoples’ mistakes. I experienced several devastating occurrences or heard about others that I filed away into my nursing databank so that I would integrate it into my practice as a matter of routine. One morning I came into work to a patient that was bitterly complaining of pain after a knee surgery. Apparently, she had been asking for pain medicine all night and she had received it but it was not relieving her pain. The nurse, who was excellent, was very distressed, but this was a physician that everyone was terrified to call. So when he came in in the morning, he was informed about her complaint. (There had been a call during the night to get additional pain meds). When he unwrapped her dressing, he found that the blood had hardened like concrete and created great pressure behind her knee. As a result, she had experienced a permanent foot drop, due to peroneal nerve damage. What I learned there was that fear cannot override your obligation to your patients. What happened to that patient made me fearless in my advocacy.

Another epiphany came when my preceptor and I were taking care of a new quadriplegic patient who was experiencing a crisis of unknown origin. We were frantically checking everything and finally we flung back the covers and started manipulating his Foley catheter. She flushed it with saline and he felt immediate relief as it began to empty and he felt immediate relief. We identified it as autonomic dysreflexia after the fact and shared the information with all of the staff to make sure

There were many incidents like this over the years but the next memorable moment came when I was shopping in the mall and a woman came up to me and informed me that I had been her nurse. I have shared this story before. One part of me knew I was making a difference as a nurse, but I felt like I was on sort of a treadmill just churning out patient care “tasks.” This patient who I did remember, said to me, I would feel so comforted when I would hear your voice in the morning, I would always hope you were my nurse because when you were there, I was never in pain. I remembered her because I felt like she had more anxiety than actual pain and I gave her some relaxation techniques I had learned at a pain management conference. She utilized them all and as a result, she asked less frequently for pain medication. This was probably a couple of years in, but I think that may have been the moment that I felt like a “real nurse.” Imposter syndrome is real, folks.

The next standout moment was a time I had to utilize the chain of command to advocate for a patient that I knew was in dire straits. The physician kept hanging up on me and I had critical information to report. The patient was on anticoagulants which had not been responding and now all of sudden the patient had a critical lab value and was experiencing excruciating pain. On my assessment, it was clear the patient was bleeding into his surgical site and was quite possibly experiencing compartment syndrome. I called the partner, then the medical doctor, then the medical director, and by the change of shift, he was off to emergency surgery for a vena-caval umbrella. In this moment, I realized that nurses have power – power to navigate the system to advocate for a patient. After that, I made sure I not only recognized when and how to use it, I mentored others to do the same.

I have to mention my former preceptor who since that time became my friend. Diana Vaughan is no longer with us. But she will always be with me. She recognized my deficit in connecting the dots early on and instead of giving up or being frustrated with me, she coached me through our early situations, which helped me to develop that skill not only in clinical situations but in life situations. She was never bullying or insulting, she was informative and supportive.

Recently, I was watching a “Live” on Tik-Tok where a patient was sharing about his journey with a blood dyscrasia. There was another nurse online watching and he shared his lab results with her. Her response stunned me. She told him that nurses didn’t bother with all those values, they only looked at hemoglobin and hematocrit. “The rest was for the doctors.” I have seen similar postings on some of social media groups dedicated to nursing. Fortunately, experienced nurses chime in immediately and inform them how important it is for nurses to have a full knowledge about the total care related to that patient. But this was an epiphany that after all this time there are still nurses that do not understand the full breadth and depth of their responsibility.

I focused on this topic right now because of the status of nursing as it has evolved and continues to evolve after the pandemic. It is more important than ever for nurses to develop these skills and establish themselves as experts in patient care. As scope of practice is continually challenged, we need to make sure knowledge, expertise and continuing education is a focus for nurses at the bedside as it is critical that we continue to promote high standards and safety. It is also important to look at work conditions and practice models to make sure nurses are supported in order to provide optimal care. As we start to emerge from the mental and emotional as well as the physical fatigue exacted by the devastating pandemic, we must be mindful of nursing’s journey back, and our goal must be to make things better than before. We cannot lose the opportunity this crisis has provided to shed light on the essential nature of our profession.

1235 E. Concord Street, Orlando, FL 32803-5403

P.O. Box 536985, Orlando, FL 32853-6985

Telephone: (407) 896-3261

FAX: (407) 896-9042

E-mail: info@floridanurse.org

Website: http://www.floridanurse.org

Office Hours: 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday thru Friday

For advertising rates and information, please contact Arthur L. Davis Publishing Agency, Inc., PO Box 216, Cedar Falls, Iowa 50613, (800) 626-4081, sales@aldpub.com. FNA and the Arthur L. Davis Publishing Agency, Inc. reserve the right to reject any advertisement. Responsibility for errors in advertising is limited to corrections in the next issue or refund of price of advertisement.

Acceptance of advertising does not imply endorsement or approval by the Florida Nurses Association of products advertised, the advertisers, or the claims made. Rejection of an advertisement does not imply a product offered for advertising is without merit, or that the manufacturer lacks integrity, or that this association disapproves of the product or its use. FNA and the Arthur L. Davis Publishing Agency, Inc. shall not be held liable for any consequences resulting from purchase or use of an advertiser’s product. Articles appearing in this publication express the opinions of the authors; they do not necessarily reflect views of the staff, board, or membership of FNA or those of the national or local associations.

Published quarterly, February, May, August and November by FNA, a constituent member of the American Nurses Association.

Editor – Kaitlin Scarbary, 1235 E. Concord St., Orlando, FL 32803-5403

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COPIES of The Florida Nurse are available on 35mm microfilm, 106mm microfilm, article reprints and issue copies through Bell & Howell, 300 North Zeeb Road, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48106

Board of Directors

2021–2023

Officers

Janice Adams, DNP, MPA, BSN, President

Marie Etienne, DNP, APRN, FNP, PNP, PLNC, President-Elect

Debbie Hogan, RN, BSN, MPH, Vice President

Valerie Halstead, PhD, APRN, FNP-BC, Secretary Mavra Kear, PHD, APRN, BC, Treasurer

Region Directors

Jake Bush, MSN, RN, Northwest Region

Kellyann Curnayn, DNP, APRN-BC, North Central Region

Susie Norman, MSN, Northeast Region

Marcos Gayol, EdD, MSN, MPH, RN, East Central Region

Meghan Moroney, BSN, RN, West Central Region

Cynthia Tagliaferri, RN, BSN, DNP Student, Southeast Region

Camille Baldwin, EdD, MSN, RN, CNE, CHSE, Southwest Region

Linda Washington-Brown, PHD, EJD, MSN, APRN-C, FAANP, FAAN, South Region

Director of Recent Graduates

Danielle Weaver, BSN, RN, CEN

LERC Liaison

Marsha Martin, RN

FNA Office

Willa Fuller, BSN, RN, Executive Director

John Berry, Jr., Director of Labor Relations & Government Affairs

Kaitlin Scarbary, Director of Member Programs, Technology, and Marketing

Willa Fuller

Focus on the Foundation

Daleen Penoyer, President FNF

The Florida Nurses Foundation sponsored the Eighth Annual Nursing Research and Evidence-Based Practice Conference on July 16, 2022 at the Sheraton Orlando North in Maitland, Florida. The purpose of the event was to promote the practice of nursing research and disseminate nursing research and evidencebased practice projects being conducted in various settings in Florida. This year, the theme was “Nursing Art and Science: Bridge to Innovation.” Thirty-one peer reviewed posters were accepted for the event and 85 nurses attended the program. The keynote this year was presented by Susan V. White, PhD, RN,

CPHQ, FNAHQ, NEA-BC, Chief of Quality Management and Stephanie Sinnett, MS, RD, LDN, Health Systems Specialist (Innovation) at the Orlando VA Healthcare System, Department of Veterans Affairs. The program was another successful one, providing a forum for experienced and potential/novice nurse researchers to share their knowledge and experiences with the growing science behind nursing practice.

The Foundation has over 30 scholarships available for nursing students living in Florida who are enrolled in a nationally accredited nursing program and have one semester in their program to qualify. The Foundation has given over $500,000 in scholarships and grants over its nearly 40-year history. The scholarship application was due June 1 and awards for the scholarships will be awarded in September 2022. The Foundation also has several Research Grants available including the new Sandra Walsh fund. A second window of applications for research grants will be opening in September. The Foundation is supported through philanthropic

donations and we encourage FNA members to contribute to support nurses entering practice and conducting research. When renewing one’s membership, there is an opportunity to add donations. You can also make a one-time donation or setup a recurring donation at www.floridanurse.org/GiveBack. Members of the Board of Foundation Trustees will be holding a raffle at the FNA Membership Assembly in September to raise funds for the Foundation.

Some of the existing Foundation Trustee positions are becoming vacated, so the FNF is seeking to fill several Trustee positions. To qualify, one must be an FNA member in good standing. The role is an opportunity to serve others through the work of grants and scholarship awards. We welcome a new nurse graduate to serve so that the Board gets perspectives from early career nurses for its activities. To apply for one of these positions, please download the application at www.floridanurse.org/Foundation

Florida Nurses Political Action Committee Makes Its Candidate Endorsements for Primary Election 2022

The Florida Nurses Political Action Committee (FNPAC) held Candidate Interviews on Saturday, July 30, 2022 with the purpose of determining candidates’ alignment with FNA’s top legislative priorities. The Trustees selected several candidates to endorse in the upcoming primary election. Their selections are listed below.

