Iowa Nurse Reporter - July 2018

IOWA 

NURSE 

REPORTER 

Quarterly publication direct mailed to approximately 64,000, including all active 

RNs, LPNs and ARNPs licensed in Iowa 

Volume 1 • Number 4 

July, August, September 2018 

INA PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE 

INSIDE 

2018 Conference Information 

pages 4-6 

Honor a Nurse 

pages 12-13 

current resident or 

Presort Standard 

US Postage 

PAID 

Permit #14 

Princeton, MN 

55371 

I hope your summer is 

going smoothly and you are 

planning some time off to enjoy 

our June weather. The Iowa 

Nurses Association has had a 

very active 2018 thus far with 

our organization continuing 

to evolve and develop to 

reflect the needs of nurses 

in Iowa. We are a digitalized 

organization and active on 

social media so look for us 

if you have not connected 

already. To ensure that we are 

meeting the needs of all nurses 

Jann Ricklefs, RN, 

MSN, PhD, CNE 

we will continue to offer our communication in print as 

well. 

The nursing shortage is a hot topic that continues 

to need all our focus. The generation of Baby 

Boomer nurses are retiring and nurses in our state 

over 50 years-old make up 44% of our workforce. 

There are presently nursing shortages throughout 

our state with health care organizations and longterm 

care facilities looking to hire nurses at all levels 

of nursing education preparation and specialty. This 

information is not new and has been featured in 

stories by the news media throughout the state and 

on the worldwide web and I will not dwell on the 

statistics and predictions that exist. There are areas 

in Iowa where no shortage exists, but this does not 

help the impacted areas. There is no simple answer to 

why the problem exists because it is complicated by 

health care law and available money and resources. 

One fact is certain no matter where you live: we need 

more nurses. 

My focus of the nursing shortage in writing this 

article is on the power of “you.” Most nurses in 

Iowa are hard-working wives and husbands who are 

providing care to meet the unique needs of patients. 

Life is focused on earning a living in a highly selffulfilling 

job, raising and educating a family, and 

meeting spiritual and emotional needs. Hopefully, 

a little time and energy are left to relax and have 

fun. These nurses see little personal power with the 

nursing shortage because they are working as hard as 

they can. 

There are ways though, that every nurse 

can make a difference with minimal effort and 

time. Serving as an advocate, role modeling, 

and demonstrating professionalism are a 

few of the opportunities within the power 

of each nurse. Advocacy for our patients 

and profession is a pillar of nursing practice. 

It is within our nursing DNA and ethical 

responsibility to act as an advocate for our 

patients. Advocating for our profession ensures 

that safe and effective care is available and 

provided to our patients. Every clinical nurse 

can advocate for our profession by volunteering and 

becoming involved in health care policy development 

at the unit, organizational, and community level. 

Nursing leaders can collaborate with others to 

effectively use available nursing staff and resources 

to ensure nurses can practice at the full potential of 

their license in all health care environments. Nursing 

educators can advocate for curriculums that reflect 

the knowledge and skills needed for today’s nurses in 

our technology-rich work environments. 

Every nurse can contribute to lessening the nursing 

shortage. Act as an advocate to ensure that work 

environments remain healthy places to work for all 

employees. Remain knowledgeable and current on 

health care legislation that impacts our patients and 

profession: a very realistic opportunity in today’s 

digitalized world. Email legislators when proposed 

health care laws support or challenge care and access 

for all Iowans. They appreciate, respect, and listen 

to your voice as part of the most trusted profession. 

Follow social media, such as INA’s Facebook page, 

that keeps you current on what is happening in Iowa 

and what your nurses association is doing to support 

practice for all Iowa nurses. We have the power 

within us. 

Role modeling is another effective way you 

can personally make a difference with the nursing 

shortage to inspire others to enter our profession. 

Serve as a mentor or preceptor for a student or 

new nurse. Ensure you are practicing safe, effective 

patient care by maintaining evidence-based skills and 

technical competence. Consider volunteering to give 

a short talk on the nursing profession at your kid’s 

school. Work at a local health fair. Be an active and 

visual part of your community. Keep in mind that 

nurses enter our profession at all ages and many 

enter as a second career. I recently participated in 

the 100 Great Iowa Nurses selection process and 

presentation of the awards. Many of these nurses 

not only excelled as nurses in their professional role 

but contributed to the health and wellbeing of their 

communities and churches. No effort goes without its 

personal and professional rewards. 

Strive to always demonstrate professionalism. Seek 

opportunities for growth. Be a leader in promoting 

professionalism to others. Take opportunities to 

develop your knowledge base. Many employers 

provide continuing education opportunities to help 

you maintain your competence in your job, but this 

does not fully contribute to your knowledge as a 

professional. Participate in workshops, conferences, 

and webinars to keep current on health care topics 

and issues. Join a professional nursing organization. 

The knowledge and access to valuable professional 

resources for nursing practice exceed the low cost 

of membership. Consider returning to school to 

INA President’s Message continued on page 2

Page 2 • Iowa Nurse Reporter July, August, September 2018 

INA President’s Message continued from page 1 

increase your education. Opportunities are available 

as close as your computer or college campus. Many 

organizations and nursing associations, such as the 

Iowa Nurses Foundation, offer scholarships and 

grants. 

The profession and practice of nursing has not 

achieved the respect it has today without significant 

individual effort. All nurses must take responsibility 

and action to ensure there will be a strong nursing 

workforce for the future. Using the collective power 

of all individuals in our profession will show we are 

willing to help to alleviate the nursing shortage. 

The “Iowa Nurse Reporter” is the official 

publication of the Iowa Nurses Foundation 

and the Iowa Nurses Association, a constituent 

member of the American Nurses Association, 

published quarterly every January, April, July and 

October. 

INA and ANA are empowering nurses with 

resources, programs, and standards that help 

you advance your career and your profession. 

ANA NURSING KNOWLEDGE CENTER 

• Hundreds of discounted online independent 

study modules for every career need. 

• Earn contact hours at significant savings 

• Independent Study Modules formats include 

articles, audio, multimedia, slides and video. 

NAVIGATE NURSING WEBINARS 

• Attend monthly Navigate Nursing webinars 

for FREE! 

• Option to earn contact hours with most 

webinars 

• Archives of past webinars available on 

NursingWorld.org 

ANCC CERTIFICATION DISCOUNTS 

• Save $125 on ANCC initial certification and up 

to $150 on ANCC certification renewal 

CAREER CENTER 

• Both ANA and INA have a career center that 

can help you find your dream job. 

Support ANA and state Advocacy efforts, which 

help protect your job, your safety and your rights 

as a nurse. The voice of nursing grows stronger 

when INA and ANA together speak out on 

today’s crucial issues. 

New Lower Dues – 

Only $15/month or $174/year! 

Joint members in the Iowa Nurses Association 

(INA) and the American Nurses Association 

(ANA) is now just $15 a month – less than the 

price of a specialty coffee per week! 

You owe it to yourself and to your career to 

join the largest and most inclusive group of 

registered nurses in your state and country. 

Join today at www.JoinANA.org! 

Now is the perfect time for you to 

join ANA and INA 

www.joinana.org 

INA Board of Directors 

Jann Ricklefs, President 

Lisa Caffery, President-Elect 

Marcia Weis, Secretary 

Anne Cook, Treasurer 

Carol Chesterman, Director-Public Policy 

Ginny Wangerin, Director-Resolutions 

Christina Peterson, Director – Staff Nurse at Large 

Kate Pace, Director-Newly Licensed RN 

Linda Opheim, Director Northwest 

Brenda Helmuth, Director Northeast 

Barb Gano, Director Central 

Becky Lewis, Director Southeast 

Regional Chairs 

Mary Kovarna, Region 01 

Margie O’Neill, Region 02 

Vacant, Region 03 

Pam Deichmann, Region 04 

Mary Tarbox, Region 05 

Iowa Nurses Foundation 

Lorinda Inman, Chair 

Executive Director 

Tobi Lyon Moore 

Phone: 515-225-0495 

Email: tmoore@iowanurses.org 

For advertising rates and information, please 

contact Arthur L. Davis Publishing Agency, Inc., 

517 Washington Street, PO Box 216, Cedar Falls, 

Iowa 50613, (800) 626-4081, sales@aldpub.com. 

INF, INA and the Arthur L. Davis Publishing Agency, 

Inc. 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 Iowa Nurses 

Foundation or Iowa 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. INF, INA and the Arthur L. Davis Publishing 

Agency, Inc. 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 INF, INA or those of the 

national or local associations.

July, August, September 2018 Iowa Nurse Reporter • Page 3 

MESSAGE from the EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR 

Be a Spark in our #ChangingNursing Campaign 

A spark is a small fiery particle thrown off from a fire, 

alight in ashes, or produced by striking together two 

hard surfaces such as stone or metal. At Iowa Nurses 

Association our members are sparks. Iowa’s nurses are 

at the forefront of national change, leading the charge 

for advancing the nursing profession in our state and 

beyond. Our members are nurses who recognize that they 

don’t have to accept what’s given to them, they can do 

things differently to create the change they’d like to see. 

Our members are a spark and are part of a solution that 

creates opportunities. 

Leveraging and aligning with the refreshed branding 

efforts of the American Nurses Association, Iowa Nurses 

Association is using their strength to drive excellence 

in practice and ensure the voice and vision of nurses are 

recognized. 

Tobi Lyon Moore, 

MBA 

INA’s promise to you is for continued growth as an association and as we 

make advancements in the nursing practice. With our ever-changing profession, 

it is more important than ever that Iowa Nurses Association continues to serve as 

the state’s unified voice of nursing. 

One of our latest member benefits launched this month is CE Genius. Iowa 

Nurses Association has partnered with Continuing Education Genius to provide 

you a smart phone application that quickly and easily records your continuing 

education credits. The application, called CE Genius, will automatically update 

the number of acquired credits for each state license you have placed into the 

program, providing a visual summarization of your progress toward completing 

your goals. You can enter credits from all providers and maintain individual 

privacy. CE Genius has a built-in reminder for continuing education, license 

requirements and other events. You can share data whenever you choose to your 

laptop or other external sources. To learn more about this benefit visit www. 

iowanurses.org. 

We’re proud of where we’ve come from, but we also look with determination 

to the future. We have a big job, with far more registered nurse jobs available 

than jobs in any other profession through 2022, at more than 100,000 per year 

in the United States alone. 

A challenge to our membership. Who do you know that is not a member? Will 

you be that spark that assist us in accomplishing our membership goals? Help 

us get the word out about how Iowa Nurses Association nurses are sparks and 

leading the charge for advancing the nursing profession. 

Notable recent accomplishments include: 

• 31% increase in membership in the past year 

• Increased investment to advocacy 

• Launched additional member benefits 

#ChangingNursing 

Campaign


ATTENDEE REGISTRATION 

2018 Conference and Annual Meeting 

October 18-19, 2018 

Courtyard by Marriott Des Moines Ankeny 

2405 SE Creekview Dr. • Ankeny, Iowa 

Early Bird Registration Ends 

September 14, 2018 

This conference follows the theme set by the American Nurses Association of 

#bedsideandbeyond. As nurses in Iowa, we strive for excellence in all capacities 

of #bedsideandbeyond and we challenge those who attend to find what 

#bedsideandbeyond means to them professionally and personally. We may teach, 

lead and be at the bedside. We are advocates for our patients and their families, but 

also for each other to inspire. 

Iowa Nurses Association (INA) invite you to participate in a celebration of 

leadership. This year’s conference and annual meeting will take place Thursday, 

October 18 and Friday, October 19, 2018 at the Courtyard by Marriott Des Moines 

Ankeny in Ankeny, Iowa. 

For more information, visit www.iowanurses.org. If you have any questions, please 

contact the INA office at ktaylor@iowanurses.org or 515.225.0495. 

