Georgia Nursing - May 2019

“Nurses shaping
the future of
professional nursing
for a healthier Georgia.”
Since 1907
The Official Publication of the Georgia Nurses Foundation (GNF).
Quarterly publication direct mailed to approximately 130,000 RNs in Georgia.
Visit us online at www.georgianurses.org
Brought to you by the Georgia Nurses Foundation
(GNF) and the Georgia Nurses Association (GNA), whose
dues-paying members make it possible to advocate for
nurses and nursing at the state and federal level.
Volume 79 • Number 2 • May, June, July 2019
GNA PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE
#22by2022
Richard Lamphier, RN
GNA President
Someone once told me the three most important things
in an association is membership, membership, membership.
I think the three most important words for the Georgia
Nurses Association is inclusiveness, inclusiveness and
inclusiveness. I want you to be included and counted as
our members.
I’ve had the opportunity to work with school nurses,
who in my opinion are at the front line of so many
pediatric health issues. I will always remember the passion
of a school nurse in South Georgia. It was a cold wintry
day when I arrived. I asked to use the clinic restroom; I had
to walk through a well-stocked clothes closet and food
pantry. When I inquired about her supplies she said ”If my Richard Lamphier
babies are cold or hungry they aren’t able to learn.”
I’ve proudly lobbied side by side at the Capitol with Advanced Practice Registered
Nurses (APRNs) and other nurses who work so diligently and have a passion to
provide access to care for all of Georgians.
GNA has partnered with United Advanced Practice Registered Nurses (UAPRN) of
Georgia to bring you the Unity conference, which is on October 31-November 2 at
the Hilton Atlanta Downtown Hotel. Our lineup of speakers and topics will rival any
conference in the country.
The Nursing influencers I’ve worked with at the bedside are now inviting me
to their boardrooms. Clinical instructors of the past are now Deans of Schools of
Health, and in my short time as President of the Georgia Nurses Association, you’ve
included me in your organizations and institutions, which I am deeply appreciative.
With that said, please join us in the groundswell of nursing happening in our
state.
Director of Membership Development Sherry Danello and I have a goal to
increase membership, in the Georgia Nurses Association, to 22 percent of Georgia
Nurses by 2022.
Georgia has approximately 170,000 licensed nurses. That number includes all
nurses that are regulated by the Georgia Board of Nursing. We have approximately
GNA President’s Message continued on page 2
GNF PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE
GNA/GNF Have Lots
Going on in 2019
Catherine Futch, MN, RN, FACHE, NEA-BC
Following is a listing of events we planned or are
planning for fiscal year 2019. We hope many of you will
join us for one or more of these events.
2019 Teeing Up for Georgia Nurses: Annual Benefit
Golf Tournament:
The GNA/GNF Annual Golf Tournament was held
on Monday, April 15, 2019 at The Heritage Golf Club,
4445 Britt Road, Tucker, GA, 30084. The day began at
8:30 AM with registration and breakfast and ended at
approximately 4:30pm as we announced our winners and
enjoyed our 19th Hole Southern Barbecue. Prizes were
given to the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd lowest scoring teams. Funds
will allow us to provide scholarship awards.
Catherine Futch
Unity Conference Cocktail Party:
On April 12, 2019, we enjoyed time together with legislators, administrators,
leaders, staff nurses at all levels and others interested in the ongoing evolvement
of the practice of Nursing in Georgia. The Unity Conference Cocktail Party was
a precursor to the Unity Conference which will be held this Fall. The Conference
represents a movement devoted to making the Nursing Profession stronger by
bringing nurses from all practice settings and all levels of accountability together to
learn, to interact and to strengthen the practice of nursing in Georgia. This event
was very popular last year. We had a great turnout and lots of interaction about
nurses, nursing, their practice settings and what we all together can do to make
nurses and nursing stronger throughout the State. Unity is very important to the
success of all that we do as nurses no matter the role we play or the work we do.
March of Dimes Georgia Nurse of the Year:
October 2019 (date to be determined).
We are especially pleased to note that GNA/GNF will be the March of Dimes
GNF President’s Message continued on page 2
current resident or
Non-Profit Org.
U.S. Postage Paid
Princeton, MN
Permit No. 14
Nurse Spotlight. .....................3
GNF Peer Assistance Program. .........3
Enduring Echoes. ...................4
Index
Nursing: The Profession I Fell in Love With. .. 9
Georgians For A Healthy Future. ........ 10
Finance Matters .................... 11
Re-capping the 2019
Continuing Education. ............... 11
Legislative Session. ................6
Journey to Becoming a Clinic Owner. .... 12
Mother’s Day Story. ...............7
Ask a Nurse Attorney. ............... 12
Near-Miss Medication Errors
Nursing Leadership Perspectives. ....... 13
Provide a Wake-Up Call. ..........8
Membership. ................... 14-15

Page 2 • Georgia Nursing May, June, July 2019
GNF President’s Message continued from page 1
exclusive 10th Anniversary Tribute Sponsor of Georgia
Nurse of the Year. It is an honor for us to support
the recognition of registered nurses throughout the
State for their hard work, professionalism and stellar
work outcomes. The Georgia Nurse of the Year
Award (NOTY) is an awards event and fundraiser that
celebrates the health care community and recognize
nursing excellence and achievements in research,
education, quality patient care, innovation and
leadership. Each award will be presented to the most
outstanding nurse within each select category.
Nurses are first nominated by peers, nurse
managers, supervisors or even the families they have
impacted. Once nominated, each nurse is asked to
submit an application to be considered for a particular
award. Each application is carefully reviewed and
scored by a committee of Chief Nursing Officers and
other nurse leaders from the health care community in
the State of Ga. GNA/GNF look forward to being part
of this fabulous event. Recognition of excellence in any
category of nursing is proof that good work must be
GNA President’s Message continued from page 1
3,100 members, 22% of the licensed nurses in Georgia
would get us to 37,400.
How do we plan to do this? Two by Two, two nurses
encourage each other to become members of GNA.
Your social media post need to have our hashtag;
#22by2022. I know two nurses, working together
can accomplish just about anything. We can save a
life, place a central line, instruct a room full of nursing
students, and lift each other up on those days. Please
go to GeorgiaNurses.Org to join.
EVERYDAY
HEROES NEEDED:
VOLUNTEER
REGISTER AT SERVGA.GOV
not only recognized but rewarded. (Source: March of
Dimes)
2019 Nursing Unity Conference:
October 31-November 2, 2019 at the Hilton Atlanta
Downtown Hotel, 255 Courtland Street, NE, Atlanta,
GA. 30303.
This is the second year GNA/GNF and UAPRN
have held a Unity Conference. The first was quite a
success with lots of very positive comments about the
program content and, perhaps more importantly, how
nice it was for nurses, irrespective of title or role, to
come together as one body in one room listening and
interacting in ways perhaps they never have before.
It is our belief that the Unity Conference affords an
opportunity to strengthen our profession and our
bonds as Registered Nurses. No matter the titles and
credentials we all have, the one thing we all hold in
common with each other is the RN after our names.
Work is presently underway to identify content and
speakers. We are very pleased to announce that Tim
Porter O’Grady and Sharon Hulon Cox have both
agreed to be keynote speakers. Come to the Unity
Conference!! We don’t think you will be disappointed.
Do you know the percentage of lawyers, realtors,
teachers and doctors who belong to their state
organizations? Please contact me by email president@
georgianurses.org or leave a message at 404-325-
5536. I want to hear from you.
Encourage each other to become a member of
GNA. I know a school nurse in South Georgia and so
many other nurses who have encouraged me.
Is it a lofty goal? We think so. Is it an achievable
goal? Check back in #22by2022.
Amanda smoked while she was pregnant.
Her baby was born 2 months early and
weighed only 3 pounds. She was put in
an incubator and fed through a tube.
Amanda could only hold her twice a day.
If you’re pregnant or thinking about
having a baby and you smoke, please call
1-877-270-STOP (7867)
or Spanish: 1-877-2NO-FUME
GEORGIA
NURSING
Volume 79 • Number 2
Managing Editor: Charlotte Báez-Díaz
GEORGIA NURSES FOUNDATION BOARD OF TRUSTEES
Catherine Futch, President
Sarah Myers, Vice President
Alicia Motley, Secretary
Wanda Jones, Treasurer
Georgia Barkers, Member
Rose Cannon, Member
Mary Gullate, Member
Gerald Hobbs, Member
Rachel Myers, Member
Elizabeth “Beth” Bolton- Harris, Member
Richard Lamphier, Member
Maura Schlairet, Member
Dina Hewett, Member
Stephan Davis, Member
GEORGIA NURSES ASSOCIATION BOARD OF DIRECTORS
OFFICERS:
Richard Lamphier, President
Vacant, President-Elect
Maura Schlairet, Secretary
Dina Hewett, Treasurer
DIRECTORS
Stephan Davis, Director Leadership Development
Sherry Danello, Director Membership Development
Iris Hamilton, Director Legislation/Public Policy
Joanne Parks, Director Staff Nurse
Edward Adams, Director Nursing Practice and Advocacy
Elizabeth “Beth” Bolton-Harris,
Director Advanced Practice Registered Nurse
Catherine Futch, GNF President
ADMINISTRATION
Matt Caseman, CEO
Tim Davis, Senior Director of Membership and
Government Affairs
Charlotte Báez-Díaz, Communications Manager
Monica R. Dennis, Administrative Assistant
W. L. Clifton Political Consulting, GNA Lobbyist
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. GNF 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 Georgia Nurses Foundation 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. GNF 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 GNF or those of the
national or local associations.
Georgia Nursing is published quarterly every February, May,
August and November for the Georgia Nurses Foundation,
a constituent member of the American Nurses Association.
