The Mississippi RN - September 2018

Vol. 80, No. 3 Quarterly publication direct mailed to approximately 58,000 RNs and LPNs in Mississippi. 

Fall 2018 

Debbie Allen, MSN, RN 

As new nursing 

students arrive each 

year, I am honored to be 

working with the future 

leaders in nursing and 

constantly reminded how 

important developing 

nursing leadership skills is 

to all nurses. A statement 

that has resonated with 

me is “nurse = leader,” 

contained in The New 

Leadership Challenge, 

Creating the Future of 

Nursing. 1 This is such 

a short but powerful 

statement – each and every 

A Message from the President 

Debra Allen, MSN, RN 

nurse is a leader. From the most seasoned nurse to 

the nursing student, we must seek opportunities to 

hone our leadership skills. This is important for our 

profession and our patients. 

Depending on our role in nursing, we may 

routinely engage in a variety of leadership activities 

that assist us in becoming more effective leaders. 

If you are a manager, you may have increased 

opportunities for attending seminars and honing 

your leadership skills. What about those who work 

with you who don’t have similar opportunities? 

To be a good leader, you must be willing to guide 

other staff through your mentoring, coaching, and 

leadership efforts. One of my favorite quotes is by 

Warren Bennis and Burt Nanus: “Managers are 

people who do things right. Leaders are people who 

do the right thing.” The “right thing” is to be open 

to mentoring and encouraging those around you to 

embrace and explore every opportunity to enhance 

their leadership skills. If formal opportunities are 

scarce, leaders become innovative in their approach 

to providing resources, frequently working with 

other colleagues to create original, cost-effective 

programs. This process alone may open the door for 

many new leaders. 

Leaders must also recognize that expectations 

differ among age groups of colleagues. This is 

especially important when working with millennials 

who place significant value on employers and 

leaders/mentors who are willing to devote 

resources to assist them in becoming valuable to 

the organization and feel more comfortable in 

their nursing role. 2 An effective leader takes the 

time to understand the unique needs of colleagues 

and strives to provide the necessary coaching and 

mentoring to support colleagues’ growth. 

Being a good leader also takes vision and 

consideration of others’ personalities and leadership 

placement. This is important when providing 

positive comments and, perhaps even more 

important, when providing constructive feedback. 

A good leader is aware of the impact constructive 

feedback may have on a colleague and is prepared 

and direct when addressing this issue. The feedback 

is presented using “I” rather than “you” statements 

that describe observed problematic behavior or 

actions, explains the impact of that behavior, and 

offers recommendations for change. 3 We oftentimes 

think, I will relay this information in the manner in 

which I would prefer to receive it, but as a leader, we 

have to recognize the individual personality of the 

recipient, and structure our delivery accordingly. 

To be a good leader, we must have self-awareness 

and understand how we react and cope with stress, 

change (a given in our profession), and interaction 

with other personality types. This self-awareness 

will benefit us when interacting with our colleagues, 

patients, and our patients’ family members. This 

topic is of such importance that Knowing Me, 

Knowing You: Provider Self-Awareness to Improve 

Patient Outcomes is our Pre-Convention Workshop, 

on Tuesday, October 23 at the Mississippi Coast 

Coliseum and Convention Center. By special 

request, Mr. Roderick Green, PMHNP-BC will be 

leading this workshop. 

As nurses, we can’t be on the periphery of 

leadership - we must be at its core. We must “do 

the right thing” for our profession, colleagues, and 

patients! 

As our 2018 Convention approaches, I invite you 

to join with us! I hope to see all of you in Biloxi! 

1 

Grossman, Shelia C., and Valiga, Theresa M. The New 

Leadership Challenge, Creating the Future of 

Nursing. 5th ed., F.A. Davis Company, 2017. 

2 

Sherman, Rose O. “The Leader Coach.” American Nurse 

Today, vol. 13, no 5, May 2018, pp. 6-9. 

3 

Robb, Megan and Shellenbarger, Teresa. “Constructive 

feedback, How to have the difficult 

conversation.” American Nurse Today, vol. 13, no 

6, June 2018, pp. 12-13. 

JOIN US AT THE 107TH 

MISSISSIPPI NURSES’ 

ASSOCIATION CONVENTION 

October 23-26 

at the Mississippi Coast 

Coliseum and Convention 

Center | Biloxi, MS 

ü DYNAMIC PRESENTERS 

Paula Broome, Bureau Chief, Bureau of 

Victim Assistance, MS Atty Genl’s Office 

Paul Byers, MD, State Epidemiologist 

Pam Confer, PhD(c), MPPA 

Joy Deupree, PhD, CRNP, WHNP-BC 

Roderick Green, PMHNP-BC 

Riley Herrin 

Phyllis Johnson, MSN, FNP-BC, 

Executive Director, MS Board of Nursing 

Melissa King, DNP, President, 

MS Board of Nursing 

current resident or 

Presort Standard 

US Postage 

PAID 

Permit #14 

Princeton, MN 

55371 

ü SKILLS WORKSHOPS 

Gastrostomy Tube, EKG Interpretation, 

Intra-Articular Injections, Kinesio Taping 

ü “Making Waves” EXHIBITORS EXPO 

ü “EXCELLENCE IN RESEARCH” 

POSTER SESSION 

ü NUMEROUS NETWORKING 

OPPORTUNITIES 

ü INCREDIBLE DINNERS 

ü AND LOTS MORE!

Page 2 • Mississippi RN September, October, November 2018 

EVENT 

Summer 2018 Pharmacology of Controlled 

Substances Seminar 

NRCME/FMCSA DOT Medical Examiner 

Course 

www.msnurses.org 

DATE & LOCATION 

Mississippi Center for Nursing- Madison, MS 

Friday, September 21, 2018 

Gulfport Memorial Hospital - Gulfport, MS 

Friday, September 28, 2018 

2018 Annual Convention MS Coast Coliseum & Convention Center - Biloxi, MS 

Tuesday – Friday, October 23-26, 2018 

NRCME/FMCSA DOT Medical Examiner 

Course 

North Mississippi Medical Center-Health Works - Tupelo, MS 

Friday, November 2, 2018 

2019 Lobby Day Mississippi State Capitol - Jackson, MS 

Wednesday, January 23, 2019 

25th Annual Nursing Summit 

Nightingale Awards Gala 

2018 – 2019 TRAVEL TOURS 

Jackson Convention Complex - Jackson, MS 

Tuesday, February 19, 2019 

Published by: 

Arthur L. Davis 

Publishing Agency, Inc. 