CONFERENCE MISSION STATEMENT 

Telling the stories to empower nurses and take action. 

DEMOGRAPHICS OF THOSE WHO ATTEND 

This innovational and celebratory conference is designed to support nurses in all 

stages of their career. The purpose of the conference is to bring together nurses and 

nursing students, from various specialty and practice settings, to bring light to all 

aspects of #bedsideandbeyond. 

CONFERENCE OBJECTIVES 

• Analyze your place at the bedside regarding hospital culture and politics. 

• Discuss the role nurses can play in the health of clients and the community on a 

local and global level. 

• Apply behaviors of nurse leaders that positively impact your health and the 

health of your patients. 

• Find your passion to inspire others, at all levels, to optimize your full potential, 

while maintaining a focus on accomplishing what #bedsideandbeyond means to 

you. 

CONTINUING EDUCATION CREDITS 

Pending approval, participants will receive 4.0 contact hours. Application submitted 

to the Iowa Board of Nursing by the Iowa Nurses Foundation, provider #25. 

EDUCATION EXHIBITOR & SPONSORSHIP 

OPPORTUNITIES 

INA invites interested vendors to share product expertise with us during the 

conference. For more information on these opportunities, contact Kristen Taylor by 

email at ktaylor@iowanurses.org.com or please call, phone 515.225.0495. 

To book your hotel, please contact Courtyard by 

Marriott Des Moines Ankeny by October 10, 2018 

Room Rate is $114 | Group Code: Iowa Nurses 

To book by phone: 515.422.5555 

To book online: http://bit.ly/2sqHOUE 

2405 SE Creekview Dr. • Ankeny, Iowa 50021 

To register, use the fast and secure online form at 

www.iowanurses.org 

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 18 

4:30 – 5:30p Registration Open 

5:30 – 6:45p Evening Dinner 

Networking dinner (strolling or traditional) 

6:45 – 8:15p Showing of movie, “Defining Hope” 

Movie will be shown with movie-type snacks 

8:15 – 9:00p Defining Hope: Q&A 

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 19 

7:00 – 8:00a Exhibitor Set-up | Registration Open 

8:00 – 9:00a Awards Breakfast and Foundation Scholarship 

Presentation 

9:00 – 9:15a Welcome 

9:15 – 10:15a Advocacy - Taking Action. Getting Results 

John Hale, Founder and Owner, 

The Hale Group 

10:15 - 10:45a Exhibitor Break 

10:45 – 11:00a Chair Yoga 

John will be challenging each attendee to 

be advocates, for their profession, and for 

the Iowans they serve. In an interactive 

presentation, John will be talking with 

attendees about the work they do, the 

challenges they have, and the tools and 

tactics available to address them. 

11:00a – 12:00p The Picture of Mental Health in Iowa 

Peggy Hubbert, Executive Director, 

NAMI Iowa 

This session will cover an overview 

of the top mental health issues, how 

NAMI Iowa is addressing them and 

how individuals can become engaged in 

the local world that affects them to be 

proactive now. 

12:00p – 1:15p Lunch with Exhibitors 

1:15 – 2:15p Human Trafficking Update 

2:15 – 2:30p Break 

2:30 – 3:30p Panel 

Lenchen Raeside, Co-Founder, 

Chains Interrupted 

Here we will learn about trafficking in 

the state of Iowa, methods traffickers 

use to enslave people and what we can 

do to make our community a safer place 

for women and children. 

This panel will address the three topics of focus at this 

year’s conference (mental health, LTC/elder care, and human 

trafficking) by nurses who work in these fields everyday. We 

will also hear a legislative update on these issues through 

the Department of Health. 

3:30 – 4:30p INA Annual Business Meeting 

4:30 – 4:45p Evaluations & Closing


SPONSORS & EXHIBITORS 

2018 Conference and Annual Meeting 

October 18-19, 2018 


2405 SE Creekview Dr. • Ankeny, Iowa 

This conference follows the theme set by the American Nurses Association of 

#bedsideandbeyond. As nurses in Iowa, we strive for excellence in all capacities 

of #bedsideandbeyond and we challenge those who attend to find what 

#bedsideandbeyond means to them professionally and personally. We may teach, 

lead and be at the bedside. We are advocates for our patients and their families, 

but also for each other to inspire. We look to the innovation of companies and 

educators to be change agents in the field of nursing and would be honored to have 

your presence at this one-day event. 

Iowa Nurses Foundation (INF) and Iowa Nurses Association (INA) invite your 

organization to participate in a celebration of leadership. This year’s conference and 

annual meeting will take place Thursday, October 18 and Friday, October 19, 2018 at 

the Courtyard by Marriott Des Moines Ankeny in Ankeny, Iowa. 

All sponsorships over $500 include a FREE exhibit booth (the fee of $250 will be 

waived)! As an exhibitor, you can showcase your company’s products and services 

for one day in a high-traffic area where attendees gather between sessions and 

enjoy their meals. 

We look forward to hearing back from you before the application 

deadline of October 5, 2018. For more information, visit www.iowanurses. 

org. If you have any questions, please contact the INA/INF office at kristen@ 

ngagellc.com or 515.225.0495. 

EXHIBITOR SCHEDULE - FRIDAY, OCTOBER 19, 2018 

7:00 am to 8:00 am Exhibitor set-up 

8:00 am to 9:00 am 

Awards breakfast and Foundation scholarship 

presentation 

10:00 am to 10:30 am Attendee break with exhibitors 

12:00 pm to 1:15 pm Lunch with exhibitors 

2:15 pm to 2:30 pm Afternoon break with exhibitors 

2:30 pm to 4:00 pm Exhibitor teardown 

Exhibitors 

$250 

EXHIBITOR OPPORTUNITIES 

• Company name on mobile app and website with 

clickable link 

• Two company representatives at exhibitor table 

• Continental breakfast, breaks and lunch included 

• 8-foot linen-draped exhibitor table with two 

chairs 

• Exhibit space centrally located in meeting area 

where food will be served 

• Booth placement will be determined by INA staff 

with priority given in order of sponsorship levels 

Exhibit Hall open on Friday, October 19, 2018 

Harvest Lunch 

Sponsor 

$1,250 

Breakfast 

Connections 

Sponsor 

$1,000 

MEAL SPONSORSHIP OPPORTUNITIES 

Exhibit level, exclusive signage at lunch, 

Coffee Break or 

Energy On-thego 

Sponsor 

$750 

company name on mobile app and INA website 

with clickable link, social media recognition, 

podium shout outs, one push notifications, one 

complimentary conference registration. One 

available. 

Exhibit level, exclusive signage at breakfast, 

company name on mobile app and INA website 

with clickable link, social media recognition, 

podium shout outs, one push notification and 

literature at each breakfast setting. One available. 

Exhibit level, exclusive signage at breaks, company 

name on mobile app and INA website with 

clickable link, social media recognition, podium 

shout outs and one push notification. Two 

available. 

EDUCATIONAL SPONSORSHIP OPPORTUNITIES 

Exhibit level, exclusive signage at front of general 

Education 

Session Sponsor 

$1,000 

session room, company name on mobile app 

and INA website with clickable link, social media 

recognition, podium shout outs, one push 

notification, four customized social media posts 

in October and one complimentary conference 

registration. Four available. 

Sponsor and Exhibitor Information continued on page 6 

Visit www.iowanurses.org for Sponsor and 

Exhibitor application. 

Application Deadline: October 5, 2018 

STATE OF IOWA 

NOW HIRING 

We are an Iowa based medical 

staffing firm in need of RNs 

and LPNs for immediate FT, PT 

and PRN opportunities. 

• Hospital Assignments 

• Long Term Care 

• Flexible Scheduling, Weekly Pay 

• All Shifts Available - Lots of 

opportunities!! 

For immediate consideration 

please email: 

info@mysighealth.com 

1-800-518-1460 or 

515-252-0000 

Registered Nurses & 

Licensed Practical Nurses 

Glenwood Resource Center (GRC) 

is seeking applicants for RNs and 

LPNs caring for those with Intellectual 

Disabilities and Physical Disabilities. 

Apply online: 

https://das.iowa.gov 

1 Click on Human Resources 

2 

Click on State employment 

Fax your resume to 515-276-5506 or 

Apply online today at www.mysighealth.com


SPONSORS & EXHIBITORS 

Sponsor and Exhibitor Information continued from page 5 

SPECIALTY SPONSORSHIP OPPORTUNITIES 

Company logo on attendee conference gift, 

Attendee Gift 

Sponsor 

$1,250 

Mobile App 

Sponsorship 

$1,000 

Audio/Visual & 

Wifi Sponsor 

$500 

exhibit level, company name on mobile app and 

INA website with clickable link, social media 

recognition, podium shout outs, two push 

notifications and one banner ad. One available. 

Exhibit level, company name on mobile app and 

INA website with clickable link, social media 

recognition, one banner ad, one push notification 

and one complimentary conference registration. 

One available. 


INA website with clickable link and social media 

recognition. One available. 

Lanyard 

Sponsor 

$500 

Banner Ads 

$250 


INA website with clickable link and social media 

recognition. One available. 

Clickable banner app on mobile app. Five 

available. 

SHIPPING PROCEDURES 

When shipping packages to the hotel, please ship to arrive no more than four 

days prior to the event. All packages must be addressed as follows: 


2405 SE Creekview Dr. 

Ankeny, Iowa 50021 

Attn: Director of Sales & Catering 

Hold for: 

 

2018 INF/INA Conference & Annual Meeting 

October 19, 2018


Serve on the INA Board of Directors 

The Iowa Nurses Association (INA) Nominations 

Committee is seeking interested INA members who 

wish to serve in leadership roles on the INA Board of 

Directors. 

Elected in 2018 by Statewide Ballot for a two-year 

term is: 

Secretary 

Treasurer 

Director At Large/Public Policy Chair 

Director At Large/Resolutions Chair 

Duties of each office: 

The Secretary shall be responsible for the 

maintenance of the minutes of all meetings of 

the Association, Executive Committee and the 

Board of Directors. Also conduction of the general 

correspondence of the Association and the Board of 

Directors. 

The Treasurer shall be responsible for monitoring 

the fiscal affairs of the Association and shall provide 

reports and interpretations of INA’s financial condition 

to the Board of Directors and the INA membership. 

The Treasurer shall serve as chairperson of the Finance 

Committee. 

The Director-Public Policy shall convene and chair 

the Committee on Public Policy. Develop and lead INA 

local advocacy activities. Work with National staff & 

INA Lobbyist to assist in structuring and developing 

statewide efforts to ensure a consistent message is 

sent to state policymakers. Assist in the assessment of 

the INA advocacy needs. Also Establish a public policy 

agenda. 

The Director-Resolutions shall convene and chair 

the Committee on Resolutions. Receive, review, edit 

and report on proposals submitted for the consideration 

of the business meetings of the membership. Conduct 

hearings on proposals at the business 

meetings of the membership. Recommend 

action on proposals to be considered 

by the business meeting of the 

membership. Review, update and 

recommend withdrawal or 

reaffirmation of proposals which 

were adopted five years previously. 

Elected in 2018 by Statewide 

Ballot for a two-year term is: 

Nominations Committee (3 

positions for 2 years) 

The Nominations Committee 

shall consist of six persons serving 

a 2-year term, three of whom shall be 

elected annually. No member of the Board 

of Directors shall serve on the Committee 

on Nominations. Not more than two members of this 

committee are to be a member of any one regional 

subunit. 

Elected in 2018 by Statewide Ballot for a threeyear 

term is: Iowa Nurses Foundation Board 

(3 positions for 3 years) 

The Iowa Nurses Foundation Board shall be to 

initiate, engage in, and contribute to the support of 

such charitable, educational, literary, and scientific 

activities as are directly or indirectly related to health 

or nursing care in the state of Iowa, including but 

not limited (1) to providing assistance to students of 

nursing, by furnishing scholarships, loans 

or grants to individual students based 

upon need and ability, (2) to provide 

opportunities for continuing nursing 

education. 