GNA/GNF
3032 Briarcliff Road, Atlanta, GA 30329
www.georgianurses.org, gna@georgianurses.org
(404) 325-5536
FOLLOW GNA
dph.georgia.gov/ready-quit
Engaging Tobacco Users: Tips for Health Care Providers in Georgia
(1.00 Continuing Credit)
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#CDCTips
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facebook.com/ganurses
@GeorgiaNurses
Georgia Nurses Association

May, June, July 2019 Georgia Nursing • Page 3
NURSE
SPOTLIGHT
Original publication by Advisory Board-Daily Briefing
Candice Saunders
Ninfa Saunders
Congratulations to Candice Saunders, president
and CEO of WellStar Health System and Ninfa
Saunders, president and CEO of Navicent Health for
being selected for “The top 25 women in health care,
according to Modern Healthcare!”
On February 20, 2019, Modern Healthcare released
its 2019 list of the “Top 25 Women in Healthcare,”
which honors female executives from different sectors
of the health care industry.
To create the list, Modern Healthcare accepted
hundreds of nominations for women who are in health
care leadership roles across the country. To be eligible
for the honor, the women must:
• Work at a hospital, health insurer, health care
research organization, physician organization,
home health organization, government health
agency, or health care vendor or supplier
organization;
• Serve in a role that is senior VP or higher;
• Demonstrate that they have helped their
organization “exceed” its financial, clinical, and
strategic goals;
• Promote gender equity in the C-suite; and
GNF PEER ASSISTANCE PROGRAM
The following is a true account of a Georgia nurse’s
experience in dealing with her disease of addiction. This
story has been submitted to Georgia Nursing and is not
to be reproduced without permission of the GNA Peer
Assistance Program.
Just six years ago, I had a fulltime job as a postsurgical
nurse and was happy as a person can be having already
worked as an elementary school physical education teacher
for ten years. I had planned both careers and was extremely
excited about caring for and teaching a different set of
“students” called patients. I felt important, special, and
motivated to be the best nurse ever!! On a daily basis, I
presented an air of confidence and assertiveness, admired
by patients and coworkers alike. I worked every shift wide
open, never stopping for lunch and rarely even a break. I
volunteered for all of the overtime, came early for my shift,
and stayed late almost daily. I took charge like a fearless
leader and externally appeared to have my “act” together.
I was on cloud nine; totally fulfilled and almost intoxicated
with satisfaction with my career. But, the act I had so
perfected for others to see was fake, dirty, shameful, and
painful every minute of the day. In actuality, I was deeply
involved in addiction, specifically the injectable narcotics
used for patients on my work unit. I could not even go to
work on a daily basis without filling my body with moodaltering
chemicals. The tireless enthusiasm and energy
I displayed to others came directly from drugs - drugs I
ordered in ridiculous quantities; a pattern easily spotted by
our inhouse pharmacy, my direct supervisor and, eventually,
the Drugs and Narcotics Agents.
Why was I the last to recognize a problem of this
magnitude? Why was I able to be a “super nurse” while
my body was saturated with chemicals? Why was I unable
to recognize my danger and ask for assistance? Shame –
Guilt – Denial The uncertainty of what happens to nurses
like me!! All were symptoms of my disease of addiction
which were treatable and manageable despite my fear of
exploring the option of admitting a problem and seeking
help.
I SHOULD BE DEAD
To make a long story short, an intervention on my
behaviors of addiction by a trained, qualified group of
recovering nurses involved with the GNA Nurse Advocacy
Program [currently named the GNF Peer Assistance
Program] saved my life. With the amount of drugs I had
to divert from the workplace, hide to avoid detection
by coworkers and family, use secretively, and maintain a
facade of normalcy until time to report for work the next
day, this disease itself was another fulltime job.
After intervention, substance abuse treatment, getting
involved with support groups for nurses, and completing
a four year probation through the state board of nursing,
I am now employed as a registered nurse again and,
finally, I am truly happy and fulfilled without the use of
mood-altering chemicals to keep me alive. I am alive today
because of a program called “Nurse Advocate Program”
affiliated with the Georgia Nurses Association. As I
mentioned earlier, “I should be dead.”
The overall purpose of the GNF Peer Assistance Program is to
identify and assist impaired nurses to seek treatment for addictive
diseases so they may remain useful members of the nursing
profession.
The philosophical beliefs underlying the program are: 1)
Addiction is a disease process with physical social and emotional
aspects 2) There is hope in the treatment of the chemically
dependent nurse. 3) No nurse should lose job or license until
he/she has had opportunity for care through an appropriate
intervention. 4) A profession has the responsibility to regulate
and control its own members and professional practice through
assuming an advocacy role and by providing a network of
supportive peers.
If you or one of your Nursing colleagues needs help or would
like information about volunteering with our Program, please call
800-462-9627 or 404-325-8807.
866-296-3247
Now Hiring RNs
• Act as a mentor to the next generation of leaders.
You may read the original publication by visiting
https://www.advisory.com/daily-briefing/2019/02/20/
top-25-women?WT.mc_id=Email|DailyBriefing+Headlin
e|DBECTake2|DBA|DB|2019Feb20|ATestDB2019Feb20||||
&elq_cid=2407647&x_id=003C00000259s9UIAQ.
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Page 4 • Georgia Nursing May, June, July 2019
ENDURING ECHOES
Dr. Rose B. Cannon
rbcannon30@bellsouth.net
As an esteemed professor of nursing at the Nell
Hodgson Woodruff School of Nursing at Emory University
from 1963 until 1997, Barbara Reich’s physiology classes
demonstrated a depth of knowledge and her ability
to engage nursing students in understanding difficult
concepts. I was one of her students in 1974 in the
graduate nursing program. With no nursing physiology
textbooks in circulation at the time, we were assigned
Guyton’s Medical Physiology. Not only detailed in content
but heavy in weight, we struggled through. The struggle
was made easier by Reich’s explanations in class, and her
intent that we all clearly understood the concepts and
their relation to nursing care.
When examining her entire life, one can see that she
was immersed in the sciences early on and made a mark
in both her classes and in the various appointments she
took. Not unlike married women of her time, her own
career was dependent on where her husband’s career
would take them; where he studied medicine, did his
internship and residency, served in the military, and took
up his practice of medicine. Only when she gave birth to
their two sons did she take short intervals of time away
from her own career.
Born in Easton, PA to parents Allen Schneider Hoffman
and Sara Smith Hoffman, she was an only child. Her
mother had trained as a nurse at Easton Hospital School
of Nursing, but she wanted Barbara to go to college
and also imagined a traditional role for her daughter as
a housewife and mother. At Chambersburg College (a
small all-women’s college) Barbara was one of only four
students majoring in Chemistry. When her boyfriend,
Robert Reich was admitted to Yale School of Medicine,
she applied to the nursing program there. At the time
Yale did not have women undergraduates, so the basic
nursing course was a three year academic (summers off)
MN program. Because of her college major in Chemistry,
Barbara was “excused” from taking the chemistry course
and actually taught a Chemistry Lab. In 1954 she married
Robert A. Reich.
In Chicago from 1955-1957, Reich took a position
at Michael Reese Hospital School of Nursing where she
taught physiology and clinical courses in surgical nursing.
Her first class was sixty students in a big amphitheater
with four sections of anatomy and physiology labs. In
Augusta, GA from 1957-1960, she taught in the BSN
program at Medical College of Georgia (MCG). Here she
Barbara Hoffman Reich
March 7, 1931 – December 10, 2015
incorporated pathophysiology into her clinical nursing
courses. When the Reichs moved to Atlanta in 1963,
she applied for a part-time appointment on the faculty
at the School of Nursing at Emory in what was known
as Program II for diploma nurses to earn their BSN
degrees. The program was being phased out at the time
so next she was asked to move into a funded program
in Rehabilitation Nursing. Reich recalled, “My focus in
the graduate Rehab Program was to expand the rehab
concept beyond the traditional neuro-orthopedic aspects
to include rehabilitation concepts of other conditions (e.g.
heart failure, renal failure). My approach was to review
normal function, describe alterations in function, correlate
these concepts with the clinical findings and provide the
rationale for nursing care.” Apparently Reich had made
significant impressions in her first three part-time years at
Emory, and with her strong resume she was hired full time
beginning October 1, 1966 into the position of Associate
Professor of Nursing with tenure. She went on to
elaborate, “Subsequently I developed a graduate course in
pathophysiology. It began as a one semester course and
at the request of students became two semesters.” This
second course was team taught with experts in genetics
and pharmacology.
In the early 1970s, Nurse Practitioner programs in
Masters Programs were new (prior to that they had
been certificate or post-master’s programs, the first
began in Colorado in 1965). A first step in working
toward a practitioner program was instituting a course
in Physical Assessment. The one at Emory began in 1973
was especially rigorous for faculty, not only in learning
and teaching new content, but in the hours they were
assigned in the laboratory. Reich’s recollection was that
“The course hours were very, very long in the skills lab
for practice sessions. We had a group in the morning and
a group in the afternoon, and another group the next
morning and afternoon, and maybe one on Friday. I mean
it just seemed horrendous.” From a student perspective
in 1974, I was aware that the faculty were learning one
step ahead of us as we sat for lectures and practiced
our physical assessment skills on each other under their
supervision.