Jackson Marriott - Jackson, MS 

Monday, March 4, 2019 

Iceland’s Magical Northern Lights November 6-12, 2018 

South Pacific Wonders Featuring Fiji August 6-23, 2019 

Exploring Scotland & Ireland October 6-18, 2019 

Sunny Portugal December 6-15, 2019 

Advertise on the MS Nurses’ Association Career Center 

Visit our website at www.msnurses.org and Click “MNA Career Center” 

President 

Debra Allen, MSN, RN 

dallen@deltastate.edu 

Secretary 

Sandra Arnold, MSN, RN 

sandi.arnold@hattiesburgclinic.com 

Council on Nursing Education 

Tomekia Luckett, PhD, RN 

tearl@wmcarey.edu 

Council on Health Affairs 

Alice Messer, DNP, 

RN, FNP-BC 

amesser@ns2.md 

Board of Directors 

Directors 

Vice President 

Tonya Moore, PhD, RN 

tonyamoore2010@gmail.com 

Treasurer 

Carl Mangum, PhD, PMHNP 

cmangum@umc.edu 

Council on Nursing Research 

Lorraine Gaddis, PhD, 

RN, FNP-BC 

lkgaddis@muw.edu 

Council on Nursing Practice 

Shonda Phelon, DNP, RN, 

FNP-BC, PMHNP-BC, GNP-BC 

shondaphelon@msn.com 

Council on 

Council on 

Organizational Affairs Advanced Practice 

Deloris Slade, MSN, RN, FNP-BC Rebecca Cagle, PhD, RN, 

delorisslade@aol.com 

FNP-BC, PMHNP-BC 

RACagle@nmhs.net 

Executive Director 

Teresa Malone 

tmalone@msnurses.org 

Executive Assistant 

LaGina Walker 

lwalker@msnurses.org 

Advanced Practice Coordinator/ 

Publishing Coordinator 

Dionne Inman 

dinman@msnurses.org 

District 1: 

Adams, Franklin, Jefferson, and 

Wilkinson counties 

Brenda Collins 

bcollins@alcorn.edu 

District 2: 

Amite, Copiah, Lawrence, Lincoln, 

Pike, and Walthall counties 

Tammy Livingston 

tlivingston@kdmc.org 

District 5: 

Hancock, Harrison, Pearl River, and 

Stone counties 

Deborah Mauffray 

debmauffray@gmail.com 

District 6: 

Jackson, George, and Greene counties 

Robbie Burnsed 

rene1461@yahoo.com 

District 7: 

Covington, Forrest, Lamar, Perry, 

Jefferson Davis & Marion counties 

Linda Holmes 

lholmes@forrestgeneral.com 

District 8: 

Jasper, Jones, and Wayne counties 

Emily Phillips 

Emily.phillips@jcjc.edu 

District 11: 

Simpson and Smith counties 

Teresa Windham 

twindhamdon@yahoo.com 

District 12: 

Claiborne, Issaquena, Sharkey, and 

Warren counties 

Debbie Hoover 

Debbie_0401@yahoo.com 

District 13: 

Hinds, Rankin, Madison and 

Yazoo counties 

Beverly Oliver 

boliver@stdom.com 

District 15: 

Leake, Neshoba, Newton, and Scott 

counties 

Cassandra Gibbs 

cassie39365@yahoo.com 

MNA Staff 

MNA District Presidents 

Finance Administrator/ 

Membership Coordinator 

Deborah Norman 

dnorman@msnurses.org 

Director of Events 

& Marketing 

Dana Walker 

dwalker@msnurses.org 

District 16: 

Clarke, Kemper, and 

Lauderdale counties 

Linda Todd 

ltodd@bellsouth.net 

District 18: 

Choctaw, Clay, Lowndes, Noxubee, 

Oktibbeha, Webster, and Winston 

counties 

Alena Lester 

aalester@muw.edu 

District 21: 

Humphries, Sunflower, and 

Washington counties 

Kaffie Burns-Denley 

eiffak67@yahoo.com 

District 23: 

Bolivar, Coahoma, Quitman, 

Tallahatchie, and Tunica counties. 

Shelby Polk 

spolk@deltastate.edu 

District 25: 

Alcorn, Benton, Calhoun, 

Chickasaw, Itawamba, Lee, 

Monroe, Pontotoc, Prentiss, Tippah, 

Tishomingo, and Union counties 

Robbie Jones 

rjones8001@gmail.com 

District 28: 

DeSoto, Marshall, and Tate counties 

Phyllis Chambers 

phyllischambers960@gmail.com 

District 31: 

Lafayette, Panola, and Yalobusha 

counties 

Morgan Walter 

mdwalterl@gmail.com 

District 32: 

Attala, Carroll, Grenada, Holmes, 

Leflore, and Montgomery counties 

Heather Wilkey 

hwilkey@bellsouth.net 

Advertising 

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. MNA 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 

Mississippi 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. MNA 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 MNA or those of the 

national or local associations. 

Mississippi RN is published quarterly every March, June, September and December 

and is the official publication of the Mississippi Nurses’ Association, 

31 Woodgreen Place, Madison, MS 39110, a constituent member of the American 

Nurses Association.

September, October, November 2018 Mississippi RN • Page 3 

Executive Director’s Column 

Report from Council on Advanced Practice 

Racing to Meet Nursing Challenges of Today and 

Tomorrow is the theme for MNA’s 107th Annual 

Convention. The theme alone is energizing! In keeping 

with the excitement, numerous engaging presentations 

by leading experts and influencers encompassing a wide 

variety of topics will assist you in staying at the helm 

as you meet nursing challenges full-throttle. Although 

our theme may be “racing,” you’ll also have plenty of 

time to ride the waves - well maybe not, but you’ll have 

opportunities to relax and get to know your colleagues 

better! 

Our Making Waves Expo continues the tradition of 

providing you time to discuss the latest services and 

products with vendors and, of course, we’ll have some 

unique gifts that you’ll want to pick up. In addition, 

you might just leave with a great door prize! One 

Teresa Malone 

of the most anticipated networking events of the Convention is the University 

of Mississippi Medical Center Nursing Alumni Chapter’s Nursing Alumni and 

Friends Reception hosted on Wednesday evening at the Biloxi Visitors Center – 

just a short distance from the Convention Center. You’ve come to expect a few 

fun surprises at Convention, including enticing and unique food during breaks 

encouraging you to linger, enjoy the food, and mingle with your colleagues. 

You’ll also want to spend time with authors at the Top of the Pier Poster 

Presentation, and vote on the winner of the submissions. Don’t forget to support 

the Mississippi Nurses Foundation‘s Silent Auction! This is always a fun time to 

enjoy the camaraderie of your colleagues with some good natured rivalry to see 

who takes that special item home. 

Join us on Tuesday for the Pre-convention workshop session Knowing Me, 

Knowing You: Provider Self-Awareness to Improve Patient Outcomes led by 

Roderick Green, PMHNP-BC. Following the House of Delegates on Wednesday, 

Pam Confer, PhD(c), MPPA, will motivate you over the lunch hour with her 

engaging leadership presentation. We sincerely appreciate North Sunflower 

Medical Center’s sponsorship of Thursday’s lunch where we are honored to be 

joined by Dr. Paul Byers, State Epidemiologist, providing his in-depth perspective 

of the health care issues impacting our state. Each year, attendees welcome the 

opportunity to pose questions to the Mississippi Board of Nursing and we extend 

our appreciation to Dr. Melissa King, President and Phyllis Johnson, Executive 

Director, for joining us on Thursday with a session dedicated to registered nurses 

and Friday for a session dedicated to advanced practice registered nurses. In 

response to requests for information on how nurses can address the issue of child 

abuse, Friday’s Joint Session will feature Paula Broome, Bureau Chief, Mississippi 

Attorney General’s Office and Riley Herrin, child abuse survivor, working to help 

others in abusive situations. 