All candidates for office must 

submit a “Consent to Serve” form, 

a statement (200-220 words) on 

what you believe are the major 

issues before the Association, in 

particular the position for which 

you are a candidate, and a photo 

by August 1st to the INA Office. 

To obtain a “Consent to Serve” 

form or to learn more about each 

of the leadership positions please visit 

the INA Website at www.iowanurses. 

org or call the INA Office at 515.225.0495. 

The nominations chair Julie Schilling is also available 

to answer any questions you may have regarding 

running for office. Julie can be reached at jschilling@ 

leecountyhd.org. 

Elections will occur in September and the winners 

announced at the annual meeting on Friday, October 

19th, in Ankeny, IA.


WELCOME NEW INA MEMBERS! 

Northwest Region—Region 1 

Dacia Cihlar, Milford 

Barbara Condon, Sioux City 

Melissa Konken, Sioux City 

Judith McIntosh, Stratford 

Chad Millikan, Sioux City 

Nora Van Peursen, Alton 

Sarah VandenBerg, Rock Valley 

Nicole Wede, Orange City 

Northeast Region—Region 2 

Deanna Allan, Dubuque 

Peggy Barton, Dubuque 

Elyse Chodur, Osage 

Elizabeth Dengler, Cedar Falls 

Denise Duryee, Mason City 

Jena Flak, Decorah 

K. Reeder, Mason City 

Stacy Teusink, Dubuque 

Crystal Titus, Waterloo 

Southwest Region—Region 3 

Cheryl Casson, Oakland 

Amber Mahrt, Denison 

Central Region—Region 4 

Cindy Flugstad, Boone 

Toni Hammond, Des Moines 

Megan Hill, West Des Moines 

Nancy Linscheid, Johnston 

John Mainye, Johnston 

Lynn Moorman, Grinnell 

Tawnia Olson, De Soto 

Elizabeth Rohret, Boone 

Barbara Schnoor, Des Moines 

Lucas Stalzer, Marshalltown 

Corey Weaver, Urbandale 

Southeast Region—Region 5 

Jasmine Benson, Ottumwa 

Danielle Boeding, Keokuk 

LaVerta Butterbaugh, Kalona 

Alesha Bynoe, Cedar Rapids 

Heather Dake, Oxford 

Glenda Fetters, Cedar Rapids 

Wendy Hill, Vinton 

Corrie Houston, Bettendorf 

Tereze Jeffrey, Davenport 

Steven Kalber, Davenport 

Carmen Kleinsmith, Mount Vernon 

Kimberly Krieger, New London 

Megan Kueter, Davenport 

Rebecca Lynnlee, Iowa City 

Jackie Massie, Eldridge 

Sherri Milas, Bettendorf 

Elizabeth Morgan, Iowa City 

Kristie Rice-Melvin, Miles 

Ashley Rosas, Davenport 

Anna Starcevich, Davenport 

Michael Van Der Horst, Ottumwa 

Nursing’s Voice Has Impact on Legislation for School Health 

and Iowa’s Students 

The INA Public Policy Committee members, including 

the Iowa School Nurse Organization representatives 

worked hard during the 2018 legislative session on 

issues that affect students and their health in the school 

setting. The following bills received input from the INA 

Public Policy Committee members and were signed into 

NOW HIRING! 

If you are an RN or an LPN 

WE WANT TO TALK TO YOU! 

BENEFITS INCLUDE 

Premium Wages 

Health, Vision And Dental Insurance 

IPERS & 403B 

Paid Time Off 

Tuition Reimbursement 

Sign-On Bonus 

APPLY ONLINE AT 

bchealth.org/careers 

TODAY! 

1600 First St. East, Independence, IA 50644 

(319) 332-0915 • BCHealth.org 

BCHC is an Equal Opportunity Employer 

law to make a difference in school health. Through 

conversations in person and by email, nurses and the 

lobbyists who represent nurses at the State Capitol 

modified language as needed to improve the bills to 

better serve students & school health in Iowa. 

Suicide prevention training (SF 2113) - requires 

the Board of Educational Examiners to adopt rules 

requiring the educational license holders who work 

with students to annually have one hour of suicide 

prevention training. 

High school collision sports (HF 2442) - requires 

the Department of Public Health and Iowa High School 

Associations to collaborate and develop training 

materials on concussions and brain injury. Requires 

coaches and referees to complete training every two 

years. Requires development of information sheets 

for parents and guardians. Requires a student to be 

Cedar Valley Medical Specialists 

Has full-time and part-time openings for 

NP, PA, RN, LPN & CMA 

in various specialty clinics. 

S 

T 

A 

T 

E 

O 

F 

I 

O 

W 

A 

Responsibilities include but not 

limited to assisting physician with 

patient care and education. 

Please send resume to: 

Cedar Valley Medical Specialists 

Attn: Human Resources 

PO Box 2758, Waterloo, Iowa 50704 

CHix@cvmspc.com 

www.cedarvalleymedical.com 

RN’s/LPN’s 

Department of Corrections is seeking 

applicants for RN’s/LPN’s at various 

Correctional Facilities throughout 

the State. Extensive benefit package, 

evening and night differential. 

Apply online: https://das.iowa.gov 

Click on Human Resources 

then State employment 

STATE OF IOWA 

DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS 

EEO/AA Employer 

Minorities, Females and 

Persons with Disabilities 

Encouraged to Apply 

removed from a competition if the student shows any 

sign of concussion. Requires the development of a 

return to competition protocol. Includes provisions on 

protective gear and requires a health professional to be 

at sporting events. This bill also adds liability protections 

for the health care provider and for schools that have a 

licensed health care provider at competitions. 

School Meal Debt (HF 2467) - Allows schools to 

use money from flexibility accounts to pay for costs 

of student meal debt. Requires schools to notify 

parents at least twice a year and if the student has 

five or more unpaid lunches of the availability of 

free or reduced school lunch programs. Encourages 

schools to offer students reimbursable lunches unless 

the parent authorizes withholding lunches from a 

student. Prohibits posting lists of students who cannot 

pay for lunch or otherwise shaming or identifying 

those students or prohibiting the students from 

various school activities. Allows schools to use setoff 

procedures to collect debts. 

Educational Programs Developed and 

Administered by Department of Education 

including Health Screenings (SF 475) - Among 

other provisions, the bill establishes a student health 

working group to look at dental, vision, blood 

lead screenings and immunizations to determine 

uniform enforcement framework and reduction of 

administrative burden. The working group shall submit 

the uniform enforcement framework, findings, and 

recommendations to the general assembly no later 

than December 31, 2018. 

School Security (SF 2364) - Requires public and 

private schools to have district-wide plans and conduct 

planning on emergency operations in schools by July 

2019. Requires the plans to consider active shooter 

and natural disaster scenarios. Requires that the plans 

be high quality, with provisions on consultation about 

plans and include notification of employees and other 

persons in the building and other matters. Exempts 

security plans from open records laws and limits 

persons to whom the plan can be disclosed. Requires 

schools to consider recommendations from the 

Department of Education, local law enforcement and 

emergency agencies. Requires the plan to be reviewed 

and updated annually. 

SHELL ROCK SENIOR LIVING 

920 N. Cherry Street | Shell Rock, IA 50670 | 319-885-4341 

Apply online at www.twsl.com 

We have opportunities for 

RNs, LPNs and CNAs 

For more information, contact 

Suzette Eveland, Director of Nursing Services, 

Suzette.Eveland@twsl.com or Christina Hubka, 

Executive Director, Christina.Hubka@twsl.com


The Iowa Nurses Association monitors and supports 

legislation that safeguards the healthcare of Iowans 

and supports the practice of nursing allowing nurses 

to practice to the full extent of their education and 

licensure. INA tracks and monitors legislation that 

impacts the health care of children, older adults, and 

women along with, public health, nurse and patient 

safety. 

The bills listed below are the bills and bill numbers as 

of May 5 (adjournment). This is an update to the notice 

published in March. To find a bill go to https://www. 

legis.iowa.gov/legislation and enter the bill number. 

In response to the current healthcare 

environment INA has focused its efforts this year 

on the four priorities: 

1. Accessing Mental Health Services 

2. Responding to the Opioid Substance Use 

Disorder Crisis 

3. Supporting Efforts to Strengthen the 

Nursing Workforce 

4. Supporting Efforts to Ensure Quality 

Care Healthcare Services to Medicaid 

Recipients 

ADVOCACY NEWS 

2018 INA Legislative Priorities and Status of Bills 

Accessing Mental Health Services and 

Supports that include: 

• Offering a full array of affordable, accessible 

treatment options including recovery-oriented 

systems for prevention, early intervention and 

treatment. 

• Increasing the number of mental health treatment 

beds across the state. 

• Increasing nurse providers through loan 

repayment and educational funding. 

• Supporting reimbursement parity for mental 

health treatment. 

Bill Status for Mental Health Services 

• Comprehensive Mental Health Bill (HF 2456) 

signed 

• Medicaid Funding (SF 2418) signed 

• MH & Disability Services (SF 2252) signed 

• Suicide Prevention Training (SF 2113) signed 

• Behavioral Hospitals License Transfer (SF 2334) 

signed 

• Integrated Health Homes ( SF 2207) failed 

• Psychiatric Bed Tracking (SF 2251) failed 

COMMENTS 

• HF 2456 Comprehensive MH Bill was signed by 

the Governor. It incorporates all provisions of 

Complex Needs Workgroup Recommendations 

from SF 504 (2017) revising property tax levy. 

Revises commitments for mental health and 

substance abuse, communications with law 

enforcement, allows mental health professional 

reports to the court, allows video conferences, 

requires Medicaid MCOs to reimburse for covered 

services, requires mobile response (Assertive 

Community Treatment [ACT] teams), crisis 

stabilization, civil commitment prescreening, 

statewide crisis hotline, commitment workgroup, 

tertiary care workgroup, funding interim 

committee, and subacute bed tracking. 

• SF 2252 Mental Health and Disability (MH/DS) 

Services was signed into law and further refines 

mental health redesign adding new required 

regional core services on or before July 1, 2021 

that includes 22 assertive community treatment 

teams, six access centers, and intensive residential 

homes that serve up to 120 people. It also strikes 

the current unpopular requirement of 25% 

spend down increasing it to 30%. Regions will 

submit quarterly reports to DHS documenting 

milestones, and in the event goals are not 

reached, a plan of correction is required. 

Legislative Priorities continued on page 10 

LEGISLATIVE DAY 

Wednesday, February 13, 2019 

Embassy Suites, Des Moines, IA 

Hiring RNs 

$3,000 Sign On Bonus 

High Standards & Ethics 

Excellent Benefits & Salary 

Submit Resumé to 

deann.milefchik@iowamasonichealth.org 

Iowa Masonic Health Facilities 

2500 Grant St, Bettendorf, IA 52722 

iowamasonichealth.org 

Sioux Falls VA Health Care System 

Working with and for America’s Veterans is a privilege and 

we pride ourselves on the quality of care we provide. In 

return for your commitment to quality health care for our 

nation’s Veterans, the VA offers an incomparable benefits 

package. 

The Sioux Falls VAHCS is currently recruiting for night RN 

and LPN healthcare positions in the following clinical 

areas. 8 hour, 12 hour and intermittent shifts available, 

depending on location. 

• Inpatient (med/surg, mental health) 

• Long-term Care 

• Emergency Department 

• Outpatient Clinics 

Applicants can apply online at www.USAJOBS.gov 

or email a resume to: VHASUXCareers@va.gov 

They all come together at the 

Sioux Falls VA Health Care System. 