Candidates were asked a series of questions to determine their alignment with the FNA Legislative Agenda. The FNA Legislative Agenda is a multi-year plan highlighting the top issues that FNA advocates for on behalf of nursing. Some issues that remain on our legislative agenda include supporting the ability of RNs and APRNs to practice to the full extent of their education, safe practice environments for nurses, and protection of the rights, jobs, wages, and other benefits of state-employed healthcare professionals. The full Legislative Agenda can be viewed at www.floridanurse.org/Advocacy

The FNPAC exists to raise funds to support candidates that will work with us on issues related to nursing, patients and healthcare. For the 2022 primary election, the FNPAC has endorsed the following candidates:

2022 Primary Elections FNA PAC Endorsements

Michelle Salzman (R)

House

District 1 (re-election)

Griff Griffitts (R) District 6

Garrett Dennis (D) District 14

Bobby Payne (R)

Liz Cornell (R)

David Smith (R)

Chase Tramont (R)

District 19 (re-election)

District 25

District 28 (re-election)

District 30

Fred Hawkins (R) District 42 (re-election)

Josie Tomkow (R) District 39 (re-election)

Kevin Steele (R) District 55

Brad Yeager (R) District 56

Kimberly Berfield (R) District 58

Patricia Hawkins-Williams (D) District 92 (re-election)

Daryl Campbell (D) District 94 (re-election)

Hillary Cassel (D) District 101

Marie Woodson (D)

District 105 (re-election)

James Mooney Jr (R) District 120 (re-election)

Senate

Doug Broxson (R)

District 1 (re-election)

Jay Trumbull (R) District 2 (re-election)

Tracie Davis (D) District 5

Kamia Brown (D) District 15

Jim Boyd (D) District 20 (re-election)

Barbara Sharief (D) District 35

The Florida Nurses Political Action Committee (FNPAC) is a powerful tool to support grassroots efforts by members. Supporting candidates that we can build relationships with and work with on nursing issues is key to our success. We need YOUR support to continue making an impact on healthcare in the state. Even a little helps a lot. You can even make small monthly donations to show your support. Donate online at www.floridanurse.org/fnpac. We must make our presence known through both our voice and our donations. Please consider donating to support our legislative activities.

Five Reasons to give to the Florida Nurses Political Action Committee:

• FNPAC endorses candidates that have stated that they will support FNA issues.

• FNPAC vets candidates to determine their positions on nursing and healthcare issues.

• Legislators and candidates actively seek the FNA endorsement through FNPAC.

• FNPAC has a record of success with endorsements over many years.

• Donations to FNPAC provide a way to contribute to the political advocacy for FNA and for nurses and patients throughout the state.

One thing that nurses MUST understand is that it takes VOTERS to influence legislation. As nurses who vote, you can make a difference in your future as well as the care you deliver to your patients. Participation in the association and donations to the PAC are a key element in this kind of advocacy. You can become knowledgeable and have input into the agenda by being a member, by contacting your legislator and becoming a resource and a conduit from the association to the legislator. The FNA website has a page dedicated to political advocacy as a resource to members, students and other interested nurses. You can access this at www. floridanurse.org/Advocacy

BECOME A TRUSTEE: We have openings for new trustees on our PAC this year. Trustees help with fundraising activities, participate in candidate interviews, and vote on which candidates to support. If you are interested in being involved, please complete the application on our website at www.floridanurse.org/FNPAC

For questions about FNPAC, donations or becoming a PAC trustee, email Iris Lopez at info@floridanurse.org

The FNPAC will hold Candidate Interviews for the General Election on Saturday, September 10. RSVP to observe the interviews at www.floridanurse.org/events Veterans’ Homes RNs, LPNs, & CNAs needed at all locations

Lake City The Robert H. Jenkins Jr. Veterans’ Domiciliary Home

Daytona Beach The Emory L. Bennett State Veterans’ Nursing Home

Land O’ Lakes The Baldomero Lopez State Veterans’ Nursing Home

Pembroke Pines The Alexander “Sandy” Nininger State Veterans’ Nursing Home

Panama City The Clifford C. Sims State Veterans’ Nursing Home

Port Charlotte The Douglas T. Jacobson State Veterans’ Nursing Home

St. Augustine The Clyde E. Lassen State Veterans’ Nursing Home

Port St. Lucie The Ardie R. Copas State Veterans’ Nursing Home

Orlando Alwyn C. Cashe State Veterans’ Nursing Home

Assistance for Kentucky

As you are probably aware Kentucky has experienced severe flooding. In the past, we have donated to state nurses associations when they have a disaster like this. We have also received donation checks from several states for the last two hurricanes as well as in the past. To donate to Kentucky Nurses, visit their GoFundMe campaign at https://gofund. me/627d2fc8

What are your strengths?

And on a fun note, the last board completed the Clifton Strengths Assessment which helps people to determine their strengths and we shared it in a document so that everyone else could see the strengths of their colleagues. Some of us found it

2022 Calendar of Events

Some meetings such as committee meetings and recurring regional meetings are not included in the list below. View the Full FNA Calendar at www.floridanurse.org/events

Infectious Disease Update: Monkey Pox

August 30 | 6:00-7:00pm ET • Zoom Webinar

West Central Region Meeting

September 1 | 6:00-7:00pm ET • Zoom Meeting

FNPAC Candidate Interviews

September 10 | 8:00am - 12:00pm ET • Zoom Meeting

2022 FNA Membership Assembly

September 22-24, 2022

Mission Inn Resort, Howey-in-the-Hills, FL

Southeast Region Leadership Meeting

October 12 | 6:30-7:30pm ET • Zoom Meeting

South Region Leadership Meeting

October 25 | 6:00-7:00pm ET • Zoom Meeting

East Central Region Meeting

October 26 | 6:00-7:00pm ET • Zoom Meeting

FNSA Convention

October 27-29, 2022

Hilton Daytona Beach Oceanfront Resort

Mental Health PPE Webinar

November 14 • Zoom

Southeast Region Legislative Meet & Greet

November 18 | 4:00-7:00pm ET

Location TBD

Health Policy Special Interest Group

Every Second Tuesday | 7:00-8:00pm EST • Zoom Meeting

Ethics Special Interest Group

Every Third Tuesday | 6:00-7:00pm EST • Zoom Meeting

Holistic Nursing Special Interest Group

Every Third Thursday | 5:00-6:00pm EST • Zoom Meeting

Interested in presenting for FNA? Go to www.floridanurse.org/speak

Members of FNA/ANA will be given priority.

We welcome all nursing students and Registered Nurses regardless of membership status to all of our events unless otherwise noted. For registration and more information about FNA events, go to www.floridanurse.org/events

News From Headquarters

frighteningly accurate. It was not only fun, it was really enlightening and it informed our goal of moving forward based on our strengths rather than our challenges. You can purchase Clifton Strengths 2.0 on Amazon should you want to explore your own strengths as you move through your professional journey.

Florida Nurses Political Action Committee Candidate Interviews

PAC Interviews for the primary election are over and the endorsements have been made. The Lobby Team has notified the candidates and are working on delivering contributions. We did not endorse incumbents or candidates we were already certain would win their races. PAC members as well as several members and colleagues attended the virtual interviews. This event not only gives us the opportunity to meet candidates but also to educate them about our issues. We will be holding another round of candidate interviews for the General Election. Please watch your emails for that announcement. Registration will be available on the FNA website under events as soon as the date is set. We encourage you to educate yourself on your local candidates and you can share your insights during this virtual meeting. Our lobbyists had already interviewed over 100 candidates before our event. Thank you to PAC trustees, Carole Amole, Chair; Megan Moroney; Barbara Russell; Donna Sabatino, and Mary Lou Brunell for spending the time with us on a Saturday to help strengthen our voice in Tallahassee.

Conversations with a Purpose: Violence Against Nurses

We have been concerned with escalating violence against nurses in various work environments. Many of you have attended our Town Hall meetings related to the devastating impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on the Healthcare Professions. We have titled these meetings Conversations with a Purpose to denote that we wish to move beyond the conversation to actions on each of the issues that have been illuminated by these discussions. Some future actions were discussed and the FNA Board will be working on actualizing some of these strategies. Some participants also shared strategies that seem to be having a positive impact in their work environments.

Research and Evidence Based Practice Conference

The Research Conference is behind us and again it was a great success. This was our first face to face conference since the pandemic began and so it was a great “testing” of the waters before our Membership Assembly in September. We would like to introduce a fun promotion called Race of the Regions based on our dynamic conference logo to determine which FNA Region will have the greatest representation. Stay tuned.

Are you a STAR?

It has been two years since we were able to recognize our STAR FNA recruiters at the Membership Assembly. In order to make sure everyone is recognized we will be including TWO YEARS of recruitment efforts by individual members. Those who attend Membership Assembly will receive gold stars to wear on their badges to denote how many members they have recruited. We already have some clear front runners. If you recruited members and they included your name in their membership application then you are a Star Recruiter. This is one more fun aspect of the conference. In addition to that we will be handing out “years of membership” ribbons for your badges. These will denote 5-50 years of membership.

Florida Nurses Foundation

The Scholarship selection process is complete and we will be notifying recipients in August. The Trustees have voted to have another call for Grants (there were no applications) and for scholarships that did not receive any applicants this year. These additional awards will be given based on the Foundation budget.

There is also currently a call for Foundation Trustees as there are several current and upcoming vacancies. If you would like to know more about this opportunity email Willa Fuller at wfuller@floridanurse.org

Pandemic and Disaster Task Force

Filming has begun on a video project by the Pandemic and Disaster Task Force which will share the experiences of nurses from diverse areas of practice. We hope to use this video to inform stakeholders, legislators and other policy holders. This task force is chaired by Dr. Dierdre Krause.