When you review the broad array of topics at this year’s Convention, many 

of you will notice that these topics were selected based on the feedback that you 

provided us at our numerous events over the past year. Thank you for taking the 

time to share your preferences of topics and locations for events. Likewise, we 

know you have a long list of commitments competing for your time, and we thank 

you for choosing the Mississippi Nurses’ Association for your continuing nursing 

education source! 

Excitement is in the air – make that on the water – as we prepare for the 2018 

Annual Convention in Biloxi! We look forward to seeing you at Convention! 

Rebecca Cagle, PhD, FNP-BC, PMHNP-BC 

Director, Council on Advanced Practice 

Transition of care is a period of time that is very sensitive 

to the successful continuity of care for a patient. As a patient 

moves from one setting to another, there are increased risks 

for mistakes to be made, items to be missed, and harm to 

occur to the patient. Care needs can change as a patient 

progresses through this process and if a provider is not 

diligent to verify the changes and update records, the patient 

suffers. A nurse practitioner is an ideal provider to help 

facilitate these care transitions safely at every level. 

As the primary care provider (PCP) in a family 

or community health clinic, the NP is well versed in 

collecting the detailed personal, family, and social 

history, and conducting the history of present illness and 

chief complaints that help determine the appropriate 

action plan for the patient. Developing the personalized 

patient plan needed toward health and necessary lifestyle 

changes and medical interventions to optimize health 

Rebecca Cagle, PhD, 

FNP-BC, PMHNP-BC 

is well suited to the skills and abilities of the NP. The HCC and CC weighted 

conditions that need to be considered at each clinical visit are high on an NP’s list 

of documentation criteria. The “MEAT” criteria of monitor, evaluation, assess or 

treat of each of these conditions is embedded in the thought process to document. 

As a patient transitions to another level of care or simply a different type of 

specialty care, the NP, as gatekeeper, remains the central cog of the wheel assisting 

in coordinating appointments with other providers and verifying all diagnostics 

and necessary information for the seamless transition to that new provider. 

The PCP NP educates the patient and family on the need for the additional care 

and how such care will benefit the patient and improve the potential for better 

outcomes. Patients as well as family care givers manage transitions easier when 

they know what to expect. 

An NP may also be that next provider on a team to accept the patient into 

the specialty office, medical observation unit, long term care facility, or hospital 

setting. This NP continues as did the PCP NP, to communicate with the entire 

team for the benefit of the patient. This includes educating the patient and family 

on that department’s purpose on the team and the interventions recommended for 

the patient, along with explaining how this will improve outcomes. The medical 

necessity of diagnostic tests, durable medical equipment or other interventions 

needed are communicated to the patient and family. 

Lastly, NPs should be the team leaders in helping their patients transition into 

a healthier lifestyle with “lifestyle” appointments or “lifestyle clinics.” Having a 

consistent evidence-based approach to encourage the patient to make decisions 

on lifestyle choices that would benefit his or her health is a crucial component of 

the education provided by NPs. According to an article in the journal, Circulation 

from April 30, 2018 by Dr. Li, et. al., the five areas of lifestyle choices that make 

the biggest impact on health of a person include: being tobacco free (never starting 

or stopping ASAP), eating a healthy diet consistently, being at a healthy weight/ 

BMI, remaining active every day or at least 150 minutes a week, and not using 

alcohol excessively (moderate or less usage). Nurse Practitioners should be leading 

the charge in Mississippi to support patients adopting a healthier lifestyle by 

encouraging and assisting patients in implementing these changes. 

FREE Online CE Activity 

Nurses: 

parents trust you. 

You can help reduce the risk of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS), 

the leading cause of death among infants between 1 month and 1 year of age. 

Take our free continuing education (CE) activity to stay up to date on the latest 

safe infant sleep recommendations. Approved for 1.5 contact hours. 

Learn more about the free online activity at https://www.nichd.nih.gov/cbt/sids/nursececourse/. 

The CE activity explains safe infant sleep recommendations from the 

American Academy of Pediatrics and is approved by the Maryland 

Nurses Association, an accredited approver of the American Nurses 

Credentialing Center’s Commission on Accreditation.


District Spotlight... 

to the Provider Unit Committee and the Convention Planning Committee 

members for their dedication in planning a great 2018 Annual Convention! 

Provider Unit Committee 

Director, Council on Education: 

Tomekia Luckett, PhD, RN 

Provider Unit Co-Chairpersons: 

Marilyn Ellis, MSN, ANP-BC 

Deloris Slade, MSN, RN, FNP-BC 

Amber Arnold 

Mary H. Connor 

Becky Dorough 

Anne Everett 

Robbie Jones 

Wanda Jones 

Members: 

Bettye Logan 

Lora Jenkins-Lonidier 

Cynthia Luther 

Mary McNair 

LaDonna Northington 

Ka Russum 

Convention Planning Committee 

Director, Council on Organizational Affairs: 


District 13: 

MNA District 13 partnered with St. Dominic’s Hospital and Stewpot Teen 

Center to provide blood pressure and BMI screenings at Stewpot Teen Center on 

Wednesday, July 18th. This event was so well attended that another screening is 

being planned for June of 2019. This was an excellent opportunity for nurses to 

support and give back to their community. 

District 18: 

In March of this year, Dr. David Macias, Orthopedic Surgeon, Foot and Ankle 

Specialist for Columbus Orthopaedic Clinic, presented on Common Foot and 

Ankle Issues seen in primary care. He offered assessment pearls, case studies, and 

demonstrations with our members. 

Our April District meeting included a presentation on Common Spine 

Conditions by Dr. Justin Hall, spine surgeon for Columbus Orthopaedic Clinic. 

Dr. Hall offered assessment pearls, management concerns, surgical treatments 

and conservative alternatives, and advised on ordering physical therapy, as well 

as, case studies. 

We also celebrated our nurses in our district at this meeting by providing door 

prizes and homemade goodies. Congratulations to Ellen McGuffey for winning 

one of our door prizes. Special thanks to Jenny Edmondson for the door prizes 

and cookies. 

Chairperson: 

Teresa Stanford, DNP, FNP, RN 

Members: 

Michelle Atkinson 

Bess Blackwell 

Sandra Coleman 

Mary Crump 

Becky Dorough 

Anne Everett 

Sarah Howell 

Alicia Ishee 

Robbie Jones 

Wanda Jones 

Alice Messer 

Ka Russum 

MNA Board of Directors 

Hands Only CPR 

We continue our series of free Hands-Only CPR Instruction co-hosted 

by Laerdal Medical where attendees learn the basics of Hands-Only CPR to 

increase the chance of saving a life in an emergency situation. Special thanks to 

Paul Thompson, RN, with Laerdal Medical for his informative and engaging 

instruction during these sessions. MNA Vice President, Dr. Tonya Moore, 

organized our two most recent events co-hosted by UMMC Community Care 

Clinic Humphreys County held in Belzoni, and New Hope Baptist Church Health 

Awareness Ministry held in Jackson. Attendees left each session much more 

educated and a little less afraid to assist in the event of an emergency situation 

where Hands-Only CPR may be needed.