To be a part of our proud tradition, contact: 

Human Resources Mgmt. Service 

2501 W. 22nd Street 

Sioux Falls, SD 57105 

(605) 333-6852 

www.siouxfalls.va.gov


ADVOCACY NEWS 

Legislative Priorities continued from page 9 

• SF 2113 Suicide Prevention Training was signed 

into law. It requires schools to implement 

training on suicide prevention for licensed school 

employees. 

• SF 2334 Behavioral Hospitals which allows for 

conversion of a hospital license. It was signed into 

law. 

• HF 2331 Intensive Residential Services and SF 

2207 Integrated Health Homes which would 

provide services for people with serious and 

persistent MI. See HF 2456, Section 13 calls for 

rules. 

• SF 2251 Psychiatric Bed Tracking failed. See HF 

2456, Section 20 for rules for subacute bed 

tracking to be written. 

• SF 2418 HHS Appropriations Bill was signed 

included in Dept Public Health “Community 

Capacity,” $2 million to resume funding for 

medical residency program at Broadlawns and 

$250,000 to Des Moines University for psychiatric 

training for physicians. 

Responding to the Opioid Substance 

Use Disorder Crisis by providing: 

• Funding treatment and education/prevention 

measures. 

• Expanding access to naloxone, an opioid overdose 

reversal drug with Good Samaritan protections. 

• Removing barriers that limit non physician 

providers to prescribe buprenorphine medication 

assisted treatment. 

RNs & LPNs 

$3,000 RN & $2,000 LPN Sign on Bonus 

• Competitive wages 

• Full benefits package 

• Flexible schedule 

• Fun and friendly workplace! 

To apply, send resume and cover letter to 

admin.ewcc@trilliumhcg.com or call Anthony at 

712-423-2510 for more information. 

• Increasing effective provider use of prescription 

drug monitoring programs with across state 

border collaboration. 

• Expanding drug take back and needle safety 

programs. 

• Creating pretrial diversion options, including drug 

courts that assist those with substance abuse 

issues to obtain treatment in lieu of incarceration. 

Bills Status on Opioid Substance Use Disorder 

Crisis 

• Combatting Opioid Epidemic (HF 2377) signed 

• Prescription Monitoring Program (PMP) (SF 2198) 

incorporated 

• Electronic prescriptions (SF 2312) incorporated 

• Pharmacist administration naloxone (SF 2322) 

signed 

• Needle Exchange Program (HF 2208 & SF2294) 

failed 

• Controlled Substances (SF 2308) incorporated/ 

failed 

• Immunity in Alcohol/Over Dose Cases (SF 415) 

failed 

COMMENTS 

• HF 2377 updates the Prescription Monitoring 

Program signed (PMP) which will integrate with 

electronic health records and requires prescribers 

to register for PMP and use when prescribing 

opioids. It requires the use of electronic 

prescriptions by January 1, 2020, requires 

Board of Pharmacy to annually issue prescriber 

activity reports to each practitioner, requires 

establishment of criteria to identify patients 

who are potentially abusing/misusing controlled 

substances and practitioners who exceed 

reasonably prudent prescribing. Offers immunity 

for the first reporter of an OD who remains on 

the scene until emergency services arrive. This 

assistance will be considered as a mitigating factor 

in criminal prosecutions. The bill was identified by 

Speaker of the House, Linda Upmeyer, RN, ARNP 

as a priority bill to pass. 

• SF 2198 Prescription Monitoring Program was 

incorporated into HF 2377. It would have added 

prescribers to those required to report to the 

prescription monitoring program on controlled 

substance prescriptions written. 

• SF 2312 Electronic Prescriptions was incorporated 

into HF 2377. It required prescriptions to be 

submitted to pharmacies electronically by July 

2020. 

• SF 2322 Pharmacist Services allows pharmacists 

to administer naloxone, as well as nicotine and 

tobacco replacement products, immunizations 

and vaccines. Signed. 

• HF 2208 & SF 2294 Needle Exchange both 

failed. The bills would have exempted 

needles exchanged or possessed through an 

approved needle exchange program from drug 

paraphernalia laws. 

• SF 2308 Controlled Substances was partially 

incorporated into HF 2377 with the classification 

of 12 substances into Schedule 1, one into 

Schedule 2 and one identified as a precursor. 

The section that would have required persons 

who manufacture, distribute/dispense controlled 

substances to be registered with the Board of 

Pharmacy failed. 

• SF 415 Immunity in Alcohol/OD Cases failed. It 

would have established immunity for a person 

who seeks emergency assistance for another due 

to alcohol or drug overdose. The person must 

fulfill certain conditions for immunity. 

Support Efforts to Strengthen the 

Nursing Workforce by: 

• Recognizing and addressing the impending 

nursing shortage. 

• Increasing nursing workforce funding and loan 

repayment. 

• Increasing the number of nursing faculty through 

loan repayment and educational funding. 

• Increasing the number of nurses with higher 

education as recommended by the Robert Wood 

Johnson Foundation’s Future of Nursing report. 

• Maintaining full practice authority for Advanced 

Practice Nurses. 

Bill Status on Strengthening Nursing Workforce 

• Licensing and Refresher Courses (SF 2203) signed 

• Genetic Counselors (SF2228) signed 

• Tele-Health Payments (HF 2305) signed 

• Education Appropriations (SF 2415) signed 

• Health Provider Loan Repayments (SF 2350) failed 

Background 

• The US is projected to experience a shortage of 

RNs that is expected to intensify as Baby Boomers 

and the need for health care grows. The 60-69 

age groups compromise 17.2% or 8,835 licensed 

RNs in Iowa. 

• The Institute of Medicine’s evidenced-based 

recommendations recognize that patient needs 

have become more complicated and nurses must


ADVOCACY NEWS 

attain higher levels of education in order to have 

the requisite competencies to deliver high quality 

care. 

• In Iowa from 2015-2017, it is expected that 94 

nursing faculty will retire and the shortage of 

faculty is restricting program enrollments. US 

Schools turned away 64,067 qualified applicants 

from baccalaureate and graduate programs in 

2016 due to insufficient faculty, clinical sites, 

classroom space, clinical preceptors and budget 

constraints according to AACN (2017). 

COMMENTS 

• SF 2203 Licensing and Refresher Courses was 

signed. Proposed by Board of Nursing, it allows 

the BON to authorize a nurse to practice nursing 

to complete the clinical component of a refresher 

course. 

• SF 2228 Genetic Counselors was signed. It 

maintains nurse genetic counselor’s ability to 

practice under their nursing license but are 

disciplined under the Board of Medicine (BOM). 

Other counselors are licensed under the BOM. 

• HF 2305 Telehealth Payments was signed into 

law. The bill requires health insurance companies 

to cover tele-health services. 

• SF 2415 Education Appropriations was signed 

funding at $200,000 for “Health Care Related 

Loans” under 261.116 - RN and Nurse Educator 

Loan Repayment program. Only ARNPs and 

nurse educators are covered, no BSN or ADN 

repayment. Recipients are limited to $6000/year 

for 5 years. 

• SF 2350 Health Provider Loan Repayments 

failed. It would have combined loan repayment 

programs as proposed in 2017. 

Support Efforts to Ensure Quality 

Care Healthcare Services to Medicaid 

Recipients: 

• Support oversight of Medicaid contractors to 

insure quality health care for this vulnerable 

population. 

• Advocate for mutually collaborative relationships 

between Medicaid contractors and service 

providers that includes responsiveness to patient 

needs, flexible services and fair reimbursement 

practices. 

Bill Status on Ensure Quality Care Healthcare 

Services to Medicaid Recipients 

• DHS Programs & Services (HF 2462/HF 2483) 

inserted in HHS Appropriations bill (SF 2418, 

Division XXVI) signed 

• Medicaid Managed Care MCO Reviews (HF 2292) 

failed 

• Medicaid Integrated Care (SF 2284) failed 

• Medicaid Managed Care (HF 2104) failed 

COMMENTS 

• SF 2418 Health & Human Services Appropriations 

(HHS) bill passed and was signed with an increase 

for Medicaid services being funded at $1.8 

billion which includes $1,545,530 for Medicaid 

Managed Care oversight of providers processes 

and procedures (SF 2418 language) and funding 

of $876,015 for Adult Mental Health (HF 2456). 

Medicaid retroactive eligibility will be reinstated 

for individuals in long term care facilities. The 

Medical Assistance Advisory Council (MAAC) will 

review data collected to identify trends and issues 

and promote efficient administration of Medicaid. 

It eliminates various copayments for prescription 

drugs only requiring a $1 copayment for each. 

The only item veto was related to durable medical 

equipment relationship. 

• HF 2483 was incorporated in SF 2418 making 

various changes in the Medicaid and HAWK-I 

programs. A number of changes are related 

to the Managed Care Organizations (MCO’s) 

administration of the Medicaid program. 

• SF 2284 Medicaid Integrated Care failed. The bill 

would have required MCOs to deliver integrated 

health care services according to the state plan. 

• HF 2104 Medicaid Managed Care failed. It would 

have directed the DHS to terminate the Medicaid 

MCO contracts. It was never assigned to a 

subcommittee. 

• HF 2292 Medicaid Managed Care MCO Reviews 

were incorporated into SF 2418 including 

correcting any errors within 30 days of discovery. 

This bill would have required MCOs give certain 

documents to providers within 15 days of denying 

a claim and requires an MCO to pay 100% of 

the state rate for nursing facility residents on 

Medicaid among other provisions. 

NOW HIRING! 

Full-Time Nurse position 

$1,500 SIGN-ON BONUS AVAILABLE!!! 

Mid-Step Services is a non-profit organization serving the needs of children 

and adults who have developmental disabilities. 

Hours: 1:30pm – 9:30 pm and 9:30pm – 5:30am 

Position offers JOB SECURITY and OPPORTUNITIES FOR GROWTH. 

Offers paid days off, medical, dental and life insurance, 

educational assistance, and a 401K retirement plan. 

Pre-Employment Drug test required. EOE - m/f/d/v 

Apply at our Main Office between 7:30am and 4:30pm 

or online at www.midstepservices.com 

Mid-Step Services 

4303 Stone Avenue 

Sioux City, IA 51106. 

(712)274-2252

Honor a 


Iowa has many nurses whose outstanding 

contributions should be recognized. Iowa Nurses 

Association has established several awards to recognize 

excellence in Iowa nursing. Here is your chance to 

recognize a peer. 

Award nominations are due to the INA office by 

Tuesday, July 31, 2018. The celebration and presenting 

of awards will be held during an awards celebration 

breakfast on Friday, October 19, 2018 at the Courtyard 

by Marriott in Ankeny, Iowa from 8:00 to 9:00 a.m. 

The awards celebration will be held in conjunction with 

INA the conference and Annual Meeting. 

2018 Recognition Awards 

Hall of Fame 

This award will be given annually to an individual 

who has displayed visionary leadership, dedication to 

the mission of INA, and a passion for the profession of 

nursing in an ongoing basis. 

Criteria: 

• Be a registered nurse (may be retired), who has 

demonstrated outstanding contributions as a 

member of the Iowa Nurses Association at the 

regional, state, and/or national level. 

• Act as a role model of leadership that supports 

the Iowa Nurses Association’s mission statement: 

To connect, advocate, and support for nurses and 

healthcare in Iowa. 

• Demonstrate behavior that reflects nursing’s 

concern for issues that affect Iowa nurses’ ability 

to provide safe and effective care. 

• Demonstrate professional achievement that has 

enduring significance in the individual’s lifetime 

and beyond. 

Edith E. Ruppert 

This award is conferred to an Iowa nurse who, 

as a member of INA, is judged to have contributed 

significantly to the improvement of nursing and the 

professional organization. 

Criteria: 

• Member in good standing in the Iowa Nurses 

Association. 

