The Florida Nurse - May 2023

THE FLORIDA NURSE

President’s Message

Janice Adams, DNP, MPA, BSN President FNA

Welcome to Spring 2023. Though, I am wondering if we skipped straight to summer with the recent heat wave. I do hope you are seeing spring showers and they make you smile. During May, we celebrate both Nurses Month and Nurses Week (May 6-12, 2023). The Theme for Nurses Month is “You Make a Difference.” We know that you truly do make a difference. The American Nurses Association (ANA) has planned to honor the many roles of the nurse. There will be weekly themes for the month of celebration. It is divided into four focus areas – Selfcare, Recognition, Professional Development, and Community Engagement. May 1-7 is about SelfCare. This week is dedicated to maintaining optimal mental health and physical well-being of nurses. May 8-14 is about Recognition of the nurses who lead, excel, and innovate. May 15 – 21 is dedicated to Professional Development. ANA will focus on how you can excel your career or help others in their nursing journey. Many free courses will be available. May 22-31 is about Community Engagement. The focus is nurse engagement in the community to educate members of the community on what nurses do. This week includes our advocacy work, nurses serving on boards, and nurses promoting our profession. We are certainly grateful to all nurses for

their steadfast commitment to their patients, their communities, and our health care organizations.

FNA recently celebrated Advocacy Days in Tallahassee. This year was a little different. We were there during committee weeks instead of during session. This change allowed us more time with legislators. We had many nurses and nursing students present. We discussed and shared with our legislators the FNA Legislative Agenda and our workplace concerns relating to staffing, workplace violence, loss of nursing staff and nursing education. We do appreciate that we have been supported by our legislature to build nursing pathway programs, provide additional grant money for education, and additional educational funds provided to grow the healthcare workforce. In this session, we have moved forward a resolution and proposal that was presented in our 2022 Membership Assembly regarding the health hazards of surgical smoke. Both FNA and AORN members partnered together and traveled to Tallahassee to testify at several committee meetings to move forward on our surgical smoke concerns. We successfully and unanimously passed all committees in the Senate. The Bill is currently in the House awaiting approval to move forward. Thank you to our nurses, legislators and our lobby team for their phone calls, emails, and letters to support Florida nursing.

As always, the FNA Board of Directors welcomes your comments and look forward to serving you in making nursing better for all in Florida.

Happy Spring!

Sincerely,

Jan Adams President

Notes from the Executive Director

Yet Another Moment of Nursing Resilience: Rising from the Rubble

The COVID-19 Pandemic only exacerbated issues that we have been contending with in nursing since the inception of the profession. There has never been a time when nursing was the kind of job you could wrap in tidy package and finish your day with a bow tied neatly around it. But during the Pandemic constant chaos and unpredictability became routine and shortcuts became the norm.

Multiple groups within the profession continue to have never-ending discussions, meeting, summits, and consortiums regarding the aftermath of COVID-19 on nurses and the healthcare work environment. What follows is a summary of some of those discussion topics.

Nurses feeling undervalued

Many nurses reported they felt that they were mistreated during the pandemic. Early on, some nurses were forced to work without PPE and even threatened with termination if they bought their own. They were then asked to either use surgical masks, homemade masks, or to reuse N-95s. After being educated in an environment where you were checked off on certain procedures and could fail a simple task like handwashing, it was traumatizing for nurses to be forced to lower their standards but then be threatened by loss of employment for non-compliance . Some nurses that became ill were not able to access Workman’s Compensation because they couldn’t prove they got sick at work. Some nurses were forced to work sick or come back to work while still experiencing symptoms. These are stories nurses told when calling FNA headquarters throughout the early days of the Pandemic. A couple of those nurses are still exhibiting Long COVID symptoms. This is just a sampling of the stories nurses shared about their experiences with COVID-19 caregiving.

Clinging to our Professional Standards

Many nurses reported a “lowering of standards” in the provision of care. Currently, there is fear that we will never return to the high standards we once held. Standards related to practice such as rounding on patients, safe, timely and accurate medication administrations, assessment and monitoring of patients, personal care and regular patient observation and monitoring were all areas of concern for nurses. Another area of concern was RN presence in long term care patients and staffing with appropriate personnel. Attached to this is delegation and supervision concerns as more laws are passed that allow delegating of tasks that may put patients and nursing licenses at risk.

Some nurses reported that in spite of lowered standards due to staffing deficits, nurses were still being subjected to punitive measures in the face of errors and omissions. We have had several calls from nurses who were reported to the Board of Nursing after making errors in what they deemed to be untenable situations.

Faculty reported an increased level of student apathy and lack of engagement in education but with an expectation of passing the course, even if they failed a test or competency exam. There was also some discussion of ethical lapses with some students viewing cheating as no big deal. There was discussion of students downloading test answers from the internet and sharing with their study group, or concealing phones with the answers on their laps, or having cheat sheets tucked in their clothing. These students are failing to make the link between cheating in the academic setting vs. honesty and ethicsin an actual patient care situation.

Alterations in Professional Comportment

There is also concern regarding how nurses are currently carrying themselves in the professional setting. While each generation changes and nursing has made some transitions with the generations, there is still the need for a positive public perception of the profession. We have been deemed most trusted for over 22 years for a reason and professionalism is one of the core components of that trust.

Nursing Fatigue and Burnout

Nurses are human and although they often perform in superhuman ways, this takes a toll on the body as well as on the spirit. Even the most dedicated nurse has a limit, and pushing nurses to the limit is not the preferred way to cultivate a continuously vibrant nursing workforce. Nurse burnout and fatigue leads to “short-timers” and we are depleting the pool of experienced nurses who carry the “wisdom” to develop the next generation of clinical experts to deliver high quality care. New graduates are saying they have no one to ask questions and that they feel ill prepared to deliver safe care without support and mentoring.

Seeking Innovative Solutions

We need innovative solutions to address how we will continue to deliver quality care in the aftermath of a healthcare crisis and in the midst of an even greater shortage. Many band-aid remedies are being applied, in many cases without the input of the nursing professionals who are most knowledgeable regarding the situation. Many of the current solutions are based on cost savings rather than the provision of quality care and a manageable work environment, both of which are intertwined. This is a scathing view of some of the issues that have risen to the top during and after the pandemic for our members.

We ask our members to continue to engage, discuss and advance solutions as we move forward with our future advocacy.

FLORIDA NURSE THE

Owned and Published by, Florida Nurses Association

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

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

Telephone: (407) 487-2330

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 Health eCareers, HEC_Nursing_Info@ healthecareers.com. FNA and the Health eCareers 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 Health eCareers 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

Subscription available at $20.00 plus tax, per year. Members of FNA receive the newspaper as a benefit of membership.

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

Vacant, Southwest Region

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

Director of Recent Graduates

Aminah Johnson, RN

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

New Scholarship Endowed to Support Future Nurse Educators!

The Verse Family Nursing Education Scholarship will encourage Florida registered nurses to become nurse educators.

Thanks to the generous donations of longtime Foundation Trustee, Selma Verse and her family, a new scholarship fund has been endowed to support registered nurses in pursuing a degree in education. The fund will be available in next year’s scholarship application round and will be awarded to current registered nurses enrolled in master’s or higher-level program with a focus in nursing education. We thank Selma Verse and her family for helping the Foundation to grow through this generous donation.

Would you consider a lasting gift like this from your family? Contact us to learn more.

Scholarship Applications Are Open!

The Florida Nurses Foundation has over 30 scholarships available for nursing students residing in Florida and currently enrolled in a nationally accredited nursing program. Applicants must have completed at least one semester in their nursing program to qualify. The application window is open from January 1 to June 1.

There are many scholarships and grants available but each year we have awards that are not given because there are no applicants who meet the guidelines. Some of the funds have specific application requirements such as geographic location or nursing specialty. The Foundation offers scholarships for all levels of study including basic nursing programs, master’s level, and doctoral programs.

Applications are available on our website and must be completed according to specifications to be considered. Applicants submit one generic application and upon review are paired with the scholarship that best fits their profile. Descriptions of available funds are listed on our website to give applicants a sense of some of the scholarships they could be paired with. It is important to submit a complete and thorough application to provide reviewers with the best information about the applicant. Some examples of funds offered are listed below. Please review the full guidelines at www.floridanurse.org/ScholarshipsGrants

- Z. Ray Ross Business and Professional Women’s Club/FL Nursing Housing Scholarship - Awarded to female nursing students attending the University of North Florida for housing assistance.

- Kay Fullwood NE FL Geriatric Nursing Fund - Undergraduate and graduate nursing students residing in Northeast Florida (Nassau, Duval, Baker, Clay, and Bradford counties) with an interest or focus in Geriatric nursing.

- Eleanor Bindrum (District 5 Charitable Trust) - Preference given to a perioperative nurse returning to school in South Florida

These are just a few of the funds available! Visit www.floridaunurse.org/ScholarshipsGrants for more information.

Focus on the Foundation

Nurse Researchers Seeking Funding: Research Grants are Available through the Foundation!

The Florida Nurses Foundation has several opportunities for Nurse Researchers to receive grants. The purpose of the Florida Nurses Foundation (FNF) Research Grant Program is to encourage the research career development of nurses to advance the profession of nursing.

The principal investigator must be a registered nurse and be licensed to practice nursing in Florida. Applications for the research grant must be for a study (proposed or underway) that has not been completed prior to application deadline. Applications for Research Grants are due JUNE 1. Find the full guidelines and application at www.floridanurse.org/ScholarshipsGrants

Focus on the Foundation

The Foundation Announces New Board of Trustees

The Florida Nurses Foundation has had several changes to its board of trustees!

George Peraza-Smith has been elected to serve as the Foundation President. Frances Downs has been elected as the new Vice President and Debbie Conner has been elected as Treasurer. Marie Etienne, Barbara Russell, and Selma Verse will continue to serve as Trustees. We’d like to thank our outgoing Trustees Daleen Penoyer, Patricia Messmer, and Rose Rivers for their dedicated leadership and service to the Foundation! The Foundation recently welcomed four new trustees to serve on its board. Each one will bring their unique experience and skillsets to support the future of the Florida Nurses Foundation. We are exciting to begin working with these new members!

Stacy McClelland

Stacy McClelland DNP, APRN, FNP-BC is a Florida native and experienced nurse. She has a bachelors in biology, in nursing, a masters in nursing education, a post masters in family practice, and a doctorate of nursing practice from the University of South Florida. She has worked bedside caring for patients in numerous specialties and even taught future nurses to do the same. Some of the beliefs she took as a nurse and instilled to her students were to remember each patient is someone’s mother or brother and to treat everyone with a level of kindness that you would provide to your own family. As the great Maya Angelou has said, “As a nurse, we have the opportunity to heal the mind, soul, heart, and body of our patients, their families, and ourselves. They may forget your name, but they will never forget how you made them feel.” As a recent DNP prepared graduate provider, she plans to continue to elevate nursing care and knowledge.

William (Bill) Pierce

William (Bill) Pierce, RN, BSN, CCRN, RRT, MBA-HCM, CPHQ has worked in healthcare for 30+ years in several capacities, 20+ in leadership with 15 at the Director level. He has done legal nurse consulting and Bioethics consultations for 10+ years. Bill has overseen med/surg, neuro, trauma, step-downs, ICUs, Nursing Practice, Quality, Risk Management, Patient Safety and Infection Prevention. He is currently working as a Quality consultant.

Bill is an active member of the Florida Nurses Association and is the State representative to the Nurses on Boards Coalition (NOBC). He has served on the Nursing Action Coalition of Florida for 2 years. He worked with the NOBC in NJ during its formative years and was the co-chair of the Leadership Pillar for the NJ Action Coalition for 4 years, lecturing on the topic at the national Men in Nursing convention and the annual national Action Coalition conference in 2016. He also currently serves as a mentor with the American Nurses Association. Bill brings his diverse background and passion for the future of Nursing to the Florida Nurses Foundation.

Guillermo (Billy) Valdes

Guillermo R. Valdes, DNP, PGC-NEd., MSNCB-CMSRN, ANCC MEDSURG-BC has been a nursing professional in a variety of clinical practice, nursing education and academic leadership roles for over thirty 34 years in Miami Dade County. Dr. Valdes has a long history of human rights advocacy with outstanding professionalism and commitment for the patients, nurses, doctors, and healthcare professionals. In 2011, Dr. Valdes was recognized as “March of Dimes Nurse of the Year” for

clinical and academic education. Dr. Valdes has received numerous accolades that are reflective of his lifelong commitment to academic and clinical practice excellence, recognized by his peers in 2013 as “Great 100 Nurses”, Florida Nurses Association (FNA). In 2015, Dr. Valdes was nominated as “US Professor of the Year” Carnegie Foundation representing nursing at MDC, Medical Campus. Dr. Valdes in 2016 was recognized by the FNA for consistently promoting an environment of nursing excellence and by the Florida Center for Nursing as a nurse leader. As a Department Chair: RN to BSN Program at Miami Dade College (MDC), Benjamin Leon School of Nursing, he consistently promotes an atmosphere of academic achievement fostering student-centered learning in a competency-based education environment. As a SIGMA Virginia Henderson Fellow, Dr. Valdes supports nursing research and evidence-based practice with a strong commitment to recognizing nurses as leaders and has presented various nursing scholarship projects at SIGMA via the Virginia Henderson E-repository. In 2019, Dr. Valdes received the ICON Award “Mentor Role Model” Icon category from the FNA for his contributions to the nursing profession and completed a one year post graduate certificate specialty in Nursing Education at Duke University. Dr. Valdes supports the mission and vision of the Florida Nurses Association and will serve with dignity to advocate for transformational nursing leadership with inclusion, diversity, and equal opportunities for all nurses in diverse areas of practice serving the South Florida community.