Cell Phone Addiction: Is it really a problem? 

Roderick Green, PMHNP-BC 

We are all aware of the 

negative effects of illicit 

drugs. The complicated 

disease of addiction wreaks 

havoc across all social and 

cultural lines. Substances 

such as stimulants, opiates, 

alcohol, and hallucinogens 

cause shifts in certain 

neurotransmitters and this 

contributes to changes in 

our emotional state and 

thought perception. It 

is safe to deduce that no 

right-minded person would 

knowingly give anyone they 

Roderick Green 

cared about any amount of a hard-core drug of abuse 

for recreational use. Of course, we all know of families 

whose lives are managed by addiction and therefore 

play, live, and love by a different set of rules. But 

suffice it to say, that is not the norm. 

We are social creatures that thrive on interaction 

and connection. Currently we are more connected 

now than ever before. And we are starting to get 

intensely connected at much younger ages. In 2016 

Jay Donovan, a writer, TED talk contributor, and 

self-described technology junkie, cited research 

indicating that American children received their first 

smartphone around age 10. The same article described 

tablet computers as a child’s entertainment of choice 

during car rides. It also indicated that 64% of kids had 

access to the Internet by their own device, and 39% 

of them had a social media account by age 11. If we 

consider these statistics as totally benign, we may miss 

the impact “smart” devices have on our psyche. 

Abraham Maslow’s 1943 paper “A Theory of Human 

Motivation” explored human needs as they relate to 

self-actualization, social drive, personality traits, and 

social interaction. His work was so relevant to the 

human condition that it is still part of modern human 

behavior studies. The innate drive for emotional 

security and social belonging can contribute to 

addictive behavior by way of personal technology 

devices. We process all pleasurable things through the 

dopaminergic pathways. The “likes” and “follows” 

give us spurts of dopamine that motivate us to keep 

checking our accounts. Dislikes, social rejection, 

or lack of comments may contribute to episodic 

situational sadness or depression. However, our brains 

are not wired for pleasure all the time. Today we have 

unprecedented access to social information. This is far 

from our history of occasional fairs and festivals that 

were the key points of our intense social interaction. 

Some researchers propose that smartphone 

addiction has overlapping features with other 

addictive disorders, but the unique properties of 

Impacting 

Healthcare 

& Health 

Workforce 

daily. 

The Mississippi Center for Quality and Workforce is 

focused on data, analysis, and providing solutions for 

emerging healthcare challenges. 

smartphones are its accessibility and acceptance. 

This indicates that a “new” problem will need to be 

addressed. People are already displaying impaired 

control, cravings, and negative impact on function as 

it relates to technology devices. 

We live in an age of immediate gratification and 

technology is a major part of it. We are now wired for 

immediate response–texting, tweeting, and posting 

are the cultural norm. We literally wake up to and 

go to sleep with our technology device. We access 

the world through the palm of our hand and may not 

realize how our devices and social media impact and 

change our emotional state. Today’s connected person 

may cope with depression and anxiety complicated by 

acceptance issues and lack of empowerment if they 

were to be “unplugged.” 

The first step in addressing any problem is 

identifying the problem. I slightly modified the CAGE 

questionnaire, a four-question screening tool widely 

used to check for potential alcohol problems. The 

FONE questionnaire screens for protentional problems. 

The FONE questionnaire: Do you “Freak out” if you’re 

not connected (misplaced phone, lack of service, poor 

internet connection, etc.)? Do you Object either silently 

or overtly when asked to put your phone away? Do 

you experience cravings, withdrawals or anxiety if you 

don’t check your phone a frequent Number of times 

throughout the day, no matter where you are or what 

you’re doing? Do you get anxious, nervous or fidgety 

if you don’t check your phone or tablet when you first 

open your Eyes after a brief nap or longer period of 

sleep? Just like the CAGE questionnaire, two or more 

yes answers are cause for concern. This is an untested 

tool that has yet to be validated. (And anyone who 

wants to do the research has my permission to use it). 

I think it would make a great poster presentation for a 

future MNA conference. 

Once the problem is identified, we then assess the 

impact this behavior has on the person’s life and his or 

her desire to change. I would also explore the level of 

stress caused by social media interaction. Of course, 

this is a complex issue with no easy quick fix, but if 

we consider the role that social acceptance plays in 

our use of technology we may be one step closer to 

addressing the issue. 

References: 

Donovan, J. (2016) The average age for a child getting their 

first smartphone is now 10.3 years. Jay Donovan@ 

getdonovan / May 19, 2016. 

Yu-Hsuan Lin, Chih-Lin Chiang, Po-Hsien Lin, Li-Ren 

Chang, Chih-Hung Ko, Yang-Han Lee & Sheng- 

Hsuan Lin (2016) Proposed Diagnostic Criteria 

for Smartphone Addiction. PLoS One. 2016; 11(11): 

e0163010. 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/CAGE_questionnaire 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maslow%27s_hierarchy_of_ 

needs 

https://www.helpguide.org/harvard/how-addiction-hijacksthe-brain.htm 


Director, Council on Organizational Affairs 

Are you Racing to 

Meet Nursing Challenges 

of Today and Tomorrow? 

We know you are and 

thought this would be 

the perfect theme for the 

2018 Annual Convention! 

The Convention offers a 

rich and diverse variety 

of sessions that will be of 

interest to you - no matter 

your role in nursing. As 

always, you’ll enjoy the funfilled 

atmosphere with door 

prizes, photo opportunities, 

and networking events. The 

Making Waves Expo will 

Deloris Slade, 

MSN, RN, FNP-BC 

keep you abreast of the latest products and services, with 

a few unique opportunities for purchasing great gifts. 

Have one-on-one discussions with presenters at 

the Poster Presentation session which highlights 

the research and scholarly projects of your peers. 

Don’t forget, you vote on the winner of the poster 

presentation! A special thank you to Dr. Shonda Phelon 

who coordinated the poster presentation session. 

To the Convention Planning Committee, chaired by 

Dr. Teresa Stanford, and the Provider Unit under the 

Director of Nursing Education, Dr. Tomekia Luckett 

and Co-Chaired by Marilyn Ellis, we extend our sincere 

appreciation for your dedication! These committees 

have made the 2018 Annual Convention a must attend! 

Take the lead today and tomorrow – join us in 

Biloxi and be prepared for focused presentations, 

friends, and fun! ‘Sea you soon!’ 

Join our 

talented team! 