Davenport (563) 324-3276 Cedar Rapids (319) 364-5151 

Waterloo (319) 234-7777 West Des Moines (515) 222-5991 

Morningside College Nylen School of Nursing 

offers online courses that lead to a 

MSN degree in the following tracks: 

· Clinical Nurse Leader 

· Family Primary Care Nurse Practitioner 

· Adult Gerontology Primary Care 

Nurse Practitioner 

· Post-Master’s Certifications in all of the 

above 

For more information contact 

Dr. Jackie Barber, Dean of Nursing 

barber@morningside.edu or 

712-274-5297 

www.morningside.edu 

“Recognized nationally by the American Nurses Credentialing Center 

(ANCC) as a leader in quality patient care, nursing excellence and 

innovations in professional nursing practice.” 

www.unitypoint.org/cedarrapids/proud-to-be-a-magnet-hospital.aspx 

Relocation bonuses available | Excellent benefits 

IHS or NHSC loan repayment program eligible 

CONTACT: Michelle Beasley, BSN, RN 

Director of Nursing Recruitment 

Email: michelle.beasley@fdihb.org 

Phone: 928-729-8394 | 928-688-6220


Nurse 

• Evidence of professional commitment to 

the resolving of issues and to the increasing 

knowledge of nursing trends for the improvement 

of health care. 

• Evidence of outstanding contributions to the Iowa 

Nurses Association. 

Teresa E. Christy 

This award is presented to a registered nurse that 

has demonstrated professional commitment to the 

improvement of health care and the interrelationship 

of nursing education, nursing practice, and nursing 

research. 

Criteria: 

• Member in good standing in any state nurses’ 

association who has been, or is currently, a 

member of the Iowa Nurses Association. 

• Evidence of professional commitment to the 

resolving of issues and to increasing knowledge of 

nursing trends for the improvement of health care. 

• Evidence of outstanding contributions to the 

interrelationship of education, practice, and 

research. 

Friend of Nursing 

This award is given annually to recognize non-nurse 

individuals or groups of individuals who have made 

significant contributions to the profession of nursing 

and to the health care of Iowans. 

Criteria: 

• Evidence of support for nursing practice leading 

to improved healthcare outcomes for Iowans. 

Hector Perez 

This award is conferred to an Iowa Registered Nurse 

who is a member of the Iowa Nurses Association and 

has made a significant contribution to nursing in a 

clinical setting as a member of a minority group in this 

profession. 

Criteria: 

• Registered nurse who is in good standing as a 

member of the Iowa Nurses’ Association. 

• Evidence of professional commitment to the 

clinical setting of nursing. 

• Evidence of representing men or being a member 

of a minority group in nursing 

• Contribution to improving practices that address 

cultural diversity in nursing. 

Nomination Procedures 

Each nomination and supporting documentation 

must be submitted by e-mail to member@iowanurses. 

org by July 31st. Please reference Award & Nominee in 

the subject line. 

Each nomination must include the following: 

• Name of award. 

• Name of nominee including credentials. 

• Address, phone and email of nominee. 

• Place of employment and position of nominee. 

• A narrative statement by the nominator outlining 

the accomplishments of the nominee and how 

these meet the established criteria for the award. 

The statements should describe the nominee’s 

compliance with the established criteria for the 

award as explicitly and concisely as possible. 

• At least two letters supporting the nomination. 

• A brief curriculum vitae and any additional 

pertinent information. 

• Include contact information and name of the 

nominator(s)


REGION NEWS 

Northeast Region—Region 2 

The NE Region met on May 5th at 10 am at the Franklin Hotel in 

Strawberry Point, Iowa. 

Southeast Region—Region 5 

The SE Region meeting was on Wednesday, May 3, 2018. 

From L to R: Anne Cook, Brenda Helmuth, Sue Whitty, Margie O’Neill, 

Peggy Murphy, Linda Schluter, Peggy Khan, Michelle Ficken, 

Betty Lord-Dinan. 

Front row (l to r) Rose Hedges, Carol Berchenbriter, Colleen Brehms, 

Darcy Koehn and Mary Tarbox 

Back Row (l to r) Elaine Boes, Karee Dietrich, Deann Shortt, Margaret 

Hyndman, Sharon Guthrie, Becky Lewis and Elaine Cook. 

Freed by Love, Acting for Justice. Our core values of freedom, 

education, charity and justice guide our lives and choice of ministry. 

We hire RNs and LPNs to care for our Sisters in their retirement. 

Please visit www.bvmsisters.org/employment 

for more information. 

EOE 

POSITION AVAILABLE 

RN – Family Birth Center – Full-Time – Nights 

Full-Time or Weekend Package Available 

7:00 p.m. to 7:00 a.m. – 36 Hours per Week 

Weekdays plus every 3rd Weekend or 

Weekend Package Position: 5 out of 6 weekends. 

Qualification: Valid IA RN License. 

For more information on these positions or other open nursing 

positions, please see our website at boonehospital.com 

Linda Majors, Human Resources, 

Boone County Hospital, 1015 Union St., Boone, IA 50036 

(515) 433-8448 

lmajors@bchmail.org or apply at 

www.boonehospital.com 

“For all of Life’s 

Health Transitions” 

Nicknamed “the Lodge” • Five Star Facility Rating per www.medicare.gov 

National Bronze Award for Quality • Advancement Opportunities 

Tuition Assistance/Student Loan Reimbursement • Anniversary Bonus 

Flexible Schedules • Vacation Pay after 6 months 

1100 Hwy 218 North, La Porte City, IA • (319) 342-2125 

Check out our website for career opportunities at: 

www.careinitiatives.org


ANCC - Call for Commission Members 

Nominations due July 9, 2018 

The Nominating Committee of the ANCC 

Board of Directors currently seeks nominations for 

appointments to the Commission on Accreditation 

(COA), Commission on Magnet® Recognition (COM), 

and Commission on Pathway to Excellence® (COPE), 

which serve as the governing bodies for their respective 

ANCC programs. The ANCC Board of Directors makes 

appointments in July for the term January 1, 2019 

through December 31, 2022. (Please note that the 

ANCC Board of Director’s Nominating Committee may 

adjust the term of a specific seat so as to maintain an 

even distribution of new and seasoned commission 

members). You may apply to multiple commissions; 

however appointees may only serve one commission 

at a time. Orientation for all new commission members 

will be held on a date TBD in late Fall, 2018 at the 

American Nurses Association headquarters in Silver 

Spring, MD. 

Eligibility 

Registered nurses appointed to a commission must 

be full members of ANA throughout their tenure. Full 

membership includes ANA and State membership 

or ANA Only membership. Go to https://www. 

nursingworld.org/membership/joinANA/ for ANA 

membership information. This requirement is waived 

for the non-nurse and international members. 

Application Process 

• Review the applicable commission’s Profile 

Sheet for general information on commission 

composition, responsibilities, terms, time 

commitment, and member requirements. 

• Review the table to the right for the specific 

member qualifications/requirements for the seats 

to be filled. 

• All nominees must complete the ANCC 

Biographical Form for Appointments. 

• All nominees must include an abbreviated 

curriculum vitae. May be no longer than 5 pages 

and must include: 

ú Certifications 

ú Professional experience (current and former 

positions for the last 5 years) 

ú Publications (within the last 5 years) 

ú Presentations (within last 5 years) 

ú Offices, appointments and activities with 

professional organizations 

• All nominees must review the ANA Enterprise 

Code of Ethical Conduct and Compliance 

Program including ANCC’s Volunteer Conflict 

of Interest and Financial Disclosure Forms. If 

selected, the applicant will be sent the forms for 

signature. 

Nomination Packet 

Required Forms 

1. Completed ANCC Biographical Form for 

Appointments. Be sure to indicate which 

commission interests you. 

2. Curriculum Vitae. May be up to 5 pages only and 

must include: 

ú Certifications 

ú Professional experience (current and former 

position, or last 5 years) 

ú Publications (within last 5 years) 

ú Presentations (within last 5 years) 

ú Offices, appointments and activities with 

professional organizations 

Optional Endorsement and/or Recommendation 

The nominee may submit electronically up to 

two letters of endorsement along with the ANCC 

Biographical Form for Appointments and curriculum 

vitae. Faxed letters are not accepted. 

DIRECTOR OF NURSING PROGRAMS 

Iowa Western Community College is seeking a qualified candidate 

for the Director of the Nursing Programs. The Director of 

Nursing is responsible to lead the nursing faculty in the design, 

implementation and evaluation of curriculum for the nursing 

programs in Council Bluffs, Clarinda and Harlan Education Centers. 

Visit IWCC.edu for the full position description and to apply. 

Iowa Western Community College 

2700 College Road | Council Bluffs, IA 51503 | Fax 712-325-3739 EOE 

ANCC 

Commissions 

Commission on 

Accreditation 

(COA) 

Commission 

on Magnet 

(COM) 

Commission 

on Pathway 

to Excellence 

(COPE) 

Requirements 

ANCC seeks an individual from one of 

the following groups: 

1. Program Director from a residency 

program – APRN 

2. Program director from a residency 

program – non acute care setting 

3. Chief Nursing officer 

4. Member from pharmacy or 

medicine residency program 

5. Emerging Leader - former graduate 

of an accredited transition to 

practice program (RN Resident/ 

APRN Fellow/RN Fellow) within the 

last 2 years 

6. Emerging leader in nursing 

professional development 

7. Constituent/State Nurses 

Association 

8. Interprofessional Member 

1. Registered Nurse from academia 

2. Registered nurse with major 

professional responsibility for 

managing a patient care unit or 

department 

3. Individual of foreign residence or 

with international experience. 

1. Registered nurse serving in the 

long-term care setting LTC 

2. Nurse leader with experience in 

pre/post-acute care continuum 

Submission Instructions 

Required forms and optional letters of endorsement 

MUST: 

• Be submitted via email by July 9, 2018. 

• Be in MS Word format with the file extension 

[.doc] OR Adobe portable document format with 

the file extension [.pdf] 

• Be attached to an email message addressed to 

the following: 

ú All applications for seats on the COA, COM or 

COPE are to be submitted with their required 

forms to: ancc.exec@ana.org 

Handwritten forms and faxed documents are not 

accepted. 

Looking for a 

positive career 

Nursing Opportunities 

change? 

Nursing is a rewarding career. Mercy - North Iowa 

offers special benefits unique even to the health 

care field! 

At Mercy - North Iowa, we recognize that 

nurses are the backbone of a great health care 

organization. Nurses account for 30 percent of our 

workforce, and we value their talents and their time. 

Mercy offers: 

Competitive wages, including weekend and 

night differentials 

Incentive pay for BSNs and other educational 

advancement 

Nursing for all specialties - Clinic/Hospice/ 

Home Care settings 

Educational assistance, including a loan 

repayment program 

Success Sharing - a bonus when the 

organization meets its goals 

We offer the Vizient/AACN Nurse Residency 

Program, the nation’s top nurse residency 

curriculum trusted by more than 300 health 

care facilities. 

EEO Employer F/M/Veteran/Disabled 

www.mercynorthiowa.com/nurse-opportunities 

Downloadable 

Forms: 

Biographical Form 

for appointments 

Commission on 

Accreditation 

Profile Sheet 



Commission on 

Magnet Profile 

Sheet 



Commission on 

Pathway Profile 

Sheet 

For specific information about 

a specific commission, contact: 

Sheri Cosme DNP, RN-BC Director, 

Practice Transition Accreditation 

Program and Nursing Skills 

Competency Program at sheryl. 

cosme@ana.org or 1-301-628- 

5377 or Jennifer Graebe, MSN, 

RN, NEA-BC, Director, Primary 

and Joint Accreditation at jennifer. 

graebe@ana.org or at 1-301-628- 

5178 

Rebecca Graystone, MS, MBA, 

RN, NE-BC, Director, Magnet 

Recognition Program at Rebecca. 

graystone@ana.org or 1-301-628- 

5092. 

