The South Carolina Nurse - January 2016
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Page 4—<strong>January</strong>, February, March <strong>2016</strong>—<strong>The</strong> <strong>South</strong> <strong>Carolina</strong> <strong>Nurse</strong><br />
Judith Curfman Thompson, IOM<br />
<strong>2016</strong>! Happy New Year to<br />
all! 2015 was a busy and most<br />
instructive year in many ways.<br />
We learned about the latest<br />
edition of the “Code of Ethics<br />
with Interpretive Statements”<br />
through a variety of events,<br />
articles and presentations. While<br />
we at SCNA celebrated this<br />
newest publication of the Code<br />
for the entire last year, we all<br />
are aware that the emphasis on<br />
the use of the Code as a building<br />
block for all of nursing practice<br />
is ever on-going. I do hope that<br />
Judith Curfman<br />
Thompson<br />
each of you has taken the opportunity to purchase your<br />
own copy of the newest edition. It truly is your guide and<br />
direction for all of your life in nursing. <strong>The</strong> Convention that<br />
took place in October was a great “finale” and beginning for<br />
the inculcation of ethics as part of all of your practices.<br />
Early <strong>January</strong> <strong>2016</strong> saw the return of the <strong>South</strong> <strong>Carolina</strong><br />
General Assembly to regular full meetings and work. We<br />
shall be actively working again to promote the passage<br />
of legislation to bring <strong>South</strong> <strong>Carolina</strong> laws into the 21st<br />
century in regard to the practice of Advanced Practice<br />
Registered <strong>Nurse</strong>s. <strong>The</strong> goal as we see it is to have the laws<br />
recognize that APRNs are educated professionals delivering<br />
healthcare and to remove the barriers that currently prevent<br />
practice to the fullest extent of their education, licensure and<br />
certification. We made some progress last Session of the<br />
General Assembly, but, we have much work to go to ensure<br />
that <strong>South</strong> <strong>Carolina</strong> can take its place among other states<br />
that recognize the valuable practice and care provided by<br />
APRNs. This legislation is a step in the process to ensure<br />
that all persons who are Registered <strong>Nurse</strong>s are able to<br />
practice in ways that will provide the optimum care from<br />
professional nurses in <strong>South</strong> <strong>Carolina</strong>. Your support is most<br />
important in the work that we are doing.<br />
As this year begins, we are now in the second year of<br />
the term of the SCNA President. I mention this because the<br />
beginning of 2017 we will experience the first “roll-over”<br />
from the office of President-elect to President. So, for this<br />
next election we shall be seeking candidates for the office<br />
of President-elect to continue the process that was developed<br />
two years ago to create a plan for an orderly progression<br />
for SCNA leadership. You will see more information about<br />
the election in this edition of the SC NURSE. Is now that<br />
time to look at opportunities for leadership for each of you?<br />
Think about it! Perhaps it is time to let your light shine!<br />
In keeping with the thought of letting light shine, I<br />
want to recommend a splendid book to you, “All the Light<br />
We Cannot See” by Anthony Doerr. I have just finished<br />
reading this for my Book Club. It is beautifully written. (An<br />
understatement!) It is a celebration of the human spirit in<br />
the face of human horrors, in World War II. <strong>The</strong> light that is<br />
shining in this instance is the light of humanity in a time of<br />
unspeakable horror and civilization breakdown. It won the<br />
Pulitzer Prize in 2014 for its author and is very hard to put<br />
down once one opens it. Treat yourself!<br />
In keeping with thinking ahead for this year, I would<br />
like for all of you to be thinking about the next SCNA<br />
Convention /APRN Pharmaceutical update which will take<br />
place in Hilton Head on October 19, 20, 21, <strong>2016</strong> with Pre-<br />
Convention sessions on October 18, <strong>2016</strong>. Now, if you have<br />
your calendars at the ready, you will note that these dates<br />
