District 4, Volume 09, Issue 2

Published Quarterly

Message from the President

My fellow colleagues and IENA members:

IENA celebrated its centennial anniversary last week. Approximately 80 members and their guests attended the event. Scholarships were awarded to students in undergraduate and graduate nursing programs, and to those completing a certification program. Past presidents and past Board of Directors attended along with members of WSNA, the Executive Director of the Washington Center for Nurses, and the Executive Director for Nurse Executives. The speaker, Deanna Davis, PhD had us all laughing as she presented her portion of the evening program.

It was a time to look back at some of the historic medical changes that have shaped our current profession as well as an opportunity to look forward to see the challenges and opportunities present to shape the present and future of nursing. Among those changes are:

• Moving from direct face to face interactions in hospitals to more community based operation. The use of the Internet, twittering, participating in a wiki or other social networking has opened up new avenues in which nurses educate and consult with patients about their illnesses and its management.

• Continuing to deal with a fundamental shift of authority away from a unidirectional format of physician to patient to patient centered care with a team of health care providers, with nurses as the navigator.

• In the upheaval of the 1960's our profession broke with tradition of white caps and uniforms to appear more modern. Not only did we lose our symbols, we lost our identity and ability to be identified. We must re-brand our visible identify as credible professionals and necessary providers to help meet the health need s of society. We've worked hard to gain public trust, now the public should know who we are.

• Dealing with the high cost of health care in a failing health care system

At the bi-centennial celebration of 2009 nurses will look back in time and ask "What did the nurses do and how did they manage health care in the 21st century?" The answer will be, as we found it, by committing out resources, talent, and time to our professional organization, IENA and WSNA; to educate ourselves to shape and be prepared for the emerging trends, to develop and support those entering our profession, and to hold fast to our unyielding principles of care, concern, and safety.

This is my last report as President of IENA. I am re-locating to the Seattle area seeking some new adventures in employment. I will miss living here in beautiful Spokane, but more I will miss the wonderful relationships I've developed with many of you, my colleagues.

Terry Buxton, RN, Ph.D.

IENA President

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Cleveland Visiting Scholar Program

Presentation to Faculty and members of the community:

• How the composition of the RN workforce is changing

• Projections of future age and supply of RNs through 2025

• Evidence where there is lack of alignment in the views of RNs, physicians, CEOs, and chief nurses on key issues regarding the quality and safety of inpatient care

• Public opinion of the nursing profession

• Strategic directions for education and practice, implications for policy

The IENA Board of Directors approved a donation of $200 to this endeavor, on behalf of the IENA membership. These scholarship are available for IENA members check out additional details on WSU web site.

The Cleveland Visiting Scholar Program was dedicated on January 9, 1997, in honor of Dr. Thelma Cleveland. At her retirement, she was the longest serving Dean of the Intercollegiate Center for Nursing Education (I.C.N.E.), the College of Nursing for Eastern Washington University, Washington State University, Whitworth College and prior to 1981, Fort Wright College of the Holy Names.

The endowed program was made possible by gifts from the I.C.N.E.'s long-standing community partners and friends, in honor of Dr. Cleveland's many years of dedicated service to the I.C.N.E., the community, and the nursing profession. With the Cleveland Visiting Scholar Program, Dr. Cleveland's legacy continues to contribute to the I.C.N.E. and the future generations which will benefit from its mission.

When Dr. Cleveland came to the I.C.N.E. in 1970, as Assistant Professor and Curriculum Coordinator, classes were being taught in the Carnegie Library in downtown Spokane - a humble beginning for the first consortium nursing school in the United States. During her more than 20 years at the I.C.N.E., Dr. Cleveland served in a variety of leadership roles, becoming Dean in 1982. At her retirement in 1997, the I.C.N.E. had grown to become one of the leading nursing education institutions in the country, with programs in five cities across Washington state.

The mission of the Cleveland Visiting Scholar Program is to provide opportunities for intensive exposure to premiere national and international nurse and health care leaders who are setting the course for the future. These leaders will help health care professionals see where their industry is moving. Such exposure will enrich the I.C.N.E.'s  academic offerings, stimulate faculty research and enhance nursing practice. In addition, the high visibility generated by the various visiting scholars will increase the community's understanding of what is happening in health care and the importance of their involvement in helping to shape its future.

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The Inland Empire Nurses Association is District 4 of the Washington State Nurses Association. For information on membership Registered Nurses should call WSNA at 1-800-231-8482 or the IENA office at (509) 328-8288 or e-mail iena@aimcomm.net.

The Inland Empire Nurses Association Office is located at 222 W. Mission Ste. 231 in the Garden Court Building. Please call 509-328-8288 before visiting to ensure a staff member is on hand to greet you.

Tax free contribution or memorial remembrances in the name of a loved one may be mailed to: Inland Empire Nurses Association, 222 W. Mission, STE 231, Spokane, WA 99201.

The Association News is published quarterly by the Inland Empire Nurses Association, 222 W. Mission, Box 231, Spokane, WA 99201, a non-profit organization. Information on advertising rates may be obtained by calling 509-328-8288.

If you are interested in serving on a Association committee please call the office at 509-328-8288.

Committees: Scholarship, Awards, Legislative Reception, Yearly Nurse Celebration Event, Education, Finance, and Nominations. Most of the committees have a limited involvement of time.

Editors:

Sharon Bradley

Michele Slider

In This Issue

2009-2010

IENA BOARD OF DIRECTORS

President:

Michele Slider

Vice-President:

Vacant

Treasurer:

Martha Goodall

Secretary:

Carlene Haynes

Directors-at-Large:

Anne Bailey

OCCUPATIONAL GROUP DIRECTORS:

General Duty:

Judy Edmonds

Community/Public Health:

Lynn Vessey

Independent Practice:

Carrie Holliday

Nursing Management:

Vacant

Education:

Lynn Stapleton

Nominations Committee:

Kelly Knight, Christine Slider, Michele Wolfe

Past President:

Theresa Buxton

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DATES OF INTEREST:

>June 2009: Slate of IENA candidates posted on website per IENA by-laws. Click here.

>July 3, 2009: Per by-laws official ballots will be mailed to each member.

>July 31, 2009: All ballots need to be post marked by this date to be counted.

>First week of August 2009: Official counting of IENA election ballots.

>September 2, 2009: Letters will be mailed to candidates with results.

>October 5, 2009: Last official meeting of outgoing board members.

>October 13, 2009: IENA Annual Legislative Day event. Watch the web site for further details.

>November 2, 2009: New board members first official meeting.

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READ CAREFULLY:

The following individuals missed their names in the March Newsletter and their chance at a gift card: Kevin Reed, Emily Wells, and Michele Zicha.

Remember to call the office within two weeks of publication if your name appears in the text of the newsletter. You could be the next winner!

Congratulations to new members Rebecca Degroot and Kristyn Koehler, winners of a gift card for returning new member surveys.

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DID YOU KNOW?

Did you know that RN's and LPN's will see fee increases for licensure? Download fee schedules: Word Document or PDF Document.

The WSNA now has a Labor Studies School.

Applications for WSNA scholarships are now available.

Check out the new WSNA Legislative Action Center to find out the latest news and contact your legislators. Visit the site frequently for the latest on what's happening in the Legislature and more.

Visit the WSNA web site for more information on the above mentioned issues.

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