Feel free to... 

come in and apply or send us a resume or apply online 

at senatobiahealthcare.com or on or 

Contact: 

Tawnya Pionk, Director of Nursing 

662-562-5664 • tawnya.pionk@sccrsnf.com 

QUALITY 

WORKFORCE 

Privately owned and operated 

Senatobia, MS 

– Improving Patient 

Safety and Outcomes 

– Decreasing Hospital 

Acquired Conditions 

– Reducing 30 day 

Readmissions 

– Summer Student 

Nurse Externship 

Program 

– High School 

Mentorship Program 

– Annual Hospital 

and LTC Mississippi 

Report of Nursing 

Vacancy 

STRATEGIC 

SMART 

Executive Director: 

LaNelle Weems, MSN, RN 

Projects Manager: Robin Powell 

CONNECTIVE 

Office: 601-368-3321 

Fax: 601-368-3200 

RELIABLE 

Visit us online to learn more: 

MSCQW.ORG


2018 Annual Convention 

2018 Convention Sponsors 

More to Come 

Our next issue will 

feature a complete list 

of all sponsors and 

exhibitors. 

T-SHIRT SPONSOR 

THURSDAY 

LUNCHEON SPONSOR 

ADVANCED PRACTICE 

BREAKFAST SPONSOR 

TOTE BAG SPONSOR 

WEDNESDAY EVENING 

RECEPTION SPONSOR 

We Are Committed to Your 

Financial Wellbeing 

Don’t get caught without a pay check! 

Rodney Neal, Neal & Associates, 601-978-2391 

CALL NOW! Protect your income BEFORE an accident happens! 

Protect Your Family 

Protect Your Self 

You work in a HIGH RISK profession where one small accident can devastate your earning power. 

And this can mean losing your home, your car, your way of life. 

Just think how much your life would change if suddenly you had no means to support your family. 

Protect all whom you love by making sure that you are covered by Disability Insurance. Endorsed by 

the Mississippi Nurses Association, this Accident Disability Insurance is an automatically accepted 

plan where you cannot be turned down 

www.nealassocllc.com


2018 Annual Convention 

2018 Convention Sponsors 

OUR SPONSORS


Human Trafficking 

Human Trafficking Indicators 

THE INDIVIDUAL{S) IN QUESTION: 

• is not free to leave or come and go as he/she 

wishes 

• is under 18 and is providing commercial sex 

acts 

• is in the commercial sex industry and has a 

pimp/manager 

• is unpaid, paid very little, or paid only 

through tips 

• works excessively long and/or unusual hours 

• is not allowed breaks or suffers under unusual 

restrictions at work 

• owes a large debt and is unable to pay it off 

• was recruited through false promises 

concerning the nature and conditions of his/ 

her work 

• high security measures exist in the work and/ 

or living locations (e.g. opaque windows, 

boarded up windows, bars on windows, 

barbed wire, security cameras, etc.) 

Human trafficking is a public health issue that 

impacts individuals, families, and communities. 

The Mississippi Nurses Association’s House of 

Delegates passed a resolution in 2016 to Support 

Increasing Awareness of the Role of Nurses in 

Identifying and Combating Human Trafficking. 

Since that time, we have been honored to have Paula 

Broome, Bureau Chief, Bureau of Victim Assistance 

in the Mississippi Attorney General’s Office, 

present at numerous events providing information 

on how to identify a patient who is trapped in a 

human trafficking situation. We have received 

requests to include in the MS RN, the Human 

Trafficking Brochure containing the National 

Human Trafficking Hotline, Mississippi Child 

Abuse Hotline, and Mississippi Human Trafficking 

Coordinator information. We extend our 

appreciation to the Mississippi Attorney General’s 

Office for granting us permission to include their 

brochure. 

What is Human Trafficking? 

Human Trafficking is a form of modern day 

slavery where people profit from the exploitation of 

others. Victims of Human Trafficking can be men, 

women, or children of all races and nationalities. 

Human Trafficking takes many forms, but is most 

easily divided into two types, sex trafficking and 

labor trafficking. 

• sex trafficking occurs when a commercial sex 

act is induced by force, fraud, or coercion, or 

when the person performing the commercial 

sex act has not attained 18 years of age. 

• labor trafficking occurs when an individual is 

recruited, harbored, transported, provided, or 

obtained for labor or services, through the use 

of force, fraud or coercion, for the purpose 

of subjection to some form of involuntary 

servitude, or debt bondage. 

MYTHS AND MISCONCEPTIONS ABOUT 

HUMAN TRAFFICKING 

It is important to dispel certain myths about 

trafficking. 

• Trafficking is not the same thing as 

smuggling: 

• trafficking does not require transportation 

or border crossing; and 

• trafficking does not only affect people in 

the US illegally. 

• Trafficking does not require physical 

force, physical abuse, or physical restraintother 

forms of coercion such as threats, 

intimidation or blackmail are often used by 

traffickers. Non physical forms of coercion 

may include: 

• threats to publish sexually explicit 

photographs or videos of the victim; or 

• providing or administering drugs or 

alcohol to the victim. 

Mississippi Law 

In Mississippi, the law defines human trafficking 

as recruiting, enticing, harboring, transporting or 

obtaining another person, knowing that the person 

will be subjected to forced labor or services. Some 

examples of force defined in Mississippi’s law 

include: causing or threatening to cause physical 

harm to a person to get them to perform the labor 

or services; physically restraining, such as locking 

the person in a room or tying the person up, in 

order to get them to perform the labor or services; 

blackmailing the person to get them to perform 

services; or taking their identification documents, 

like driver’s license or passport and holding it to get 

them to perform the services. A person also engages 

in human trafficking if they employ someone 

knowing they have been trafficked. Labor and 

services can include a variety of things, including 

agricultural work, restaurant work, massage 

parlors, nail salons, brothels or street prostitution. 

Any time a minor under the age of 18 is involved 

in commercial sex, Mississippi law recognizes that 

minor as a victim of human trafficking and requires 

a mandatory report to the Mississippi Department 

of Human Services. 

What is the Mississippi 

Attorney General doing? 

The Mississippi Attorney General’s Office 

works closely with national and state authorities to 

improve our state’s response to human trafficking 

offenses. In 2013, the Attorney General’s Office 

drafted changes to Mississippi’s Human Trafficking 

Laws, embodied in House Bill 673, which passed 

overwhelmingly in the Legislature. These changes 

took effect July 1, 2013. With these changes, 

Mississippi’s laws now reflect current cutting edge 

shifts in the approach to human trafficking crimesincreasing 

the emphasis on offender accountability, 

while at the same time providing for safeguards and 

protections for victims of this horrible crime, such 

as safe harbor and confidentiality provisions for 

victims. The Office of the Attorney General will 

serve as the hub for information related to human 

trafficking in the state, housing the state’s first 

Human Trafficking Coordinator. 

What can YOU do? 

• Educate yourself about crime of human 

trafficking and its effects 

• Learn to recognize indicators of trafficking 

• Share what you know with others 

• Report suspected trafficking to authorities 

NATIONAL HUMAN TRAFFICKING HOTLINE 

1-888-373-7888 

MS CHILD ABUSE HOTLINE 

1-888-222-8000 

MS HUMAN TRAFFICKING COORDINATOR 

1-800-829-6766


Human Trafficking Facts 

• There are over 27 million slaves around the world-more than there have 

ever been in human history. 

• Human trafficking is a $32 billion industry. 

• Human trafficking is the 2nd largest criminal 

industry in the world and is the fastest growing 

lucrative industry. 

• The average victim of human trafficking is 

12 years old. 

• Anyone is at risk of being trafficked. 

