From the Desk of
the President...
December 2007
I would like to start my message with a
huge thank you to the entire board and active members. During the
year and a half that I have served as president, our association has
moved forward in a new direction and that is thanks to all of them
and you.
Change is never easy, especially when you have been used to doing
things a certain way for a long time, but our state organization has
persevered and lead the way towards positive growth and progress.
There have been many contributions at not only the state level but
also at the national level. Our state has been nationally recognized
and rewarded for this progression! I am proud of each and every one
of you and you deserve to pat yourself on the back.
Although I have been honored to be a part of the positive movements
this year, I look forward to passing the baton to our new 2008
Maryland State ENA President, Mary Alice Vanhoy. I am asking that
you please show her the same support you have showed me so our
association can continue to excel!! Thank you in advance Mary Alice
for agreeing to serve as our President. Congratulations to the new
state board members. I am sure you will find your contributing
efforts will be professionally rewarding in the end!
I have been focused on my work with the
ENA national workforce team reviewing issues regarding care of the
psychiatric patients in the ED and the issues that face us on a
daily basis. We have phone conferenced several times and met once in
Washington, DC for a two day work session. We have been researching
our recommendations with evidence-based studies. Participation and
brainstorming ideas takes a lot of time, but in the end I think it
will be worth the effort! I will be keeping you informed of more
details of our work as they become available.
Our officers will go to Chicago in
December 2007 to attend the National ENA leadership weekend. This
weekend is an opportunity to train the officers to effectively serve
in their position and manage operations at the state association
level. Each officer will receive individual training regarding their
specific offices. The training includes a tour of the National ENA
headquarters. As a new State President, Mary Alice Vanhoy will get
one-on-one time with our national board members. I recall how an
ongoing relationship with the National ENA team and board members,
helped me through out my tenure. I was always able to get help when
I or the State ENA needed it.
I had a personal meeting with the
president elect of American College of Emergency Physicians (ACEP).
We discussed how to combine our efforts and increase communication
to improve our work environment and professional lives in the ED. I
will continue to focus on recommendation we discussed, in my
position as the Maryland State ENA governmental affairs chairperson
and active ENA member.
I look forward to focusing on my new
State ENA position as governmental affairs chairperson but I will
also remain an active participant in Maryland ENA! Thank you again
for all the support you have given me and your organization.
Tamra White
2007 Maryland State ENA President
December 2007
In early December, your 2008 State
Leaders traveled to Chicago and the ENA
National Headquarters for a 2 day training and meeting with National
ENA leaders and other ENA state leaders from across the country.
This was a great opportunity to learn about ENA as a corporation,
it's strategic plan and the roles and responsibilities of being a
state leader.
In addition Mary Alice Vanhoy, President; Linda Arapian,
President-Elect; Caroline Doyle, Secretary and Sandy Waak, Treasurer
had to opportunity to attend the National ENA Board Meeting. While
most of the Board Meeting focused on the executive functioning of
the organization, an open forum provided state leaders a chance to
ask questions. As usual, Maryland opened with dialog related to the
new information management system and its impact on state and
chapter operations. It created some discussion and we will be
awaiting further information regarding this issue.
A Saturday evening outing to the
National ENA Headquarters occurred when the staff opened their doors
and offices to the group. We were allowed to tour the facility and
interact with the staff. It was great to be able to put a face with
the voice or name. These staff members serve as the backbone of our
organization. During our social visitation we recognized them as a
great group of professionals who are committed to serving each of us
as individual members and as a state group.
It was lucky for us that we live on the
east coast. With the severe winter storm in the central part of the
country that weekend, many of our ENA colleagues from other parts of
the country were stranded in Chicago.
As we concluded our meeting, the state
presidents looked forward to their next meeting and learning
opportunity at the State Leaders meeting at the Leadership
conference in Hawaii in 2008. This will again provide us with
additional opportunities to share procedures, policies, standard
operating procedures and best practices.
This meeting serves to energize your
2008 state leaders who strive to have
Maryland ENA as an active leader in National ENA and as facilitators
to our colleagues.
Be proud! We are Emergency Nurses.
Mary Alice Vanhoy, RN, MSN, CEN, NREMT-P
2008 Maryland State ENA President
Past Messages:
March
2002
July
2002
September
2002
November
2002
December
2002
February
2003
September
2003
January
2004
April
2004
June
2004
November
2004
January
2005
March
2005
April
2005
May
2005
July
2005
March
2006
September/October
2006
February 2007
April / May 2007
May 2007
September 2007