Reich also served on significant committees. One was
the Basic Science Committee with Reich as the School of
Nursing (SON) representative at the time when students
took basic science courses from faculty in the School of
Medicine concurrently with their nursing courses in the
SON. In the 1980s these science courses became prerequisites
instead. After that Reich was asked to develop
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a pathophysiology course for undergraduates. Reich also
served on Promotions and Tenure, Faculty Senate, and
Admissions committees at various times. When serving
on the Curriculum Committee, she recalled how revisions
had to conform to certain concepts. When in 1972 the
curriculum was based on systems theory as a theoretical
framework, her course name changed to” Regulation
and Control of Selected Human Living Systems.” One
of the arguments for the change in title was that
pathophysiology wasn’t a discipline and sounded more
like medicine. In 1977 the title of her course changed to
“Physiologic Bases for Advanced Nursing Practice.” In
1979 pathophysiology content was integrated into several
specialty tracks. What remained the same over the years
was that Reich’s courses combined both science and
pyscho-social concepts with an application to the nursing
care required when there was an alteration in health.
The quality of her courses can be shown in this
anecdote she relayed in one of her interviews. She was
recalling that starting in the 1970s Emory School of
Nursing was part of a Consortium of several nursing
schools where once per year selected students presented
their master’s research. She specifically remembered
one student, “Joan Modelewski, a pediatric nurse,
was selected to do one of the major presentations. Dr.
Dorothy Brinsfield, a pediatric cardiologist, was on her
committee, [because] . . . you had to have somebody
in the Medical School agree to let students do cardiac
outputs and other heart tests. Dr. Brinsfield said that
Modelewski’s presentation was superior to many of the
PhD presentations from the other schools.”
In her interview in 2012 she mentioned how proud
she was of two particular students that went on to
do groundbreaking work. Pat Richardson, a nurse
practitioner in endocrinology taught patients to use
their insulin pumps when this was a new technology,
and Barbara Johnson became an expert in cardiac
rehabilitation, and lectured nationally. These students
gladly came back to the school to present lectures in
some of the classes Reich taught.
All of us can point to professors that made a deep
impression on us not only for the quality of the content in
their courses but for the passion they had for us to learn
and incorporate the content in our future careers. Barbara
Reich will be remembered by hundreds of students for
doing just this.
References:
Donated papers from husband, Robert Reich, MD, to the School
of Nursing, Emory University
Interviews with Barbara Reich, 2004 and 2012
Obituary accessed from A.S. Turner & Sons Funeral Home and
Crematory
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May, June, July 2019 Georgia Nursing • Page 5
The National Association of Hispanic Nurses:
Representing the Voices of Hispanic Nurses
in Georgia
Gladys N. Jusino-Leon, DNP, MSN, RN, CMSRN
In Memoriam
Dianne Rogers
The National Association of
Hispanic Nurse (NAHN) is the
leading professional society
for Latino nurses in the
nation (NAHN, 2019). It was
founded in 1975 by Ildaura
Murillo-Rohde, PhD, RN, ND,
FAAN and today, the Georgia
chapter, is the newest
chapter of this growing
association that continues
to represent the voices of
Hispanic nurses in the United
States. According to Pew
Research Center (2019),
Gladys N. Jusino-
Leon
the Hispanic population in the nation has increased
from 6.3 million in 1960 to 56.5 million in 2015 with
approximately 883,000 Hispanics currently living in
Georgia. Last year we recognized the importance of
establishing NAHN with the desire to promote and
advance a healthy lifestyle and health knowledge
among the Latinx community of Georgia. I am grateful
for the opportunity of establishing and leading the GA
Chapter in collaboration with three amazing people: Dr.
Imelda Reyes (Treasurer), PhD student Roxanna Chicas
(Vice-President) and FNP student Sasha Thompson
(Secretary). Things are always easier when you are
surrounded by nursing leaders that are compassionate
and self-driven.
The National Association of Hispanic Nurses is
committed to the advancement of health and the
prevention of disease in Hispanic communities. We
want to promote and advocate the educational,
professional, and leadership opportunities for Hispanic
nurses. Latinos represent 18% of the US population;
however, less than 7% of the nursing workforce is of
Latino descent (NAHN, 2019). In collaboration with
the Georgia Latinx community, we hope to promote
the nursing profession in Latinx communities and
diversity in the nursing workforce. The Georgia chapter
wants to raise awareness about health issues among
the Hispanic population, helping them navigate the
healthcare system and establish ourselves as leaders
in nursing education in the Latinx community. Our
purpose statement declares a commitment to our
roots: “To celebrate the culture, caring and spirit of
Hispanic nurses who are the leading voice of health in
our communities.”
Regardless of being a new chapter, we are already
committed to several projects close to our hearts.
We are organizing an immunization and education
campaign in collaboration with Pfizer, a strong
supporter of NAHN nationwide. The NAHN in Georgia
wants to reach out to the ever increasing migrant
population in the Southern region of Georgia as they
establish themselves legally in this country. We want
to help migrant families understand and navigate the
NAHN GA Chapter Board (L to R): Roxanna
Chicas, Dr. Gladys N Jusino-Leon, Dr. Imelda
Reyes and FNP student Sasha Thompson
healthcare system and bring awareness of health care
issues that might be affecting them. This project is
led by Roxanna Chicas who is a Temporary Protected
Status (TPS) recipient and very much involved in
assisting other TPS recipients meet their healthcare
needs. The Georgia chapter is not bound or moved by
political ideas but by health care needs affecting our
communities. “Empathy” is not a word that we use
lightly, but it is the foundation of nursing practice. As
nurses we bring to the table knowledge and countless
experiences that have impacted and shaped us
emotionally and professionally.
In addition, the NAHN GA chapter wants to assist
the Puerto Rican nurses displaced by Hurricane
“Maria” that have relocated to Georgia. As a Puerto
Rican, I personally invite them to reach out to us for
information and guidance on how to proceed while
in the US. Sasha and I are developing a project in
collaboration with the University of Canterbury in
New Zealand and the University of Puerto Rico in Rio
Piedras. The team is designing a nursing pathway
to strengthen the healthcare system in the Island
by supporting nursing education through increased
training in the event of another natural disaster of the
same magnitude.
Finally, our GA chapter is also establishing a
scholarship to assist Hispanic nurses in their education
and training. We are fortunate to have Dr. Imelda Reyes
assisting us in that area. The Georgia chapter values
ethical and equitable practice, social responsibility,
comradery and cultural humility. We invite nurses, and
nursing students of any culture or ethnic descent who
have the desire to serve the Hispanic community to visit
our website at www.ganahn.org.
National Association of Hispanic Nurses
info@ganahn.org
She graduated from Washington county High
School in 1974. Dianne chose to continue her
education at Georgia College in Milledgeville
Georgia. She graduated in 1979 with an Associate
Degree in Nursing, in 1989 with a Bachelor’s
Degree in Nursing, and in 2000 she earned her
Master’s Degree in Nursing. She also obtained her
Nursing Home Administrator License. Dianne had
a successful career in Nursing. She dedicated 32
years to Central State Hospital and was certified
and as Gerontology Nurse.
She dedicated her career to Georgia Nurses
Association by being an active member and officer
within the organization. She served on the advisory
board of Georgia College and State University‘s
Nursing program.
Dianne established the Dianne Rogers Minority
Nursing Scholarship. Her goal was to help other
underprivileged students achieve their dream of
becoming a nurse.
Dianne had a passion for Georgia Nurses
Association. She attended almost every meeting.
Even when she was sick, she never complained,
she always showed up and participated fully. She
served as treasurer for the Old Capital chapter
of GNA for years and performed the role with
excellence.
She passed away Thanksgiving Day after a long
battle with cancer. Dianne will be never forgotten
and we all will miss her.
Contributions can be made to the Dianne
Rogers Minority Scholarship at Dianne M. Rogers
Minority Nursing Scholarship.
Mail checks to: Georgia College Foundation
Campus, Box 96 Milledgeville GA 31061
If you prefer to use the online donation
site, the link is https://alumni.gcsu.edu/sslpage.
aspx?pid=298.
NURSING JOB OPPORTUNITY
PrEP Coordinator (RN) - This highly specialized position will provide
leadership in the implementation of Biomedical Intervention (BI) efforts
throughout the state of Georgia and establish a coordinated approach
to pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) and post-exposure prophylaxis
utilization at the state level. This position will advance the mission and
goals related efforts that prevent HIV infection among populations and
communities at increased risk.
APPLY at https://www.governmentjobs.com/careers/georgiadph
Benefits: Employee retirement plan,
deferred compensation, 12 paid holidays,
vacation, education & sick leave, dental,
vision, long term care, and life insurance.
Equal Opportunity Employer
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Public Health
#ThisWorkMatters

Page 6 • Georgia Nursing May, June, July 2019
Re-capping the 2019 Legislative Session
Tim Davis, Sr. Director of Government Affairs & Membership
The 2019 Legislative Session came to a close, late in the night, on Tuesday, April
2, 2019. The Georgia Nurses Association began the session with a robust agenda
aimed at addressing several issues we deemed important to nursing in our state.
As your advocate, we provided countless opportunities for GNA members and nonmembers
to engage legislators and voice your opinions on a myriad of legislative
initiatives. Thank you for answering that call and helping us to accomplish many of
the goals prescribed in our 2019 Legislative Platform.
The session started with our 2019 GNA Legislative Kick-off, on January 15th.
Nurses from around the state gathered at the Capitol to meet with legislators
and hand-deliver our GNA Branded gift bags along with a copy of our legislative
platform.
GNA also launched a page on the EMPOWRD application which allowed us to
engage the nursing community with legislative “Calls to Action” and enabled our
members to easily contact their legislators directly from the app using their smart
phone and tablet devices. This application proved to be very successful in supporting
our initiatives and defending against bills deemed bad for the nursing profession.
We showed our strength utilizing not only the “calls to action” mentioned above,
but also by having a large number of nurses and nursing students on hand with us
at the capitol advocating for our bills.