are on Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday…..not the<br />
usual week days that we have used. You might want to get<br />
on the work calendar right now to be sure that you will be<br />
able to attend. Why did we make this change? TO SAVE<br />
YOU MONEY! We thought you might agree that this is a<br />
reason that is worth it for everyone!<br />
So, Happy New Year once again and ONWARD!<br />
www.scnurses.org<br />
Activities of the<br />
SCNA Board of<br />
Directors<br />
August 21, 2015 Meeting:<br />
Adopted new business plan to include a Consent<br />
Agenda for each Board meeting to streamline the meetings<br />
Ratified the purchase of a new phone system for SCNA.<br />
This was made necessary by the fact of the very outdated<br />
system that SCNA was using.<br />
Discussion of Strategic Plan update will take place in<br />
early <strong>2016</strong>. Each Board member is to review the current<br />
plan, make suggestions and send the plan forward to the<br />
next member on the list until all have participated in the<br />
review.<br />
Motion made and passed to look for new Partner for our<br />
Continuing Education Provider unit.<br />
Remainder of Board meeting was work on the Board’s<br />
participation in the upcoming SCNA meeting in October<br />
and deadlines for the next SC <strong>Nurse</strong>.<br />
October 21, 2015 Meeting:<br />
<strong>The</strong> Board welcomed the birth of Isabell Nielson to<br />
Board Members Tami Nielson and her husband!<br />
Consent agenda items accepted<br />
New item under the Commission on Chapters: motion<br />
to support the creation of a new Chapter for Clinical <strong>Nurse</strong><br />
Leaders. <strong>The</strong> motion was passed by the Board.<br />
CEO reported that the SCNA and the Tennessee<br />
<strong>Nurse</strong>s Association will be partners in sharing services<br />
between the two organizations for providing Continuing<br />
Nursing Education. This action will replace the current<br />
partnership that SCNA has had for many years with the<br />
Vermont <strong>Nurse</strong>s Association. Vermont is now a member of<br />
the North East Member Division and their CNE is being<br />
handled as part of their new partnership.<br />
Board approved sending a proclamation to honor<br />
<strong>Nurse</strong> Practitioners Week, November 8-14, 2015 to the<br />
Governor’s Office for possible issuing by the Governor.<br />
Thanks to Kahlil Demonbreun, Chair of the SCNA APRN<br />
Chapter for arranging the copy of this.<br />
Major purpose of this meeting included preparation<br />
of the Board of Directors for roles during the Annual<br />
Meeting of SCNA to take place on October 23, 2015.<br />
October 23, 2015 Annual Meeting of the Board of<br />
Directors as required by SC Corporation Law:<br />
<strong>The</strong> Board of Directors of SCNA met as required<br />
by SC Corporation Law immediately at the close of the<br />
SCNA Annual Meeting. <strong>The</strong> purpose of this meeting<br />
is to establish the calendar for Board meetings for the<br />
upcoming year. <strong>The</strong> proposed calendar was presented and<br />
approved by the members of the Board.<br />
Protect Your Nursing License<br />
and Know Your Rights<br />
If you are the subject of a complaint to the Board of Nursing or<br />
an allegation of criminal conduct, contact the Leddy Law Firm<br />
for a free consultation.<br />
Members in<br />
the News<br />
Vicki Green was honored by the University of <strong>South</strong><br />
<strong>Carolina</strong> College of Nursing on Friday, November 13, 2015<br />
as the “Outstanding Alumna of the Year” for the College.<br />
Ms. Green is immediate Past President of SCNA, actually<br />
the longest serving President in SCNA history. Joining<br />
Ms. Green for the luncheon and presentation of the honor<br />
are Dr. Sheryl Mitchell, President-Elect of SCNA, Judith<br />
Thompson, CEO of SCNA, and Dr. Stephanie Burgess,<br />
Past President of SCNA. It was a wonderful event!<br />
Before speaking with the investigators or your licensing<br />
board, you should discuss your case with me during a free<br />
case evaluation.<br />
Call T. Micah Leddy 803-779-9966 (24/7)<br />
2008 Lincoln St., Cola, SC 29201<br />
Because You Are A <strong>Nurse</strong> – SCNA!