• According to the U.S. government, 

100,000-300,000 children are at risk 

of being trafficked each year. 

United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime 

www.unodc.org 

Organizations Combatting 

Human Trafficking 

Polaris Project 

www.polarisproject.org 

Shared Hope International 

www.sharedhope.org 

Mississippi Attorney General’s Office 

Bureau of Victim Assistance 

P.O. Box 220 , Jackson, MS 39205 

800.829.6766 , 601.359.6766 

www.agjimhood.com 

“This project is funded in whole or 

in part through support from Award No. 

2016-VA-GX-0024, awarded to the State 

of Mississippi under the Victims of Crime 

Act The opinions, findings, conclusions, and 

recommendations, contained within this document 

are those of the author and do not necessarily 

reflect the views of the Department of Justice or the 

State of Mississippi, Mississippi State Department of 

Health or the Office Against Interpersonal Violence.” 

U.S. Department of Homeland Security 

www.dhs.gov 

NursingALD.com 

Free to Nurses 

NursingALD.com 

can point you right to that 

perfect NURSING JOB! 

Privacy Assured 

Easy to Use 

E-mailed Job Leads 

Recruiting all RN’s 

New Base Pay Rates 

Eastern LA 

Mental Health System 

Call (225) 634-0559 

for more info 

The largest publicly funded 

Mental Health System in Louisiana 

Leading the way in Mental Health Care! 

Leaders Defining the Art & Science of Nursing 

Graduate Academic Programs 

· Doctor of Nursing Science (DNS) Research Focused Program 

· Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) 

BSN to DNP 

Advanced Practice Roles 

• New: Pediatric Nurse Practitioner – Acute Care or Primary Care 

• New: Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner 

• Adult Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner 

• Adult Gerontology Clinical Nurse Specialist 

• Adult Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner 

• Neonatal Nurse Practitioner 

• Nurse Anesthesia 

• Primary Care Family Nurse Practitioner 

Aggregate, Systems, and Organizational Roles: 

• Executive Nurse Leader 

• Public/Community Health 

Post Masters DNP 

· Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) 

• Clinical Nurse Leader 

• Nurse Educator 

Pursue your DNP degree at the only nursing school within an academic 

health science center that is the only recognized National League for 

Nursing Center of Excellence for Nursing Education in Louisiana. 

For more information, please contact Office of Student Affairs: nsstuaffairs@lsuhsc.edu


Mississippi Nurses Foundation 

Please Support 

MISSISSIPPI NURSES FOUNDATION’S 

Amazing 

Silent 

Auction 

Wednesday, October 24th – 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. 

Thursday, October 25th – 8 a.m. – 12 noon 

Mississippi Nurses Association 2018 Annual Convention 

Mississippi Coast Coliseum & Convention Center - Lobby 

All items are welcome! 

Game day tickets, collegiate items, spa packages, 

vacation getaways, jewelry and so much more!! 

All proceeds raised support the mission of the Mississippi Nurses Foundation (MNF) and 

its dedication to promoting nursing and better health for citizens of Mississippi. For more 

information contact MNF at 601.898.0850 or visit www.msnursesfoundation.com. 

XF146



The Mississippi Nurses’ Association Congratulates Nurse Practitioners 

and Advocates who were Honored at the National AANP Conference 

MNA congratulates our members for receiving 

prestigious awards and recognition from the American 

Association of Nurse Practitioners (AANP). We 

are proud to announce the selection of two of our 

members as Fellows with the American Association of 

Nurse Practitioners; and two members as recipients of 

the AANP 2018 State Award for Excellence. MNA is a 

long-standing organizational member of AANP. 

Mary Atkinson Smith, DNP, FNP-BC, FNAP, 

FAANP, and Linda Watkins, DNP, APRN, FNP-C, 

FAANP, were selected as 2018 Fellows by the 

American Association of Nurse Practitioners. The 

Fellows of AANP (FAANP), established by AANP 

in 2000, is dedicated to the global advancement of 

NPs and the high-quality health care they deliver. 

AANP Fellows are selected based on outstanding 

contributions to clinical practice, research, education 

or policy. 

Teresa Hamill, DNP, FNP-BC received the AANP 

State Award for Nurse Practitioner Excellence. 

This award, founded in 1991, recognizes a nurse 

practitioner (NP) in a state who demonstrates 

excellence in practice. 

In 1993, the State Award for Nurse Practitioner 

Advocate was added to recognize the efforts of 

individuals who have made a significant contribution 

toward increasing awareness and recognition of NPs. 

This award was bestowed upon our member and dear 

friend in nursing, Representative Donnie Scoggin, 

FNP. 

Nurse practitioners and nurse practitioner 

advocates were honored at an awards ceremony 

and reception held during the AANP 2018 National 

Conference in Denver, CO. 

Fellows of the American Association of Nurse Practitioners 

(FAANP) 

Mary Atkinson Smith 

Dr. Mary Atkinson 

Smith, DNP, FNP-BC, 

FNAP, FAANP is a board 

certified Orthopaedic 

Nurse Practitioner with 

Starkville Orthopedic 

Clinic where she is a first 

assistant in surgery. She is 

an Associate Professor of 

Nursing at Olivet Nazarene 

University where she 

teaches family NP students 

and graduate nursing 

leadership students. Dr. 

Smith is currently involved 

in the development of 

federal policy that supports the inclusion of NPs as 

independent clinicians in payment model reform. She 

also supports specialty NP practice that promotes 

quality and competency in orthopaedics. Dr. Smith 

is a distinguished Public Policy Fellow of the Nursing 

Academy of the National Academies of Practice. 

Dr. Smith is a long-time, active member of MNA 

supporting MNA through presentations at numerous 

events, serving on committees, and was previously 

awarded the Betty Dixon Health Policy Award by the 

Mississippi Nurses Foundation. 

Linda Watkins 

Dr. Linda Watkins, 

DNP, APRN, FNP-C, 

FAANP is an Emergency 

Department clinician at the 

Jackson VA-Medical Center. 

Dr. Watkins, an AANPmember 

since 1998 and 

three-term elected AANP 

State Representative, 

empowers NPs on state 

and national levels to 

advance quality healthcare 

through practice, education, 

advocacy, research, and 

leadership. Her patientsafety 

and continuity of 

care project remains in use in the VA system and was 

accepted into the Institution of Innovation. Dr. Watkins 

has received the NP of the Year Award, VA-Hero- 

Award, and recognition from the Secretary of the VA 

for excellence in practice and performing above and 

beyond the expectations of required normal job duties. 

Dr. Watkins is one of MNA’s most active members, 

serving in numerous capacities in support of the efforts 

of NPs in Mississippi, and also served as past Director 

of the Advanced Practice Council on the MNA Board 

of Directors for several years. 

State Award for Nurse Practitioner Excellence 

Dr. Teresa Hamill, 

DNP, FNP-BC, has had 

a tremendous impact on 

nursing as well as nurse 

practitioner education and 

practice in Mississippi. 