Public Relations Project by the Board of Directors

This year the Board of Directors allocated “Innovation Funds” for special projects of benefit to the profession. The board engaged Ron Sachs communication to help us formulate messaging for a public relations campaign that will serve as a companion to the video project to illuminate the impact of the pandemic and the critical needs within the nursing profession. These projects will serve as tools in our Advocacy Toolbox as we move forward to heal and repair nurses and patients. A survey was sent to licensees with some pertinent questions.

JEDI

Task Force

The DEI and Social Justice Task Force merged to form the Justice, Equity, Diversity and Inclusivity Task Force (JEDI). They will be reporting on their work at the Membership Assembly, including the results of the survey they deployed last year. They will discuss the question, How Diverse is FNA? They will also share other plans of the Task Force and lead a discussion group to help form future work in this important space.

Membership Assembly

We are happy to report that ANA President Ernest Grant will serve as our Keynote Speaker for the 2022 Membership Assembly live and in person at the Mission Inn Resort in Howey-in-the-Hills, FL. We have many excellent presentations planned and our Award Selection process has been completed. The Awards Gala is always an uplifting and heartwarming part of our conference as we recognize our “Nursing ICONs.”

Recently, we had a productive East Central Leadership meeting, which was well attended and appreciated. Many healthcare professionals are currently receiving the second round of Covid booster vaccinations so they may continue to provide for their families and their places of employment. While we all may be experiencing Covid fatigue, I appreciate the nurses who have stayed the course, and are caring for our communities and those providing nursing services to patients.

As 2022 is concluding, I hope that we continue to stand together and advance the needs of nursing and healthcare in our communities and throughout the State. Legislative sessions will take place soon, and nurses must be heard. With the recent Supreme Court’s decision regarding Roe vs Wade, we can provide input to influence those who make decisions on behalf of the public. In order to make healthcare safer and more equitable for all patients including those who are underprivileged and underserved, lawmakers at the municipal and state levels need to hear from nurses.

If you have any networking or educational initiatives suggestions for East Central Region, please reach out to me at: fnaoffice@floridanurse.org.

Greetings everyone! I am working on an October event, more information to come as available. Please let me know if you are interested in being part of the Northwest Region Leadership Council. You would be instrumental in planning collaborative events in your local area. If you would like to be part of our region’s leadership council, share any professional accomplishments, or have any regional activity ideas/questions, please feel free to contact me at fnaoffice@floridanurse.org. Thank you for allowing me the opportunity to serve our region!

Dr. Jake Bush

On Friday, May 6, 2022, Florida Nurses Association (FNA) South Region, supported by the Black Nurses Association, Chi Eta Phi Nursing Sorority, Haitian Nurses, Hispanic Nurses Association, Indian Nurses Association, and the Jamaican Nurses Association held its first Joint Nurse Week Celebration at Miami Regional University in Miami, Florida. The theme for Nurse Week was “We Care About You.” The event was well attended with over 65 nurses and nursing students, who participated via Live stream and face-to-face programming. Our Keynote Speakers were Michel Hirschberg, Paola Gutt, and Dr. Binde Patel, who led the audience in the essentials of meditation. The Nurse Week program also offered Massage therapy, Aroma therapy, Yoga, and Zumba

which provided a relaxing and fun filled day. All nurses were presented with a Praying Angel memorial vase in memory of patients, friends, and loved ones lost during the COVID 19 pandemic. Several awards were presented to the Miami Regional University’s President, Ophelia Sanchez, Dean of Nursing, Dr. Guillermo Valdez, and nursing faculty Dr. Elizabeth Levine, for their support of the Florida Nurses Association Nurse Week Celebration. There was lots of food and several raffles for gift baskets and gift cards. Needless to say, the winners were very pleased with their awards. Highlights of the event are seen in the photos below.

The post-event evaluation showed that the participating nurses valued this experience and would participate again if offered next year. Thank you FNA and all our supporting organizations for a successful nurse week celebration. A special thanks goes out to: Dr. Sharon Rogers, President Miami Chapter Black Nurses Association, Joan Howard and Lornette Patrick, President and President-elect, Jamaican Nurses Association, Nargita Arora, President of the Indian Nurses Association, Cleo Reynolds, Anti-Basileus Chi Eta Phi Nursing Sorority, Dr. Armando Riera, President Hispanic Nurses Association, Rose Valcin, President Haitian American Nurses Association, Dr. Helen Bhagwandin, and Dr. Marie Etienne.

Linda Washington-Brown, PhD, EJD, PNP, ANP-C, FNP, FAANP, FAAN

American Nurses Association Minority Fellow Alum South Region Director

SE Region members! Hot off the press this summer….cool ideas for fun and fellowship as we continue to strengthen our region. A big thanks to all of you who are making this year a great success! And to the rest….come join us! We need you!

Regional News continued on page 8

Greetings

Here’s what’s happening:

Monthly zoom meetings for planning events and developing committees. Next SE Region Leadership Zoom Meeting August 17th, Wednesday, 6:30-7:30 pm. See you there!

Road Trip!! You deserve a break today! FNA Membership Assembly – Mission Inn Resort @ Howeyin-the-Hills, Florida. September 22-24. Bonus CE sessions, Keynote presentations, Awards reception & dinner celebration, live region meetings and more. New member registration discounts and Region Rebates available for members. Checkout our FNA website events for details and registration.

Save The Date - Happy Hour: Meet & Greet your newly elected local Legislators. Mix it up with some fun and fellowship this November 18 from 4-7pm. Location to be determined by our (12 member and growing) event planning committee. Openings still available for those interested in joining the committee.

Legislative Outreach - This is an important election year, and our voices must be heard! There is power in numbers, and we are gathering to make a difference! Be a small part of the big change. Email for information on key legislative issues and how to get started.

There are also opportunities for service on the Legislative Committee for those interested.

Because of my commitment to advocacy and legislative outreach, my Florida Atlantic University Christine E. Lynn College of Nursing DNP Project, entitled Out of the Shadows and Into the Light… Illuminating a Bright Future for Nurses through Legislative Advocacy is currently in development and will be rolling out to all FNA members soon.

This Legislative Advocacy training is offered to raise awareness about the necessary process for implementing changes in the nursing profession, to improve the nurse’s enthusiasm for legislative advocacy, and to increase nurse participation in effecting the needed changes through legislative channels.

Out of the Shadows and Into the Light…Illuminating a Bright Future for Nurses through Legislative Advocacy is a fun, informative and interactive virtual webinar training consisting of four (4) sessions, offered to FNA members once each week over a four (4) week period, and lasting approximately 20-30 minutes each (including time for questions and answers), and will be evaluated by a select study group of participants for quality improvement analysis. But ALL are welcome to attend!

• Session 1: Wednesday August 24th at 6:30 pm

• Session 2: Wednesday August 31st at 6:30 pm

• Session 3: Wednesday September 7th at 6:30 pm

• Session 4: Wednesday September 14th at 6:30 pm

Stay tuned for updates and registration.

Again, a heartfelt thank you for all your support and dedication. Great job SE Region!! Enjoy the rest of your summer!

See you soon,

Cynthia Tagliaferri, RN, MSN, DNP Student FNA Southeast Region Director cynthia.fna@gmail.com

The Florida Nurses Association is the only nursing organization representing ALL of nursing regardless of nursing specialty or practice area. We are a strong voice for the nurses of Florida fueled by the strength and commitment of the professional nurses who comprise our membership. We encourage and support all nurses to become engaged in our Grassroots program and the legislative process to improve the health status of our communities and the practice and working environments of Florida nurses.

Public Affairs Consultant, PA is a governmental consulting firm that represents FNA’s collective voice before the Florida Legislature. Jack Cory (Founding Partner), Keyna Cory (President) and Erin Ballas (Vice President) promote FNA’s Legislative and Regulatory Policy Platform to State Legislators and State Agencies.

This year, FNA joined the Florida Chamber Political Institute as our lobbyist interviewed legislative candidates across the state. West Central Region interviews were hosted in Tampa, June 7-8, at the Florida Aquarium.

A second round of candidate interviews were conducted by The Florida Nurses Political Action Committee (FNPAC) Board of Trustees with subsequent endorsements based on FNA’s priority legislative agenda.

FNA’s year-round Grassroots advocacy offers several opportunities for your voice to be heard including delegation meetings with local legislators, FNA’s Health Policy Special Interest Group (HPSIG), FNPAC, and attending Advocacy Days at the State Capitol during legislative session.

Every day, lawmakers make decisions affecting nurses, ensure FNA is part of the healthcare policy dialogue by voting on General Election Day, November 8, 2022

Your Vote, Your Voice!

Regional News continued from page 7

FNA Lobbyist Team: Erin Ballas, Jack Cory, and Keyna Cory of Public Affairs Consultants, PA

#3 Best Online FNP Master’s Program

Florida 2022 Election Season

John Berry, Director of Labor Relations & Governmental Affairs

The 2022 Florida Election Season is upon us. This year’s Primary Election is August 23, and the General Election takes place on November 8. The deadline to register for the Primary Election was July 25, and the last day to register for the General Election is October 11. All statewide offices are up for grabs as well as the Florida House of Representatives and the Florida Senate.

As of May 31, 2022, here are the numbers for Voter Registration in Florida:

John Berry

There isn’t a big difference in the number of registered Republicans and Democrats in our state. There are few who belong to a Minor Party, but there are quite a number of residents who don’t have any party affiliation, making up just over a quarter of total registered voters. Both major parties like to target those potential voters because they could vote either way in a General Election.