Christine Pabico, MSN, RN, 

NE-BC, Director, Pathway to 

Excellence Program at christine. 

pabico@ana.org or 1-301-628- 

5220. 

Nomination packets are sent to the Nominating 

Committee electronically. Each nominee’s email 

message, with attached forms and letters, serve as an 

electronic signature to verify the nominee’s submission. 

Nominees are encouraged to add their signature to 

electronic documents, if possible. 

To be considered, nomination packets must be 

received electronically in the ancc.exec@ana.org email 

box NLT Monday, July 9, 2017 at 11:59 pm EDT. The 

ANCC Nominating Committee reviews all nominations, 

and prioritizes candidates for the ANCC Board of 

Directors, who make the final appointments. Notification 

will be e-mailed to nominees by August 10, 2018. 

VA Central Iowa 

Health Care System 

COME CARE FOR OUR 

NATION’S HEROES! 

Nursing opportunities available for all US citizens at the 

VA in Des Moines, Iowa and it’s Community Based Outpatient 

Clinics located in Carroll, Fort Dodge, Knoxville, Marshalltown, 

and Mason City can be found at the website below. Remember, you 

don’t have to be a Veteran to serve our nation’s Veterans. 

Excellent salary/benefits, guaranteed 40 hour work week, up to 26 

vacation days per year, matching 401(k) type plan, shift/weekend 

differentials, holiday pay, reward/recognition programs, preceptor 

orientation, and scholarship/tuition support programs. 

Call 515-699-5581 for more information. 

Submit applications: www.usajobs.gov (keywords: Nurse, Iowa) 

EOE


IOWA NURSES FOUNDATION NEWS 

INF President's Report 

Welcome to Summer 2018, 

shy and slow to share her 

splendor, but beautiful when 

she arrived. And she brings 

with her many of the milestone 

events that happen in our 

lives. It is a time of celebrating 

weddings and graduations 

with family and friends. Behind 

the graduation scenes are the 

people that provide the support 

to help make it happen. There 

are many types of support; 

an important one is funding. 

The Iowa Nurses Foundation 

Lorinda Inman 

RN, MSN, FRE 

provides a few scholarships to assist students pursuing 

nursing education. It exists to support the professional 

and educational development of 

registered nurses in Iowa. 

The Foundation is in the process 

of reviewing 2018 scholarship 

LPN & RN openings 

• Various shifts 

• Weekend package 

• Full health, 

vision, and dental 

benefits 

applications. There are two types of scholarships 

awarded each year. One type is funds provided by a 

benefactor with established criteria that must be met. 

This criterion is either specific to students enrolled in 

certain nursing programs or living in certain areas of 

Iowa. These scholarships may be awarded to nursing 

students at the undergraduate or graduate level. The 

second type is funded by the Iowa Nurses Foundation 

(INF). It is awarded to RNs who are members of the 

Iowa Nurses Association. The recipient may be enrolled 

in a baccalaureate completion or graduate nursing 

program. 

The INF raises these funds through an annual 

campaign. It simply asks for donations to raise the bar. 

The 2017 campaign raised over $5000 that will be 

awarded this year. The 2018 campaign has set a goal 

of $6000. Please consider contributing to the future 

nursing workforce. Contributions 

can be made through the Iowa 

Nurses Association web page at 

iowanurses.org. 

REGISTERED NURSES 

APPLY ONLINE AT WWW.IOWACITY.VA.GOV 

Applicants must have a current, full, unrestricted 

registration as a graduate professional nurse in a State, 

Territory or Commonwealth (i.e., Puerto Rico) or the 

United States, or the District of Columbia. The medical 

center offers an excellent benefits package which includes 

vacation and sick time; tax deferred savings plan with 

matching contributions, and other generous benefits. 

Help “Raise The 

Thermometer” on 

Nursing Scholarships 

and Our Profession 

Goal Set for 2018 INA/INF 

#bedsideandbeyond..... 

taking action 

Conference in October 

As nursing professionals, we all remember the 

slight sense of fear that accompanied us as we 

started our first day of school as a nursing student. 

How hard would it be? Would I like my professors? 

Am I cut out for this? And for some, the challenge 

of paying for this education only added to the fears. 

Today, inability to afford a nursing education is 

preventing many bright, talented individuals from 

entering our noble profession. 

As an INA member, you understand the 

importance of raising awareness of our profession 

and the benefits we provide to so many Iowans. The 

Iowa Nurses Foundation supports that mission by 

offering continuing education programs and most 

importantly, nursing scholarships. This year, we need 

to raise $6000 to fund scholarship requests. In lieu 

of a silent auction or raffle to raise funds for the INF 

Scholarships, we are asking members to make a cash 

donation to our “Raise the Thermometer” on Nursing 

Scholarships and Our Profession. 

Our hope is to start now and reach our goal by the 

end of the 2018 INA/INF “#bedsideandbeyond..... 

taking action” Conference on October 19, 2018 

in Ankeny, Iowa. Would you consider making a 

donation of $25, $50, $75 or more to help the INA 

show prospective nurses that we care. For more 

information and to donate securely on-line, please 

visit www.iowanurses.org or mail your donation to 

Iowa Nurses Foundation, 2400 86th Street, Suite 32, 

Urbandale, IA 50322-4306. If mailing, please notate 

thermometer in the memo line. 

COME JOIN OUR TEAM! 

...where caring makes a difference. 

IMMEDIATE OPENINGS 

LICENSED STAFF 

All shifts - Full or Part-time 

New Competitive Wages 

Contact Director of Nursing or apply online at 

www.worthingtonnursinghomes.com 

To apply visit 

https://www.good-sam.com/ottumwa 

641-682-8041 

IOWA CITY VA HEALTH CARE SYSTEM 

601 HWY 6 WEST | IOWA CITY, IA 52246 

Call 319.338.0581 Extension 6727 for more information 

1307 South Shore Drive, 

Worthington MN 56187 

507-376-3175 

EOE/AA 

965 McMillan Street, 

Worthington MN 56187 

507-376-5312 

EOE/AA


IOWA NURSES FOUNDATION NEWS 

INF Scholarship History 

The Iowa Nurses Foundation (INF) is a 501(c) (3) 

– charitable non-profit, public benefit organization 

which was established in 1972. It may solicit taxdeductible 

contributions from individuals, corporations 

and foundations for its activities. It draws its board 

from the election of membership of the Iowa Nurses 

Association; Board members are not appointed by INA. 

The mission of the Iowa Nurses Foundation is: 

INF is the charitable and philanthropic arm of 

the Iowa Nurses Association with a mission 

to promote and support the professional and 

educational development of registered nurses in 

Iowa. (Adopted March 22, 2016) 

Vision Statement: “To be recognized as the 

entity for the advancement of the nursing 

profession in Iowa.” 

The Scholarships Available 

Iowa Nurses Foundation Scholarship 

(est. 1972) 

Applicants can be full or part-time students 

attending an approved program leading to an RN- 

BSN or MSN in nursing, DNP, or a PhD in Nursing or 

a related field such as education and also a member 

of the Iowa Nurses Association. RN-BSN students 

must have successfully completed at least 50% of 

the nursing program curriculum with a career plan to 

work in Iowa. MSN, DNP or PhD students must have 

completed at least 12 semester hours of graduate 

work leading to a Master’s Degree in Nursing or 

Doctoral Studies in nursing or nursing related field and 

must have a career plan to work in Iowa. 

Gerald (Mike) Anderson Scholarship 

(est. 2010) 

Applicants need to be full or part-time students 

currently enrolled at Des Moines Area Community 

College (DMACC), Grand View University or the 

University of Iowa, College of Nursing. (Only these 

students are eligible to apply.) 

The Iowa Nurses Foundation is the administrator 

of funds donated by Mr. Gerald (Mike) Anderson for 

scholarships for students interested in the nursing 

profession. 

Mary Paulson Scholarship (est. 2017) 

This nursing scholarship was established in memory 

of Mary Weihs Paulson who was an RN at Mercy 

Medical Center and Surgery Center Des Moines- 

West for 30 years. Mary loved being a nurse and was 

very passionate for her profession. She cared for her 

patients with the utmost grace and compassion. The 

scholarship is a way for her family to help carry on 

her legacy and is to help current nurses further their 

education and advance their nursing careers. 

Claire Hammond Diercks Scholarship 

(est. 1986) 

This nursing scholarship was established by John 

Diercks in memory of his wife, Claire Hammond 

Diercks. It is directed to support the education of RNs 

and potential RNs who live in Northwest Iowa counties. 

American Nurses Foundation Scholarship 

(started 2015) 

From among the applicants, for INF scholarships, 

monies are sent from the American Nurses Foundation 

to be awarded to individuals who show leadership in 

nursing or diversify the nursing workforce. 

INF Scholarships 

2014 

Sherri Kerr of Hull 

Dan Lose of Iowa City 

2015 

Terri DeClerk of Davenport 

Jeanne-Marie Fournier of Cedar Rapids 

Christina Peterson of Dows 

Erica Davisson of Coralville 

2016 


Jeanne-Marie Fournier of Cedar Rapids 

2017 

Candace Chihak, Mt. Vernon 

Andrea Jimmerson, Indianolia 

Gerald (Mike) Anderson Scholarships 

2014 

Derick Mbachen of Des Moines 

Signe Newman of Des Moines 

Traci Rosenau of Carroll 

Aricka Sibenaller of Glidden 

Amanda Smouse of Carroll 

2015 

Jacquelyn Brungardt of Fort Dodge 

Emily Musumhi of Ames 

2016 

Rachel Brandt of Davenport 

Jacquelyn Brungardt of Fort Dodge 

Emily Mushumhi of Ames 

2017 

Rachel Baker, Des Moines 

Jaci Brungardt, Fort Dodge 

American Nurses Foundation 

2015 

ANA Funds-Leadership 


ANA Funds-Minority Nurse 

Emily Mushmhi of Ames 

2016 

ANA Funds-Leadership 

Christina Peterson of Dows 

ANA Funds-Minority Nurse 

Emily Mushmhi of Ames 

2017 

ANA Funds 

Andrea Wilhite, West Des Moines 

ANA Funds 


Mary Paulson Scholarship 

2017 


Andrea Wilhite, West Des Moines 

Jaci Brundgardt, Fort Dodge 

Gina Kubik, Waterloo 

Rose Hedges, Mt. Vernon 

Jamie Briar, Norwalk 

Healthcare Staffing Division 

RN, LPN and CNA 

Opportunities Available 

Includes PRN, part and 

full time positions 

We staff Hospitals, Home 

Care, Nursing Facilities, 

Hospice, and more! 

www.A-1CAREERS.com or call 1(800) 365-8241


ANA NEWS 

Why Your Nursing Networks Matter 

Retrieved from American Nurse Today 

March 2018 Vol. 13 No. 3 

Networks help you advance your 

career, provide high-quality care, and 

support your colleagues. 

Takeaways: 

• Professional networks are crucially connected to 

quality patient care. 

• Building a professional network can take two 

paths: a network in your immediate clinical 

environment or one created through an 

organization. 

• Professional networking has rules, such as 

adding value to others, building a professional 

image, and being prepared and positive. 

By Rose O. Sherman, EdD, RN, NEA-BC, FAAN, 

and Tanya M. Cohn, PhD, MEd, RN 

Maria is a direct-care nurse working on a medical/ 

surgical unit in an acute-care hospital. She recently 

achieved certification and became a member of 

a national nursing organization for her specialty, 

both of which are needed to advance through the 

clinical ladder at work. However, Maria isn’t sure 

why her hospital values membership in the national 

organization or how it will help her career. She has a 

busy personal life and doesn’t have time to volunteer 

in her local chapter. 

Maria’s lack of understanding about the value of 

professional networks isn’t unusual. Many nurses 

never make the investment of getting involved with 

professional associations or take the time to ensure 

that they have a strong network of colleagues within 

and outside their own organization. They wonder 

why they should spend what free time they have 

on an activity that seems so indirectly related to 

their work, and they fail to see how a network can 

enhance their professional growth or be a wise career 

investment. 