Jayne Willis

Jayne Willis, DNP, RN, NEA-BC, CENP is currently on the University of Central Florida College of Nursing faculty. She primarily teaches in the Executive DNP program. Jayne retired from Orlando Health in the summer of 2021 after four decades with the organization. Before her retirement, she served as Vice President and Chief Nurse Executive for the Orlando Health system. Jayne received her Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Florida State University, her Master of Science in Nursing from the University of Florida, and her Doctorate Nursing Practice degree in executive nursing practice from the University of Central Florida. She is double board certified as a Nurse Executive-Advanced by the American Nurses Credentialing Center and a Certified Executive in Nursing Practice by the American Organization of Nurse Executives. She serves on the board for the Florida Organization of Nurse Leaders (FONL) and is a member of the Nursing Action Coalition of Florida (NACFL). She was honored with the Sigma Nursing Leadership award in 2017 and received the Florida Nurse’s Association Nursing Administration ICON award in 2020.

Frances Downs

Barbara Russell

Debbie Conner

Selma Verse

George Peraza-Smith

Marie Etienne

CALL TO FNA MEMBERSHIP ASSEMBLY

Advocacy Amidst Adversity: Our Commitment to Quality

Nursing has always faced adversity but the past few years have presented new challenges as well as more acute versions of issues we have dealt with for decades, including continued unsafe staffing, a faculty shortage, workplace violence and nursing salary concerns. Additionally, the recent crisis related to fraudulent Florida nursing schools is a concern for all professional nurses in every aspect of the profession. Our theme was fashioned in the light of these challenges and more. The focus on quality was meant to make the link between factors that impact nurses and the quality of both education and healthcare delivery. As “the most trusted profession” we will address these critical concerns at the 2023 FNA Membership Assembly.

Keynote Presentation by Dr. Lakeshia Cousin

Dr. Lakeshia Cousin is an Assistant Professor at the University of Florida College of Nursing and a member of the UF Health Cancer Center. Her program of study focuses on health equity and creating culturally-relevant biobehavioral interventions to reduce chronic stress and cardiometabolic risk for Black breast cancer survivors. She is a 2022-2024 awardee of the OAIC/NIA Pepper Scholar and UF Clinical and Translational Science Institute Scholar grant awards to support her research efforts. Dr. Cousin serves as an editorial board member of Seminars in Oncology Nursing, an international oncology nursing research journal, and co-chair elect of the Health Equity Special Interest Group of the Society of Behavioral Medicine. She enjoys mentoring nursing students, serving the community with Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., and spending quality time with her family.

Registration is Open!

Registration for the FNA Membership Assembly is now open! Reserve your spot by July 28 to get the best rate available with Early Bird registration! FNA Members who attend the full conference including the Business Meeting are eligible to receive a $250 rebate from their Region.

Register now at www.floridanurse.org/MA2023

Full Conference Registration Rates

Start Planning Now Full Program coming soon!

Wednesday 9/20

• Special Nursing Ethics Pre-Conference hosted by FNA Ethics Special Interest Group

• Networking Welcome Reception (pending sponsorship)

Thursday 9/21

• Keynote Presentation by Dr. Lakeshia Cousin

• Self-Care Activities hosted by the FNA Holistic Nursing Special Interest Group

• 8+ Breakout Sessions

• Exhibit Hall

• Networking Lunch

• Region Meetings

• Awards Reception & Dinner

Reference Proposals: What Issues Matter to YOU?

Friday 9/22

• Advocacy Breakfast

• Annual Business Meeting

• Announcement of Election Results

• Foundation Scholarship Luncheon

Constituent groups as well as individual members of FNA have the opportunity to voice their concerns or express their thoughts on matters of significance to nursing, nurses, and health needs of the public through the formation of Reference Proposals.

What starts out as one member’s idea or concern may become an official position of the Florida Nurses Association. Reference Proposals help drive future activities of the association. For example, a proposal submitted in 2022 led to an FNA-supported bill in the FL Legislature for the requirement of surgical smoke evacuation devices in surgical centers/facilities.

The Reference Committee is now accepting proposals for the 2023 Membership Assembly. All proposals are due by August 1, 2023. To view submission guidelines and see past proposals go to www.floridanurse.org/MA2023.

Proposed Bylaws Changes

The FNA Bylaws committee has reviewed proposed changes to the FNA Bylaws and made their recommendations. Members will receive an emailed copy of the proposed changes and will be able to access a copy through the Membership Assembly webpage at www.floridanurse.org/MA23BusinessMeeting.

Submit Your Awards Nominations Now!

The nursing workforce boasts incredible leaders in all areas of healthcare, administration, and academia. It is important that we recognize these leaders as a testament to the important efforts they drive.

Now is your opportunity to submit your nominations for the 2023 FNA Nurse Icon Awards. There are 16 awards categories recognizing many disciplines within nursing from academia to advocacy, bedside nursing to administration, media communications to community action, and many more. Nominators and nominees should be members of FNA.

The Awards Recognition Ceremony will be held during Membership Assembly on the evening of Thursday, September 21, 2023 at the World Golf Village Renaissance St. Augustine Resort. Nomination forms and guidelines can be found at www.floridanurse.org/MA23Awards

FNA Phoenix Award – Recognizing Contributions of Bedside Nurses

In honor of the extraordinary work and sacrifices of the nurses in Florida, the FNA Awards Committee has created a new award category with the specific purpose of honoring nurses who work at the bedside. The FNA Phoenix Award will recognize nurses who rise to the occasion during very challenging circumstances. This award will recognize two categories of registered nurses: Seasoned Nurse and Recent Graduate. Nominator and nominee do not have to be FNA members for this award.

Sponsorship Opportunities

Sponsors are a vital part of our annual conference! They support our event and allow us to keep our registration rates lower than many other industry conferences. FNA Membership Assembly is a great opportunity for healthcare companies, universities, and many other businesses to showcase their brand to hundreds of nurses and nursing students from diverse backgrounds. Many tiers of sponsorship from vendor to platinum level are available. Make a memorable connection with leaders in the profession through your participation in the FNA Membership Assembly. More details available on our website.

Scholarship Luncheon

The Florida Nurses Foundation presents scholarships and research grants at the annual Foundation Luncheon during Membership Assembly. The Luncheon is scheduled for Friday, September 22, 2023.

For information on applying for a scholarship or research grant please refer to www.floridanurse.org/ScholarshipsGrants. The deadline to apply is June 1, 2023.

All items related to Membership Assembly are accessible through our website. Scan the QR code for easy access.

This constitutes the official notice of the 2023 Membership Assembly of the Florida Nurses Association to take place September 20-22, 2023 at the World Golf Village Resort, St. Augustine, FL. The official business meeting will be held on Friday, September 22, 2023.

Venue & Accommodations

World Golf Village Renaissance St. Augustine Resort 500 South Legacy Trail St. Augustine, FL 32092

Discounted rooms at the rate of $159++ per night are available at the World Golf Village Renaissance St. Augustine Resort. The deadline for making hotel reservations is August 22, 2023.

To make your reservation, please visit www.floridanurse.org/MA23Hotel

Why the FNPAC is Critical to Our Advocacy

Many people are so frustrated with politics at this point that they literally glaze over and/or shut down when they see requests for funds or campaign ads of any kind. Faith in the system is teetering and people are choosing to focus on other more pleasurable or more personal endeavors. On the other hand, those involved in politics are entrenched in battles for the things they believe in or in some cases, it seems in fights for the sake of fighting. These are frightening times.

Donate to FNPAC Today

www.floridanurse.org/donate | (407) 487-2230

FNPAC is the arm of FNA that supports the voices of nurses in the political arena. We build our power and influence in several ways, including by our endorsement and support of political campaigns. This keeps us visible and invloved in the political landscape of Florida.

WE ARE HIRING

Currently hiring RNs for Academic Leadership and Faculty positions at our Florida Campuses

Galen College of Nursing is currently hiring expert nurses in all specialty areas whose guidance and experience contribute to the success of thousands of students entering the nursing field every year.

Hiring Full-Time and Part-Time positions

Hiring at our St. Petersburg, Pembroke Pines, Sarasota, and Gainesville campuses

Must have BSN, DNP, or PhD degree

Politics should be about what is good for the people. As nurses, we must identify future politicians who are committed to fairness and balance so that people can live safe and fruitful lives. FNPAC gives us a tool to make sure our voice is heard in the cacophony that now exists in the American political system. We cannot throw our hands up in defeat, we must build our resources so that we can be a significant participant in the political arena. Our goal is a safe environment for nurses and quality care for our citizens. That is the philosophy that we encourage you to embrace as you approach your political involvement.

A small donation from each member in addition to the funds that come from membership could double or triple our impact during an election. We are working to build our coffers so that we can continue to participate and perhaps even increase our influence in the next election cycle.

We are asking each member to donate $23 to RECHARGE our FNPAC funds so that we are ready for the next state election. Donations allow us to involve more members from each party in ways such as taking contributions to political events and having our issues heard in influential political circles. These kinds of activities give issues such as workforce violence and safe staffing a human face. We ask that you consider making a small donation to help us RECHARGE our coffers and expand our “seat at the table” in Florida politics.

2023 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

Southeast Region Leadership Meeting

All Southeast Region Members Welcome May 17, June 21, and July 19 at 6:30pm ET | Zoom Meeting

South Region Leadership Meeting

All South Region Members Welcome | May 23 and June 27 at 6:00pm ET Zoom Meeting

West Central Region Meeting

All West Central Region Members Welcome July 6 at 6:30pm ET | Zoom Meeting

East Central Region Meeting

All East Central Region Members Welcome July 18 at 6:00pm ET | Zoom Meeting

Long-Term Care Town Hall Meeting

June 9 at 6:30pm ET (5:30pm CT) | Zoom Meeting

9th Annual FNA Research and Evidence-Based Practice Conference July 29, 2023 8:00am - 4:30pm ET | Harry P. Leu Gardens, Orlando, FL

2023 FNA Membership Assembly World Golf Village Renaissance St. Augustine Resort

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

Sexually Transmitted Infection (STI) Testing During Pregnancy

EVERY pregnant woman shall be tested for STIs at :

 Their first prenatal visit.

 Again at 28 to 32 weeks of pregnancy.

 At delivery or soon after if:

• There is any positive STI test during pregnancy.

• There was no prenatal care.

• There is no record of testing after 27 weeks of pregnancy.

Hospital emergency departments may provide written referrals to women who are 12 weeks pregnant without prenatal care to get tested for STIs at a county health department.

Sexually Transmitted Infection (STI) Testing During Pregnancy

Practitioner Responsibilities

Per Section 64D-3.042, Florida Administrative Code, ALL pregnant women shall be tested for syphilis, HIV and other STIs at:

 Their first prenatal visit.

 Again at 28 to 32 weeks of pregnancy.

 At delivery or soon after if:

• There is any positive STI test during pregnancy.

• There was no prenatal care.

• There is no record of testing after 27 weeks of pregnancy.

Hospital emergency departments may provide written referrals to women who are 12 weeks pregnant without prenatal care to get tested for STIs at their county health department.

STI screening is not only good practice, it’s Florida law.

Greetings everyone! It was great to see those who were able to attend FNA’s Advocacy Days! May is Mental Health Awareness month. Two resources in our region include Pensacola National Alliance on Mental Illness (www.nami.org) and the Mental Health Task Force of Northwest Florida (www.mentalhealthtaskforce.org). Both of these websites provide mental health resources in our area. 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 info@ floridanurse.org. Thank you for allowing me the opportunity to serve our region!

Dr. Jake Bush

members and nursing students from Northwest Region

Nurses and nursing students from the Northwest Region meet with Rep. Michelle Salzman to advocate for nursing issues

Greetings NE Region!

Several of our members had the opportunity to attend this year’s Advocacy Days in February. On day one we met with many of our local legislators during our visit to Tallahassee and had enlightening discussions about Surgical Smoke Evacuation and recurrent funding for the Florida Center for nursing. We provided education to our law makers about the nursing profession and bills affecting nurses and patients. Members also had the opportunity to observe a special session in the Senate chambers. In addition, we had the opportunity to network with the legislators and public officials at a special legislative reception held that evening. Day two allowed for networking within our own Region and others in the state. Discussions were held about our legislative visits and we received an update from the Florida Board of Nursing.

Nurses and nursing students from Northeast Region meet with Senator Bradleys’ Legislative Aide to discuss the FNA Legislative Agenda

Members of the FNA Northeast Region gather in the Capitol Rotunda during FNA Advocacy Days

Congratulations to Jerlyn Domondon Tonto and Abby Escano (both nurses in our Region) who received Barbara Lumpkin Institute Scholarships. This scholarship supports nurses to attend FNA Advocacy Days and increase involvement by nurses in legislation and advocacy.

and

I would also like to highlight Palma Iacovitti, DNP, MBA, RN who is a long time Northeast Region member and was a guest speaker at Advocacy Days. The presentation subject matter was Workplace Violence and the Impact on Nurses and Nursing Care. We are hoping to have Dr. Iacovitti share her presentation again for those who were unable to attend. Look for updates on the FNA website.

Thank you for your continued support and allowing me to serve as Northeast Region Director for the last four years.

The East Central Region had a wonderful first meeting last month, and I heard directly from individual members in our region, as well. Because this was our first meeting of the year, we used our time to plan events and activities for this coming 9 months.

As a recap from last year’s event, we completed a CE webinar, participated in Advocacy Days, and represented our region during Membership Assembly. This coming year, we are planning for another education webinar or article brief in The Florida Nurse. Also this year, we plan to participate in the FNA Research Conference which we are happy to host in our region and this year’s FNA Membership Assembly - I am very excited to see and meet many East Central Region members this September in St. Augustine, FL. If anyone from the East Central Region wishes to contact me with other ideas for events or activities for our region, please contact me at info@floridanurse.org and I will respond directly.

Thanks everyone,

Dr. Marcos Gayol, RN

Advocacy, Student Engagement, and Community Outreach

Grassroots Legislative Advocacy

FNA’s 2023 Advocacy Days kicked off first quarter with great momentum. WCEN Region constituents represented their home districts at the State Capitol, advocating for FNA’s annual Legislative and Regulatory Policy Platform. Legislators want to hear from their constituents and nurses have a unique opportunity to be advocates for their patients and their profession. It all starts with building strong relationships with policy makers and making our needs and desires known.