House Bill 287 sponsored by Rep. Matt Dubnik (R - Gainesville), commonly known
as PTIP, proposes to create a new income tax credit for those who are licensed
physicians, advanced practice registered nurses, or physician assistants who provide
uncompensated preceptorship training to medical students, advanced practice
registered nurse students, or physician assistant students. PTIP passed the House
by a vote of 163-2 and the Senate by a vote of 41 to 9. This will incentivize and
encourage practitioners to serve as preceptors, there-by enabling us to graduate
more trained and ready nurses in our state. The measure now sits on Governor
Kemp’s desk awaiting his signature into law.
House Bill 31, sponsored by Rep. Terry England (R - Auburn), is the FY’20 budget
which begins July 1st. Most importantly, the Georgia Nurses Foundation’s (“GNF”)
$150,000 appropriations request was agreed to in the final version of the spending
plan. The funding will help expand the Georgia Nurses Foundation Peer Assistance
Program (GNF-PAP) by assisting more nurses with substance abuse issues in
recovery, ensuring they are able to be reliable healthcare providers.
GNA, also works to ensure bills are not passed that negatively impact nursing in
our state. Such was the case with S.B. 76 sponsored by Sen. Ellis Black (R - Valdosta)
which never moved from the Senate Rules Committee to the Senate floor for a
vote. The legislation renames “veterinary technicians” to “veterinary nurses” by
opening up the Nurse Practice Act and providing an exception to the title protection
provided to nurses. GNA worked together with the chairman of Senate Health &
Human Services Committee, Sen. Ben Watson (R - Savannah), and the chairman of
the Senate Rules Committee, Sen. Jeff Mullis (R - Chickamauga), along with Sen.
Renee Unterman (R - Buford), to educate Senators, and ensure Rules Committee
members knew the importance of stopping this legislation and maintaining the
public trust in the title “nurse.” Your calls and emails to Senators proved a vital asset
to ensure this bill never moved and is a perfect example of how, working together,
nursing can have a significant impact on a vitality of any single piece of legislation.
Unfortunately we were unable to accomplish all of our 2019 goals. HR 448,
sponsored by Rep. Sharon Cooper (R – Marietta) created a study committee on safe
staffing levels of nurses in Georgia. The resolution was caught up in the commotion
of day 40 and failed to make it to the floor for a vote.
The General Assembly will reconvene the second Monday in January of 2020. At
that time, bills not passed this session will again be available for consideration, as
well as any new legislation introduced.
We ask that you consider doing a few things that will help us as we prepare for
the 2020 Session.
1) Join the Georgia Nurses Association – as our numbers continue to grow
so will our reach and access to resources needed in order to advance our
profession legislatively
2) Like and follow us on all Social media platforms – this is a great way to
stay involved and engaged regarding the legislative process
3) Participate in our Legislative Survey – this survey, done annually, is used to
guide our legislative platform for the session and your valued feedback allows
us to ensure we are championing legislation impactful to your profession
4) Download the EMPOWRD Application on your smart phone and/or
tablet device and follow GNA – this will allow us to engage and inform you
of all things relating to advocacy for the nursing profession
We appreciate each of you for your valued contributions to our work during
the 2019 session. It proves that by working together and supporting a common
cause we can accomplish great things for the nursing profession in our state. I look
forward to seeing and collaborating with you all for even more success in 2020!
This article was written in collaboration with the GNA Lobbying team W.L. Clifton
Political Consultants.
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May, June, July 2019 Georgia Nursing • Page 7
Jeanne M. Cunius-Young, MN, RN, OCN
jeanne.young@emoryhealthcare.org
Every nurse has a story.
This is mine.
On a rainy October day
in a suburb of Philadelphia
while her two children were
in school, Helen went to
confession in the attached
Catholic Church. She had
entered the church hopeful
and left embarrassed,
ashamed and, according
to her confessor, damned Jeanne M.
to hell if she went through Cunius-Young
with the plan her doctors proposed to save her life.
At the age of thirty-five, in the age of Kennedy,
with one first and one fifth grader, she had recently
been diagnosed with breast cancer. Her doctors,
knowing there was a hormonal component to the
disease, proposed a Halstead radical mastectomy
followed by a complete hysterectomy.
Her confession that day was to seek comfort that
God was on her side and would help her through
the physical and mental challenges of the fight
ahead. She was instead told by the priest, that
removal of her female organs would be tantamount
to birth control and therefore, a mortal sin.
That night, laying next to her husband, she relayed
what the priest had said. The ensuing argument
was heard by her oldest daughter in the next room.
When her husband told her that removal of her uterus
would make her less than a woman, the isolation was
complete.
She carried this burden with her into the
operating room where one breast was removed
down to the ribs and later, the loss of her womb and
ovaries. Her only prayer was to live long enough to
raise her two girls. She did.
I am Helen’s youngest child. I was mostly clueless
to most of what was going on during those dark
days. I guess I learned to stop asking, but I found a
place where I could learn about cancer and that was
nursing school.
I can talk about how grateful I am to God that she
got her prayer answered. She got to see my sister
and I grow up, get married and start a family. She
adored her grandchildren. I can speak in awe of my
mother’s strength to make the hard decisions when
her Church and her husband did not support her.
But mostly as a daughter, I just want one more day
Mother’s Day Story
with her to tell her that I love her.
When I think back on my long career as a cancer
nurse, I see how far nursing has come. The neophyte
field of oncology nursing started about the time
that I became a nurse, as President Nixon declared
“a war on cancer.” Without dedicated oncology
nurses standing up for their patients, I believe cancer
advances, and where we are now, would not be
possible.
Some nurses find their way to cancer, cancer
found me at six years of age. Along the way there
were great mentors and educators. For instance,
author Rose Kushner joined Washington, DC
American Cancer Society meetings where I attended
as a student nurse. While a lay advocate for women
with breast cancer, Rose fiercely opposed the biopsy
to mastectomy route that was common during that
time. She railed against using a frozen specimen at
biopsy to justify not waking the patient up until after
the disfiguring surgery was completed allowing for
one too many false positives and devastating cancer
surgeries.
I have worked in diverse areas of cancer care
from the beginning of my career. My knowledge
and skills as a cancer nurse comes from wonderful
teachers and years of caring for patients and their
families. I continue to be challenged with new cancer
therapies.
Every day when I come to work I endeavor to
work in a positive way with my patients, their
families, my co-workers, and my physicians. If I don’t
support every aspect of care for the patients battling
cancer, I do them and all the patients before them,
a disservice. Most of all, when I see a woman as she
takes in her cancer diagnosis I see the face of my
mother. I want her to know that she is not alone.
And always, I want to make my mother proud.
NURSING JOB OPPORTUNITY
QM Nurse Consultant - The position is part of the statewide Ryan
White Part B Clinical Quality Management Program and will be
responsible for providing consultation, training, and technical assistance
to clinicians, nurses and other practitioners providing HIV/AIDS care
throughout Georgia. The position is also responsible for conducting
site visits to monitor the clinical activities of health care practitioners,
continuous clinical quality improvement and quality assurance.
APPLY at https://www.governmentjobs.com/careers/georgiadph
Benefits: Employee retirement plan,
deferred compensation, 12 paid holidays,
vacation, education & sick leave, dental,
vision, long term care, and life insurance.
Equal Opportunity Employer
Georgia Department of
Public Health
#ThisWorkMatters
GNF-PAP UPDATE
Exciting News and
Opportunities
The Georgia Nurses Foundation Peer Assistance
Program (GNF-PAP) had an exciting year with some
significant program expansion. In the past, all of GNF-
PAP support groups were conducted by volunteer
nurse Facilitators. GNF-PAP was challenged to provide
state-wide coverage for peer support groups. After
much thought, GNF-PAP made the decision to reach
out to licensed Certificated Addiction Counselors
(CACs).
During the June 2018 GNF-PAP Annual Facilitator’s
Training, we were able to bring 11 CACs into the GNF-
PAP as trained program Facilitators. The CACs bring a
great perspective on nurses in recovery and are a very
welcome addition to our program. With the addition
of our new CACs, we now have over 25 state-wide
groups with 185 nurses in recovery in our monitoring
program and attending a weekly peer support group.
For 2019 GNF-PAP still recognizes the on-going
opportunity to bring in more program Facilitators
to help us provide focused coverage in certain
geographical areas of the state, specifically the
northern mountain areas and central/south Georgia.
If you, or if you know of someone who would be
willing to serve as a nurse-volunteer Facilitator, or know
of a CAC in our geographical areas of need, please
give us a call. We will be conducting our Annual
June Facilitator’s Training on June 7, 2019 at GNA
Headquarters and we invite interested folks to attend.
If you are interested in attending, please give a call
to Sherry Sims, GNF-PAP State Chair at 478-718-1945.
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DREAMS.
MADE REAL.

Page 8 • Georgia Nursing May, June, July 2019
Near-Miss Medication Errors Provide a Wake-Up Call
Jennifer Flynn, CPHRM, Risk Manager,
Nurses Service Organization
Medication errors result from failures in a complex,
interconnected medication-use process in which
prescribers, nurses, pharmacists, and administrators all
participate. For example:
• A medication was prescribed that didn’t make sense
for the patient’s condition. When a nurse questioned
the order, she learned it had been prescribed for the
wrong patient.
• A medication was prescribed for a patient with
a known allergy to it. The allergy had been
documented in the electronic medical record (EMR).
When the prescription was questioned, it was
cancelled.
Jennifer Flynn
• The ED pharmacist hand-delivered insulin for a
patient who didn’t have diabetes and whose lab values were normal. The
medication had been prescribed for the wrong patient.
This article discusses why near-miss medication errors such as these occur and
how they can be avoided.
Shared responsibility
Nurses should never administer a drug if they don’t know what it’s for, aren’t
able to explain it to the patient, don’t understand the outcome of its administration,
or can’t recognize potential adverse reactions. 1 A multi-professional, evidence-based
approach to medication management is essential.