The value of professional networks 

Maria, like all direct-care nurses, is part of 

the profession of nursing. As a member of the 

profession, she has the opportunity to 

develop through continuing education, 

certification, and membership in 

nursing organizations. These 

activities will help Maria evolve 

from a novice to an expert 

nurse and open doors to 

professional networks. 

Professional networks 

also will provide her 

with mentorship, 

support, and teamwork 

opportunities. For 

example, if Maria’s 

interested in developing 

specific skills or 

advancing her education, 

she can use her network 

to identify a mentor 

for skill development or 

guidance on educational 

opportunities. 

Professional networks are 

crucially connected to quality patient 

care. Specifically, healthcare demands 

evidence-based practice, but nurses across the 

nation frequently are faced with variations in patient 

care and deep-rooted sacred cows of practice that 

are neither evidence-based nor current. Working 

in silos of individual clinical settings, nurses are left 

with less-than-optimal patient care and the need 

to develop evidence-based solutions from scratch. 

This is where professional networks can promote 

evidence-based practice through collaboration. For 

example, as a member of a national organization, 

Maria has access to networking with other medical/ 

surgical nurses. Together they can compare and share 

best practices or research findings from their clinical 

practice, reducing the need to re-create the wheel 

individually. The result is consistent evidence-based, 

high-quality patient care. 

For young nurses like Maria, a strong network 

You support our patients’ total health. 

Hiring for locations in: 

Des Moines, Ankeny, Knoxville, Waterloo, Ottumwa and Burlington 

UCS Healthcare is expanding our successful Medication Assisted Treatment program 

through medication unit partnerships with existing substance use disorder and 

mental health providers in Iowa. 

We are hiring full-time, part-time and PRN RNs, nurse practitioners, physician 

assistants and physicians for these locations to oversee our medication units. Our 

team enjoys scheduled M-F daytime hours (occasional Saturday mornings), with major 

holidays off plus receives competitive/flexible benefits package including paid time 

off, medical, dental, vision insurance, 403(b), and other benefits including some tuition 

reimbursement programs. 

REGISTERED NURSES 

Qualifications include: 

• Graduate of an accredited school of nursing 

• Currently licensed in the state of Iowa 

• Willingness to work in an integrated setting with a team 

• Passionate about helping patients in recovery 

Contact us for all current RN openings – mistyangrick@ucsdsm.org or 515-280-3860 

NURSE PRACTITIONERS 

Positions are flexible – FT, PT, PRN. Training and consultation provided by UCS 

medical director, one of the leading experts in the state on MAT treatment. 

Qualifications include: 

• Graduate of an accredited ARNP program 

• Currently licensed in the state of Iowa 

• Passionate about helping patients in recovery 

• Willingness to collaborate with team on patient treatment plans including prescriptions 

To apply, email cover letter and resume to mistyangrick@ucsdsm.org 

For more information, visit ucsonline.org 

UCS Healthcare does not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, gender, sexual orientation 

or any other characteristic protected under federal, state, or local law. 

can help when looking for new career opportunities. 

Many positions are never advertised, and workforce 

recruiters acknowledge that their best referrals 

come from professionals whose judgment they trust. 

Today’s healthcare environment is volatile, so building 

a strong network should be part of a professional 

insurance policy. 

Steps to building a network 

Building a professional network can take two 

paths: a network in your immediate clinical 

environment or one created through an 

organization. Both require common 

steps. 

First, establish an 

understanding of your goals 

and who can help you 

achieve them. For Maria, 

this could include using 

her knowledge and 

experience as a certified 

medical/surgical nurse 

to establish a unitbased 

education 

program or to take part 

in a unit-based council 

to work collectively with 

other nurses through 

evidence-based practice 

and nurse competencies. 

Maria also might be 

interested in tapping into the 

nursing organization she’s joined 

to seek out up-to-date practice 

alerts. Regardless of the professional 

network, after goals are set and the right people 

are identified, you can interact, share knowledge, 

and receive plans to help you achieve your goals. 

If you don’t have a specific goal in mind, building 

a professional network might seem daunting or 

unclear. Start by putting yourself out there in the 

nursing profession. For Maria, who may not be 

able to commit to joining a committee within the 

nursing organization, she can plan to attend the 

organization’s annual conference. While there, 

she can take steps to maximize the networking 

experience. First, she should think about some 

conversational topics and introductory questions 

to use when interacting with other attendees. 

Depending on Maria’s professional goals, the topics 

and questions could revolve around clinical practice, 

leadership development, or advancing education. 

In addition, Maria should be professionally prepared 

for the conference, including wearing professional 

attire and taking business cards. She also should 

plan to attend all social events and interact with the 

conference vendors, who could be potential future 

NURSING DIRECTOR 

Please see our website for information 

on this position: 

www.iowacentral.edu/jobs/vacancies.asp 

or contact Human Resources @ 

515-574-1139 

AA/EOE 

Compassion, Honor, Integrity, 

RNs, LPNs and CNAs needed 

to care for Iowa’s Veterans. 

Apply at ivh.iowa.gov 

Iowa Veterans Home 

Marshalltown, IA 

Nursing Recruiter Kristy Kelley 641-753-4489


ANA NEWS 

employment opportunities or offer cutting-edge 

evidence-based products she can share with her 

clinical colleagues. 

The golden rules of networking 

Networking opportunities exist everywhere, 

including online with sites such as Facebook, 

LinkedIn, and Twitter. Many nursing organizations 

have Facebook and Twitter accounts that nurses can 

follow to support networking about clinical practice 

and professional development. LinkedIn, on the other 

hand, helps nurses identify mentors and colleagues 

with similar interests. Regardless of whether you’re 

networking at a conference, within an organization, 

or online, you’ll need to follow some rules. (See 

Expert advice.) 

Expert advice 

Put these best practices from networking experts at 

Essential Communica tions into action. 

1. Networking is about planting, not hunting. Professional 

relationships are built over time. Never reach out to network and 

then abruptly ask for a job. 

2. Effective networkers add value to others. When networking, 

adopt a mindset of abundance not scarcity. Think about what you 

can do for the other person first. Perhaps you can connect him 

or her with a colleague or share an interesting article. The best 

networkers are givers not takers. 

3. Build a professional image. Make a positive professional 

impression by having an up-to-date LinkedIn page, a professional 

email address and outgoing phone message, and busi ness cards. 

4. Be prepared. Networking opportu nities can occur in the most 

unlikely settings. Always carry business cards and be ready to 

build a relationship. 

5. Craft your elevator speech. When you’re asked, “What do you 

do” or “What are you looking for,” have a short, coherent answer 

that easily rolls off your tongue. 

6. Be positive. Don’t complain about anything to people you 

network with – you’re building a relationship, not seeking 

therapy. 

7. Share the airtime. The best way to begin building a relationship 

is to ask other people about themselves and their careers. Spend 

as much time listening as you do talking. 

8. Follow up consistently. If you’ve been helped by another, send a 

thank-you note. If you’ve been given some homework, get it done 

and provide follow-up. 

9. Dig your well before you’re thirsty. By the time you need to 

build relationships, it may be too late; they take time to cultivate. 

Networking should be an ongoing pro fessional investment. 

Source: Essential Communications. essentialcomm.com 

Networking for introverts 

If you’re naturally introverted, networking may not 

come easily. You may even avoid networking events 

because they’re exhausting and force you outside 

your comfort zone. The hardest part can be walking 

through the door into a room. Fortunately, most 

people would rather talk than listen, so let others do 

the talking. You can never go wrong asking questions 

and establishing common ground. (See Get the 

conversation started.) Chances are that once you start 

asking questions, the conversation will flow easily. 

Most nurses like to be asked about their opinions 

and sought out for advice. You’ll be seen as a great 

networker because you take the time to listen. 

Join the networked world 

Over the course of her career, Maria will learn 

that building a network is one of 

the most powerful opportunities 

that membership in a professional 

association can provide. A good 

network outside her clinical 

setting will help her gain access 

to and act on new information 

quickly. She’ll also save time 

and energy by accessing other 

professionals who’ve overcome 

some of the same challenges 

she’s facing. Many young nurses 

have fast-tracked their careers by 

getting involved with association 

committees or running for office. 

We live in a networked world, 

so developing your networking 

skill set is important to your 

career success. You never know 

what new opportunities you’ll 

encounter or who you’ll meet until 

you extend your hand, introduce 

yourself, and start asking 

questions. 

Rose O. Sherman is a professor 

of nursing and director of the 

Nursing Leadership Institute 

at Christine E. Lynn College of 

Nursing, Florida Atlantic University 

in Boca Raton. You can read her 

blog at www.emergingrnleader. 

com. Tanya M. Cohn is a nurse 

scientist at West Kendall Baptist 

Hospital Nursing and Health 

Sciences Research in Miami, Florida. 

Selected references 

Cain S. Quiet: The Power of Introverts 

in a World That Can’t Stop Talking. 

New York: Broadway Paperbacks; 

2012. 

Get the conversation started 

Use these questions to jumpstart 

conversations at networking events. 

• How did you get started in your role? 

• What are your challenges? 

• What significant changes are you seeing in 

your environment? 

• What’s the most innovative thing that’s 

happening in your organization? 

• What do you think will happen with healthcare 

reform? 

• What trends do you see happening in nursing 

today? 

• What advice would you give to an emerging 

nurse leader? 

• How can I help you? 

• Who else at this meeting would be helpful for 

me to speak with? 

Henschel T. How to grow your professional network. 2018. 

Jain AG, Renu G, D’Souza P, Shukri R. Personal and 

professional networking: A way forward in achieving 

quality nursing care. Int J Nurs Educ. 2011:3(1):1-3. 

Mackay H. Dig Your Well Before You’re Thirsty: The Only 

Networking Book You’ll Ever Need. New York: Currency 

Press; 1997. 

Maxwell JC. The 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership: Follow 

Them and People Will Follow You. Nashville, TN: Thomas 

Nelson; 2007. 

Sherman RO. Building a professional network. Nurse 

Leader. 2017;15(2):80-1. 

Hansen, McClintock & Riley 

ATTORNEYS AT LAW 

PROFESSIONAL LICENSURE & ETHICS 

COUNSEL AND REPRESENTATION 

Licensing Board Inquiries • Professional 

Discipline • Ethics • Proactive Negotiation with 

Federal and State Agencies and Administrative 

Boards • Errors and Omissions Insurance • 

Coverage • Conflicts of Interest 

Contact: David L. Brown, 

Chester C. Woodburn, III or Alexander E. Wonio 

5th Floor, U.S. Bank Building 

520 Walnut Street, Des Moines, IA 50309 

(515) 244-2141 • www.HMRLAWFIRM.com


ANA NEWS 

ANA Enterprise Appoints Dr. Loressa Cole as 

New Chief Executive Officer 

Silver Spring, MD — The ANA Enterprise announced the 

appointment of Dr. Loressa Cole as its new Chief Executive 

Officer (CEO). She assumed this role on May 7, 2018. 

In this role, Cole, DNP, MBA, RN, FACHE, NEA-BC, 

will provide strategic leadership and have responsibility 

for the operating activities of the Enterprise including 

management of staff and implementation of programs 

for the American Nurses Association (ANA), American 

Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC), and American Nurses 

Foundation. 

Dr. Cole is an accomplished senior executive who brings 

more than 30 years of progressively higher leadership and 

management experience, most recently as Chief Officer 

and Executive Vice President of ANCC. ANCC promotes Dr. Loressa Cole 

excellence in nursing and health care globally through 

credentialing programs, recognizes healthcare organizations that promote quality 

patient outcomes, and accredits healthcare organizations that provide and approve 

continuing nursing education. She has been with ANCC since 2016. 