Protection from Surgical Smoke:

SB 380 by Senator Garcia, Co-sponsors Senator Rouson and Senator Osgood

HB 587 by Rep. Woodson, Co-Sponsors Rep. Maney, Rep. Garcia, and Rep. Killebrew

FNA supports policy change requiring hospitals and ambulatory surgery centers statewide to implement a policy to evacuate surgical smoke.

Senator Illeana Garcia and Representative Maria Woodson filed SB 380 and HB 587 Protection from Surgical Smoke: a pair of bipartisan bills requiring smoke evacuation systems during surgical procedures. President Adams and I, alongside our perioperative nurse colleagues from across the state, provided testimony before the Senate Health Policy Committee and the Senate Community Affairs Committee. SB 380 passed both committees unanimously; 11 YEAS, 0 NAYS and 9 YEAS, 0 NAYS respectively. Chair Burton (Polk County), Co-Sponsor Senator Rouson (Pinellas County), Committee members Senator Burgess (Hillsborough, Polk County), Senator Albritton (DeSoto, Hardee, Polk County), and Senator Gruters (Manatee,Sarasota County) represent districts throughout our West Central Region.

Student Engagement:

As the WCEN Region Director at Large, I had the privilege of introducing FNA to Pasco-Hernando State College and University of South Florida Graduating Class of 2023. FNA supports nursing programs by providing information and resources about the importance of professional involvement.

Community Outreach:

On March 10th, FNA and Nova Southeastern University Tampa Bay Regional Campus hosted the 2023 LGBTQ+ Healthcare Conference with FANA/Florida Association of Nurse Anesthesiology sponsorship. The Healthcare Conference was jampacked with timely and important information about

FNA

gather at the 2023 FNA Advocacy Days

Scholarship winners Jerlyn Domondon

Abby Escano with Susie Norman and Joanna Riggins

Happy Spring West Central Region! Spring has Sprung West Central Region into Action: Grassroots Legislative

addressing the unique healthcare needs of the LGBTQ+ Community. Topics explored included best practices in care of LGBTQ+ populations in primary care, pharmacology, perioperative, and mental health. We also heard from members of the LGBTQ+ community discussing their lived experiences with access to care and health equity. Thank you to everyone that attended! Special thanks to our presenters Edward Briggs, Andrew Lent, Peter Lesko, George Peraza Smith, Sherry Roper, Jandavid Santana, Lisa Shoemaker, and Guillermo Valdes.

West Central Region looks forward to celebrating and honoring our region nurses during National Nurses Month May 2023!

Legislative Aide Ted Veerman, Senator Jay Collins, District 14 with Dr. Regina Mirabella, EdD, MSN, BSN, RN, Cristina Arrindell, BSN, RN

Representative Kimberly Berfield, District 58 with Meghan Moroney

Representative Lindsay Cross, District 60 with Meghan Moroney

Minority Leader Frentrice Driskell, PreLegislative Session Town Hall

Senator Darryl Rouson, District 16 with Dr. Barbara Sharief, DNP, MSN, APRN and Sharon Rogers, MSN Ed., MSM, NHCE

Legislative Aide Alex Crispin, Representative Kevin Steele, District 55 with Pasco-Hernando State College Adult Nursing II

Cristina Arrindell, BSN, RN, Ruth Cortes APRN, Alison Tagliaferro, BSN, RN

From Pasco-Hernando State College Adult Nursing II: AJ Garden, Firefighter/Paramedic, Klara Melancon, LPN, Dr. Regina Mirabella, EdD,MSN,BSN,RN, Samantha Quinn, LPN, Kiana Acebedo, LPN, Renzo Paliza Vazquez, Firefighter/Paramedic

Senate Community Affairs Committee

Tressa Pedroff, PhD, RN and Elizabeth H. Sassatelli, PhD, RN from University of Tampa

Region News

Dr. Regina Mirabella, EdD,MSN,BSN,RN, Klara Melancon, LPN, Renzo Paliza Vazquez, Firefighter/Paramedic, AJ Garden Firefighter/ Paramedic, Kiana Acebedo, LPN, Samantha Quinn, LPN

Greetings once again SE Region members! What an impressive second quarter of 2023 we are having! Congratulations and Happy Nurses Week to everyone!!

Firstly, allow me to mention our joint fellowship and educational event that was coordinated with the South Region, and offered nurses residing

in South Florida the opportunity to travel to Tallahassee for the recent Advocacy Days 2023 at the low cost of $25.00 per person roundtrip, including three (3) stops: Miami/Dade, Palm Beach, and St. Lucie Counties. Legislative outreach, relationship building, legislative platform agendas, and Political Action Committee updates were included in the education sessions provided enroute. Survey feedback validated the success of the program, and continued development for an Advocacy Days Transportation 2024 is in the planning! Stay tuned and get involved!

Following our enthusiastic Charter Bus road trip to Tallahassee, and meeting our legislators during Advocacy Days 2023, the momentum continued during Legislative Session as nurses from our region joined others throughout the State to champion for issues such as SB 380 and its companion bill HB 587 – ‘Protection from Surgical Smoke’, as well as other pressing legislative agenda items, with a sustained and unrelenting grassroots legislative outreach. Great job!

Our Region’s Legislative Committees’ continuous efforts sought proclamation in all five (5) counties of our region – Palm Beach, Martin, St. Lucie, Indian River, and Okeechobee –requesting May 6th – May 12th, 2023 be set forth as Nurses Week for all counties with County Commissioners Susan Adams of Indian River County, Linda Bartz of St. Lucie County, and Edward Ciampi of Martin County leading the way with declarations, awarding

nurses with the dedications at their local County Commission meetings. Well done Legislative Committee! Together we are vocal and visible in 2023, and fulfilling that part of the FNA mission of ‘Advancing the Profession of Nursing’!

‘Promoting a Healthy Florida,’ the second part of our mission is reflected with our nurse members leading by example during our Healing for Healers event held March 22nd at Florida Atlantic Universities Christine E. Lynn College of Nursing, Boca Raton, co-sponsored with Sigma Theta Tau Iota Xi Chapter at Large. This free collaborative initiative addressed a palpable need for nurturing and holistic healing for all nurses and nurse students, to encourage participation in self-care rejuvenating services in an educational meet and greet fellowship event. Community sponsored vendor tables provided holistic healing products such as essential oils, while complimentary self-care services included a Massage Chair station including 3 chairs with therapists, Jin Shin Jyutsu and Reiki healing therapy stations, Sound Bath therapy, Labyrinth meditative guided walks, Aromatherapy, and Music Therapy. Dr. Shirley Gordon, PhD, RN, NCSN, AHN-BC, HWNCBC, Professor, Advanced Holistic Nursing MSN Coordinator Director Initiative for Intentional Health, presented her work related to algae blooms titled Health and the Environment: What Matters Most to People Living Near Harmful Algae Blooms? which again, aligned with FNA’s mission for ‘promoting a healthy Florida.’

University of South Florida

Dr. Marc Rosales, DNP, MBA, RN, CCRN, CNE, CHSE,  Assistant Professor, USF College of Nursing,  2022 FNA Nurse Educator Icon Award

University of South Florida, 2023 College of Nursing Career Expo

Isabel Frances PhD Student, MPA, MSN, RN,  Pyper Vaughn Class of ‘23, Carissa Rodriguez Class of ‘23, Ali Rosete Class of ‘23

Senate Health Policy Committee

President Janice Adams, FNA

Come join us!!!

Event Planning and Legislative Committee recruitment is ongoing, and new committees such as our Education Committee are being formed. We need you….. your great ideas….. and we welcome seeing you at our upcoming region activities!

Our monthly membership zoom meetings are held the 3rd Wednesday of each month, throughout this year, from 6:30pm - 7:30pm, with the recurring link sent to your email before each meeting.

So, see you soon on zoom!

I’d also like to thank the South Symposium Poster committee for the opportunity to present Out of the Shadows and Into the Light: Illuminating the Path to a Bright Future for Nurses through Increased Legislative Advocacy Training at the 13th Annual FNA South Region Symposium and Awards Ceremony, and very warm, heartfelt and appreciative shout out to both FNA South Region Director Dr. Linda WashingtonBrown and FNA Vice President Debbie Hogan for their selfless dedication, leadership, and mentorship during this two-year term as fellow board members. Thank you so very much!

Warm regards,

Cynthia Tagliaferri, DNP, MSN, BSN, RN FNA Southeast Region Director

Greetings Florida Nurses

As South Region Director, I want to welcome all the new South Region members and committee volunteers. South Region members are working diligently to provide our members with the latest updates on issues affecting nurses and the nursing profession. On April 22, 2023 we held our 13th Annual Symposium and Awards Ceremony. Each year, awards are given to outstanding nursing faculty, nurse researchers, research poster presenters, community action nurses, and scholarships to student nurses. A full announcement of all our awardees will be featured in the next edition of The Florida Nurse.

This year’s theme was “The Future of Nursing Leadership: Advocacy and Activism in Action.” Our featured keynote speaker was Rear Admiral Denise Hinton, Deputy U.S. Surgeon General . As Deputy Surgeon General, Rear Admiral (RADM) Hinton advises and supports the U.S. Surgeon General regarding operations of the U.S. Public Health Service (USPHS) Commissioned Corps and in communicating the best available scientific information to advance the health of the nation. We also hosted a distinguished panel of nursing leaders who addressed Climate Change, Diversity in Nursing, and Advocacy. Sixteen digital research poster presenters shared the latest in nursing research during two poster sessions.

Most importantly, we invite you to attend our monthly meetings, held on the 4th Tuesday of each month at 6:00 p.m. EST. Please check the FNA calendar for more information.

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

Southwest Region Director Vacancy

We are still seeking applicants to fill the position of Southwest Region Director for the remainder of the 2023 term (ending September). Candidates should be FNA Members in good standing who reside in the Southwest Region (includes Charlotte, Glades, Lee, Hendry, and Collier counties).

FNA Region Directors are the communication conduit from the Region to the Board of Directors. They also work with FNA Staff to plan events for the region. You should also be available by email for discussions as needed.

To apply, please email Iris Lopez, Executive Assistant at info@floridanurse.org for additional information.

your career and have a greater impact in diverse, rural, and underserved communities with Frontier Nursing University’s distance education model.

Florida Nurses Association ELECTION

President-Elect

Marcos Gayol

Candidate for the Position of President-Elect and Representative to ANA Membership Assembly

As President-Elect, I would like to assist our president with initiatives supported by Board of Directors. I would also help represent state association, grow our membership and promote the nursing profession in Florida by collaborating with organizations that share FNA’s mission in order to develop a statewide nursing advocacy voice

Region: East Central

Degree(s): Doctor of Education

Master of Science in Nursing

Master of Public Health

Master of Business Administration

School(s) of Nursing: Aspen University

Place of Employment and Position: Aspen University, Dean of Nursing & Health Sciences

Professional Organizational Activities:

FNA Director, East Central Region (Current) STTI Treasurer, Alpha Beta Alpha Chapter (Current)

Vice

President

Deborah Hogan

Candidate for the Position of Vice President

As the current Vice President, I understand the important role of chairing the Membership Committee and working with the FNA staff to increase our membership and retain current members. We are currently implementing strategies, based on member input, to increase new members and retain current members. I ask for your support.

Region: Northeast

Degree(s): Master of Science in Public Health Bachelors of Science in Nursing

School(s) of Nursing: Mastin School of Nursing - Diploma Medical College of Georgia - BSN Tulane School of Public Health - MPH

Place of Employment and Position: Retired Public Health Nurse from DOH, Palm Beach County

Professional Organizational Activities:

Health Care Professionals Bargaining UnitPresident - 2018-2022

Health Care Professionals Bargaining UnitSecretary/Treasurer - 2022-Present

Vice-President, Florida Nurses Association - 2021-Present Vice-President-Florida Nurses Association - 2021-Present FNA HCP Secretary Treasurer

Valerie Morrison

Candidate for the Position of Vice President

Service to others and love for nursing are two foundational values that guide my career. I am seeking election as the FNA Vice President to advocate for sustainable solutions to improve the health and well-being of Florida nurses, reignite their passion, and create positive practice environments where they can thrive.

Region: Northeast

Degree(s): Bachelor of Science in Nursing, Master of Science in Management, Doctor of Business Administration School(s) of Nursing: University of North Florida (BSN); Naval Postgraduate School (Masters); Northcentral University (Doctorate)

Place of Employment and Position: Director, Student Health Services, University of North Florida Adjunct Faculty, College of Nursing, University of Central Florida

Professional Organizational Activities:

- 2023 -

Region IV Director, Florida Organization for Nursing Leadership (Nov. 2022-Oct. 2024)

Alternate Representative, Nurses on Boards Coalition, Florida Nurses Association (Sep. 2021-present)

Co-Chair, Education Committee, Florida Organization for Nursing Leadership (Nov. 2021-Oct. 2023)

President, Northeast Florida Organization for Nursing Leadership (Nov. 2021 - Oct. 2023)

Chair and Commissioner, Commission on Pathway to Excellence, American Nurses Credentialing Center (Jan. 2019-present)

Member, Nursing Administration: Scope and Standards Revision Task Force (Sep. 2021-Mar. 2023)

Secretary

Beverly “Susie” Norman

Candidate for the Position of Secretary

I’ve served as Northeast Region Director for the past 4 years. I have knowledge of board and committee operations, familiarity with board documents, and possess strong organizational skills and attention to detail. I would like to serve as Secretary while continuing to advocate for nursing and inspiring others to contribute to changes in policy, practice and law.

Region: Northeast

Degree(s): MSN, BSN, ASN

School(s) of Nursing: Chamberlain College of Nursing (MSN Executive Track), Jacksonville University (BSN), Florida Gateway College (ASN)

Place of Employment and Position:

Professional Organizational Activities:

UF Health Jacksonville- Nurse Manager, General Surgery and Trauma Overflow

Northeast Region Director 2019-2023

Board Member of Great 100 Nurses of Northeast Florida 2017-2021

Florida Nurses Association - Member

American Nurses Association - Member

Treasurer

George Peraza-Smith

Candidate for the Position of Treasurer

Fiduciary responsibility and accountability are important to the success of an Association. I will explore ways to remain relevant for our current and future members to ensure a thriving Association. We have a rich history from which to build a strong and financially stable Association.