Nurses have traditionally learned to follow the five rights of medication
administration: right patient, drug, route, time, and dose. The problem? These five
rights focus only on medication administration at the bedside. Because a drug’s
journey involves far more than what happens at the bedside, the 10 rights approach
is more likely to ensure safe practice throughout the medication journey, from drug
preparation to monitoring outcomes to response. 1 (See What are the 10 rights of
drug administration?)
Risk reduction
The American Nurses Association (ANA) is working to quantify and describe
nurses’ interventions related to medication error prevention by capturing information
about near misses.2 Based on the results of its survey, the ANA’s recommendations
for avoiding errors include the following:
• Employ a system of checks and balances for medication administration, such
as medication dispensing systems that cross reference with the hospital’s EMR
system.
• As part of the checks and balances, ask, ask, and ask again. Question orders
that don’t make sense based on the patient’s clinical condition.
• Engage the patient and family in the process of care.
• Obtain a complete health history and perform a comprehensive physical
assessment.
• Treat patients holistically rather than focusing exclusively on their presenting
complaints.
• Get enough rest.
• Always report near misses. 2
Full disclosure of medication errors and transparency in an inherently litigious
healthcare culture is difficult but necessary to develop risk reduction strategies
for improved medication safety practices. Nurses must recognize the complexity
of medication management because it may protect them from being named in a
liability lawsuit.
What are the 10 rights of drug administration? 1
Ten rights
Nursing considerations
1. Right patient • Have two patient identifiers been used?
• Does the patient know why he or she is receiving the drug?
2. Right drug • Is this the prescribed drug or is it a drug with a similar
name?
• If needed, has the drug been checked by another nurse?
3. Right dosage • Is the dose appropriate or usual for the drug being
prescribed?
4. Right time • Has the time gap between each drug administration
been appropriate?
5. Right route • Is the route appropriate for the drug being administered?
6. Right to refuse
(patient and nurse)
• Should you use your clinical judgment to refuse to give
the drug and do you have the rationale for the decision?
• Do you know what actions to take if the patient refuses
the prescribed medication?
7. Right knowledge • What monitoring is required prior to administration?
• Do you know how to prepare and administer the
medication according to policy?
• Do you understand the pharmacokinetics,
pharmacodynamics, possible interactions, adverse
reactions, and expected outcomes of the drugs you’re
administering?
8. Right questions • Is this the right prescription and an appropriate drug for
the patient’s condition?
• Can you access resources such as formularies and
patient-education materials?
9. Right advice • Does the patient know about the drug’s adverse
reactions?
10. Right response
or outcome
• Do you know the expected response when the drug is
administered?
• Do you know how to observe for allergic reactions, drug
interactions, and adverse reactions, and when to call for
assistance?
References
1. Edwards S, Axe S. The 10 ‘R’s of safe multidisciplinary drug administration. Nurse
Prescribing. 2015;13(8):398-406.
2. American Nurses Association. Near misses. 2016. www.nursingworld.org/
MainMenuCategories/ThePracticeofProfessionalNursing/PatientSafetyQuality/Advocacy/
IHCI/GetInvolved/NearMisses.html.
Adapted from “Near-miss medication errors provide a wake-up call” by Colleen Claffey,
MSN, RN-BC, CEN, CPEN, which originally appeared in the January 2018 issue of Nursing ©
2017 Wolters Kluwer Health.
Jennifer Flynn, CPHRM, Risk Manager, Nurses Service Organization, Healthcare Division,
Aon Affinity, Philadelphia. Phone: (215) 773-4513. Email: Jennifer.Flynn@aon.com.
This risk management information was provided by Nurses Service Organization (NSO),
the nation’s largest provider of nurses’ professional liability insurance coverage for more
than 550,000 nurses since 1976. Georgia Nurses Association (GNA) endorses the individual
professional liability insurance policy administered through NSO and underwritten by
American Casualty Company of Reading, Pennsylvania, a CNA company. Reproduction
without permission of the publisher is prohibited. For questions, send an email to service@
nso.com, call (800) 247-1500, or visit www.nso.com.

May, June, July 2019 Georgia Nursing • Page 9
Nursing: The Profession I Fell in Love With
Ashley Blackmon, MS, CCRN, FNP-C
The first week of May is Nurses Week. We set aside this
time to honor nurses because nursing is hard.
We’ve all been there. We barely scrape out of nursing
school sleep-deprived and stressed to the max only to
start a new job where every day we are terrified we are
going to kill someone. The stress nurses undergo getting
through a BSN program and certain jobs, especially in ICU
and ED, have been compared to PTSD symptoms in war
veterans. Therefore, nurses are often in states of flux:
changing jobs and careers every two years or so in order
to combat the constant burn-out that they feel.
But nurses are more than glorified waitresses. They
coordinate care with respiratory therapy, physical therapy,
Ashley Blackmon
nutritionists, radiology studies, other testing, and who
knows what else. They change dressings, set up for procedures, prevent bed-sores,
help patients exercise, and comfort family members. They double check medication
after medication, always scared that they will make that one mistake. In school, and
during training, I distinctly remember feeling like I was going to make that mistake.
And after all of that I love it.
I went this route. I went through nursing school, crying at every test and
simulation with the thought that I was failing just for breathing a certain way. I did
AARP Calling on Industry and
Lawmakers to “Stop Rx Greed”
Melissa Sinden
msinden@aarp.org
At AARP Georgia’s Day at the Capitol in March, one of
our volunteers asked a state legislator about the high cost
of prescription drugs. The legislator responded that the
cost of medicine is often too high; and that she, herself,
has been prescribed $600/month eye drops, which she
cannot afford so she doesn’t use them. This example is all
too common.
Americans pay the highest brand-name drug prices
in the world. Congress, the Administration, and our own
Georgia legislators must take action to lower prescription
drug prices, the root cause of this problem. That’s why
AARP launched a national campaign urging federal and
state policymakers to Stop Rx Greed by cracking down
Melissa Sinden
on price-gouging drug companies. AARP’s goal is to help
lower drug prices for all Americans through decisive actions and solutions.
In 2017, the average annual cost for one brand-name medication used on
a chronic basis was almost $6,800. For the average older American taking 4.5
prescription drugs per month, that would amount to more than $30,000 per year,
while the average Medicare beneficiary has a median annual income of just over
$26,000.
Americans depend on their prescriptions, yet from cancer treatments to EpiPens,
drug companies’ skyrocketing prices are pushing life-saving treatments out of reach
for those who need them. That is why we are calling on Congress to:
• Pass legislation to allow Medicare to negotiate for lower drug prices. With
more than 40 million beneficiaries in Part D, the federal government should be
leveraging that bargaining power to lower prices.
• Take action to reduce out-of-pocket costs such as an out-of-pocket cap. In
2015 alone, Medicare beneficiaries spent $27B in out-of-pocket drug costs.
• Enact the Creating and Restoring Equal Access to Equivalent Samples
(CREATES) Act and legislation to end pay-for-delay agreements to allow more
generic alternatives to enter the market and lower drug prices.
an accelerated program too while working nightshift weekends as an ED tech. I
remember the panic attack I had when I realized I had driven two hours, spent the
night the day before, just to make it to clinicals on time the next day but had worn
black shoes instead of white (a uniform failure). When I was done with school and
made the transition from ED to ICU, I worried about everything. I would titrate a
drip wrong, or give a medication too quickly, or something. Every moment was an
opportunity to fail. And failure could kill.
But there is so much more to nursing than striving for perfection.
Nursing is amazing. We have been persecuted and yet conformed to every
single thing that healthcare has thrown at us FIRST. Nursing changed the face of
healthcare starting with Florence Nightingale and how hospital wards should
be run to reduce infection rates. Healthcare changed when nurse Sister Jean
Ward propagated that phototherapy cured jaundice in newborns (Maisels, 2015).
Healthcare changed when RN Anita Dorr created the crash cart and founded the
Emergency Nurses Association (Jezierski, 1996). Nursing continues to change today
by utilizing our shrinking educational force and using more online teaching tools.
That’s amazing. We bend and weave. We do what we’ve always done – make do.
We find a way to solve any problem.
As I’ve continued down this path, now having been in nursing for 13 years, I am
more in love with it than ever. There is nothing like our fellow nurses who know
what it’s like to chase a call light, or clean that one horrible mess, or stand and take
a yelling-at from that one patient family member. We inspire and encourage each
other. There is substance in our unity.
If you are feeling burned-out then please look around you. Reach out to
someone more experienced for mentorship. Reach out to someone less experienced
and be a mentor. Join an organization. Show up and learn something new. Take a
certification course. Go back to school. But know that nursing is where it is at. I am
convinced we are the largest, most dynamic, and diverse aspect of healthcare. We
are the net – the backbone – that holds everything together. Join us at GNA and fall
back in love with nursing.
References:
Jezierski, M. (1996). Anita Dorr: Her legacy to ENA. Journal of Emergency Nursing 22:258-
260. Minneapolis, MN. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/S0099-1767(96)80129-2
Maisels, M. 2015. Sister Jean Ward, phototherapy, and jaundice: A unique human and
photochemical interaction. Journal of Perinatology 2015 DOI: 10/1038/jp.2015.56.
Are you a nurse who wants to be challenged, respected and rewarded?
UF Health Jacksonville has immediate openings for nurses with surgical
operating room, open heart, labor & delivery and oncology experience.
UF Health Jacksonville is a Level 1 trauma, academic health center that
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AARP asked likely voters ages 50 and older about their experience with
prescription medication and their thoughts on proposals for reducing prescription
drug costs. The vast majority surveyed (80%) say they take at least one prescription
medication, and seven in ten (72%) say they are concerned about the cost of
their medications. A majority (60%) say prescription drug costs are unreasonable
and many indicated they have or will need to make trade-offs to afford their
medications.