She has been a registered 

nurse since 1984 and 

has practiced as a nurse 

practitioner since 1988, first 

as a Neonatal NP and now 

as an FNP in underserved 

areas of Mississippi 

including College and Rural 

Health. She has taught at 

Teresa Hamill Mississippi University for 

Women for over 25 years 

currently serving as Graduate Department Chair 

managing the Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) 

DEDICATED 

COMPASSIONATE 

HOME CARE SERVICES 

Our team of first rate RNs, LPNs 

and CNAs enable us to offer 

comprehensive services for 

virtually every need from 24 hour 

home care to sitter services. 

Our Home Care Services are 

provided for your loved one in their 

personal residence, hospital, 

nursing home, assisted living 

facility or hospice. 

MISSISSIPPI’S MOST 

PROGRESSIVE 

MEDICAL STAFFING 

AGENCY 

POSITIONS INCLUDE: 

• All Clerical Positions 

• X-Ray Techs/Lab Techs 

• Certified Medical Assistants 

• Nurses 

• Phlebotomists 

• CNAs 

• And More! 

FBI Fingerprinting and Extensive Background Checks 

and Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) programs. Dr. 

Hamill maintains an active Family Nurse Practitioner 

practice which she believes is vital to be a successful 

nurse practitioner educator. Dr. Hamill is widely 

respected by students, and colleagues as one who 

values the strong underpinnings of nursing assessment, 

research, and theory; combining those with advanced 

nursing practice knowledge and skill to deliver holistic 

care to patients. Her colleagues regularly seek out her 

opinions related to nurse practitioner education and 

primary care management and she has given numerous 

presentations on these topics. 

The consummate professional advanced practice 

registered nurse, Dr. Hamill has been active in 

MNA since the early 80’s beginning her service 

with the Mississippi Association of Student Nurses. 

She has served in many roles including Convention 

House of Delegates, MNA District 18 president, 

and member of the Convention Planning and Health 

Affairs Committees. For years she has actively 

participated in Lobby Day and the Nursing Summit 

always encouraging nurse practitioner students to 

attend. 

State Award for Nurse Practitioner Advocate 

Representative Donnie 

Scoggin, FNP (District 

89 – Jones) is a renowned 

leader in Rural Health, 

becoming the first 

practitioner hired by 

South Central Regional 

Medical Center where he 

has worked for more than 

35 years. He is also the first 

nurse practitioner to be 

elected to the Mississippi 

Legislature where he serves 

the citizens of District 

Donnie Scoggin 

89 in the Mississippi 

House of Representatives. 

Representative Scoggin is recognized for his tireless 

efforts to improve access to care for the citizens 

of Mississippi and for his support of the nursing 

profession. 

MNA commends one of our own for his dedication 

to the patients and nurses of our state. 

Magnolia Health is currently hiring for 

Registered Nurses! 

Apply online at 

www.centene.com/careers 

Mississippi’s first Healthcare Staffing Agency 

to earn The Joint Commission Certification. 

SPECIALIZING IN THE TEMPORARY 

AND PERMANENT PLACEMENT OF 

MEDICAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE PROFESSIONALS. 

TSgt Matthew Prouty 

225-767-3564 Airforce.com/healthcare 

www.SouthernHealthcare.com 

301 New Pointe | Ridgeland, MS 39157 

T: 601.933.0037 | 800.880.2772 

Successfully Serving Mississippi Since 1993



Coffee Club 

Application 

The Mississippi Nurses Foundation Coffee Club was started 

in April 2009 with the support of Dr. Kim Hoover, Dean of the 

University of MS School of Nursing, with her donation for MNF 

daily operations. The coffee club recognizes individuals who 

donate between $300- $5,000 or more to the Foundation. 

You can join today with a monthly donation of $25.00 to the 

Nurses Foundation. Please select your level of support for 

membership into the Mississippi Nurses Foundation Coffee Club. 

Bank draft and credit card monthly donations will automatically 

renew every 12 months unless notified by the donor. 

_______ Espresso Level 

$4,000 to $5,000----Two packages of MNF signature coffee and 

two coffee mugs, four tickets to all upcoming events sponsored 

by the Foundation, recognition at MNF’s Philanthropy Day, 

Recognition on MNF’s website, newsletter, recognition at the 

Mississippi Nurses Association Annual Convention and a 4” X 8” 

engraved brick in the Mary E. Stainton Center for Nursing Garden. 

Thank you for granting wishes for local children! 

Thank you for your support of Wishes and Kisses! 

Angel had a fabulous time at Disneyworld! 

NOW HIRING: X-Ray Technologists, 

LPNs/RNs, and Nurse Practitioners 

To apply, visit us online at 

WWW.FastPaceUrgentCare.com 

or send resume to resumes@fastpacemedical.com 

For more info call: 931-253-1110 x7700 

Join Us and Work on Purpose. 

Working in health care can give you a 

sense of purpose like no other industry. 

Find your purpose at DCH. 

You’ll discover a high-tech workplace 

with a community feel. 

Based in Tuscaloosa, Alabama 

www.dchsystem.com/jobs 

RNs & LPNs 

WE NEED YOU! 

Hospital/Facilities/ 

Home Care Staffing 

Serving Mississippi 

for over 25 years 

Gulf Coast 

to Memphis... 

From the 

$5,000 Sign-On! 

RN Opportunities 

Emergency 

ICU 

Acute Care 

Psych 

Home Health 

Find your Purpose with a 

caring career at DCH! 

DCH Health System is an 

Equal Opportunity Employer 

LPN & RN 

OPPORTUNITIES 

Skilled Nursing 

at 

Ruleville Nursing 

& Rehab 

Contact Tina Alexander, Executive Director 

662-756-4361 

ms58ed@tarahc.com 

Memphis VA Medical Center 

has exciting career opportunities available for 

Registered Nurses & Nurse Practitioners 

We invite you to join our team, where every day 

We Proudly Serve Our Nation’s Heroes! 

For more information, contact: Angelique Graham, Nurse Recruiter, 901.523.8990; 

by email at MEMNurseRecruiter@va.gov; or, 

apply online at www.USAJobs.gov E.O.E 

_______ Cappuccino Level 

$2,000 to $3,999----Two packages of MNF signature coffee and 

two coffee mugs, two tickets to all upcoming events sponsored 

by the Foundation, recognition at MNF’s Philanthropy Day, 

Recognition on MNF’s website, newsletter and recognition at the 

Mississippi Nurses Association Annual Convention. 

_______ Mocha Level 

$500 to $1,999-----One package of MNF signature coffee and 

coffee mug, two tickets to one of MNF’s sponsored events, 

recognition at MNF’s Philanthropy Day, Recognition on MNF’s 

website, newsletter and recognition at the Mississippi Nurses 

Association Annual Convention. 

_______ Coffee Level 

$300 to $499 -----One package of MNF signature coffee 

and coffee mug, a ticket to one of MNF’s sponsored events, 

recognition at MNF’s Philanthropy Day, recognition on MNF’s 

website, newsletter, and recognition at the Mississippi Nurses 

Association Annual Convention. 

_______ No, I cannot join the Coffee Club but I will give a 

donation to support the MS Nurses Foundation. 