Let’s take a look at the results of the 2018 Governor’s Race here in Florida:

make the greatest and most positive impact in not only the statewide races for the Florida House and Senate, but your local races as well. Just don’t waste the vote you have by not voting at all. Whether you’re voting by absentee ballot or in-person, just make sure that you vote. Your vote can make a difference.

References: dos.myflorida.com/election/for-votes/voter-registration/ politico.com/election-results/2018/florida/governor/

State Employee News

Public Health Prevention –Vaccines Work!

Prevention of disease is the hallmark of public health service. As public health providers and nurses, we realize the value of vaccines in providing immune protection for both children and adults.

Data on prevention success is inspiring. According to the Center for Disease Control, for children born between 1994 and 2018, vaccines will prevent 419 million illnesses- that’s more than the population of the United States currently! This vaccine protection will help avoid 936,000 deaths and save $1.9 trillion in societal costs. This is the power of prevention! (www.cdc.gov/features/vfcprogram)

What that means is that there were 5,996,178 registered voters who did not take the time to perform their civic duty in 2018.

This is not an article about who you should vote for, this is a message about the importance of getting out to vote. Every vote counts. Every vote can make a difference. It can be discouraging when your candidate doesn’t win. It can get tiresome being bombarded with political ads this time of year. Elected officials and candidates will not only talk about why they’ll be the best one for the job, but a number of them can be pretty nasty with each other in the press, and that can be a turn-off for a lot of voters. Some people will look at a campaign and think that this person doesn’t stand a chance, so why bother. That’s my point. You should bother, you should care.

There were just under 6,000,000 registered voters who could have made a difference in the 2018 election. How do you know if you’re not going to try? Whoever you’re going to vote for this year, that’s your personal choice. Vote for the candidate that you feel can

According to sources, including the American Association of Critical-Care Nurses ( AACN), the COVID-19 Pandemic has brought challenges to vaccine prevention programs, among many others. It has interrupted immunization programs both in the United States and around the world leading to delayed immunizations for both children and adults. Without this protection, children are at risk for up to fourteen different diseases including measles, pertussis (whooping cough), and COVID itself! For more information on the current vaccine schedules go to cdc.gov/vaccines/schedules/resource-library/syndicate.html

Hogan

As nurses, we need to support and advocate for the Immunization Agenda 2030 ( IA2030), adopted as part of the World Health Assembly. These efforts include preventing disease, promoting equity and building (or rebuilding) strong immunization programs. Efforts also include programs to promote vaccine confidence and trust in science, as well as encouraging further vaccine research to develop and increase the supply of quality, safe, effective and affordable vaccines.

Our patients and communities depend on us as nurses and public health providers to serve as resources for disease prevention and health care. Please join our prevention team!!!

Debbie

The August edition of The Florida Nurse is our Annual Nursing Student Issue in which we feature articles, op-eds, and stories written by nursing students or related to nursing student life. Some articles featured are experiential pieces that reflect the opinion of the author and are not an official position of the Florida Nurses Association. If you would like to submit an article for consideration in next year’s Nursing Student Issue, please contact Kaitlin Scarbary, Editor at kscarbary@floridanurse.org

Senior Practicum Nursing Student to Practicing Nurse

Trilla Mays, Ph.D., Ed.D., RN

Recently, I had the opportunity to present my Ph.D. research findings as a poster presentation. It was interesting to discover that some nursing programs have stopped the senior practicum experience, some are considering stopping that experience due to difficulty finding preceptors in the hospital, and some have continued the practicum experience. Adequate academic and clinical preparation are essential for the transition from student to registered nurse (RN) working in a practice setting. The National Council of State Boards of Nursing (NCSBN, 2020) recognized that newly graduated nurses (NGNs) who are unable to transition to practice impacts the quality of care, leading to the risk of medical errors and diminished patient safety. NGNs have reported a lack of competence and preparation for practice based on academic preparation (Hatzenbuhler & Klein, 2019).

I interviewed RNs who had been practicing less than two years and had a senior practicum or preceptor clinical their last semester of nursing school. The results of that study revealed that the learning environment resulted in some unmet needs, particularly the nurse who had the practicum

only on Saturdays. However, it made her realize she could work on a medical-surgical unit in the hospital. There were more than sufficient positive learning experiences where the preceptor served as a role model impacting the NGN’s transition to practice (Meleis, 2010). Role modeling by the preceptor impacts transition to practice (Edward, et al., 2017; Ford, et al., Gale, et al., 2016; Rooke, et al., 2022). All participants reported valuable experiences, reinforcement of skills learned in previous clinical courses, and the opportunity to learn from the RN preceptors. They benefited from working one on one with an RN in their last semester of nursing school. Edward, et al., (2017) discovered that a positive preceptor-nursing student relationship improves clinical competence of new nurses entering practice.

Although, there was a limitation of three participants due to COVID, the meaning of the data consistently supported continuing a senior practicum experience. Academia and practice partners should discuss the availability and even expansion of practicum opportunities, training of preceptors, and additional enhancements to the practicum experience. Working together should improve not only the number of nurses prepared to transition to practice; it should increase the retention of new nurses.

Biography: Dr. Mays has a BSN, MSN, an Ed.D. in higher education leadership and a Ph.D. in nursing. She has over 30 years of experience as an RN, a pediatric nurse practitioner, and professor in higher education. Her current position is School of Health Sciences Dean at Chipola College.

References

Edward, K.-L., Ousey, K., Playle, J., & Giandinoto, J.-A. (2017). Are new nurses work ready - The impact of preceptorship. An integrative systematic review. Journal of Professional Nursing: Official Journal of the American Association of Colleges of Nursing, 33(5), 326–333. https://doi.org/10.1016/j. profnurs.2017.03.003

Ford, K., Courtney-Pratt, H., Marlow, A., Cooper, J., Williams, D., & Mason, R. (2016). Quality clinical placements: The perspectives of undergraduate nursing students and their supervising nurses. Nurse Education Today, 37, 97–102. https://doi. org/10.1016/J.NEDT.2015.11.013

Gale, J, Ooms, A., Sharpesl, K, & Marks-Maran, D. (2016) The experiences of student nurses on placements with practice nurses: A pilot study. Nurse Education in Practice, (16) 1, 225234. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.nepr.2015.08.008

Hatzenbuhler, N. & Klein, J. (2019). Educational Preparation for clinical practice: reflections of newly graduated RNs. Nurse Educator, 44, 93-97. https://doi.org/10.1097/ NNE.0000000000000550

Meleis, A. I. (2010). Transitions theory. [electronic resource]: middlerange and situation-specific theories in nursing research and practice. Springer Pub. NSCBN (2020). Transition to Practice. https://www.ncsbn.org/ transition-to-practice.htm

Rooke, S., Thevenard, G., Suthendran, S., Jung, S., Tolentino, N., Annandale, J. F., & Ward, K. (2022). What makes a great preceptor? Nursing students have their say. Kai Tiaki Nursing New Zealand, 49–58.

Trilla Mays

The BSN-Ph.D. Student: Finding Your Place In the Profession

Walter Wills BSN, RN

As we recognize nursing students this August, I took a moment of reflection for myself as I finish the first year of my BSN to Ph.D. program. I recently graduated with a BSN in 2021 and worked at the bedside throughout the beginning of my graduate training. However, the decision to move immediately into my graduate training came at a great cost to understanding where I fit in the nursing profession, and I hope this will serve as a message to young students who may want to, but doubt, their ability to pursue a similar path.

The decision to pursue a Ph.D. may never be an easy one, whether the burden lies in giving up status in a current position, sacrificing time with family or friends, accepting substantial financial burden, or all of these things combined. For me, it came at a cost of many of those elements, but also a struggle in finding my identity within the nursing profession. The decision to go back for a Ph.D. the very next semester after graduating with a BSN may be seen by many as premature, lacking in the volume of clinical experience many other graduate prepared nurses have. For a while, I believed this claim to be valid too. When I look around my Ph.D. classroom, I see successful CNO’s, DNP’s, and APRN’s, all with storied careers already.

How could I measure up to them at my young age and level of clinical experience? My supporters through my undergraduate training also questioned why I would ever want to return to school so quickly, asking me why I didn’t want to “use” my degree before going back. This too made me question the validity of my decision. These ideas lead me towards a case of severe “imposter syndrome,” and a loss of where I felt I fit within this profession.

However, through a journey of self-reflection and peer support, I was able to find my place within this profession, and I’d like to leave a message of clarity for those questioning pursing this same path. Being a nursing scientist is ultimately very different from the skills we learn in our undergraduate training, bedside practice, or any other academic program. I love designing new research studies, getting to know the participants I recruit, running my own statistics, and speaking on my results. An awareness of these personal strengths allowed me to recognize that I can best aid in improving the lives of our patients by focusing on these skills and committing fully to being the best scientist possible. In closing, no matter when you graduated your undergraduate program, how long you have been at the bedside, or how many credentials you have behind your name, if you believe you will best improve patient lives in the role of a Ph.D. Nurse, then I urge you to take a chance on yourself and go get that degree.

Biography: Walter graduated from the University of South Florida in 2021 and began practicing at Bayfront Health St. Petersburg as Trauma Care RN prior to starting his graduate training. Currently, he is an early-stage investigator, beginning his 2nd year at USF’s Ph.D. in Nursing Science program.