Virtually all the voters surveyed (regardless of party affiliation) support various
proposals for reducing prescription drug costs, including making it easier for generic
drugs to come to market (93%) and allowing Medicare to negotiate with drug
companies for lower prices (92%).
No American should be forced to choose between paying for the medicines they
need and paying for food, rent, or other necessities. We hope state-level lawmakers
will work together with all members of Congress to protect Americans and pass
bipartisan, commonsense legislation to lower prescription drug prices.
Tell your legislators to support commonsense solutions to lower prescription drug
prices today by visiting www.aarp.org/rx.
Melissa Sinden is the Advocacy Manager for AARP Georgia
References
1
This survey was conducted by the nonpartisan and objective research organization
NORC at the University of Chicago on behalf of AARP. For this national survey, data were
collected using the AmeriSpeak Panel. AmeriSpeak, the probability-based panel of NORC,
is designed to be representative of the U.S. household population.

Page 10 • Georgia Nursing May, June, July 2019
GEORGIANS FOR A HEALTHY FUTURE
Healthy Minds, Healthy Bodies: Get to know Project AWARE, Part I
Michelle Conde, Communications &
Special Projects Manager
Georgians for a Healthy Future
mconde@healthyfuturega.org
Georgia consistently
ranks poorly among states
in children’s mental health
services, this year ranking
51st in a report from the
Commonwealth Fund.
However, state leadership
has been adamant about
improving Georgia’s system
of care through the infusion
of additional dollars for
children’s mental health
services in the state budget
Michelle Conde
and through innovative
programs like Project Advancing Wellness and
Resilience Education (AWARE).
Georgia Project AWARE is a youth mental health
initiative focused on improving the experiences of
school-aged youth in Georgia, and is funded by a grant
from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services
Agency (SAMHSA) to the Georgia Department of
Education (GaDOE).
The purpose of Georgia’s Project AWARE is “to
increase awareness of mental health issues among
school-aged youth; provide training in Youth Mental
Health First Aid; and connect children, youth, and
families who may have behavioral health issues with
appropriate services.”
The four main goals of Georgia Project AWARE are:
1. Increase participation of families, youth, and
communities and mental health providers in
efforts to identify the mental health resources
available to meet the needs of students and
families;
2. Increase awareness and identification of mental
health and behavior concerns, and student and
family access to mental health providers through
the PBIS framework in Georgia Project AWARE
(GPA) schools;
3. Increase the percentage of Georgia youth and
families receiving needed mental health services
through collaboration between school systems
and community mental health providers; and
4. Train educators, first responders, parents and
youth group leaders to respond to mental health
needs of youth by providing free training in Youth
Mental Health First Aid (YMHFA).
Georgia’s Project AWARE grant supports the
participation of three Georgia school systems: Griffin-
Spalding County School System, Muscogee County
School District, and Newton County Schools. The
GaDOE has partnered with these school districts to
provide training in Youth Mental Health First Aid and to
develop innovative ways to connect youth and families
to community-based mental health services.
Through Project AWARE, elementary and middle
school teachers conduct universal screenings of their
students and the screening results are used in two
ways. School-, grade-, and classroom-level data is used
to guide decisions about what universal supports or
programs may be needed to better support the social
and emotional needs of students. For example, if the
results of the screening show high rates of anxiety
for an entire grade of students, school leaders and
teachers may make changes to school practices that
may contribute to student anxiety or implement a
program to help reduce or address the anxiety students
are feeling.
Individual level screening results are used to identify
those students who could benefit from extra social
and emotional supports. These students are then
connected to the appropriate behavioral services
through partnerships the schools have developed with
community-based providers.
Georgia Project AWARE has already screened a
total of 18,713 students in 29 schools. Georgia State
University’s Center for Leadership in Disability and the
Center for Research on School Safety, School Climate
and Classroom Management provide support for the
program through analysis of the screening results and
trainings for school leadership and staff.
In Getting to know Project AWARE: Part II, we’ll
learn more about Youth Mental Health First Aid and
how it helps educators meet the social and emotional
needs of their students.
References:
https://healthyfuturega.org/2019/01/02/healthy-mindshealthy-bodies-get-to-know-project-aware-part-i/
http://datacenter.commonwealthfund.org/scorecard/state/12/
georgia/
http://www.gadoe.org/Curriculum-Instruction-and-
Assessment/Special-Education-Services/Pages/Georgia-
Project-AWARE.aspx
https://www.pbis.org/
https://www.mentalhealthfirstaid.org/
http://www.gadoe.org/Curriculum-Instruction-and-
Assessment/Special-Education-Services/Pages/Georgia-
Project-AWARE.aspx
https://www.samhsa.gov/programs
http://www.gadoe.org/Curriculum-Instruction-and-
Assessment/Special-Education-Services/Documents/
Project%20AWARE/GDAP-Fall18-web.pdf
AUBURN UNIVERSITY SCHOOL OF NURSING
is now hiring Assistant/Associate Professor,
Assistant/Associate Clinical Professor | 2 positions
The School of Nursing at Auburn University, located in
Auburn, Alabama, invites applications for two
full-time 12-month, positions to begin August 2019. The
successful candidate will be appointed to a tenure track
(Assistant/Associate Professor) position or a non-tenure
track (Assistant/Associate Clinical Professor) position
depending upon experience and qualifications.
Review of applicants will begin April 1, 2019 and will
continue until a suitable candidate is identified.
Candidates should use the following link to apply:
aufacultypositions.peopleadmin.com/postings/3414
Auburn University is an EEO/
Vet/Disability employer.

May, June, July 2019 Georgia Nursing • Page 11
FINANCE MATTERS
CONTINUING EDUCATION
Nurse Overboard?
Jim Williams, CEO and Founder of Lendwell
Have you made a job change in the past few years? If the
answer is yes, your employer introduced you to their corporate
culture through an “Onboarding” experience. For some new
hires the process consists of completing a couple hours of
paper work through the human resources department. As
a result, after the first few days of work a new hire can easily
feel they have been thrown “Overboard” and left alone to
fend for themselves. Other employers are leaning toward
extensive orientation programs which may last a few days or
2-3 weeks. In the last decade more healthcare providers have
taken measures to seriously evaluate the value of human capital
Jim Williams
including the impact on the bottom line and patient care.
In Georgia Registered Nurse positions are still in high
demand. A significant number of nurses will reach retirement
age by 2025 creating demand that will not be able to keep
up with employer needs. A healthcare provider’s hard cost of hiring a registered nurse
is just shy of $3,000. This figure does not include costs associated with a mentoring or
shadow program for recent graduates nor a fee for utilizing a staffing agency. Industry
experts estimate the overall cost of replacing a seasoned registered nurse between
$20,000-$60,000 based on the market area, specialty and level of clinical expertise. A
vacancy rate of just over 16% and a turnover rate of almost 14% is creating a significant
drain on current personnel and a financial burden for many healthcare organizations.
As an employer what does this mean? First of all evaluate your employee turnover
rates and determine how your organization stacks up against industry standards.
Secondly, it is good business to retain valued talent rather than consistently replacing
nurses because they are unhappy. First impressions make a huge impact. Take the
time to interview team members hired within the past six months as well as long
term employees. Ask them what they like in their work setting and suggestions for
improvement. It is amazing what people will share if we just ask the questions.
The onboarding experience can be an incredible next step in a career. Many
employers need to wise up if they expect to remain competitive by hiring and keeping
top talent. To learn how your organization can make a positive difference to your
relocating new hires, please contact Jim Williams at jim@gahighlands.net.
Jim worked for thirty-two years in the financial services industry and was the founder of
Lendwell, a mortgage bank focused on serving the needs of healthcare professionals. For six
years Jim also served on the Board of Directors for two Georgia based healthcare systems.
Lynn Rhyne, MN, RNC-MNN
GNA Continuing Education Approver Unit (CEAU) Nurse Peer Review Leader
As we move into summer vacation time, I know many nurses are not thinking
about continuing professional development. However, if an organization is planning
an activity or conference, now is the time to start developing your applications and
submitting them for approval to award contact hours.
Currently, March 17-24, I am enjoying a respite from looking at applications, by
cruising in the Caribbean. Meaning, I will be rested and willing to assist any applicants
as they work on developing a quality continuing educational offering.
Also, for those organizations who were Approved Providers through GNA in the
past, we are open for business and welcome you back! The website has applications
for both Individual Activity and Approved Provider applicants.
My role as Nurse Peer Review Leader involves many responsibilities. First, I am
responsible to the nurses in Georgia, as well as other states, for ensuring applications
adhere to American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) standards and criteria. By
adhering to these, the participants are assured of an educational offering that is of
high quality.
Second, I am responsible to ANCC for approving applications that demonstrate
adherence to their standards and criteria. In other words, a continuing educational
offering has demonstrated the offering is addressing a professional practice gap
in the practice setting. We no longer award contact hours just for the sake of
assisting nurses in gaining the number of contact hours needed for re-licensure or
recertification.
Third, I am responsible to Georgia Nurses Association for ensuring that all reviewers
are oriented to and understand ANCC standards and criteria. I also must ensure The
Continuing Education Approver Unit (CEAU) follows GNA’s philosophy, goals and
mission.
The role is a lot of work, but I truly believe nurses never stop learning. Our CEAU
is still growing since our initial Accreditation as an Approver Unit in June, 2017. We
continue to increase our number of Individual Activity applications. Slowly, our
number of Approved Provider applications are being submitted.
I am a resource available at most times of the day during the week. I have
discovered my Yahoo email account is not ideal when cruising, so I will be changing
that soon. You can contact me at ce@georgianurses.org.