( ) $25 ( ) $50 ( ) $75 ( ) $100 

( ) $150 ( ) $200 ( ) $250 

Name (Please print)__________________________________ 

Address __________________________________________ 

City _____________________________________________ 

State _________ Zip _________________ 

Phone: Home _______________ Cell ___________________ 

Email address ______________________________________ 

Method of Payment 

Credit Card #_______________________________________ 

Exp. Date______________ 3 digit code/ back of card _______ 

Amount _________ 

( ) Amex ( ) MasterCard ( ) Visa 

( ) Bank Draft 1st or 15th (circle one) Amount per month _____ 

Month to start __________________ 

Send a voided check to the MS Nurses Foundation 

( ) One time payment for yearly membership ______________ 

Please include check or money order and mail it to the 

MS Nurses Foundation 

( ) DONATE ONLINE at www.msnursesfoundation.com 

Your tax deductible donation to the Coffee Club will help support 

the Nurses Foundation in its daily operations of carrying out its 

mission of raising, accepting and dispersing charitable donations 

to promote professional nursing and better health in Mississippi. 

Sponsored events exclude the Nightingale Awards Gala. 


31 Woodgreen Place • Madison, MS 39110 

Phone: (601) 898-0850 Fax: (601) 898-0190 

PCNURSING.COM 

1-800-844-4298



MISSISSIPPI NURSES FOUNDATION AWARDS $95,000 

THROUGH NURSES TOUCH LIVES CAR TAG PROGRAM 

The Mississippi Nurses Foundation recently awarded $95,000 in stipends. 

Stipend funds were raised through the State of Mississippi Nurses Car Tag 

Program-Nurses Touch Lives, and made available to registered nurses and nursing 

students enrolled in an accredited Associate, Baccalaureate, Master’s or Doctoral 

Nursing Program in Mississippi. 

After a thorough review of applications, 19 recipients were chosen. As fulltime 

students, the recipients will be awarded a total of $5,000 to be received in 

increments of $500 each month for 10 months beginning in August, 2018 through 

May, 2019. Recipients are required to sign a contract with the Mississippi Nurses 

Foundation to work as a full time Nurse in Mississippi within the first two years 

following completion of the program. 

MNF Announces 2018 

Money Raffle! 

Get your $25 tickets online at 

www.msnursesfoundation.com or call 601.898.0850 

*Winner is responsible for all taxes 

*Winner need not be present to win 

*Proceeds support the programs and daily operations of MNF 

The 2018-2019 Stipend Recipients are as follows: 

Associate Program 

Kirsten Hester 

Madison McMillen 

Baccalaureate Program 

Karlee Adams 

Rikki Crimm 

Brittney James 

Sara Leflore 

Anna Littlejohn 

Hannah May 

Destiny McClain 

Claire Nipper 

Caitlin Pinter 

Kaitlyn Powell 

Emily Claire Shack 

Masters Program 

Catherine Eldridge 

Bria Goff 

Angela Jill Burge 

Holly Cuevas 

Doctoral Program 

Glenda Lee 

Keisha Oliphant 

Itawamba Community College 

Itawamba Community College 

Mississippi University for Women 

Delta State University 






Mississippi College 

Mississippi College 

University of Mississippi Medical Center 




William Carey University 


William Carey University 


Congratulations to our 2018-2019 Car Tag stipend recipients! 

The Mississippi Nurses Foundation’s mission is to raise, accept and disperse 

charitable donations to promote professional nursing and better health in Mississippi. 

“North Sunflower Medical Center is a wonderful place to work. 

Nurses are caring and understanding and our patients make it all worth 

while. At the end of the day, we know our patients have received the care 

and understanding they deserve. Nurses enjoy the family atmosphere and 

teamwork that goes into making sure our patient’s needs are met. When our 

patients are happy, we’re happy. Come join us at North Sunflower Medical 

Center where nursing is still an art of compassion.” 

-Blondine Brown, RN, Community Nurse 

For a list of job openings, check out our website: 

www.northsunflower.com 

This institution is an Equal Opportunity Employer, and Provider. 

NSMC Complies with applicable federal civil rights and does not discriminate on the basis of age, race, color, creed ethnicity, 

religion, national origin, marital status, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, disability, association, veteran 

or military status, or any other basis prohibited by federal, state, or local law.



2018 School Nurse Manual 

On June 14, 2018 at the Mississippi Center for Nursing in Madison, MS, nurses 

and friends of nurses from around the state gathered to revise the Mississippi 

School Nurse Procedures and Standards of Care manual. As each chapter was 

reviewed and revised, it was evident that love for our children and providing school 

nurses the best tool to be successful was the main focus. Special thanks to the 

following individuals and the institution or organization they represent for giving 

of your time for such an important task. 

MNF Awards PhD Research Grant 

Congratulations to Kimberly Douglas and Carolann Risley! They are the 2018 

recipients of the Mississippi Nurses Foundation’s PhD Research Grant. Douglas 

and Risley, both students at the University of Mississippi Medical Center, and 

members of the Mississippi Nurses Association, will receive $10,000 each to go 

towards their research study. We are excited to offer this new opportunity to two 

exceptional students. 

The Mississippi Department of Education- 

Connie Board, BSN, RN, NCSN 

Estelle Watts, DNP, RN, NCSN 

The Mississippi School Nurses Association- 

Beth Breeland, RN 

Donnis Harris, MSN, RN, NCSN 

Johnna McKinley, RN 

Jill Trental, RN, BS, NCSN 

The Mississippi State Department of Health- 

April Porter, BHA, MBA 

Tiffani L. Grant, MS, RDN, LD 

Mississippi Board of Nursing 

Mississippi Nurses Foundation- 

Rosalyn Howard, M.Ed. 

Kasey Dorr, MS 

University of Mississippi Medical Center School of Nursing- 

Anne Norwood, PhD, FNP-BC 

• BSN (Traditional and Accelerated) 

• RN to BSN 

• BSN to MSN 

• RN to MSN 

• Post MSN to DNP 

• BSN to DNP 

• Post Graduate 

Certificates 

College of Nursing 

University of South Alabama 

High quality programs 

online and on-campus 

• Subspecialty options available 

The University of South Alabama is a place of unlimited possibilities, 

unrestricted ideas, and exceptional accomplishments. 

• USA College of Nursing is currently the largest academic program at USA. 

• One of the largest Nursing programs in the United States. 

• Accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE), 

655 K Street, NW, Suite 750, Washington, DC 20001 (202) 887-6791. 

#WeAreSouth 

www.southalabama.edu/colleges/con 

Visit nursingALD.com today! 

Search job listings 

in all 50 states, and filter by location and credentials. 

Browse our online database 

of articles and content. 

Find events 

for nursing professionals in your area. 

Your always-on resource for 

nursing jobs, research, and events.


Membership

Whether caring for patients in one of our hospitals or out in 

the community, we’ve created environments that allow our 

nurses to live, grow and thrive! Forrest Health offers one of 

the most competitive benefits packages in Mississippi and 

provides opportunities for career development and growth. 

Learn more at joinforresthealth.org.

The Mississippi RN - September 2018

Create successful ePaper yourself

Delete template?

Save as template?