Previously, Dr. Cole held Chief Nursing Officer and Chief Operating Officer 

positions within the Hospital Corporation of America’s (HCA) Capital Division. While 

Chief Nursing Officer at LewisGale Montgomery Hospital, she led the hospital to 

attain ANCC Magnet® recognition. Among her many accomplishments, she 

WOLFE EYE CLINIC- 

Better Vision, for a better life! 

Registered Nurse Full/Part Time 

Daytime (M-F) Positions 

Due to continued growth, Wolfe Eye Clinic has an immediate opening in our West 

Des Moines office for a Float – Registered Nurse. Come be a part of an Eye Care 

Center of Excellence! Wolfe Eye Clinic has been providing a higher standard of care 

for patients since 1919 and will be celebrating its 100 th year in 2019. 

We are looking to add full and part-time traveling Registered Nurse positions. These 

positions will be based out of West Des Moines and Hiawatha. Nurses will work out 

of their base location in addition to traveling with our Retina Teams to other clinic 

locations to deliver excellent care to our patients. 

Wolfe Surgical Center in West Des Moines is looking for Surgical RNs and Scrub nurses. 

Employees receive great wages, paid travel time and mileage, along with a competitive 

benefit package. 

We are looking for motivated candidates that desire to learn in a fast-paced setting 

and have the ability to positively interact and help patients while providing patient 

education and instructions. Candidates should be detail orientated, able to provide 

excellent patient service, and work as a constructive team member. 

Duties for this position include rooming patients, assisting physicians with retina 

treatments and exams, triaging phone calls, responding to tasks, scribing for 

physicians, working with insurance companies, and performing other clinic duties 

as assigned. 

If you are interested in being part of a quality driven organization that has a low 

turnover rate, please apply online at www.wolfeeyeclinic.com/careers. EOE 

championed year-over-year improvement in employee engagement and reduction 

in nursing turnover, as well as implemented several specialty and Service Excellence 

programs that helped establish the regional health system as a Joint Commission 

Top Performer and earned Leapfrog “A” rating for hospital safety. 

“Dr. Cole is well prepared to lead and strengthen the evolving ANA Enterprise. 

She was selected from a field of outstanding candidates to fulfill this top leadership 

role for nursing,” said ANA President Pamela F. Cipriano, PhD, RN, NEA-BC, FAAN. 

“She brings proven leadership as a seasoned healthcare executive and as the current 

Executive Vice President of ANCC. She demonstrates the vision, creativity, passion 

for nursing, and strong business acumen to leverage the strengths of ANA’s entities 

to enhance and grow the Enterprise.” 

“I am very honored and excited to assume this prestigious position. The American 

Nurses Association is the professional association for all registered nurses, and a 

recognized leader in ensuring quality care for all Americans,” said Dr. Cole. “At 4 

million and growing, America’s nurses outnumber all other health-care professionals 

and serve an essential role to protect, promote, and improve health for all ages. 

I am humbled to lead the organization that for more than a century has nobly 

represented and served our nation’s nurses. I look forward to working with the 

dedicated staff and volunteers who contribute tirelessly to maintain and grow the 

exceptional programs and credentialing products offered by the ANA Enterprise.” 

Dr. Cole earned an associate degree in nursing from Bluefield State College 

in Bluefield, WV, a bachelor’s degree in nursing from Virginia Commonwealth 

University in Richmond, VA, a master’s of business administration from Averett 

University in Danville, VA, and a doctorate in nursing practice from Case Western 

Reserve University in Cleveland, OH. She is a member of ANA, Virginia Nurses 

Association, American Organization of Nurses Executives, and the American 

College of Healthcare Executives, where she holds Fellow status. Additionally, she 

currently serves on the Journal of Nursing Administration’s Editorial Board and the 

Joint Commission’s Nursing Advisory Council. A past President of the Virginia Nurses 

Association and the Virginia Partnership for Nursing, Dr. Cole has also served on 

multiple boards, including The Bradley Free Clinic of Roanoke (VA), The Free Clinic of 

the New River Valley, and the Daily Planet (Richmond, VA). 

The ANA Enterprise is the organizing platform of the American Nurses Association (ANA), 

the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC), and the American Nurses Foundation. 

The ANA Enterprise leverages the combined strength of each to drive excellence in practice 

and ensure nurses’ voice and vision are recognized by policy leaders, industry influencers 

and employers. From professional development and advocacy, credentialing and grants, 

and products and services, the ANA Enterprise is the leading resource for nurses to arm 

themselves with the tools, information, and network they need to excel in their individual 

practices. In helping individual nurses succeed—across all practices and specialties, and at 

each stage of their careers—the ANA Enterprise is lighting the way for the entire profession 

to succeed. 

Currently Seeking: 

RNs - All Shifts 

RN Health Unit 

Coordinator, Midday hours 

Apply online at 

elmcrest.net. 

Questions? 

Contact HR at 

712-755-5174 or 

abladt@abhomes.org 

2104 12th Street | Harlan, IA 51537

July, August, September 2018 Iowa Nurse Reporter • Page 21


Iowa Nurse Appointed to 

#EndNurseAbuse Professional 

Issues Panel 

ANA NEWS 

Everyday Advocacy: 

Nurses Serving on Boards 

“Advocacy is part of nurses’ ethical obligation 

and a natural extension of caring.” 

Lisa J. Sundean, PhD, RN, Assistant Professor, 

University of Massachusetts Boston 

Jonas Leadership Scholar 

Associate Member, New York Academy of Medicine 

Former Statewide Director, Connecticut Nursing Collaborative-Action 

Coalition Nurse Board Leader 

ANA is pleased to announce the selections for the #EndNurseAbuse 

Professional Issues Panel – Steering Committee and the 

#EndNurseAbuse Professional Issues Panel – Advisory Committee. 

Both groups will work to identify the barriers to effective reporting of violent 

and abusive incidents. ANA received almost 300 applications which were 

reviewed based on the criteria in the original call for applications. The Steering 

Committee is a smaller group that will do a deep dive into the topic. The 

Advisory Committee will provide additional information, feedback, and advice 

to ANA and the Steering Committee. Both committees are necessary to ensure 

sufficient rigor while also allowing for broad feedback from a full range of 

practice arenas. 

Kimberley Sarik, ARNP from Mason City, Iowa and a member of INA 

Northwest Region since 2008 was selected to the Advisory Committee. 

Congratulations, Kimberley, for being chosen, your voice will add important 

input to this committee! 

What began as a desire to volunteer and give back to my 

community quickly became an opportunity to leverage my 

expert nursing knowledge and perspectives to advocate for 

health and healthcare as a nurse board leader. 

In this role, I advocate for the constituents of the 

organizations on whose boards I serve. The role of 

board leaders is to provide prudent fiduciary oversight 

to ensure that an organization meets its stated mission 

within all appropriate laws, regulations, and policies. 

I have been serving on nonprofit boards for nearly 20 

years, including for hospitals, fundraising organizations, 

YWCA, professional nursing organizations, and family 

foundations. Overwhelmingly, these experiences have 

been positive. I have had opportunities to advocate for 

improved healthcare quality and health equity; allocation 

of resources to support healthcare services; programs to 

Lisa J. Sundean, 

PhD, RN 

support early childhood learning centers; adolescent leadership programs for girls; 

higher education programs for underserved women; financial support for single 

mothers; improvements to the patient/family experience; services for mental health; 

innovative programs to support nursing education; and initiatives to support nursing 

workforce data infrastructure. I unabashedly advocate for the appointment of 

nurses on boards. 

On all but one board, I have been the token nurse, presenting both a challenge 

and an opportunity. Often, I am the only person with a background in healthcare 

like the one I have, and I have had to sharpen my communication skills over the 

years to translate “nurse-ese” and our particular perspective into something others 

can understand. This is a particularly important challenge to rise to – and one I think 

nurses should embrace! – on hospital boards. 

Advocacy is part of nurses’ ethical obligation and a natural extension 

of caring. Whether at the bedside, in communities, or in the boardroom, nurses 

are critical advocates. We have the knowledge, skills, and perspectives to advocate 

for changes and policies that improve lives on many levels. If you are interested in 

becoming involved in advocacy work beyond the bedside, let others know about 

your interest! In particular, identify the people I call “door openers” and be clear 

about your intentions. Take advantage of opportunities presented to you, and when 

you are identified as an advocacy leader, step confidently into that role. As a nurse, 

you have the critical knowledge foundation and skill set to contribute. Stay 

focused on the purpose of your advocacy role; the individuals, communities, 

and populations. Let the purpose fuel your advocacy work. 

RN’S – NO WEEKEND HOURS! 

Come join our loyal staff at Hines & Associates, Inc., 

an industry leader in managed care in a challenging & 

stimulating full time case management position where you 

are a patient advocate, using your nursing skills to 

coordinate care & educate. 

Positions open in Dubuque, Cascade, Cedar Falls, 

Independence 

No, nights, holidays or weekends plus 

competitive benefit package!! 

Must be an RN with a minimum of 3 years experience. 

Email your resume to: hr@hinesassoc.com or fax it to 847-741-1728 

or call 877-429-7345 X 3426 with questions.


100 GREAT IOWA NURSES CELEBRATED ON MAY 6 

May 6, 2018, marked the 14th annual celebration of Iowa’s Great Nurses. The 

2018 honorees gathered at the Iowa Events Center’s Community Choice Credit 

Union Convention Center in Des Moines – along with more than 1,000 family 

members, friends, and colleagues – to be recognized for outstanding careers and 

achievements. 

Visit www.greatnurses.org to see the impressive list of 2018 honorees. And, 

while you’re there, nominate a deserving nurse today for recognition in 2019! 

Nominations are currently open. 

This year, 100 Great Iowa Nurses also presented two $1,500 financial education 

awards to deserving Iowa nurses who are headed back to school to further their 

education. 

Daniel Holthaus, RN, BSN 

The University of Iowa: DNP Candidate 

100 Great Iowa Nurses Education Award 

Recipient 2018 

“I am currently enrolled at the University of Iowa in 

the Doctor of Nurse Practice (DNP) program, and this 

scholarship will assist me in covering tuition, books, and 

associated fees. I would like to take this opportunity to 

thank the program for assisting me on this part of my 

educational journey. This award will truly help me achieve 

so much in terms of education.” 

100 Great Nurses 2018 Group 

Sandra Scholten, FNP-BC, CCD 

The University of Iowa: DNP Candidate 

100 Great Iowa Nurses Education Award 

Recipient 2018 

“This financial award is helping me achieve my career 

goals at the recommended pace of the University of Iowa 

DNP program plan of study. Without this assistance, I 

would be unable to take the recommended courses while 

simultaneously meeting financial obligations for my family. 

I am so grateful. Thank you!” 

NursingALD.com can point you 

right to that perfect NURSING JOB! 

NursingALD.com 

Free to Nurses 

Privacy Assured 

Easy to Use 

E-mailed Job Leads

THE MOST PAINFUL PART 

OF ANN’S SURGERY 

WAS WHEN HER SON 

GOT INTO HER PILLS. 

What if you came home and found that your kids got into your painkillers? With naloxone, an overdose can be 

temporarily reversed until they get to the emergency room. Visit our website for info, treatment and support. 

WE’RE YOUR EVERYDAY LIFE SUPPORT. 

YourLifeIowa.org 1.855.581.8111 

100% ONLINE 

EDUCATION 

YOUR WAY 

It’s easier than ever to advance your 

career. For more information, 

visit www.stlukescollege.edu 

or call (712) 279-3149. 

RN-BSN Degree 

Completion Program 

• Seamless transition from RN 

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• Design your own schedule 

• 100% online program 

Bachelor of Health 

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• Opportunities for allied health 

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scheduling 

• 100% online program 

OCT. 2017

Iowa Nurse Reporter - July 2018

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