Even though GNA has not been offering many educational presentations that are
not related to the CEAU and the application process, if there is something you would
like us to offer, please let us know. GNA’s email is ce@georgianurses.org. I check that
site several times daily if you would like to email.
Have a wonderful summer.
Remember, we want to meet the educational needs of you, our nurses in Georgia.
THE Indian Health Service….
You belong here!
The Indian Health Service (IHS), offers
nurses extraordinary opportunities
in providing comprehensive care
in culturally rich Native American
Indian and Alaska Native communities
throughout 35 states. IHS nurses fulfill
critical roles ranging from Registered
Nurses to Nurse Specialists to
Advanced Practice positions, in clinics,
hospitals and public health programs.
IHS offers work and life balance in
some of the most beautiful areas of
the country, in communities with
deep traditions, located mainly,
but not exclusively in rural settings.
Whether you are a new graduate
nurse or an experienced nurse looking
for a new challenge, you can find it
with Indian Health Service.
OPPORTUNITIES AVAILABLE
THROUGHOUT OUR
NATIVE COMMUNITIES
EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES:
• COMPETITIVE SALARY
• RELOCATION ASSISTANCE
• SIGN ON BONUS
(RECRUITMENT INCENTIVE)
• STUDENT LOAN REPAYMENT
• FEDERAL EMPLOYEE
HEALTH BENEFITS
• OPPORTUNITIES FOR
PROFESSIONAL ADVANCEMENT
Please visit us at
www.ihs.gov/nursing/
or contact us by email at:
ihsrecruiters@ihs.gov
Must be a U.S. Citizen and have a current, active and unrestricted
nursing license from any state in the U.S. or its territories.

Page 12 • Georgia Nursing May, June, July 2019
Journey to Becoming a Clinic Owner
Tamu Spruill-Barton MSN, APRN, FNP-C/
Owner of New Heart Medical, LLC
I know a student on her way to college. When asked
what she wants to do or what she is going to college for, she
answers, “I want to be a nurse practitioner.” My response to
her is always that you have to be a nurse before you become
a nurse practitioner. The reason I say this is because the first
step to becoming a great nurse practitioner is to become a
great and skilled nurse. Many young nurses want to bypass the
nurse part and go directly to the practitioner part. They miss
out on a lot of fundamental elements by going straight to
being a nurse practitioner. I was a registered nurse for 12
years before I became a nurse practitioner. It taught me
the one thing I did not have to learn when I became a nurse
practitioner which is how to have rapport with my patients. I
had sympathy and empathy for my patients. I had sympathy Tamu Spruill-Barton
because I too had been in their situation at one time.
I had empathy for them because I could only imagine what some of them were going
through. I have been at births and I have been at deaths. Both of these situations teach
you something about yourself that you otherwise would not have learned. Eventually, you
learn how to deal with extreme situations, and this is something that you carry with you
into practice. Patients not only want someone who is clinically smart, they want someone
who cares and has empathy. So that is my first bit of advice to new nurses. Build a solid
foundation by gaining some experience as a registered nurse first.
Secondly, when you are in the nurse practitioner program make every clinical count.
Pay attention not only to the clinical part, but also the business part. When I graduated
from the nurse practitioner program, I learned I was well prepared for the clinical side of
the practice. I did well as a health care provider. I was in a situation where I started off
being a solo provider right out of school. It was a very busy pediatric clinic that was turning
into a family clinic, and if I do say so myself, I rocked it. I saw between 30 and 40 patients
a day, sometimes more. I gained experience very quickly with the high patient volume.
Soon, I felt running my own clinic was a distinct possibility. Most of my research indicated
that 3 to 5 years of experience as a practitioner was ideal to start a practice of your own.
With the patient volume that I dealt with, I felt I had the necessary experience. However,
admittedly I did not have enough experience on the business side. I don’t think most nurse
practitioners get the type of experience needed to become successful clinic owners. You
have to seek out the knowledge you need to run a successful business. I needed another
year of medical business education. The problem is the information is out there in pieces
or not at all. Before starting a business you need to learn billing and coding, how to run
the front office and the back. You don’t only need to know how to draw labs but you
need to know how to order them and know what tube they go in. These are just some of
the things I have had to learn since being in business for myself.
Figure out what kind of practice you would like to have. Do you want a mobile business
or an office space? What type of patients do you want to see? What is your name going
to be? Go on the state website and register your name. Pick a name that will go with
any changes that your practice my go through. The legal name of my clinic is New Heart
Medical, LLC. However, I first start using New Heart Medical, with the by line After Hours
Pediatrics. We are now open all day, so I changed the by line to New Heart Medical,
Pediatrics and Family after hours clinic. Find out how much money you will need to run
on the first year. Considering the volume I dealt with at the practice where I worked, In
my mind my own clinic would be busy from the start. That has not been the case. It takes
time and money to build up a practice. One needs to estimate how much money they
will need not only to start a business, but to operate for 6 months or more without a
significant income coming from the business. A business plan is important for this reason. I
did not take any of the aforementioned steps and it caused me a lot of heartache.
Next form your business entity such as a LLC or S-Corp. It is a good idea to consult a
certified public account (CPA) before you choose which one. A CPA can point you in a the
right direction that will be the best legal way to protect your business and get the most
out of your taxes. Find your niche in the medical community. My niche is that I have the
only pediatric clinic with afterhours services within 3 counties. I also see mothers if they are
sick when their children are sick. I advise parents that you have to save yourself before you
can save the ones you love and care for. It’s just like when you are on a plane and they tell
you to put on your own mask before you help anyone else. If you are sick and tired, how
are you going to properly take care of your children?
Lastly, you need a support team. Whether it is your family, friends or other
entrepreneurs, you need a support system. You need someone to bounce ideas off of. Get
a mentor, someone that knows more than you about the business you are trying to get
into. Surround yourself with like-minded people who inspire you and reinforce your focus.
New Heart Medical, LLC, 1021 Rosser Street NW | Conyers, GA 30012
www.newheartmedical.com
Dear Hahnah,
I am a registered nurse in Georgia who was recently arrested for marijuana
possession. It’s a long story, but I was a passenger in a car that was searched by
a police officer. The officer found marijuana under the passenger seat where I was
sitting. The officer arrested the driver and me. I hired a criminal attorney to handle
my pending marijuana possession charge. However, I heard that my license can be
automatically suspended if I am convicted. Is this true?
Thanks for your time,
BK (Grayson, GA)
Dear BK,
Thank you for your question. Your criminal attorney has likely explained whether
you are being charged with a misdemeanor or felony. In either instance, you
should absolutely be concerned about the potential impact on your license. Yes, a
conviction for marijuana possession (even misdemeanor possession) can subject your
license to suspension and/or revocation. In general, here’s how it works:
1) Georgia law requires licensed professional nurses to notify the Georgia Board of
Nursing within ten (10) days following the conviction of any criminal offense
involving the manufacture, distribution, trafficking, sale, or possession of a
controlled substance or marijuana. Importantly, this notification requirement
extends to drug convictions in other states and pursuant to federal law. Failure
to provide this notification can subject your license to revocation.
2) The Board is required to suspend a nurse’s license for a minimum of three (3)
months for felony drug convictions. The Board may impose lesser sanctions
if this is the nurse’s first conviction for a misdemeanor drug offense. The
Board is required to revoke a nurse’s license upon second and subsequent
drug convictions. Importantly, these suspension and revocation sanctions
are intended as minimum sanctions meaning that the Board has authority to
implement more stringent sanctions.
3) The Board may reinstate the nurse’s suspended or revoked license upon successful
completion of a Board approved drug abuse treatment and education program.
See Ga. Code Ann., § 16-13-111.
BK, it is critical that you discuss these license implications with your criminal
attorney as soon as possible given that a felony conviction will likely subject your
license to automatic suspension for three months. It may also be a good idea to
consult with a nurse attorney to obtain specific advice and information.
Georgia Nurses! We are excited to give you the opportunity to submit your
general legal questions to Nurse Attorney Hahnah Williams, Esq, RN. Selected
questions and answers will appear in this “Ask A Nurse Attorney” column. To ask
Hahnah a question, email her at ask@hahnahwilliams.com. Your identity will not be
revealed.
About the Author
Hahnah Williams is an attorney and registered nurse in Georgia. As a dual
professional, Ms. Williams has a unique blend of education, training and experience
in the fields of medicine and law. Ms. Williams combined this knowledge and
experience to develop a law practice representing nurses, physicians, and other
healthcare professionals in licensing issues before their respective licensing Boards,
including the Georgia Board of Nursing. Hahnah also represents healthcare
professionals in medical malpractice defense cases. Hahnah has conducted several
seminars and webinars on legal issues in healthcare through her legal education
business “For the Scrubs.” For more information about Hahnah visit www.
forthescrubs.com
Disclaimer
It is important to note that Hahnah Williams’ responses are not specific legal
advice nor are they to be used as such. This column and Hahnah Williams’ posts
are for educational purposes only and should not be construed as specific legal or
other advice. Individuals who need legal advice should contact a nurse attorney or
attorney in their state.

May, June, July 2019 Georgia Nursing • Page 13
Stephan Davis,
DNP, MHSA, NEA-BC, CENP,
CNE, FACHE,
Director of Leadership
Development,
Georgia Nurses Association
As the board director of
leadership development for the
Georgia Nurses Association,
it gives me great pleasure to
feature Dr. Linda A. Streit, Dean of the Georgia Baptist
College of Nursing at Mercer University.