Region: West Central

Degree(s): ADN, BSN, MSN, DNP

School(s) of Nursing: ADN, Houston Community College | BSN/MSN, The University of Texas Medical Branch | Certificate, GNP, University of South Florida | DNP, Case

Place of Employment and Position:

Professional Organizational Activities:

West Coast University - Program Dean, A-GPCNP & DNP

Good Samaritan Clinic, New Port Richey - Nurse Practitioner Volunteer

FNA President, 2019 - 2021

FNF President, 2023 - Present

Bylaws Committee, 2019 - Present (Chair 2023 - Present)

ANA Florida Delegate, 2019 - 2023

Gerontology Nursing Certification Commission Trustee, 2018 - Present

AANP Fellow Selection Committee, 2022 - Present

Sigma, International Review Committee

FLORIDA NURSES ASSOCIATION ELECTION Candidate Biographies & Statements

Elizabeth Robison

Candidate for the Position of Treasurer

I have experience with association financial management. For FNA to advance the profession and promote a healthy Florida, being fiscally sound is important. I’d like to volunteer my expertise and support efforts by the Board to ensure the FNA is the first choice for all RNs in Florida.

Region: Northwest

Degree(s): EdD in Curriculum and Instructional Technology

EdS in Curriculum

MSN - Clinical Nurse Specialist track with specialty in Trauma Nursing

MS - Adult Education

BSN

School(s) of Nursing: Duke University

University of Alabama at Birmingham

Place of Employment and Position: Current - Retired Professor of Nursing

Professional Organizational Activities:

Past - Northwest Florida State College, Contractor for 81st Medical Group, and U.S. Air Force Nurse Corps

National League for Nursing - Chair, Foundation Scholarship Selection Panel Committee - 2023 (served one year as co-chair - 2022); Prior to this have served as a scholarship reviewer, 2021, 2020, & 2019. Also served as a NLN Summit Abstract reviewer.

Organization for Associate Degree Nursing - Simulation Committee - served initially on task force November 2020, until the task force became a committee. Serve in Lead role with committee on Virtual Simulation Reviews.

June 2019 through June 2023 - Treasurer/Secretary, International Association for Clinical Simulation and Learning (INACSL). Also served as a facilitator for their educational online program - ISEP which is now a six month online cohort; facilitated a group in the cohort during May and Sep 2022. Prior to this was involved in a specific module as a facilitator during the 12-month program. Also served as board liaison to the Sustainability SIG. Have served as an abstract reviewer for INASCL’s journal, Clinical Simulation in Nursing. Society for Simulation and Healthcare - Abstract reviewer for 2023 IMSH Conference podium presentation.

Treasurer/Secretary, International Association for Clinical Simulation and Learning (INACSL)

Region Directors

Northwest Region Director

Jake Bush

Candidate for the Position of Northwest Region Director

I would like to continue to serve my Northwest Region as a board member for the Florida Nurses Association. In the coming term, my goals are to have more face-to-face events to promote both political nursing advocacy, collaboration, and mental health.

Region: Northwest

Degree(s): PhD, MSN, BSN, ADN

School(s) of Nursing: University of Central Florida-PhD University of West Florida School of Nursing-MSN, BSN Jefferson Davis Community College-ADN

Place of Employment and Position: University of West Florida Lecturer

Professional Organizational Activities:

Florida Nurses Association NW Region Board Member 2021-2023

Sigma Theta Tau Board Member for Upsilon Kappa Chapter 2021-2023

North Central Region Director

Tara Moats

Candidate for the Position of North Central Region Director

I would like the opportunity to become more involved with FNA; to work with motivated individuals for the betterment of nursing, to provide support and advocate for my fellow nurses and to promote nursing excellence.

Region: North Central

Degree(s): Associate of Arts

Associate of Science in Nursing

Bachelors of Science

Masters of Science in Nursing emphasis on Education

School(s) of Nursing: Pellissippi State Technical Community College Santa Fe Community College

Florida State University

Grand Canyon University

Place of Employment and Position: Select Specialty Hospital - Director of Case Management Centurion - Registered Nurse

Northeast Region Director

Palma Iacovitti

Candidate for the Position of Northeast Region Director

Serving on the Board would allow me to understand current pressing issues related to nursing practice and how to serve each other and our patients better. I can provide an avenue to share important matters with my colleagues, help expand their network and positively influence others

Region: Northeast

Degree(s): DNP, MBA, BSN

School(s) of Nursing: Holy Family University

University of Iowa

Place of Employment and Position: MHRC at University of Florida Health Director of Psychiatric Services (May 2023)

Professional Organizational Activities: Florida Nurses Association Research Committee

Amber Johnson

Candidate for the Position of Northeast Region Director

I seek to organize opportunities that empower nurses to engage their ideas and concerns resulting in educated and informed decisions regarding nursing practice. In addition, collaboratively promote healthcare initiatives that elevate nursing practice to the top of their scope.

Region: Northeast

Degree(s): MSN Adult-Gerontology Clinical Nurse Specialist

Associate Degree of Nursing Program, Practical Nurse

Education Program

B.S. Psychology

School(s) of Nursing: Eastern Michigan University

Oakland Community College

Place of Employment and Position: Mayo Clinic, FL: Clinical Nurse Specialist

Professional Organizational Activities: ANA/FNA

National Association of Health Services Executives

NACNS: EID

FLORIDA NURSES ASSOCIATION ELECTION Candidate Biographies &

East Central Region Director

Kimberly Warren

Candidate for the Position of East Central Region Director

As the East Central Regional Director, I will help to support the FNA mission and grow the membership within my region by collaborating with nursing organizations that align with FNA’s vision of the representation of nursing. I will organize quarterly meetings for regional members to create events and activities tailored to the needs of the region.

Region: East Central

Degree(s): Master of Science in Nursing Bachelor of Science in Nursing

School(s) of Nursing: Western Governors University

Place of Employment and Position: Aspen University, Manager of Office Field Experience

Professional Organizational Activities:

West Central Region Director

Candidate for the Position of West Central Region Director

I am seeking the position of West Central Director for FNA. I will use my excellent collaborative skills to serve as a liaison with the FNA Board and my strong organizational and detailed planning skills to help coordinate FNA regional events.

Region: West Central

Degree(s): PhD, MSN, BSN, AND, LPN

School(s) of Nursing: Robert Morris University (PhD, MSN) Slippery Rock University (BSN)

Butler County Community College (AON, LPN)

Place of Employment and Position: University of South Florida College of Nursing Associate Professor Director of Student Academic Success

Professional Organizational Activities:

2022-present - Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) scholarship committee 2019-2022 - Sigma Theta Tau Honor Society of Nursing, Alpha Theta Chapter at University of Florida, Board Member, Treasurer 2022 - Virtual Research Summit and Malasanos Lectureship Planning Committee 2015-2018 - Sigma Theta Tau Honor Society of Nursing, Eta Theta Chapter of Arkansas State University, Board Member, President 2022-present - National Consortium of Academic Coaches

Meghan Moroney

Candidate for the Position of West Central Region Director

It has been an honor and privilege to have been given the opportunity to serve FNA and the WCEN Region for the past two years. As a seasoned advocate, I seek to continue serving you for two more years and represent the WCEN Region both locally and statewide.

Region: West Central

Degree(s): BSN, RN

School(s) of Nursing: Barry University

Place of Employment and Position: Dedicated and versatile Registered Nurse with 17 years of Critical Care, Clinical Liaison, and Case Management experience. (AdventHealth, BayCare, Jackson Memorial Hospital, Kindred, LifePath Hospice, Mercy Hospital (HCA), Tenet Healthcare). Currently employed as an independent contractor through varied agency, PRN, and travel opportunities. (Gale, Indepedence Living Centers, ShiftMed, Vivian).

Professional Organizational Activities:

West Central Region, Director at Large (2021-2023); WCEN Region, Legislative Action Team (2020-2023). Nursing Action Coalition of Florida, Team #1 Member (2023); Florida Nurses Association, Member (2017-Present); FNA Health Policy SIG, Member (2020-Present); Florida Nurses Political Action Committee, Trustee (2019-Present); FNA Advocacy Days,Team Lead (2020, 2023); FNA Bylaws Committee, Member (2020). American Nurses Association, Member (2017-Present); Sigma Theta Tau, Past Member; U.S. Masters Swimming (2015-Present)/World Wide Swim Alcatraz Classic (2021). Project Medishare; Port-Au-Prince, Haiti (Earthquake Relief 2010).

Southwest Region Director

Charene Adams

Candidate for the Position of Southwest Region Director

I am seeking this position because after 21 years as a floor nurse, an administrator, and a nurse educator, I have seen the few changes in nursing and in order to ask for change you have to be actively engaged to have that happen. I would like to increase not only interest, involvement but our numbers of member attendance in meetings and gatherings to discuss how improve nursing in the state of Florida and the entire U.S.A.

Region: Southwest

Degree(s): Doctorate of Nursing Practice-Healthcare Systems Leadership

School(s) of Nursing: Chamberlain University

Place of Employment and Position: Cara Wellness LLc, CNO/CEO

Southeast Region Director

Cynthia Tagliaferri

Candidate for the Position of Southeast Region Director

I’m seeking a second term as SE Region Director to further unite our five counties, encourage member participation with fellowship opportunities such as events, educational programs, and continued grassroots legislative outreach. Advocating for all nurses and our profession to effect positive outcomes, as your trusted liaison, is my primary goal.

Region: Southeast

Degree(s): DNP, MSN, BSN

School(s) of Nursing: Florida Atlantic University, Christine E. Lynn College of Nursing

Place of Employment and Position:

Aesthetic Wellness Institute of Palm Beach, Director of Operations

Member - FNA/ANA

Karen Aul

FLORIDA NURSES ASSOCIATION ELECTION Candidate Biographies

Professional Organizational Activities:

FNA Southeast Region Director 2021-2023

FNA Southeast Region Event Planning Committee Chair 2021-2023

FNA Southeast Region Legislative Committee Co-chair 2021-2023

Sigma Theta Tau Iota Xi Chapter at Large Healing for Healers Event Committee Co-chair 2023

South Region Director

Guillermo Valdes

Candidate for the Position of South Region Director

Dr. Valdes serves in the FNA South Region Leadership Committee. He supports nursing research and evidencebased practice with a commitment to recognizing nurses as leaders. As South Region Director, he will represent nurses in a variety of clinical, educational and leadership roles. Dr. Valdes has a lifelong career advocating for the rights of nurses and healthcare professionals. He has received numerous accolades including being recognized in the FNA “Great 100 Nurses”.

Region: South

Degree(s): Post Graduate Certificate Specialty in Nursing Education

Doctor of Nursing Practice

Master of Science in Nursing

Bachelor of Science in Nursing

Associate of Science in Nursing

School(s) of Nursing: PGC-NEd - Duke University

DNP - Chatham University

MSN - University of Phoenix

BSN - Barry University

ASN - Miami Dade College

Place of Employment and Position:

Professional Organizational Activities:

Department Chair RN to BSN Program

Benjamin Leon School of Nursing

Miami Dade College

Florida Nurses Association South Region Member

National Black Nurses Miami Chapter Member

National Association of Hispanic Nurses Miami Chapter Member

American Nurses Association Member

National Association of Hispanic Nurses Member

Chatham University DNP Advisory Board Member

Barry University SIGMA Lambda Chi Chapter Member

Miami Dade College Alpha Beta Epsilon at Large SIGMA Chapter Member

Duke University Beta Epsilon SIGMA Chapter Member

Chatham University Chi Zeta SIGMA Chapter Member

National Black Nurses Association Member

National League of Nursing Member

Sigma Foundation Nursing Fellows Committee Member

FNA Awards Committee Chair: FNA South Region

Symposium and Awards Ceremony 2021, 2022 and 2023

Leadership Committee Succession Chair, Alpha Beta

Epsilon SIGMA Chapter at Large, MDC and Baptist Health of South Florida

Haitian American Nurses Association of Florida Advisory Board Member

Nominating Committee (Five Positions)

Elizabeth Sassatelli

Candidate for the Position of Nominating Committee

I aim to serve on the nominating committee because I would like to become a member of FNA leadership. This position would give me exposure to how FNA is run and the roles/ responsibilities of each office. I am committed to serving our professional organization.

Region: West Central

Degree(s): PhD Nursing, BSN,

School(s) of Nursing: Rush University, Chicago IL

University of Massachusetts, Dartmouth MA

Place of Employment and Position: University of Tampa, Assistant Professor (2015-present)

Professional Organizational Activities:

University of Tampa Committees: Academic Standards, Title IX, Admission and Progression, Faculty Senate, Academic Appeals

Representatives to ANA Membership Assembly (Three Positions)

Only Full FNA/ANA Members can vote for Rep to ANA Membership Assembly. State-only members cannot vote for this position.

Tami Falls

Candidate for the Position of Representative to ANA Membership Assembly

I want to be a person that fellow nurses can come to with issues or concerns. I want to be their voice.

Region: Southeast

Degree(s): MSN Nursing Education, BSN, AS, AA

School(s) of Nursing: MSN - Western Governors University

Place of Employment and Position:

Professional Organizational Activities:

BSN - Adventist University of Health Sciences

ASN - Lake City Community College

Department of Veteran Affairs, PACT RN Care Manager

Co-Chair on Falls Committee Chair Smoking Committee

Isabel Francis

Candidate for the Position of Representative to ANA Membership Assembly

As an advocate for nurses, nursing, and nursing education, I believe I can speak to Florida’s unique challenges and open important communication channels with the ANA. I am committed to furthering nursing education in Florida, and believe strongly in the mission of the FNA.

Region: Southwest

Degree(s): BA, BSN, MSN, MPA

School(s) of Nursing: Northern Michigan University, Capella University, currently doctoral student at University of South Florida

Place of Employment and Position: Graduate Research Assistant, University of South Florida

Professional Organizational Activities:

FNA Political Action Committee

Palma Iacovitti

Candidate for the Position of Representative to ANA Membership Assembly

Serving on the Board would allow me to understand current pressing issues related to nursing practice and how to serve each other and our patients better. I can provide an avenue to share important matters with my colleagues, help expand their network and positively influence others.

Region: Northeast

Degree(s): DNP, MBA, BSN

School(s) of Nursing: Holy Family University University of Iowa

Place of Employment and Position: MHRC at University of Florida Health Director of Psychiatric Services (May 2023)

Professional Organizational Activities: Florida Nurses Association Research Committee

FLORIDA NURSES ASSOCIATION ELECTION Candidate Biographies &

Mavra Kear

Candidate for the Position of Representative to ANA Membership Assembly

I have demonstrated commitment to the nursing profession in my 35 years as a member of FNA/ ANA. I look forward to an opportunity to serve as a representative to ANA.

Region: West Central

Degree(s): BSN, MSN, PHD Nursing

School(s) of Nursing: University of Florida (BSN, MSN), University of South Florida (PHD)

Place of Employment and Position: Peace River Center, APRN

Professional Organizational Activities:

FNA Treasurer (2019-2023), FNA President (2011-2013)

Place of Employment and Position:

Professional Organizational Activities:

Valerie Morrison

Candidate for the Position of Representative to ANA Membership Assembly

Service to others and love for nursing are two foundational values that guide my career. I am seeking election as the FNA Vice President to advocate for sustainable solutions to improve the health and well-being of Florida nurses, reignite their passion, and create positive practice environments where they can thrive.

Region: Northeast

Degree(s): Bachelor of Science in Nursing, Master of Science in Management, Doctor of Business Administration

School(s) of Nursing: University of North Florida (BSN); Naval Postgraduate School (Masters); Northcentral University (Doctorate)

Place of Employment and Position:

Professional Organizational Activities:

Director, Student Health Services, University of North Florida

Adjunct Faculty, College of Nursing, University of Central Florida

Region IV Director, Florida Organization for Nursing Leadership (Nov. 2022-Oct. 2024)

Alternate Representative, Nurses on Boards Coalition, Florida Nurses Association (Sep. 2021-present)

Co-Chair, Education Committee, Florida Organization for Nursing Leadership (Nov. 2021-Oct. 2023)

President, Northeast Florida Organization for Nursing Leadership (Nov. 2021 - Oct. 2023)

Chair and Commissioner, Commission on Pathway to Excellence, American Nurses Credentialing Center (Jan. 2019-present)

Member, Nursing Administration: Scope and Standards Revision Task Force (Sep. 2021-Mar. 2023)

George Peraza-Smith

Candidate for the Position of Representative to ANA Membership Assembly

Fiduciary responsibility and accountability are important to the success of an Association. I will explore ways to remain relevant for our current and future members to ensure a thriving Association. We have a rich history from which to build a strong and financially stable Association.

Region: West Central

Degree(s): ADN, BSN, MSN, DNP

School(s) of Nursing: ADN, Houston Community College | BSN/MSN, The University of Texas Medical Branch | Certificate, GNP, University of South Florida | DNP, Case

West Coast University - Program Dean, A-GPCNP & DNP

Good Samaritan Clinic, New Port Richey - Nurse

Practitioner Volunteer

FNA President, 2019 - 2021

FNF President, 2023 - Present

Bylaws Committee, 2019 - Present (Chair 2023 - Present)

ANA Florida Delegate, 2019 - 2023

Gerontology Nursing Certification Commission Trustee, 2018 - Present

AANP Fellow Selection Committee, 2022 - Present Sigma, International Review Committee

Alicia Rossiter

Candidate for the Position of Representative to ANA Membership Assembly

I am seeking the Representative to the ANA Membership Assembly position to represent nurses from Florida regarding policy and positions set forth by the ANA. I will leverage my knowledge/experience in policy, education, research, and practice to ensure the needs of nurses, patients, communities, and practice stakeholders are met.

Region: West Central

Degree(s): DNP, MSN, BSN

School(s) of Nursing: University of South Florida (MSN, DNP) University of Alabama (BSN)

Place of Employment and Position:

Professional Organizational Activities:

University of South Florida College of Nursing Associate Professor

Assistant Dean for Alumni and Community Engagement Chief Officer of Military and Veteran Affairs

2021—Present Sulphur Springs Pre-K-8 Leadership Cabinet 2022—Present Sulphur Springs/UCF Community Partnership Schools Grant Program

2015—2018 Spina Bifida Association of Central Florida—Board Member

2021—Present Jonas Philanthropies Nursing and Veteran Health-Veteran Health Subject Matter Expert

2020—Present Special Forces Charitable Trust-Education Committee Member 2020—2022 American Academy of Nursing--Chair, Military and Veteran Health Expert Panel

2020—Present American Academy of Nursing--Have You Ever Served? National Advisory Council 2019—2020 American Academy of Nursing--Co-Chair, Military and Veteran Health Expert Panel 2016—2018 Jonas Philanthropies Scholar Alumni Advisory Council—Vice Chair, Board Member 2016—2022 American Association of Nurse Practitioners--Fellows Selection Committee Member 2019—Present International Armed Forces Community Nursing Research Collaboration (IAFCNRC)

Elizabeth Sassatelli

Candidate for the Position of Representative to ANA Membership Assembly

I aim to serve as the Florida Representative to The American Nurses Association. I am passionate about social justice and feel that this position would allow me to advocate for nurses on a national level. I appreciate the need for political and professional advocacy and I am ready to serve.

Region: West Central

Degree(s): PhD Nursing, BSN,

School(s) of Nursing: Rush University, Chicago IL University of Massachusetts, Dartmouth MA

Place of Employment and Position: University of Tampa, Assistant Professor (2015-present)

Professional Organizational Activities:

University of Tampa Committees: Academic Standards, Title IX, Admission and Progression, Faculty Senate, Academic Appeals

Delegates for OPEIU National Labor Convention

UF Health/Shands Hospital: Marsha Martin

Cynthia Harris

Rockledge Regional Medical Center: Stephen Applegate

Rodger Osterhuber

State of Florida/Professional Heath Care Unit: Carolyn Lightner

Vivienne Treharne

Florida International University: Ray Corrales

Alesailec Figuerola

Director - Recent Graduates

Aminah Johnson

Candidate for the Position of Director - Recent Graduates

I am seeking to continue in the position of Director of Recent Grads because I am passionate about working with and mentoring the new graduate nurses who will be pivotal in being a part of nursing advocacy through networking and leadership activities in the State of Florida.

Region: Northwest

Degree(s): Associates of Science in Nursing-RN Bachelors of Science in Health Administration Masters of Science in Nursing-Pending

School(s) of Nursing: Pensacola State College

Chamberlain University School of Nursing

Place of Employment and Position: Ascension Sacred Heart-Labor and Delivery RN Baptist Hospital-PRN Float, Med Surg

Professional Organizational Activities: Florida Nurses Association-Director of Recent Grads American Nurses Association-Member

We are still accepting additional candidate nominations!

Per FNA Bylaws, additional nominations may be accepted up to 30 days after the publication of this sample ballot. The Final Deadline for submitting nominations is Friday, June 16, 2023. The nomination form is available at www.floridanurse.org/Election.

Election Information

The election will be held via electronic ballot from August 1-15, 2023. FNA members in good standing will receive an email with a secure link to the official ballot. Please watch your email to make sure you are able to cast your vote! Results of the election will be announced at the 2023 FNA Membership Assembly during the Business Meeting on Friday, September 22 from 9am-12pm. Elected board members will be sworn in at the time.

Student Forum

FNSA Represents Florida at the 71st Annual National Student Nurses’ Association Convention!

Kelly York, FNSA President

As the FNSA President, I was fortunate to have the opportunity to attend NSNA National Conference which was held in Nashville, Tennessee April 12-16. As a student who was two weeks prior to graduating it was a difficult time but well worth it. I have since graduated from Keiser University in Tampa, Florida with my Bachelor of Science in Nursing. I plan to start working in August and have applied to the St. Joseph’s Women’s Hospital Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, a level IV NICU Internship. My experience with FNSA has helped me move forward to reach my goals as a nurse. While I enjoyed the entire conference, the Focus Session that I enjoyed most was Human Milk and Lactation: Translation Research into Practice and Policy

The conference was an opportunity for nursing students from all over the United States to network and learn together. Florida was well represented at the conference - we had over 130 students in attendance. The Florida Student Nurses Association had nine Board Members in attendance. The Florida Student Nurses Association received two state awards at the convention - the Core Values Award and the NSNA State Excellence Award. Attendees had the opportunity to participate in an NCLEX Mini Review and focus sessions targeted on high interest areas. We also participated in the House of Delegates, where we learned and voted on resolutions pertinent to nursing. There were excellent guest speakers and panel discussions which were very informative.

At the conference we had three Florida members elected to National Office. Congratulations to Mackenzie Simmons from Jacksonville University who was elected to Imprint Editor, Flynn Almirol from Florida State College at Jacksonville who was elected to South Director, and Lakisha Carter from Florida State College at Jacksonville who was elected to Nominating and Elections Committee South. Next year’s NSNA Convention will be held in Orlando, Florida April 3-7, 2024. Mark your calendar to attend!

Legislative Update

Keyna Cory President, Public Affairs Consultants, PA

By the time you read this article, hopefully the 2023 legislative session will be completed. It was a busy one for the Florida Nurses Association. 1781 bills were filed, and we tracked over 60 of them for FNA. The bills ranged from Attainable Housing to Assault or Battery on Hospital Personnel.

Lawmakers moved quickly to put measures pushed by Gov. Ron DeSantis in position for early passage. By the halfway point in the session, legislation dealing with the state’s school voucher system, shielding business and insurance companies from lawsuits, “permitless” carry of firearms, and attainable housing passed the legislature and were signed into law. The attainable housing legislation was a priority of Senate President Kathleen Passidomo, and the overhaul of the state’s school voucher system was Speaker Paul Renner’s top bill. The proposed gun legislation hit a speed bump when President Passidomo refused to consider the open carry concept. Proponents and opponents of gun regulations were not happy with the final product. Governor DeSantis has mentioned a possible special session to address the open carry law or as some call it, constitutional carry.

The state’s financial situation remains strong, and the legislature worked on the highest budget in history - $117 billion.

We want to thank all of you for your help during this session. Many of you took time away from your job and family to travel to Tallahassee in order to testify before committees. You did an amazing job advocating for your issue. From the bottom of our hearts, we thank you. Your voice was heard, and we will continue to work on issues important to you, your profession, and your Association.

Today we will begin working on the 2024 session. Interim committee meetings will begin in September and the 2024 session will begin on Tuesday, January 2. You will have approximately 8 months to do your grassroots work and get ready. Don’t forget to send emails to your legislators thanking them for their help during the 2023 session. Make sure to attend delegation meetings over the interim. It’s a perfect time for you to say hello to your legislators and their staff.

Most importantly, stay involved. Grassroots is not just a few days at the Capitol. You need to work on your grassroots all year round. Your efforts will make the Florida Nurses Association even stronger.

Tobacco Free Florida Week: Embrace For Both begins May 14.

During this week, Tobacco Free Florida calls on healthcare providers across Florida to discuss cessation with your patients who are pregnant or looking to become pregnant.

Free patient-facing materials, quit tools and resources are available today at

Keyna Cory

Kelly York

LERC News

Employee Organizations Representing Public Employees

John Berry, Director of Labor Relations

Many people are unfamiliar with terms related to labor status, particularly in Florida which is a “right to work” state. Navigating the landscape is like living in two different worlds. For those who aren’t familiar with the “Right to Work” terminology, it means that an employee does not have to join a labor organization that represents employees at their facility, but they do receive the benefits that paid members receive. In labor states where the law compels them to belong, their dues are automatically debited from their pay and distributed to their union.

This is now my seventh legislative session, and during each of those sessions there has always been a Florida House and Senate bill that attempts to eliminate public sector labor organizations in this state. Each year the State of Florida has also exempted police, fire, corrections, and probation unions from these bills.

John Berry

A “Right to Work” state does not place unions in a position of strength. It is a distinct disadvantage to maintaining the union and allowing it to negotiate and protect the members. That is the goal of these bills and of the Right to work status. If someone feels that they can get a benefit for free, without having to pay, then that’s what the greater population tends to do. It is our goal to make sure that the majority of employees in the public sector here in Florida know what the importance of having a strong labor organization behind them means. Employees who are not members of the labor organization will get the benefits of the contract, but there is no obligation of the organization to represent them in the public sector. It’s amazing how employees who don’t sign up for membership react when they’re the ones who get called on the carpet at work for a disciplinary action, and all of a sudden, they need our help and want assistance in defending them. Pretty soon, all that representation that our Professional Health Care Unit has come to expect will be gone. For those who we have represented in real time, this will be a great loss. Our fear is that others will only learn when it is too late.

This year’s proposed legislation is SB 256 and HB 1445, filed by Senator Ingoglia and Representative Black, which is the “Employee Organizations Representing Public Employees” bill. If an elected labor organization cannot maintain 60% of its eligible members in a bargaining unit, then the labor organization will be decertified. Audited

financial statements will need to be submitted to the state each year. A number of other lists have to be submitted as well, and the state will no longer collect dues deductions. The deductions will have to be sent in to the organization by the member, monthly. There are other requirements, but too many to list.

At the time I’m writing this article, SB 256 has already passed in the senate by a vote of 23 Yeas and 17 Nays. There were 5 Republican Senators who crossed party lines and voted for the bill. The labor organizations were told after the vote that the Republican Conference was scrambling before the vote was held because there were three hold out republican senators who were not committed to supporting the bill. If those three votes hadn’t changed, the vote would have been tied, and the bill would have died in the senate. That was very frustrating to hear, but it also showed the commitment and dedication to all of the labor organizations who stood up and fought back against this legislation. We’re still opposing HB 1445 which at this time has just been placed on “Special Order Calendar” for Tuesday, April 25, 2023 for its second reading. By the time you’re reading this article, the vote will have happened, and the fight with the legislature will have passed. We’ll not give up hope, we’ll keep fighting for our members’ rights, because that’s who we are, and that’s what we do.

The State of Florida Constitution states that employees have a right to join a labor organization, free from harassment or any kid of intimidation. It also states the same thing for those who don’t want to join, and I can accept that. What is unacceptable is that this is a bill whose sole purpose is to not only weaken labor protections, but to destroy them. I believe that many people have forgotten that the rights that we all have the privilege to enjoy, whether you’re a dues paying member or not, weren’t just handed to everyone. They are the results of many hard fought battles in the workplace and through the halls of the US Congress and Senate to enact laws that would protect workers on the job and keep them safe.

As FNA is made up of nurses from all work environments, you don’t have to be a union member to be a supporter. If you are given an opportunity to speak up, do so. Labor speaks up for everyone, every day, but they’re treated differently, for no other reason than people don’t understand the need or the value, until it affects them.

It is egregious that these bills are targeted toward the helping professions of public employees and teachers. We need supporters and advocates to educate themselves about these issues and we encourage others to respect the rights of American workers to be able to fight for a safe and prosperous workplace environment on an equal playing field

Long COVID Research Essential Pandemics & Disasters Preparedness Task Force

Among the many challenges of dealing with the pandemic are the long-term symptoms that affect, according to the CDC, one in five Covid-19 survivors aged 19-64 and one in four survivors 65+ four weeks or more after the acute phase of the SARS-CoV-2 infection. The FNA Pandemic Preparedness Task Force is very concerned about how Long Covid impacts nurses, and, in particular, our members. As a result, we support the effort to promote more research leading to effective diagnosis and treatment.

According to the Health and Human Services report, Services and Supports for Long-Term Impacts of COVID-19, Long COVID is not one condition and may be multisystemic. It may present with relapsing-remitting pattern and worsen over time. Unfortunately, there are no lab tests that distinguish post-COVID conditions from other causes, so more research is needed. (https://www.covid.gov/longcovid)

How can we help nurses in Florida affected by Long COVID to get the services they need? Education regarding the signs and symptoms is one way. We can offer more information and updates on the condition in future articles and programs as needed.

Another approach is to share resources regarding ongoing research. One example is the “Researching COVID to Enhance Recovery” (RECOVER) Initiative led by INH. It is currently focusing on enrolling participants “across all ages, genders, races, ethnicities and socioeconomic statuses.”

What should you expect from the RECOVER study? Researchers will ask you questions about your health, review your medical history and monitor your health throughout the study. You will have medical check-ups and labs (blood and urine). If you are part of an observational study, there will not be any treatments offered. For clinical trial participants, you will receive treatment for Long COVID which might include medications or treatments meant to help with the symptoms. To find studies near you go to studies.recoverCOVID.org. or find RECOVER on YouTube.

We hope to share more information with you as it becomes available.

Debbie Hogan

Deborah Hogan, MPH, BSN, RN

Debbie Hogan

Learn to evaluate, diagnose, and treat health conditions, prevent disease, and promote a healthy lifestyle.

Master of Science in Nursing Family Nurse Practitioner

• Designed for working nurses by clinically practicing faculty

• 95% pass rate on AANC* Board Exam

• Affordable, quality education taught 100% online with no on-site visits required Earn

Northwest

Wayne Barrineau

Lauren Bobe

Kelcey Bolduc

Genei Bougher

Regina Boyce

Judy Causey

Charles Doling

Melissa Gordon

Amber Graham

Linda Hammonds

Kayla Hess

Kimberly Marshall

Rusti Mathews

Tamuera Morrow-

Washington

Brooke Mountcastle

Trisha Ogden

Michele Pearson

Samantha Pierce

Terra Pinyati

Tracey Ragusa

Jordon Riggs

Misti Schneidewind

Yosvani Soto Sanchez

Juliette Spivey

Chere Swift

Nikol Tschaepe

Samantha Vassel

Shana Webb

Jaime Weigand

Wendy Wheeler

Charley Wilson

Solomon Wolff

Janet Yon

North Central

Latoya Adams

Carina Amedee

Jennifer Anonuevo

Kelsey Banta

LeeAnn Barfield

Virginia Cardenas

Kimberly Castillo

Dawn Chaloux

Althia Channer

Samantha Cheuvront

Keith Costello

Kathryn Crawford

Ralph Crowther

Creska Dalayoan

Johndell Directo

Miranda Eash

Renee Everett

Mariah Fiore

Yolanda Forman-Payton

Ariel Fuentes

Kimberly Fundenburg

Andrea Gary

Jamil George-Abdullah

Richard Griffin

Anthony Hanna

Dorothy Hellmann

Lucita Herb

Misty Hysmith

Sarina Jaster

Angel Johnson

Channette Jones

George Kaplan

Rebecca King

Randy Knox

Shawna Landon

Manuela Lentz

LaSheria McLeod

Jamesha McWilliams

Beidemariam Milton

Sarah Mutschlecner

Irene Neru

Inez Nichols

Lisa Noles

Sydonna Olds

Kulisra Otey

Nancy Pallais

Michele Parrott

Stephanie Pellegrino

Michelle Proebsting

TL Renforce

Cheyenne Rice

Gary Richberg

William Roberts

Jaclyn Rothberg

Martinique Rummel

Erin Ryals

Jandavid Santana

Jenifer Schneider

Nicole Smero

Kim Sudler

Joyce Svorinich

Norma Torres

Camrynne Valmonte

Quandra Whaley

Tenisha White

Jessica Williams

Denna Willis-Kunins

Northeast

Stephanie Alvarado

Wanda Barksdale

Denise Bixler

Heidi Brown

Nichell Bryant

Myeshia Carter

Elaine Chaika

Elizabeth Chouinard

Patricia Coburn

Petra Cooper

Biyama Cox

Welcome New FNA Members

David Directo

Brian-Stephen Domingo

Sierra Dye

Denise Dyson

Dawn Fletcher

Sara Haugen

Britney Hazelett

Lisa Heath

Michelle Hirsch-Davis

Brian Holloway

Hillary Hough

Lindsey Hunken

Shicara Irvin

Taylor Jonsson

Christine Kanekoa

Marija Kantarevic

Jacqueline Kendall

Maria Kimbrell

Linda Lawson

Ashlee Loewen

Jessica McCann

Tracy McKenzie

Tamara Meyers-Laplace

Marquita Murdock

Erika Nyquist

Ameerah Orciga-Aday

Dana Oweis

Grace Pallapati

Brianne Pittman

Elizabeth Pullukala

Jenn Rohleder

Marybel Sadia

Brittany Seepersad

Aaron Thurmond

Bernadine Tippit

Sonia Tovar

Misgledy Viera

Kimberly VonDolteren

Brenda Walker

Lonnie Watts

Aletha Webb

Danyele Williams

Maureen Williams

Amanda Woods

Keesha Wynn

Deborah Young

East Central

Dianna Acosta

Elizabeth Agunloye

Zakia Allen

Ruby Alvarez

Raven Ashe

Pamela Bacom

Raquel Barba

Michelle Barraza

Jazmine Barrero

Karen Basile-Koenig

Daniel Belizaire

Andrea J Bennett

Regina Bentzoni

Jeanette Blackburn

Elizabeth Boris

Amanda Bracero

Tricia Brightman

Bre Bryant

Katherine Burke

Lisandra Calderius Rojas

Lianne Cancel

Luz Caraballo

Sheiry Corzo

Alice Cruz

Alba Cruz Betancourt

Liam P. Cullen

Pushpa Daliya

Maria Daniel Nunez

Dianne David

Mary Davis-Johnson

Marie Dede

Makayla Deuberry

Arissa Diaz

Shanay Duncan

Jennifer Edwards

Jennifer Elder

Jeffrey Estevez

Yolette Etienne

Celina Ettinger

Heather Fray

Gullermo Galvin

Jacqueline Gardner

Sierra Garrett

Verne Giordano

Myra Golmayo

Patricia Gonzalez

Ismael Gonzalez-Rodriguez

Wendy Goodwin

Andrea Grady

Trinity Graham

Krystal Grant

Tennesha GrayArmstrong

Emily Grossman

Anarica Harding-Burgess

Juliana Harrington

Christine Haynes

Amanda Hughes

Renata Hunley

Amey Hunter

Shiann Husnain

Gabrielle Hutchinson

Janet Hutchison

Melba Jamison

Shaun Jarrett

Judy John Ranira Johnson

Barbara Johnston

Chrystal Jones

Angela Kaufman

Rachael Kelly

Adam Kless

Carlen Koetsch

Erica Laga

Maria Landin

Alicia Laspina

Rachel Lassel

Andrew Lazo

Taylor Leeds

Yolanda Lindo

Terri Llinas

Priscilla Lopez

Janice Lowden-Stokley

Rhellen Macaroy

Rachel Magallanes

Larry Manganello

Shakina Marsh

Julia Massey

Michael McIntire

David Medina

Lissette Melendez

Kimberly Mercer

Milagros Morales

Annie Muller

Goldar Mwale

Ruben Naranjo

Katisha Nicholas

Andrele Nicolas

Aracely Norales

Christina Norenberg

Sarah Oberst

Vanessa October

Jackline Okumu

Diana Oneill

Christina Oninku

Alexandra Ortega

Miguel Ortega

Emmanuel Pagan

Nancy Pallais

Nancy Pallais

Katherine Pallas

Kaitlin Parsons

Ashton Pearson

Rose Pongnon

Danaivis Ramirez

Jessica Reeves

Yezenia Rhine

Danae Riker

Kathyjo Robbins

Terisa Robinson

Susan Rodriguez

Rosalia Rodriguez

Sandra Rodriguez

Kimberly Rudd

Michelle Saenz

Xaimary Salgado Santiago

Jackson Salmon

Dana Sanders

Iris Santana

Amanda Shelton

Maricelle Sinahon

Susan Smith

Sibeli Souza Pinto

Melissa Stein

Scott Stewart

Karen Stratton

Ethan Stuart

Brenda Thigpen

Graciela Torres

Joanne Townsend

Christine Townsend

Toshia Troy

Diane Vaoga

Meghan Viegas

Katrina Wade

Pauline Weir

Myphuong Westmoreland

Dawn Wien

Katrina Williams

Cola Wilson-Henderson

Megan Wise

Clara Zamor

Holly Zorn

West Central

Corina Adebayo

Maday Alonso

Jeffery Anderson

Latoya Anderson

Delcina D Augustin

Devyn Bacon

Jennifer Bailey

Stephanie Barlow

Denise Becker

Anita Beckman

Bari Berger

Juliana Berset

Orlando Betancourt Sanz

Sachin Bhandari

Syreeta Bogan

Jenna Bogusky

Melissa Brandys

Melanie Brewer

Brenda Brown

Nicole Brown

Davita Burney

Clinton Campbell

Phyllis Carmean

Meekie Carr

Jeannette Champaigne

Deborah Cheng

Stacey Chisholm

Cassaundra Christon

Kelly Clark

Ashton Clement

Genieveve Cline

Dawn-Marie Connors

Kayla Cook

Karri Croft

Kyle Cropper

Elena Cuesta

Ronny Danh

Olivia De La Torre

Carla De Souza

Jane DeMauro

Jennifer DeValk

Erin Devaux

Rose Ernest Roge

Chukwuebuka Ezurike

Rosemary Ferdinand

Kimberly Fletcher

Delsie Fletcher-Wilson

Alyssa Fraczek

Justine Francisco

Erica Francois

Kimberly Friedmeyer

Melissa Fuentes Sweet

Kaye Gaines

Sofia Gonzalez

Courtney Gooman

Laura Gulick

Mary Gunasekaran

Jemima Gutierrez

Consuelo Guzman

Danielle Hansen

Rhonda Hawley

Christina Helbing

Amanda Herrera

Susan Hesselman

Tammy Hieber

Josef Hodgkins

Ashley Hoeksema

CarrieAnn Hubbard

Mahalia Hurst

Cindy Jacques

Claudia Jennings

Marcia Johansson

Andrea Johnson-Field

Jakob Jones

Michelle Jutt

Patti Kaighn

Denise Kamer

Timothy Kane

Kevin King

Alisha King

Elizabeth Kovach

Madeline Krantz

Allison Kyle

Kerrin Laari

Terrence LaFrance

Melissa Lees

Xinyi Li

Carmela Lopez

Annmarie Lyles

Bridget Maczko

Nazanin Mahdieh

Dosha Makar

Victoria Marshall

Lynn McCaughey

Dimonica McClain

Kelli McCray

Kelly McCullough

Shawnese McLeod

Lauren McManus

Breanna Mendoza

Suzanne Meszaros

Devon Meyers

Amy Miller

Iryna Mochaylo

Mary-Jean Monica

Jeanette Montallana

Sandra Morgan

Jahenein Nagel

Megan Neely

Tina Negron

Olivia Neufelder

Allison Nichuals

Kate Nielsen

Margaret O’Droblnak

Kaitlin O’Leary

Holly On

Welcome New FNA Members

Angela Osborne

Jennifer Papapavlou

Victoria Pappademetriou

Elizabeth Paradis

Tressa Pedroff

Abigail Penichet

Tangie Perkins-Shaw

Walter Presha

Alison Price

Melissa Proctor

Rachel Quinn

Keira Randall

Victoria Ritz

Amy Rivers

Leira Santana

Jodie Schmidt

Brittany Schoenthal

James Maxwell Sering

Megan Shaw

Julia Shoucair

Raquel Strong

Gissella Suarez

Alison Tagliaferro

Maria Paulette Tantiado

Audrey Taylor

Amanda Taylor

Nashley Terron

Shannon Treese

Anastasia Tzobanakis

Keisha Udorji

Christine Wallner

Angie Watts

Jonesia Williams

Jennifer Wilson

Kelly Wilson-Costa

amy Wink

Kimberley Wolfe

Angelina Yui

Southeast

Ashraf Abulhaija

Paige Acham

Michelle Adams

Bobbie Jo Alcazar

Ann Allen

Sharon Asnaran

Pilar Augustin

Daphnee Beaubrun

Antonella Beretta

Michael Blanco

Rhiannon Boswell

Michele Bowers

Ashley Brauchle

Nursing Community Special Interest Groups

Florida Center for Nursing Quarterly Update

FNA Members Only: Call for 2023 Task Forces

Anna Pawlusiak, USF Student

The Florida Center for Nursing (FCN) held its first State of Nursing Education and Proposed Solutions Think Tank on February 7, 2023 at Florida State University in Tallahassee. Attendees were an interprofessional group of state leaders representative of Florida’s multiple regions. The FCN’s executive director, Rayna Letourneau, Ph.D., RN, presented statewide education survey findings from the academic year 2021-2022 (including NCLEX results for calendar years 2020, 2021, and 2022) and allowed for feedback and strategic planning regarding nursing education and workforce in Florida.

Specific strategies were identified to improve Florida’s NCLEX pass rates, increase the number of nursing faculty and clinical preceptors in Florida, and increase the diversity of the nursing workforce in Florida. The FCN will use feedback from the event to develop a strategic statewide plan for the nursing workforce in this state. The FCN has lots of good work to do, and the first Think Tank was only the beginning.

Dr. Letourneau was invited to Tallahassee to present at the Florida House of Representatives Postsecondary Education and Workforce Subcommittee on February 23, 2023. She presented the FCN’s primary goals to (1) develop a statewide strategic plan for the nursing workforce in the state and (2) enhance and promote recognition, reward, and renewal activities for nurses in the state. Additionally, Dr. Letourneau discussed two key findings from the recent FCN nursing education survey, the nursing faculty shortage and low NCLEX pass rates, and innovative strategies to address both issues.

Dr. Letourneau was also invited to present at the Florida Nurses Association (FNA) 2023 Advocacy Days. Her purpose was to provide nurses with knowledge about the FCN, problems impacting the nursing workforce in Florida, and innovative solutions to address the identified problems. This education is essential so that nurses are informed regarding the supply, demand, and education issues surrounding the nursing workforce in Florida.  Overall, the FCN was part of many impactful occasions these past few months. From hosting a Think Tank to having Dr. Letourneau be invited to the FNA 2023 Advocacy Days and speaking in Tallahassee to the Florida House of Representatives Postsecondary Education and Workforce Subcommittee, it has been a productive and optimistic quarter. From the FCN to all who attended the different events, thank you.

Our compassion sets us apart

Pediatric nursing demands extraordinary skill and compassion, and we recognize and honor our nurses during National Nurse’s Week for their indispensable role in caring for patients and families at Nicklaus Children’s

We are looking for new volunteers to add to the Pandemic and Disaster Task Force which is now focusing on Long Covid and other Emerging Diseases.

We also are seeking to strengthen the Justice, Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (JEDI) Task Force with enthusiastic members and leaders. We want to look at consideration of converting these task forces to a permanent structure within FNA such as a Special Interest Group.

Please respond with your interest to Iris Lopez at info@floridanurse.org

Please note this opportunity is only available to members of the Florida Nurses Association. Not a member? Become a member today at www.floridanurse.org/join!

Special Interest Group Update

The FNA Ethics Special Interest Group is taking an initiative this year to highlight some of the core foundations in ethical principles for the nursing community. Discussions on trends in the nursing workforce and nursing student population have underscored the need to address the Nursing Code of Ethics and how it applies in practice. As a part of this initiative, the Ethics SIG will be hosting a pre-conference to the FNA Membership Assembly on Wednesday, September 20. A group of volunteers from the SIG will be developing an agenda of topics related to nursing ethics. Registration for the pre-conference is included with a full registration to the Membership Assembly. More details will be announced soon!

The Holistic Nursing Special Interest Group has chosen its focus project for the year to join the American Nurses Association Healthy Nurse Healthy Nation challenge. The SIG will be sending out a call to develop a workgroup for the “Healthy Nurse Healthy Florida” initiative. The workgroup will meet to determine a course of action for the initiative and develop projects to advance the program.

The Holistic Nursing SIG has also developed a new program for its monthly meetings, designating every other meeting as a “Talking Circle.” Talking Circles are a concept created by First Nation leaders as a way of communicating, teaching and sharing ideas and opinions. The reasoning behind the process is to ensure that all participants are heard and that the speakers are not interrupted. The Holistic Nurses Special Interest Group is initiating this practice as a way of sharing, communicating and illuminating the voices of our members. While the SIG’s focus has been on creating products and providing education, and knowledge, ideas have emerged regarding the needs of nurses to have a safe place for healthy selfexpression. Topics of discussion will come from the members attending. There will not be limits or boundaries placed on the discussion although it may become focused at times depending on the subject and the responses and the energy of the group.

If you are interested in joining one of FNA’s Special Interest Groups, login to your member profile on the FNA website and navigate to the “Groups” page. From there you will see the available groups listed that you can join. For questions, please contact us at info@floridanurse.org

Anna Pawlusiak

The State of Nursing in Florida and Proposed Solutions: A Summary of the White Paper Developed by QUIN Council

Stephanie Philips, DNP, RN, CPAN, CAPA

In 2022, Quality and Unity in Nursing (QUIN) Council members established a task force with a goal of providing a response to the nursing crisis in Florida. The group authored a white paper, The State of Nursing in Florida and Proposed Solutions (QUIN, 2022) for a target audience of state regulatory bodies, health care leaders, nurses, nursing leadership and policymakers. Key findings from the publication are shared here.

The task force confirmed Florida is faced with an ongoing and worsening crisis in the nursing workforce, identified key findings related to staffing, education, and future nursing needs in Florida, and provided recommendations to address high priority areas. Causes of the nursing crisis in Florida are multi-factorial and include a shift in culture identified in the nursing workforce, nurses leaving the profession, inadequate recruitment and retention initiatives, burnout, compassion fatigue, increasing workplace violence against nurses, and an increasing number of graduates not successfully passing the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX).

The COVID-19 global pandemic heightened awareness of, and exacerbated, the growing nursing shortage. In 2020-2021 alone, one in four registered nurses left the workforce. Vacancies in other allied health professions such as medical assistants, respiratory therapists, surgical and procedural technicians have resulted in a downstream increase on nursing work demands to fulfill these responsibilities. Projected shortages of 59,100 nurses by 2035 highlight the urgent and increasing need to retain and recruit adequate numbers of qualified, engaged, and resilient nursing workforce to meet the health care needs of Florida residents.

The task force concluded critical areas to address must be centered on nursing education and the work environment, incorporating research and policy change to better understand and address the contributing factors to the crisis. Recommendations to impact nursing education include recruiting and retaining qualified nursing school faculty personnel and clinical preceptors, addressing insufficient clinical site availability to support nursing student education requirements, increasing funding for and enrollment in nationally nursing specialty accredited programs, and developing and implementing strategies to address the declining NCLEX pass rates in Florida for RN and LPN graduates. Recommendations to address work environment include identifying and implementing forecasting models to plan and predict for future supply and demand of nurses in the state, tackling the increasing loss of the LPN workforce in Florida, and strategizing ways to impact workplace dissatisfaction contributors such as increases in stressful workloads, workplace violence against health care workers, and staffing deficits.

The goal of QUIN Council members is to help identify methodologies to build collaboration between nursing and healthcare organizations and bring about a cultural shift in health care that will help to prepare nurses for the future, ensuring a stabilized healthy workforce, quality care, and improved patient outcomes.

Feature Organization: Florida Public Health Association

Linda LaComb-Williams, EdD, MPH, BSN, RN, LNC, CHES

Public Health Nursing is a big part of nursing in the community, schools, out-patient clinics, epidemiology, and community-outreach for screenings and health education. Nurses as well as many health care professionals are invited to join FPHA.

The Florida Public Health Association was established in 1931. The Florida Public Health Association is an affiliated association of the American Public Health Association (APHA). APHA is the national voice of public health and champions the health of all people and all communities. FPHA is an organization made up of people dedicated to the advancement of public health professionals in Florida.

The mission of FPHA is to serve Florida’s public health professionals and students through advocacy, professional development, and networking to improve Florida’s health. FPHA’s vision is to be the premier association that represents and supports Florida’s public health and students in their provision of excellent public health services throughout the state.

Current issues of concern to be addressed at the annual conference include social and economic factors, public health collective, and public health in action. The annual conference will be held on July 25-26th, 2023 at the Florida Hotel and Conference Center, 1500 Sand Lake Rd., Orlando, FL 32809. The topic covered will be Leveraging the Public Health Collective: Bridging the Gap of Multisector Partnership. The link for registration is https:// fpha.wildapricot.org/page-1566650

Membership can be individual and organizational. Additionally, local county health departments are offered membership as well. The link for membership https://fpha.wildapricot.org/Join/

The contact information is fpha@srahec.org 14646 NW 151st Blvd. Alachua, FL, 32615. The website is https://fpha.wildapricot.org/

Respectfully submitted, Linda LaComb-Williams

Linda LaComb-Williams: EdD, MPH, BSN, RN, LNC, CHES. Been members of FNA and FPHA for over 30 years. EdD, Nova Southeastern University, MPH from USF, BSN from Capital University, Columbus, OH Currently employed University of Tampa, Adjunct Faculty. and BayCare Health Care System as Health Educator.

Stephanie Philips

Linda LaComb-Williams

Nursing Community Focus on Recent Grads

2023 IPN/FNA

CONFERENCE

THE SPEAKERS

FNA Welcomes New Recent Graduate Director, Aminah Johnson

FNA is excited to announce that the Recent Graduate Director position on the FNA Board of Directors has recently been filled! Aminah Johnson is originally from Georgia but moved to Florida in 2004. She worked in healthcare as a medical biller/coder for 10 years and obtained a Bachelor of Science in Healthcare Administration.

She loved working with patients and advocacy in an oncology financial counselor role and decided to pursue nursing. In nursing school, she was elected as the Vice President of the Student Nurses Association and was invited to Advocacy Days in Tallahassee, where she was introduced to Florida Nurses Association and was able to participate in workshops dedicated to nursing advocacy. After graduating from nursing school in 2019, she became an official member of FNA/ANA and has been passionate about nursing advocacy since! Aminah is currently in school for her Masters of Science in Nursing. She continues to work as a bedside nurse in Labor and Delivery. Aminah has four children: two boys and two girls. She enjoys reading, shopping, traveling, and enjoying time with family and friends.

Aminah is excited about becoming the Director of Recent Grads for FNA! She will engage new nurses by mentoring and nurturing a positive culture of excellence in nurses where teamwork, collaboration, advocacy, diversity and inclusion, and leadership development are a focus. Nurses are the backbone of healthcare and together, they can empower and create positive change within the nursing profession that will positively affect our communities and overall health outcomes!

Aminah Johnson

Cultural Competence for Nurses Now

Michelle K. Tall, PhD, RN

Removing Politics as a Barrier to Service

Charene Adams, DNP, MSN, RN-BC

Florida nurses and practitioners provide care to a globally diverse patient population, but the profession has not kept pace with the nation’s changing demography. Although in the United States the general population is still predominantly Caucasian, one in three persons now represents an ethnicity other than non-Hispanic White. This minority is projected to reach 50% by the year 2044, with Caucasian children decreasing from one-half to one-third of total children by 2060 (Vespa, Medina, and Armstrong, 2020).

As early as 1978, Madeleine Leininger, a nurse and cultural anthropologist, introduced the concept of transcultural nursing in her Cultural Care Theory. Factors such as culture, spiritual beliefs, and language were identified as potential barriers for developing effective nurse-patient relationships. Four decades later, Leininger’s theory also extends to nurse-nurse alliances, as shortages continue and the current climate of racism, violence, and the COVID 19 pandemic require that nurses support each other to manage crises and care for an increasingly diverse population. According to Florida Center of Nursing (FCN), the composition of Florida nurses is approximately 15.1% Black, 14.4% Hispanic, 6.8% Asian, and 2.5 % Other (FCN, 2020). These ratios are clearly a mismatch with Florida’s racial composition, which is, for example, 25% Hispanic. In addition, no reliable statistics exist for the significant percentage of migrant farm workers who also need healthcare.

Currently, Florida does not mandate cultural competency training to help nurses understand how to best respect, communicate, normalize differences and effectively care for people from other cultures, ethnicities, and backgrounds, including individuals who identify as LGBTQIA+. In general, racial, cultural, or sexual identity differences may be briefly discussed in educational or organizational venues with a sense of

awkwardness, if broached at all. Certainly, they are not made a priority unless lack of communication, racism or other related incidents result in legal consequences. As frontline healthcare personnel and patient advocates, nurses need curriculum developers, policy makers, and organizational administrators to provide cultural competency training to overcome barriers that can result in suboptimal care, serious health consequences, and legal ramifications that can cost our healthcare system millions of dollars annually.

It took a long, bloody, divisive war and other major events to end slavery, but racism and inequality still plague our nation. Nurses must prioritize and demand the training they need to embrace workplace diversity; cultural competence is now and will be increasingly foundational for providing quality nursing care. Fortunately, there are online resources to help. The National LGBTQIA+ Health Education Center offers a variety of online webinars and self-paced learning modules, and there is a 2.0 CNE course accredited by the American Nurses Credentialing Center available online at https://www.nursingce.com/ceu-courses/ lgbtq-culturally-competent-care . There are also many free, certificated or low-fee CNE diversity training courses offered online.

References Vespa, J., Medina, L., and Armstrong, D. (2020). Demographic turning points for the United States: Population projections for 2020 to 2060. Current Population Reports , P25-1144, U.S. Census Bureau, Washington, DC, 2020. Florida Center for Nursing (2020). Florida/s 20182019 registered nurse (RN) workforce supply: Characteristics and trends. Retrieved from: https:// floridasnursing.gov/forms/supply/2018-2019%20 RN%20Supply%20-%20FINAL%2006.2020.pdf

Michelle K. Tall, PhD, RN

Michelle obtained her PhD in Nursing from the University of Central Florida. Her research focus is implementing technological interventions to increase medication adherence and transition readiness in adolescents and young adults with epilepsy. She is CEO and founder of The Epilepsy Leadership Foundation (ELF), Inc. in Maitland, FL.

A couple of years ago in 2019, I decided to take a chance and apply for an open Board of Nursing position with the Florida Board of Nursing (FBON). I felt that I had something to offer and felt very empowered to serve. I filled out the application, yet I never heard anything back. I did call however and was told the Governor makes the appointments and that he had not made any decisions. Fast forward to August 2022, I see there are still open positions. I went to apply again with that same enthusiasm, the same desire to serve. I still have no idea why I might not have been chosen, but I am willing to apply again. I go to the application online and one of the first things it asks is my political affiliation. This is when I felt a mix of emotions, anger, sadness, and shock. My first question was, “What does my political affiliation have to do with being a nurse?” My second question was, “Is such a question even relevant or legal?”

When I am teaching a class and/or clinicals, I often tell my students that the best way to start a disagreement or to make everyone uncomfortable is to talk about religion or politics.

My understanding of being a nurse in my 20 plus year career is that politics has no role in the care of our patients. Like race, gender, religion etc., we are supposed to treat our patients without bias, by checking ourselves and checking it at the door. We are to tender care to the sick and infirmed without judgement in an ethical and compassionate manner. Whether I am a democrat, a republican, an independent or other, it should never have a role in who I am as a nurse. My political affiliation does not define me nor does my gender, my race or my ethnicity. My values, characteristics, moral integrity and professional identity do define me as a nurse and that is why I felt I had something to offer the Board of the Florida Board of Nursing. While I am unsure if I will hear from the state about my application, one thing is for certain, we need to remember that politics should never be a factor in nursing, it should always be about the quality of the nurse.

Dr. Charene Adams has a DNP in Healthcare systems leadership. She has over 21 years of experience as a nurse at both the bedside and as a nurse educator. Her current role is Director of Nursing and she enjoys mentoring future nurses and traveling in her spare time.

Michelle K. Tall

Charene Adams

Remembering Pearl Harbor Nurse Monica Conter Benning: The Story of the Banyan Tree

Patricia

R. Messmer, PhD, RN, NPD-BC, FAAN &

Bob Gahol, RN, BSN, MBA, MPA, MMAS, MSS

In November 2022, I was invited to accompany Carole Kenner, PhD, RN, FAAN, ANEF, President/CEO Council of International Neonatal Nurses (COINN) who was the keynote speaker for the Hawaiian Chapter of COINN. I wanted to travel to Hawaii so I could visit Hickam Air Force Base. Marion Poirier, a former ANA-PAC Trustee living in Hawaii, put me in touch with Bob Gahol, a board member of the Hawaii-ANA and retired US Army Colonel. Bob and I met in Waikiki and he drove me to Hickam Air Force Base the following day. In 2008, I was the Director of Patient Care Services at Children’s Mercy Hospital (CMH) in Kansas City, Missouri. At the ANA Hill Day, I visited both Florida Congressmen/ women and Kansas Senator Brownback. When Brownback’s Legislative Assistant, Melanie Benning saw that I was living in Florida and a nurse at Children’s Mercy Hospital in Kansas/Missouri, she wanted me to visit her grandmother, Monica Conter Benning, at an Assisted Living facility in Fort Myers, FL. Melanie told me Monica was the last of the two nurses stationed at the Hickam Army base in Hawaii. I called Marydelle Polk, a Florida Nurses Foundation Trustee who had been an Army nurse, to accompany me to visit Monica. After our visit, Marydelle and I co-authored an article for the December 2008 Florida Nurse, “Lasting Bonds: A Famous Pearl Harbor Nurse Survivor Remembered.” Monica gave me and Marydelle “A Real Nurse’s Dream: An Army Nurse Experiences during WWII.” Although Monica wrote the book in March/April 1943, it was not published until February 2007. Monica wanted me to accompany her to see the Banyan Tree dedicated by the U.S. Air Force in Oahu, Hawaii. The inscription said, “Dedicated to Mrs. (2LT) Monica Conter Benning, one of two nurses on duty when the bombs started falling December 7th, 1941. This tree was planted two weeks after the attack in a bomb crater as a healing gesture. May it continue to serve as a reminder of the bravery and commitment of our Armed Forces.”

Monica, an epitome of recruitment, represented the Army Nurse Corps in posters throughout the nation during World War II. “Remembering Pearl Harbor at 75 years” featured Monica, born in Apalachicola, Florida in 1915 and deployed to Hawaii in 1941 as a 2nd lieutenant in the Army Nurse Corps. In November, Monica started working at the new 30-bed hospital at Hickam Field. On December 6, 1941, Monica had a date with Barney Benning at the Pearl Harbor Officer’s Club. They walked to the harbor, “It was the most beautiful sight I’ve ever seen. All the battleships and the lights with the reflection on the water. Barney and I were overwhelmed” (Milbrathe 2014 UVA Windows in Time). On December 7, Monica was one of two nurses assigned to morning duty. During the chaotic bombing, Monica remembered that nurses focused first on protection, moving patients to safer quarters and making sure morphine was given appropriately to those suffering trauma. The bleeding, burned, fractured, and dying casualties began pouring in on boards and doors. Monica would give them a 10 cc shot of morphine, following up with mercurochrome putting an “X” on their forehead to be sure they would not receive another hypo (AJN December 2016). Monica recalled needing supplies that weren’t available, voices called for “water, water,” and the bravery of the wounded and dying. The dead were placed on the lawn and periodically checked “just in case.” At sunset, “Old Glory,” our flag, was still flying, ripped but still there.

Monica died on July 27, 2012, and is buried in Arlington Cemetery along with her husband, Barney (1st Lt, who died in 2006). Bob and I had our photos taken in front of the Banyan Tree that was dedicated to Monica. Bob told me Pearl Harbor was called Pu’uloa, meaning “long hill,” or

Wai Momi, “water of pearl,” by early Hawaiians, so named because of the abundance of pearls once found within its protected waters. Pearl Harbor is the largest natural harbor in the State of Hawaii and the number one visitor destination on Oahu. Pearl Harbor remains an active military base, Headquarters of the Pacific Fleet, and a National Historic Landmark.

References

Liehr, P, Soycheck, J, MilBrath, G (2016) Remembering Pearl Harbor at 75 Years AJN 116 (12), 54-57 Bell, M (200). A unique WWII ANC passes on Vol 37(4)(, 17.

Benning, Monica Conter (2007). “A Real Nurse’s Dream: An Army Nurse Experiences during WWII. 48HRBooks.com

Messmer, PR & Polk, M (2008) Lasting Bonds: A Famous Peral Harbor Nurse Survivor Remembered. The Florida Nurse, December page 29.

Milbrathe, Gwyneth Rhiannon (2014) “We Just Had to Line Them Up:” Monica Conter, Army Nurse Corps UVA Windows in Time)

Nurses and Disasters: Global, historical Case Studies Chapter 6 the bombing of Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, December 7, 1941.

Walter, L (1957). Day f Infamy Henry Holt & Company, NY.

Holistic Nursing Starts Here

With a focus on real-world relevancy, the Doctor of Nursing Practice program at The University of Tampa continues a tradition of excellence in nursing education.

With current NCLEX-RN passing rates exceeding 96%*, the University of Tampa’s nursing programs are consistently recognized as among the best in Florida and the U.S.

*NCLEX pass rates as reported by National Council of State Boards of Nursing.

• Contribute to the development of health care policy

• Manage interdisciplinary clinical teams

• Land leadership roles in hospital administration

• Gain tenure-track teaching positions

Nursing Research Corner Event Highlights

Nurses as Patient Advocates for Symptom Management and Complementary Therapy

Tina M. Mason, PhD, APRN, AOCN, AOCNS, FCNS, Lisa Demont, BSN, RN, OCN & Amy Patterson, MSN, APRN, AOCNS, BMTCN

Nurses are in a unique position to advocate for and promote holistic care, including complementary therapies. Essential oils, plant-based concentrated extracts, are often used as aromatherapy for complementary symptom management, such as anxiety, stress, pain, nausea, vomiting, and insomnia.

In the blood and marrow transplant (BMT) setting, patients experience acute and delayed chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting (CINV) despite receiving antiemetic therapy in preparation for transplant. Some aromatherapy effects on CINV have been documented; however, more research was needed to implement a practice change at our center. As a result, a controlled, randomized pilot study was conducted to test the benefits of inhaled peppermint and ginger pure essential oils (compared to a control oil) in reducing CINV in the autologous BMT population.

Some of our key findings are as follows:

• One-third of patients (N=60) experienced a level 2 or greater nausea event (CTCAE)*

• 5 patients (8%) experienced level 2 vomiting (CTCAE)

• Patients receiving peppermint oil experienced the lowest rate of nausea, followed by ginger pure essential oil, and control (p=0.045)

Pure essential oils were found to complement anti-emetic regimens in preventing or reducing CINV in our study. Future studies to evaluate the impact of aromatherapy on other symptoms (e.g., anxiety and insomnia), patient safety, economic implications of cost of supplies, and antiemetic medication use in the BMT population is needed. While our study examined continuous use of pure essential oils, future studies examining intermittent use and blended essential oils are also needed.

Aromatherapy can be self-administered and controlled by patients as needed. Nurses should advocate for the use of this complementary therapy in conjunction with standard pharmacologic treatments to mitigate the symptoms associated with treatment regimens. Nursing practice guidelines should be developed to guide their safe use. By doing so, nurses can provide quality, holistic care to improve the patient experience.

*CTCAE – Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events

LGBTQ+ Healthcare Conference

FNA held the LGBTQ+ Healthcare Conference on March 10, 2023 at the Nova Southeastern University Tampa Bay Regional Campus. The conference was jam-packed with timely and important information about addressing the unique healthcare needs of the LGBTQ+ Community. The conference was kicked off with an LGTBQ+ 101 session covering the basics in terminology that providers should be familiar with. A panel presentation discussing some of the unique healthcare needs of the LGBTQ+ population followed. Additional educational topics included Primary Care, Pharmacological, and Perioperative Care of Transgender Patients, Mental Health Care, Trauma-Informed Care, Gender-Affirming Care, and Advocacy Challenges for the LGBTQ+ Community. Special thanks to our presenters Edward Briggs, Andrew Lent, Peter Lesko, George Peraza-Smith, Sherry Roper, Jandavid Santana, Lisa Shoemaker, and Guillermo Valdes. The conference was well received by those in attendance and we plan to make this an annual event. Stay tuned for more information about next year’s event! Thank you to the Florida Association of Nurse Anesthesiology for sponsoring the event and Nova Southeastern University Tampa Bay Campus for hosting.

Demont, L., Patterson, A., Reich, R. R., & Mason, T. M. (in press, 2023). Reduction of chemotherapyinduced nausea and vomiting: A pilot study of pure essential oils in the autologous blood and marrow transplant population. Clinical Journal of Oncology Nursing Farrar, A. J., & Farrar, F. C. (2020). Clinical aromatherapy. The Nursing Clinics of North America, 55(4), 489–504. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cnur.2020.06.015 Toniolo, J., Delaide, V., & Beloni, P. (2021). Effectiveness of inhaled aromatherapy on chemotherapyinduced nausea and vomiting: A systematic review. Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine, 27(12), 1058–1069. https://doi.org/10.1089/acm.2021.0067

Practical Nursing Program Instructor

Qualifications: RN with 4 years of experience, Florida Licensed

PN Program Instructors, fulltime & part time positions at Erwin Technical College in Tampa Florida, within Hillsborough County Public Schools. Starting instructor pay is approximately $47-50K, fulltime, $27/hr part time.

Contact Yolanda Simmons 813-769-5180 ext 223 or email resume to: Yolanda.Simmons@hcps.net

Tina M. Mason

Lisa Demont

Amy Patterson

Advocacy Days 2023 Highlights

The Florida Nurses Association returned to Florida’s Capital for the first time since 2020 for the 2023 FNA Advocacy Days! Over 100 nurses attended the event and proudly wore their white lab coats to the State Capitol Building to meet with legislators and share FNA’s Legislative Agenda. The conference was held during legislative committee weeks to enable greater access to legislators. Nurses attending the event divided into groups based on their legislative districts and were able to meet with over 32 legislators!

This year, one of the top issues for the Florida Nurses Association was protecting nurses and other healthcare providers in surgical settings from the dangers of surgical smoke. Currently, there is no Florida legislation that requires facilities provide an evacuation method for removing surgical smoke plumes. Surgical smoke contains over 150 hazardous chemicals and carcinogenic and mutagenic cells. Inhalation of surgical smoke can lead to health problems for both healthcare personnel and patients. Nurses in attendance at Advocacy Days were educated on the dangers of surgical smoke and were able to advocate for the passage of HB 587 and SB 380 Protection from Surgical Smoke.

Attendees were provided with education on grassroots legislative advocacy prior to hitting the halls of the Capitol. Erin Ballas, Vice President of Public Affairs Consultants, provided information on how to effectively advocate for FNA’s Legislative Agenda. Additional educational opportunities included an update from the Florida Center for Nursing, the Florida Board of Nursing, the Florida Nurse Practitioner Network, and a presentation on Workplace Violence.

A successful day of education and advocacy was concluded with an elegant reception at the Governors Club in which legislators and their staff members were able to join nurses in a relaxed environment.

We would like to thank our partners the Florida Nurse Practitioner Network, the Florida Association of Nurse Practitioners, the Haitian American Nurses Association of Florida, and the Miami Chapter Black Nurses Association for their continued involvement and support of this event!

Advocacy Days provides a hands-on opportunity for nurses to become advocates for their profession, but we always like to remind participants that advocacy doesn’t just take place during session – it is an all year affair. We encourage all nurses to familiarize themselves with the issues on FNA’s Legislative Agenda and connect with their local representatives to advocate on behalf of nursing. Go to www.floridanurse.org/advocacy to learn more.

The Florida Legislative Session convenes in January next year – stay tuned for 2024 FNA Advocacy Days dates which will take place during the January 2024 session!

Partner Organizations

At NSU, you'll learn how to deliver patient-centered care from experienced practitioners who bring case studies to life. NSU prepares you to become a confident, capable, and caring nursing professional.