Walter Wills

Members in the

FNA

Member

Karen

Baez-Wallis runs for county commissioner seat in Miami-Dade County

Karen Baez-Wallis, Registered Nurse and member of the Florida Nurses Association, is running for county commissioner in MiamiDade County. Karen’s top priorities are finding innovative solutions to traffic problems, creating jobs and incentivizing businesses to open their doors, working with leaders on appropriate infrastructure to protect homes and safe water, and taking care of veterans by creating a VA office in South Miami-Dade.

Karen obtained her bachelor’s in health services administration from FIU Biscayne Campus, a registered nursing degree from Miami Dade College and her master’s in nursing from West Coast University. Karen worked as a registered nurse at John Hopkins and Ryder Trauma before advancing to the service line director of nursing for emergency and trauma services at Jackson South Medical Center.

Karen has continuously given back to her community including work with the United Way, Women of Tomorrow, and the Children’s Burn Foundation. She considers her largest contribution to her community as her service as a nurse for the last 26 years.

“I am dedicated to maintaining the substantial relationships that I have established with Police and Fire Departments to provide for the safety and security of the community. This is to support my #1 priority other than quality of life which is community safety. Of which I have an intimate understanding having seen firsthand while running the trauma center and emergency department which serves as the catchment facility for district 8. I will work to collaborate and empower the community councils as they have the pulse on the issues for the communities that they serve.”

To learn more about Karen’s Campaign visit Https://karenbaezwallis.com

Dr. Stone-Gale receives multiple awards and induction as a Fellow

Dr. Vicky Stone-Gale, DNP, APRN, FNP-BC, FAANP, FNAP was inducted in March 2022, as a Distinguished Fellow of the National Academies of Practice. She also received the 2022 Outstanding Policy Award from the National Organization of Nurse Practitioner Faculty (NONPF) in April at their yearly conference in Minneapolis, Minnesota, and the 2022 AANP Advocate State Award of Excellence from the American Association of Nurse Practitioners at the national AANP conference during the Salute to the States Award Ceremony June 24th in Orlando, Florida. This prestigious award is given annually to a dedicated advocate in each state who has made a significant contribution toward increasing the awareness and recognition of nurse practitioners.

Dr. Stone-Gale is an Associate Professor in the FNP program at Frontier Nursing University and practices as an Autonomous APRN in Primary Care in Plantation. She is the current President of the South Florida Council of Advanced Practice Nurses, First VP of Legislation for the Florida Nurse Practitioner Network, and is Chair for the North Probable Cause Panel for the Florida Board of Nursing.

Association of Nurses in AIDS Care Conference comes to Tampa Nov. 17-19 led by FNA Member Donna Sabatino, RN, ACRN

ANAC’s annual national conference will be held in Tampa this year, bringing together nurses, researchers, educators, policy experts, healthcare innovators, community members and nursing students from across the country and the globe. This is the conference’s 35th year and Florida Nurses Association member Donna Sabatino, RN, ACRN leads the planning as the ANAC2022 conference chair. Donna also serves in a consultant role at ANAC, supporting the organizations national and global health policy and advocacy work. Additionally, she is Director of State Policy & Advocacy for The AIDS Institute in Florida.

Dr. Sharon Rogers Elected President of Miami BNA

Florida Nurses Association (FNA) South Region congratulates Dr. Sharon Rogers as the newly elected President of the Black Nurses Association, Miami Chapter (Miami BNA). Dr. Rogers has been active with FNA for many years and participated in several of their initiatives; Tallahassee Advocacy Days, FNA Health Policy Special Interest Group (SIG), South Region Leadership Council and various Taskforce initiatives. Her experience and background are with the Jackson Health System (JHS) for 26 years in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) and pediatric intensive care unit (PICU), and as Associate Director of Patient Care Services, Women’s Center at Jackson South Community Hospital. Dr. Rogers has served on the Nomination Committee for FNA from 2017-2019. She was the recipient of both FNA “Nurse Educator” Award in 2017 and the “Promoting Environmental for Excellence in Nursing Practice” Award in 2019. She has also completed the ‘Board Service Initiative’ (BSI) with the Florida Center for Nursing (FCN). As BNA Health Policy Chair, she has consistently participated in FNA “Advocacy Days” coordinating legislative appointments with State Legislators in Tallahassee. She is a sustained supporter of FNA South Region and continues to be actively engaged with their platform.

Submitted by Dr. Linda Washington-Brown, FNA, South Region Director

President’s Message continued from page 1

The ANA Membership Assembly was highly successful. We also elected Dr. Edward Briggs of St. Petersburg, FL to the ANA Board of Directors! Dr. Briggs is a longtime member and past president of FNA who has been a strong voice for nurses over his career. We proudly stood with ANA President Dr. Ernest Grant and Dr. Barbara Nichols.

The nursing crisis in Florida is evident in all venues where care is delivered. A recent report from the Florida Hospital Association (FHA) indicates a projected shortage of approximately 59,000 nurses by 2035. We have much work to do relating to recruitment and retention, improving National Council Licensing Examination (NCLEX) pass rates in Florida, and improving workplace concerns. FNA has several opportunities available for you to speak to these concerns. To join this important work please visit the FNA website at www.floridanurse.org

This is a priority concern for Florida nurses. The Quality & Unity in Nursing Council (QUIN) has been working to address the Florida nurse needs for the future. The QUIN Council and the Nursing Action Coalition of Florida (NACFL) will be presenting our white paper on recommended resolutions during the FNA Membership Assembly. The Board of Directors and I look forward to hearing from you and having you join us at the Membership Assembly in September.

Donna has been in the HIV fight for 30 years, holding several positions including a bedside RN in a dedicated HIV/AIDS unit in Ft. Lauderdale in the early 90s, an HIV clinic nurse and manager, director of operations for a Disease Management Program and an industry partner. She truly believes that “nurses have always been respected advocates and are at the intersection between social justice, health policy and the needs of our patients.” Donna has served on the national ANAC Board of Directors, chaired the ANAC Policy & Advocacy Committee and is the recipient of the 2021 Helen Miramontes Award, presented by ANAC and Until There’s a Cure Foundation to an individual whose work influences policy to improve the lives of vulnerable persons. Her extensive policy background makes her the perfect fit to chair this year’s conference, which will have a strong focus on health equity and policy.

The ANAC2022 conference theme is Equity, Compassion & Science - Keys to Ending the Epidemic. Sessions will amplify the messages of inclusion, equity, and compassion, which are nursing values necessary to end the HIV epidemic and address health equity.

Attendees will learn about the latest developments and advancements in HIV care through abstract-driven sessions from highly acclaimed speakers. There will be skillsbuilding opportunities and networking to advance nursing roles in advocacy and education that draw attention to the intersections of human rights and health disparities and HIV. You’re invited to join other nurses to celebrate the amazing work being done in support of LGBTQ+ individuals and people with or at risk of HIV in Florida and around the world. Attendees are eligible for up to 18 hours of nursing continual professional development credit hours (formerly known as CNE), which are included in the registration fee!

We can’t wait to see you at ANAC2022 Nov. 17-19 in Tampa, Florida (pre-conference activities on Nov. 16). Check out the agenda and stay tuned for more details. Visit our website for registration information and a welcome message from Tampa Mayor Jane Castor.

The Association of Nurses in AIDS Care (ANAC) is the leading nursing organization responding to HIV/AIDS. Since its founding in 1987, ANAC has been meeting the needs of nurses and other healthcare professionals in HIV/ AIDS care, education, research, prevention, and policy.

Pictured left to right: Mavra Kear (Treasurer-FNA), Janice Adams (President-FNA), Ernest Grant (President-ANA), Barbara Nichols (Past PresidentANA), Marie O. Etienne (President-Elect-FNA), Ed Briggs (Newly elected board memberANA), George Peraza-Smith (Representative & Immediate Past President-FNA)

Member’s Voice

Todd’s Paralysis: Know the Signs

Ashley Davis

Ashley Davis

Ashley is currently working as a rapid response team nurse. Ashley’s nursing career began in 2014. Ashley’s primary background is in emergency nursing. She is currently enrolled at the University of South Alabama to become a dual certified FNP/ AGACNP. She lives with her husband and two daughters in Pensacola, Florida.

“Todd’s paralysis is a neurological condition experienced by individuals with epilepsy, in which a seizure is followed by a brief period of temporary paralysis. The paralysis may be partial or complete but usually occurs on just one side of the body” (National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, 2022). The importance of being aware of Todd’s Paralysis is that the signs and symptoms of this disorder are very similar to those of a stroke (National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, 2022). Observable signs can include flattened nasolabial fold, upper and/ or lower extremity weakness, and more.

Todd’s Paralysis occurs after a patient has experienced an epileptic seizure. The symptoms can last between thirty minutes and up to thirty-six hours, with an average time of symptoms lasting approximately fifteen hours (National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, 2022). Mastriana et al. (2022) report that the current understanding regarding the cause of Todd’s Paralysis signs and symptoms is when a patient experiences a seizure there is exhaustion and/or hypo-perfusion of the area of the brain that controls the area of the body that becomes paralyzed for a period. As that portion of the brain recovers from the epileptic state, the symptoms diminish and eventually go away.

If it is suspected that your patient is experiencing Todd’s Paralysis, it is imperative to notify the patient’s attending physician and/or neurology team, and to complete a thorough neurological assessment. The patient may require a CT scan of the brain, antiepileptic medications, as well as other diagnostics and/or treatments.

References

Mastriana, J., Pay, J. L., De Jesus, O., & Taylor, R. S. (2022, May 9). Todd paresis. StatPearls. Retrieved June 21, 2022, from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK532238/ National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke. (2022, April 25). Todd’s paralysis. NIH. Retrieved June 21, 2022, from https://www.ninds.nih.gov/health-information/ disorders/todds-paralysis#:~:text=Publications,Definition,one%20side%20of%20the%20body.

Voting as Nursing Advocacy

Charlotte D. Barry PhD & Savina O. Schoenhofer PhD

Contact info: cbarry@health.fau.edu savibus@gmail.com

“ANA believes that advocacy is a pillar of nursing. Nurses instinctively advocate for their patients, in their workplaces, and in their communities; but legislative and political advocacy is no less important to advancing the profession and patient care.”

Advocacy (nursingworld.org)

The most basic practice of advocacy is also the most basic practice of citizenship – voting. In the US, voting is the mechanism for political expression in a way that matters most. However, research has found that nurses and other healthcare professionals have a lower likelihood of voting than members of professions such as teaching, engineering and the law. (https://www. ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7822395/).

We need to do better in order to live up to our commitment to advocacy for ourselves, for our patients and for the healthcare system in general. What are some practical ways to help us improve the record of voting? Allow us to suggest one avenue that is readily accessible – the League of Women Voters. It needs to be said up front that the League of Women Voters is not just for women – it’s for all persons, men and women, of all political persuasions, all demographic groups. The League’s motto is “Empowering Voters – Defending Democracy.” The Florida League of Women Voters (Home - League of Women Voters of Florida (lwvfl.org)) has much to offer, whether or not you are a member. They have well researched position papers on various relevant issues, they sponsor local and statewide in-person and online Voter Forum opportunities prior to every election, they provide information about the how-to’s and when-to’s of voter registration and voting in-person, online and by mail.

One of the most valuable services available through the League of Women Voters is the website called Vote 411 (https://www.vote411.org/). At Vote 411, you can find out when and where to register and vote and get information about candidates for office - just go to https://vote.411.org and put in your address for valuable details that will help you plan your voting experience.

We

Student

Galen College is currently hiring expert educators and committed professionals in all areas of expertise whose guidance and experience contribute to the success of thousands of students entering the nursing field every year.

Must have MSN, DNP or PhD degree

As part of the League of Women Voters’ commitment to Empowering Voters, the League engages in extensive Get Out The Vote (GOTV) efforts. Some examples of these efforts include posting signs with registration deadlines and voting dates, writing postcards to voters to remind/encourage them to vote, and offering rides to the polls on election day.

So, if you would like to help raise the percentages of nurse involvement in empowering voters, please consider joining your local League of Women Voters. Use Vote411.org to check out candidates and find your polling place. Share the resource of Vote411.org with your colleagues, your patients, your family and friends. That’s a wonderful way to honor your commitment to advocacy as a pillar of nursing!

References

Solnick, R. E., Choi, H., & Kocher, K. E. (2022). Voting behavior of physicians and healthcare professionals. J Gen Intern Med, 36, pp. 1169-1171.

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7822395/ The League of Women Voters of Florida. (2022). https://lwvfl.org/ Vote 411. (2022). https://www.vote411.org/

How can I get involved in FNA?

This is a question we hear often from both new and seasoned members of FNA. Sometimes, they are new, have settled in their job and are ready to add professional involvement to their “resume” of activities. Often, they are older members who have always intended to become more involved and decided this was the time. Others have retired and have more time to dedicate to advocacy efforts. No matter what the situation we feel we have SOMETHING that members can sink their teeth into.

Governance Level

FNA has opportunities for the FNA Board of Directors, the Florida Nurses Foundation Board of Trustees and the Florida Nurses Political Action Committee. These are “executive” and board level positions that provided leadership to important entities of the association. The work includes quarterly meetings which are currently mostly virtual and perhaps some quick meeting in-between to take care of emergent business. The FNA Board determines the directions and actions of the association and steers it toward the mission while overseeing the financial status and managing the strategic plan. The Foundation oversees the philanthropy arm of the association by overseeing the Grants and Scholarship Program and creating fundraising opportunities to grow the funds. Like the FNA Board they also provide governance and fiscal oversight. The FNPAC board oversees the process for endorsement of political candidates and promotes fundraising and donations to the PAC. They also meet multiple times a year but most frequently during elections.

Standing Committees

Like most organizations, FNA has standing committees that are a part of the governance structure. The Bylaws Committee oversees the governing document of the association and review them regularly to ensure that they are serving the organization in a way that supports the mission and complies with best practice. This committee is great for individuals who love organization, structure, and order.

The Reference Committee promotes, writes and receives Reference Proposals from members or Structural units with our position statement of importance that the association might make. These are brought before the Membership Assembly and discussed and voted on. If they are adopted, they become a position of the association. This committee would be great for a member who understands and is passionate about an issue and who is adept at editing and evaluating content.

The Membership Committee works on initiatives and strategies to promote and preserve membership in the professional association. This committee would be great for a creative member who is excited about the association and wants to inspire and motivate others to join. Creativity is a great attribute for a member of this committee.

Ad Hoc Committees

The Finance Committee is a committee of the Board of Directors (and other appointed members) who oversee the association finances and report to the Board (at each official meeting) and the Membership Assembly. They create a proposed budget which is then approved by the Board of Directors and is then utilized to make sure the association is fiscally solvent. This committee is appointed by the president.

Awards Committee

The Awards Committee is also appointed by the President. They score the awards each year and make the selections for the FNA Peer Recognition Awards. The awards have been created by leadership over the years and also have been amended or completely changed by various committees. Nominations are sought from the membership and the committee receives those nominations.

Special Interest Groups (SIGs)

Special Interest Groups are created by the members upon request. They must have 10 interested members to form a SIG and each SIG defines it goals and purposes. Currently we have the Health Policy SIG, The Nursing Ethics SIG, the Research SIG, the Recent Graduate SIG, and the Holistic Nurses SIG. Several SIGs have been closed over the years due to lack of activity which is the beauty of a group formed by members. They determine if it is viable and valuable. The SIGs have also met virtually since their inception but have the option for in-person events. At one time the Recent Graduate SIG did several meetups in the state via our Meetup.com account.

American Nurses Association Opportunities

FNA members may also become involved at the national level, including running for office, serving on committees, running for ANA delegate in our elections and attending the ANA Membership Assembly.

We have had several ANA board members, including Dr. Edward Briggs who was very recently elected. We also have several members serving on committees at the current time.

Task Forces

Task Forces are time-limited groups formed for a specific purpose. Currently, the Pandemic and Disaster Task Force and the JEDI Task Force are active groups within FNA. We are also in the process of starting a Workforce Violence Task Force to look at the ongoing problem of violence against nurses.

External organizations

Other organizations and entities sometimes seek out FNA for nursing representatives. Currently, Debbie Hogan has served on the Child Abuse Death Review Committee (CADR) and Patty Geddie serves on the Cancer Control Advisory Board or CCRAB, in a position specifically designated for FNA. There is also a position on the Florida Center for Nursing Board that is an FNA specific slot. We have representation on the Quality and Unity in Nursing (QUIN) Council and we have many members on the Florida Action Coalition. We have representatives on the Florida Coalition of Advanced Practice Nurses as well, which is a group we help to form. Bill Pruitt and Valerie Morrison represent FNA on the Nurses on Boards Coalition (NOBC) where we disseminate information about board opportunities for our members.

Other opportunities

Do you have expertise in a topic? Present a webinar or CE for us.

Serve as a reviewer! We have reviewers for grants, scholarships, research projects, awards, abstracts for poster sessions and speakers for conferences. Serving as a reviewer is a short-term contribution that has great value to the association.

This is an overview of some great engagement opportunities in the Florida Nurses Association. Don’t be afraid to dip your toe in the water and any level that feels comfortable to you. We look forward to working with you!

FNA Event Highlights

Research Conference 2022 Recap

The 8th Annual FNA Nursing Research and Evidence-Based Practice Conference was held on Saturday, July 16, 2022 at the Sheraton Orlando North in Maitland, FL. This year’s keynote address was “Nursing Art and Science: Bridge to Innovation” presented by Susan V. White, PhD, RN, CPHQ, FNAHQ, NEA-BC and Stephanie Sinnett, MS, RD, LDN of the Orlando VA Healthcare System. Dr. White and Ms. Sinnett kicked off the conference with an exciting and engaging presentation that inspired attendees to consider the ways in which innovation is born within the nursing workplace. The session included a mock “Shark Tank” pitch with participation from Sue Fowler, PhD, RN, CRRN, FCNS who pitched an innovative idea to the “sharks” in the audience. Some takeaways from the presentation included know the problem you’re working on, don’t be afraid to fail, use iterations and pivots when needed, and be sure to have a great pitch to help garner support for your innovation.

The keynote presentation was followed by several podium presentations from nurse researchers. Each podium presentation was unique, creative, and met a need/answered a question related to nurse’s impact on health care issues and/ or professional nursing issues. Both qualitative and quantitative studies were presented. The presenters provided the participants with opportunities to hear about the research and evidence-based process in action. While each presenter had a different “journey” to their research, the common goal of research and evidence being the guiding force of practice and the profession of nursing was most evident.

Trecia D. Jones, MSN, RN, CNL, PCCN of the University of Central Florida presented her work with veterans and vitamin B12 deficiency monitoring. Her project entitled, “A Quality Improvement Project to Increase Vitamin B12 Monitoring in Veterans Who Have Diabetes and Take Metformin” demonstrated that education intervention to increase awareness of ADA guidelines on B12 deficiencies in patients taking metformin had a positive correlation with monitoring B12 levels.

Anita M. Stephen PhD, RN, CNL of the University of Florida College of Nursing shared her research involving students’ acceptance of technological systems in nursing education entitled, “Nursing Students’ Acceptance of an Online

Computer-based Simulation System Utilizing the Technology Acceptance Model.” The study showed that external factors influence the students’ acceptance of these models and that clear, concise instructions, and instructor support are key for success.

Walter Wills BSN, RN, a PhD student at the University of South Florida presented his study on patients with COPD and the link between quality of life and cardiovascular disease. The research, “Cardiovascular Disease as A Moderator of GOLD Stage and Quality of Life in COPD Patients” suggested a relationship between lower degrees of airflow limitation and worsened quality of life when presenting with comorbid CVD and identified the need to develop innovative interventions to promote symptom management and self-care.

Rounding out the podium presentations was a look inside the lives of former victims of sex trafficking. Elizabeth H. Sassatelli, PhD, RN, CNE and Katherine Justus, RN presented “Out of the “Life” But Still Out of Sight: The Long-Term Health Effects of Sex Trafficking on Women in Florida.” The presentation used survivor testimonies on experiences in the health care system to emphasize the importance of trauma informed care when providing health care services to individuals with a history of sex trafficking.

The conference boasted two lively poster sessions with thirty-one posters from a diverse range of topics. The poster presentations were diverse in area of focus as well as research method. Poster presentations included both qualitative and quantitative research and evidence-based projects, and were from both state and national sites. There were completed studies and studies in progress presented. There were studies from clinical, academic, and community environments. Each presenter had time for participants to view their posters and ask questions. It was a great opportunity to see the types of work being done by the diverse Florida nurse.

Start thinking now for next year’s Research and Evidence-Based Conference to be held in July 2023. The call for abstracts usually goes out in March. For those who are new(er) to writing abstracts, FNA provides an abstract writing webinar given in both April and May, to assist and encourage everyone to submit. More details will be announced soon!

Thank you to everyone involved in making this conference a roaring success including our speakers, poster presenters, podium presenters, and members of the planning committee.

FNA Event Highlights

us and enjoy great benefits, and a rewarding career!

PEMHS’s team of dedicated mental health professionals is looking for Registered Nurses ! Must be a Registered Nurse with Florida licensure. To apply, send your resume and cover letter to Jahenein Nagel, jnagel@pemhs.org or apply online https://pemhs.org/careers/

provides you a safe and secure place to store your credentials, and find available per-diem work close to home or across the country in real-time. Find PRN shifts on your schedule for RNs, LPNs, & CNAs with great pay & flexibility so you can nurse on YOUR terms.

Focus on Recent Grads

Several years ago, the FNA Membership Assembly voted to add a Director of Recent Graduates to the Board of Directors. The goal of this position was to create activities to engage the young professionals and to make sure the organization was addressing the needs of newly graduated nurses. Recent graduates were defined as nurses in practice for five years or less. We recently sent out a call for new graduates meeting this criterion to form a group to serve as an advisory board to develop activities and programs for recent graduates. We also created a group on Meetup.com for new graduates to network in different parts of the state.

We are working on a section of the FNA website dedicated to new graduates. We need our members who are in the workforce to help us develop this resource. Danielle Weaver is the current Director, Recent Graduates. She recently initiated a networking series called Coffee with a Nurse. The first one was held on August 10 and was a great conversation with Danielle who is an ER Nurse. We will continue this series with various other nursing roles.

We are also open to other suggestions from our members who have graduated recently. Support, mentorship and networking are some of the activities past novice nurses have asked for. If you are interested in new graduate activities please email Iris Lopez at info@floridanurse.org and we will add you to the Recent Grad Special Interest Group and the Advisory Board.

EMPOWERING NURSES LEADING CHANG--.E

SEPTEMBER 22-24, 2022 MISSION INN RESORT, HOWEY·IN·THE·HILLS

KEYNOTE

Dr. Ernest J. Grant President, American Nurses Association

Diversity Workshop

Leading Change: Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Survey Results and Actions presented by Leaders of the FNA JEDI Task Force Susan B. Fowler, PhD, RN, CRRN, FCNS Marie Etienne, DNP, APRN, FNP, PNP, PLNC

» 12 + Breakout Sessions

» 8 Contact Hours for Nurses

» Discounted registration and rebates available for FNA Members

Thursday, September 22

» Two hours of BONUS breakout sessions!

» Networking Happy Hour Friday, September 22

» Keynote Presentation by ANA President

» Dr. Ernest J. Grant

» Work session with the Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (JEDI) Task Force

» Dynamic presentations from FNA Members

» Poster presentations from Florida Nurse Researchers

» Networking opportunities and Region meetings

» Icon Awards Reception and Dinner

Saturday, September 23

» Advocacy Breakfast featuring Workplace Rights presentation

Danielle Weaver

2022 Nurses Week Event Highlights

FNA Southeast Region holds First Annual Nurse Appreciation Self-Care Event

The FNA Southeast Region held its First Annual Nurse Appreciation Event on May 12th from 3pm – 9pm at the Florida Atlantic University Boca Raton campus in Palm Beach County. The self-care themed event was a tremendous success!

Participants were able to indulge in self-care services such as acupuncture, massage, foot therapy, microdermabrasion hand therapy, guided imagery meditation, reiki, and catered food and beverages. Hourly gift give-ways and keynote speakers kept the event interactive and informative. A featured silent auction item raised $2,000 and offered one of our nurses a lovely vacation home for an entire week on beautiful Lake Lure, North Carolina during this upcoming Thanksgiving holiday. Thanks to the generosity of sponsors throughout the community, nurses were able to attend the event for free.

The event was led by an amazing volunteer team of FNA members: Angela Bonaby, Altavia Evans, Deirdre Krause, Mara Raggi, Delilah Rivera, Maritess Quinto, and Yamiley Theodore, whose dedication, perseverance, and focus created a magnificent event for all nurses to enjoy! The team also received outstanding administrative support from Sydney Goldberg and the FNA staff.

The Southeast Region team plans to make this an annual event during Nurses Week. We hope to see you there next year!

The Student Nurses Association of Arizona College of Nursing – Fort Lauderdale Campus

The Student Nurses Association of Arizona College of Nursing – Fort Lauderdale Campus (SNAAZC - FL) was officially created in February 2022. I am honored to serve as the Founding President alongside these great Founding Board Members: Casey Norton, President-Elect; Nathalie Canterbury, Vice President; Camasha Douglas, Treasurer; Dhana Clarke, Secretary; Gabriela Belchior, Program Coordinator; and Jada Williams, Historian.

I want to thank our Faculty Advisor – Professor Kaydene Bailey-Green, RN, MSNED, and Dr. Marie O. Etienne, DNP, APRN, FNP, PNP, PLNC, President-Elect of the Florida Nurses Association for helping us create the chapter at the Fort Lauderdale Campus. Additionally, I would like to thank Dr. Shawn Higgins, PhD, RN, CHC, Dean of Nursing and Mr. James Jones, Executive Director of Academic Operations for their support to SNAAZC-FL. Melissa Georges, President, SNAAZC-FL

Reprinted Article with Corrections from May 2022 TFN

Northwest

Marty Adkins

Murriah Allen

Sefphra Arias

Janay Barnes

Tavaris Brooks

Brittany Cox

Nancy Derby

Brett Floyd

Sabrina Francois

Hellena Goff

Judy Grant

Eva Grumbir

Kristian Hill

Sarah Holloway

Lindsay Jusino

Talisman Lundy-Lleshi

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Meredith Midalm

Kristen Miner

Kirk Jones Molitas

Andrea Page

Sherman Platt

Anges Rivers

Michelle Scheetz

Alexandra Scofield

Claryssa Taylor

Paige Ward

Cynthia West

John Wetzel

Dawn Wilkosz

North Central

Katelyn Alli

Patrick Asselin

Carl Baquie

Amanda Batson

Marites Bautista

Lorena Becerra

Tara Belcher

Kristina Bell

Ermite Caris Barlatier

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Chivon Charles-Hadley

Leigh Cooper

Rebekah Costello

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Sadid Momen

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Olive Quintana

Meagan Reeves Bible

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Modesta Rivera

Rachelle Sansing

Marika Sauter

Aron Schacht

Annie Smelt

Valree Smilek

Christopher Thomas

Jaime Thomas

Boris Towns

Lani White

Deana Yates

Northeast

Alysia Adams

Rebecca Alter

Vilma Avila

Lisa Barcaro

Brielle Barnhill

Whitney Bates

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Amelia Brown

Renee Cave

Diego Cerquera

Timothy Chaffey

Taylor Colgate

Linda Connelly

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Dawn Dust

Roxanne Finch

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Summer Flynn

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Lori Kirk

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Ha Hua

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Priscila Isackson de Melo

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Welcome New FNA Members

Marckenson Janvier

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George Ngo

Cantave Obas

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Donna Robinson

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Yuleidy Rodriguez

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Diana Vasilenko

Widillia Verges

Kameelah Vose

Kimberly Warren

Charmaine Watson

Sharon Weyer

Alinda Williams

Shelby Wood

Cynthia Woolery

Donna Wrobel

Mona Young

Wendy Young

West Central

Erika Adipietro

Vicky Alfonso

Ruth Altamirano

Ruby Arroyo

Katy Aschenbrenner

Cherilyn Ashlock

Samuel Battle

Sunnie Beardsley

Rebecca Beattie

Catherine Belden

Jecklaine Borrero

Yannorkis Perez Napoles

Welcome New FNA Members continued from page 21

Jennifer Bouzid

Alexandra Boyd

Jennifer Calloway

Marie Campbell

Katherine Cancel

Hilda Canon

Janice Caril

Jose Carlos Cavalcanti

Philomene Charles-

Doristin

Maximilian Cheung

Luz Cobian

Molly Cook

Yvelle Corrielus

Vivien Cruz

Olivia Daigle

Ericka Daniels

Jennifer De Gaspard

Lindsey DeBruler

Panagiota Demetriou

Anna Marie Di Santi

Allyson Duffy

Karissa Dyar-Short

Jennifer Fahringer

Rachael Feathers

Sarah Filosi

Marie Free

Jacqueline Gilbert

Kim Hagans

Allison Hargrave

Tiffany Harris

Julia Havelin

Nicole Hawthorne

Mary Healy

Cindy Heden

Stephanie Henry

Amanda Hunt-McCart

Va Imath

Julie Jefferis

Katia Jimeno-Londono

Kristin Johnson

Chanae Jones

Tina Jones

Stela Karkatselos

Larisa Khailo

Justin Kindrick

Tracy LaCourse

Alfa Lafleur

Maria Laufer

Tiffany Lemelle

Terrie Lewis

Erika Mammoser

Mollie McClenthan

Sarah Menendez

Jeanne Minnear

Sonia Mitchell

Kaylyn Munroe

Paige Nelson

Angely Olavarria

Rodriguez

Lazaro Oliva Torres

Alexandria Olivo

Corinne Paige

Ysulin Parrado

Victoria Parray

Julie Pham

Rowdy Phillips

Rachel Pierce

Heidi Pillion

Vikki Pinkos

Yanay Pino Osuna

Jennifer McComis

Pintavalle

Emily Podoll

Danielle Porter

Jonathan Ralph

Gesline Rodne

Karen Roig

Brandi Sagers

Bobbie Schaffer

Kristen Sciarra

Valeria Seidl

Jamison Shaw

Fallon Shelton

Kristen Sheppard

Erica Simplice

Sandra Smith

Marcia Spencer

Natalie Stangl

Kellie Steiner Dawson

Barbara Suarez

DeWayne Tudor

Regina Turner

Annie Tyrell

Susan Urrutia

Lori Urvakis

John Vrabel

Stephanie Walker

Dawn Warren

John Webb

Breanna Wells

Jonathon Wilder

Southeast

Jessica AbernathyLenowitz

Welcome New FNA Members

Diana Aguirre

Aneilla Alcin

Felix Alfred

Amber-Shaye Anderson

Susan Apostol

Denise Arce

Lourdes Arias

Karen Baez-Wallis

Valeria Bass

Angela Bilotti

Helyna K Bissell

Aubrie Bond

Rose Boscaino

Leslie Brannon

Raniquia Brown

Megan Buncie

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Gilda Capapas

Laura Carr

Isis Cendan

Lilla Chin

Stacy Cirrito

Makaylan Clark

Jabbar Clarke

Sabrina Clarke

Jennifer Conner

Lidis Corcho

LaToy Cotton

Megan Cox

Taryn Dadesky

Lashawn Delancy

Blanca Diez Plasencia

Georgia Dixon

Lisa Dobison

Brittany Dupre

Marie Ellis

Laurie Felix-Nicolas

Elaine Fredrickson

Brittanie Gebara

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Katrin Gorman

Kelly Grogan

Juan Guanzon

Regla Gutierrez

Sherese Harrison

Angela Hazellief

Delaney Holdt

Elizabeth Hutchinson

Eugene Jacobs

Peyton Janssen

Matilda Jarocki

Taina Jean-Pierre

Jessica Joseph

Katherine Justus

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Summer Kellogg

Rice Kleya

Nagamani Kota

Alphena Lawrence

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Corlina M. Johnson

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Ashley Markant

James Marra

Fernanda Martinez

Ahkira McPherson

Paul Mensah

Megan Merritt

Damika Mervilus

Maximilian Mihel

Megan Milbourne

Michaelia Mitchell

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Christine Murray

Yanet Musa

Kathleen Navarrete

Nickesha Nelson

Jessie Oliver

Julia Palermo

Tasha Patterson

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Amber Pfeiffer

Terri Pinder

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Debra Price

Rachel Rairden

Julie Ann Richards-Henry

Priscillia Rinaldy

Maria Rodriguez

Luis Romero

Nicole Rosembert

Allison Rosenberg

Michelle Royal

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Andrea Sabdull

Ruth Saint Hurbain

Kimberly Salmon

Kayla Sanderson

Tyler Schaefer

Dneil Schmall

Juan Segura

Kristine Smith

Tracey Soper

Christopher Soto

Cathi Stephens

Sivan Stulberger

Christia Swearingen

Bente Torvund

Kerri Ann Uter Bryson

Jyna Valcimond

Daylin Walker

Vicki Wilcoxson

Moraima Yanes

Nicole Young

Dominique Zubrod

Southwest

Jose Amador Mejias

Anna Axley

Juliette Capriles

Caroline Clay

Stefanie Crofton

Christina Dale

Beth DiModica

Melissa Neal Dossett

Mary Anne Enns

Sindy Fox

Angela Gosselin

Cori Hendry

Benjamin Hoffman

Jeanne Hopple

Kristine Howell

Kimberly Jaklitch

Lindsay Jakovac

Bridget Jessop

Laverne Jones

Jessica Lehman

Ronita Loy

Nichole Lynch

Jocelyn Martinez

Salina McLellan

Alysa Memoli

Brynn Mona

Megan Murr

Anisa Musollari

Holly Page

Dawn Papp

Nickisha Parker-Jacobs

Charlene Perno

Wendy Reyes

Thomas Sokol

Jennifer Strahan

Kristine Strumpfler

Renee Stults

Ramon Suarez Carmona

Leslie Taylor

Vivian Thomas

Diancy Torres Garcia

Jennifer Vavrinchik

Jaime Verastegui

South

Karen Abreu Cabrera

Yasmany Acosta

Aria Alberti

Arianna Alvarez

Rosario Alvarez

Patricia Anyamele

Brianna Aponte

Welcome New FNA Members

Elizabeth Atkinson

Beatriz Bacallao Ravelo

Raquel Baron

Jennifer Barreto-Frie

Kristina Baxter

Lourdes Bazan

Karleen Bien-Aime

Elizabeth Blake

Valerie Borelly

Jan Brodnax

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Alba Carrillo

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Andrew Davies

Ceci de Socarraz-Novoa

Arlet Del Toro Gamez

Alexis Delgado

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Astride Desario

Annie Devandara

Margret Diston

Samara Donaldson

Jacobus Duncan

Lyz Eidam

June Ellis

Mimi Farride

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Maria Francia

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Geraldinne Fuentes

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Robin Gale

Stefanny Gamboa

Valenzuela

Anissa Garces

Mayelin Garcia

Michelle Garcia

Grace Garlobo Rodriguez

Jaimie Geyer

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Sherildan Glynn

Keith Gonzalez

Marilyn Gonzalez

Victor Gonzalez

Hunter Gordon

Lissa Green

Jean Guerrier

Denise Guerrier-Watson

Rhonda Harris

Tajae Harris Townsend

Wendelle Henry

Christopher Hill

Astride Honore

Yvette Howell

Anamaria Hoyos

Brianna Huebner

Lidianis Izquierdo

Marsha Jackson

Sara Jaffe

Ashley Johnson

Robert Jones

Patricia Joseph

Joyce Judovich

Elaine Juliano

Brittany Kava

Anita Komninakis

Margaret Lancaster

Diana Lankenau

Alexandra Laroche

Macrina Lisbey

Luz Lopez

Janelle Lovell

Amber Lubie

Alexis Luria

Nadine Marcellus

Eddy Marcial

Blondel Martin

Aquiles Martinez

Hernandez

Michelle Mendez

Grethel Mercado

Lourdine Mervilus

Luisa Mesa

Lisette Metauten

Yanisleidy Mondeja

Marcia Moodie

Paola Moreaux

Crystal Motay

Morgan Nestingen

Stephanie Ortega

Damian Otano

Helen Del Palacios

Roseline Paraisy

Jennifer Parker

Francisco Paula

Katia Pena

Yelena Perez

Natalie Perotte

Vera Perrett

Amber Petras

Tanya Pintado

Rachel Pittell

Silvio Planas Gonzalez

Blondine Poliard

Glenda Polycarpe

Ruth Pouchie

Javier Quinonez Meza

Anna Rachman

Francesse Raphael-Larose

Sara Reilly

Rosa Rivera

Soraya Roa

Jennifer Rodriguez

Adriana Roque

Maria Rosero

Marta Ross

Yvrose Saintil

Gertrude Saint-Louis

Marc Tito Sangalang

Amal Sarsour

Susan Schiffman

Jackson Sejour

Dionna Shelton

Muhammad Siddiqui

Jessica Sloan

Joan Soria

Gisselle Spina

Rebekah Stage

Cierra Summers

Bonita Talsma

Nassima Taylor

Sarahjane Ternier

Stacy Thalassites

Barbara Torres

Karen Toussaint

Gabriella Tyrrell

Maria Urban

Martha Valdes

Natasha Wilson

Manuel Yee

Other

Iris Bracken

Yadira Garcia

Tiffany Hammond

Hillary Lloyd

Esther Louis

Melissa Lovemore Wright

Rosalee Serju

Theresa Taylor

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