I came to know Dean Streit through my prior role
as the system director of academic partnerships for
WellStar Health System. In working with Dean Streit, it
became clear that she was a thoughtful and innovative
leader and committed to the advancement of the
nursing profession. Examples of this include Mercer’s
development and sponsorship of the Executive Nursing
Leadership Excellence Award at the annual Atlanta
Journal Constitution’s Celebrating Nursing Event and
the college’s recent creation of a one-year accelerated
bachelor of science in nursing program for nonnurses
with a bachelor’s degree in another field. These
initiatives reflect Dean Streit’s exemplary strategic
thinking, leadership and innovation.
In addition to being a thoughtful leader, Dean Streit
is also such a warm and genuine person. If you ever
have the pleasure of meeting her, I assure you that
she will listen to you attentively and provide words of
encouragement to support the achievement of your
goals. I am confident you will enjoy reading about Dean
Streit’s leadership journey as much as I did.
Linda A. Streit, Ph.D., RN
Dean and Professor
Georgia Baptist College of
Nursing
Mercer University
What inspired you to become
a nurse and pursue roles in
nursing leadership?
At an early age, I made the
decision to become either a
math teacher or a nurse. My parents encouraged me to
volunteer as a ‘candy striper’ to gain greater awareness
of the care provided by nurses. Candy stripers were
under the supervision of registered nurses and these
volunteers wore red and white striped pinafores, which
resembled candy canes. Hence the name candy striper.
The nurses were kind, took me under their wings, and
their support and mentorship led to my desire to be a
registered nurse. As a nurse, I could incorporate my
knowledge of science with my desire to care for patients
Nursing Leadership Perspectives on the Value of
Professional Association Involvement
and their families. From the moment I entered my
baccalaureate program, I knew I would pursue advanced
degrees. I valued education and I thrived on knowledge.
Clinical experience was also important to me. As a
newly minted RN, I began my career in the emergency
department at the very same hospital I served as a candy
striper. I would later move to another state and while in
Virginia Beach a director of nursing saw my potential.
This mentor recommended I consider graduate nursing
programs and progress into leadership positions. This is
where my leadership journey began. My first leadership
position was serving as a clinical nurse specialist in an
intensive care unit. My strong interest in teaching led
me to academia and over the years I completed my
doctorate in nursing and advanced through the ranks
up through professor. Making the decision to serve as
dean for nursing was a pivotal leadership moment for
me. Serving as dean has provided me with the ability
to support colleagues, students, and the profession.
Ultimately, my service in the position affirms my
professional fulfillment. Over my years of working as a
registered nurse, I have learned that leadership is truly
a choice and it is not defined by a title or position. I
encourage all nurses to seize their opportunities.
What do you see as the greatest leadership
development opportunities for nurses in the State
of Georgia?
The state of Georgia offers numerous leadership
opportunities for nurses. A key opportunity is focusing
on preparing a diversified and unified professional
nursing workforce which can work collaboratively to
meet the healthcare needs of society. An important
element is working as a unified professional team
to focus on achieving the highest targeted patient
outcomes. Nurse educators are in a unique position to
develop creative and innovative educational degree
programs to address the Georgia nursing workforce
shortage. Collaborative clinical partnerships are likely
to be integral to the success of nursing educational
programs.
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
It is also critical to acknowledge trailblazers within
the profession. Celebrating leaders is essential to team
building. National Nurses’ Week is often a time of
celebration. During this week Georgia celebrates at
the Atlanta Journal-Constitution Nursing Excellence
Awards Ceremony, which includes the Executive
Nursing Leadership Excellence Award. Georgia has been
instrumental in providing accolades to members of the
nursing profession who have been identified as leaders
of excellence. Confident, accomplished leaders inspire
those around them and we must always embrace time
to celebrate our professional achievements.
As a member of the Georgia Nurses Association,
what do you find valuable about your involvement
with the oldest professional nursing organization
in the state?
GNA remains committed to their mission and
vision of nurses shaping the future of professional
nursing for a healthier Georgia, as well as a promise to
provide opportunities for growth through energizing
experiences, empowering insight and essential
resources. Members are able to embrace a professional
group that values and supports professionals across all
specialties. This unified ‘nursing voice’ provides distinct
professional value through a commitment to education,
advancement of health policy, legislative advocacy with
supportive lobbyists, and most importantly working
to promote the health of all Georgians. GNA facilitates
the networking of nurses, which fosters a high-level
engagement to focus on improving the profession.
The fundamental core of healthcare is the nursing
profession. Membership in GNA strengthens all nursing
efforts within the state and serves as the key element
for promoting and advocating for Georgia nurses, the
nursing profession, and those who receive nursing care.
There’s no place like
NOME
$5,000 Sign on Bonus
Director of Nursing - LTC
RN/OB & RN Case Managers
Quality Improvement RN | RNs | LPNs
Contact Rose Marie at recruiter@nshcorp.org
or 877-538-3142 for more information
Nome, Alaska
www.nortonsoundhealth.org

Page 14 • Georgia Nursing May, June, July 2019
MEMBERSHIP
Georgia Nurses Association Political Action Committee
(GN-PAC)
About GN-PAC:
The Georgia Nurses Association Political Action Committee (GN-PAC) actively
and carefully reviews candidates for local, state and federal office. This consideration
includes the candidate’s record on nursing issues and value as an advocate for the
nursing profession. Your contribution to GN-PAC today will help GNA continue to
protect your ability to practice and earn a living in Georgia. Your contribution will
also support candidates for office who are strong advocates on behalf of nursing.
By contributing $25 or more, you’ll become a supporting member of GN-PAC. By
contributing $100 or more, you’ll become a full member of GN-PAC! The purpose
of the GN-PAC shall be to promote the improvement of the health care of the
citizens of Georgia by raising funds from within the nursing community and friends
of nursing and contributing to the support of worthy candidates for State office
who believe, and have demonstrated their belief, in the legislative objectives of the
Georgia Nurses Association.
TO DONATE VISIT:
https://georgianurses.nursingnetwork.com/page/75371-gn-pac
GEORGIA NURSES FOUNDATION
HONOR A NURSE
We all know a special nurse who makes a difference! Honor a nurse who has
touched your life as a friend, a caregiver, a mentor, an exemplary clinician, or an
outstanding teacher. Now is your opportunity to tell them “thank you.”
The Georgia Nurses Foundation (GNF) has the perfect thank you with its
“Honor a Nurse” program which tells the honorees that they are appreciated
for their quality of care, knowledge, and contributions to the profession.
Your contribution of at least $35.00 will honor your special nurse through the
support of programs and services of the Georgia Nurses Foundation. Your
honoree will receive a special acknowledgement letter in addition to a public
acknowledgement through our quarterly publication, Georgia Nursing, which
is distributed to more than 100,000 registered nurses and nursing students
throughout Georgia. The acknowledgement will state the name of the donor and
the honoree’s accomplishment, but will not include the amount of the donation.
Let someone know they make a difference by completing the form below and
returning it to the following address:
E-Store Now Open!
Purchase GNA merchandise at GNA’s Café Press online store!
Cups, bags, hats, t-shirts, hoodies, and more!
www.cafepress.com/georgianursesassociation
Georgia Nurses Foundation
3032 Briarcliff Road, NE | Atlanta, GA 30329
FAX: (404) 325-0407 | gna@georgianurses.org
(Please make checks payable to Georgia Nurses Foundation.)
I would like to Honor a Nurse:
Honoree:
Name:___________________________________________________
Email:___________________________________________________
Address:_________________________________________________
State/City:_______________________________Zip:____________
From:
Donor:__________________________________________________
Email:___________________________________________________
Address:_________________________________________________
State/City:_______________________________Zip:____________
Amount of Gift:___________________
MasterCard/Visa #:_____________________________ Exp Date:____________
Name on Card:______________________________________________________
My company will match my gift? __ YES (Please list employer and address
below.) ____ NO
Employer:________________________________________________
Address:_________________________________________________
The Georgia Nurses Foundation (GNF) is the charitable and philanthropic arm of GNA
supporting GNA and its work to foster the welfare and well being of nurses, promote
and advance the nursing profession, thereby enhancing the health of the public.
Benchmark Human Services
Now hiring for the following positions:
Registered Nurse (RN) & Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN)
Locations: Tifton, Acworth, Fort Valley/Kathleen
We offer competitive wages, performance bonuses, opportunities for career advancement,
and full-and-part-time openings for all shifts, including weekends! Benefits include medical
and dental insurance, flexible spending accounts, 401k with employer match, tuition
reimbursement, paid time off and sick time, and referral bonuses.
Valid State Nursing License and driver’s license required
Please send resume to lhorne@benchmarkhs.com
EEO and Affirmative Action Employer
Veterans, Women and Individuals with Disabilities encouraged to apply

May, June, July 2019 Georgia Nursing • Page 15
MEMBERSHIP
I Want to Get Involved: Joining and Creating a GNA Chapter
Are you interested in Palliative Care? Nurse
Navigation? Informatics?
Whatever your nursing passion may be, Georgia
Nurses Association (GNA) can help you connect with
your peers locally and across the state. Becoming
involved in your professional association is the first step
towards creating your personal career satisfaction and
connecting with your peers. Now, GNA has made it
easy for you to become involved according to your own
preferences.
Through GNA’s new member-driven chapter
structure, you can join multiple chapters and also
create your own chapter based on shared interests
where you can reap the benefits of energizing
experiences, empowering insight and essential
resources.
Visit https://georgianurses.nursingnetwork.com/
page/77581-chapter-chairs to view a list of current
GNA Chapters and Chapters Chair contact information.
DO YOU HAVE
A NURSE
LICENSE PLATE?
The Georgia Nurses Foundation (GNF) special nurse license
plate is available NOW at Georgia tag offices. Each nurse plate
sold results in revenue generated for GNF, which will be used for
nursing scholarships and workforce planning and development to
meet future needs. