2017 KY Nurses Association Convention

KNA River City Chapter Update
2017 Kentucky Nurses Association
The River City Chapter has had an exciting year of reinvigoration. We have two new Co-
Presidents of the chapter (Christy Ralston and Megan Carter). We also have new officers
including Secretary (Heather Dunn), Event Planner (Renee Cecil) and Treasurer (Emily
Coxon).
We have had two member meetings at the KNA Office in Middletown and are planning
several exciting events. Some that have occurred already include the successful NCLEX
Trivia night, which was co-hosted by KANS and River City.
Upcoming is the Nursing Health Legislative event on 7/26 at Bellarmine University featuring
Sheila Schuster as the keynote speaker (KNA lobbyist). This free event begins at 1730 EST
and an Eventbrite registration option will be emailed to the members. 1.8 CEs will be
offered so please bring a friend! This will be an opportunity for nurses to network with one
another and hear about the current legislative sessions in Frankfort and Washington as it
relates to our nursing practice (and how we can advocate for our patients)!
Ongoing River City membership meetings will be the last Thursday of the odd months of
the year at 1730 EST at the KNA Office in Middletown. The River City chapter is looking for
continued community service and wellness events for the nurses of the metro area. We will be
sending a calendar with monthly wellness opportunities and quarterly CE sessions. If you are
interested in helping with any of these, please email Megan Carter (megan.carter@bhsi.com)
and Christy Ralston (Christian.Ralston@nortonhealthcare.org)
KNA School Nurses in Every Kentucky School Chapter
We are working hard to meet our mission of having a nurse in every public school in
Kentucky! Our Board typically meets by conference call. We find this helpful since our
Chapter serves the whole state of Kentucky and travel times vary. Our Chapter meets every
other month at St. Luke United Methodist Church, 2351 Alumni Drive, Lexington. The goal of
having a nurse in every public school in Kentucky aligns nicely with the Association’s mission
to be “the voice for nurses and work for a healthier Kentucky.” What better way to have a
“healthier Kentucky” than to have a nurse in every school who can intervene with some of
our most vulnerable and impressionable population, our children!
At our meeting in May, Sheila Schuster KNA lobbyist, spoke to our group to help us lay the
groundwork for advocacy. It was determined that we will advocate in Frankfort on June 21st.
We will share information, with the interim members of the Senate Committee on Health
and Welfare and the House Committee on Health and Family Services, on the importance
of having a nurse in every school- every day. We should be very visible as we visit around
Frankfort in our “Every School Needs a Nurse, Every Day” t-shirts!
Submitted by Co-Chairs,
Mary Burch, RN & Eva Stone, ARNP
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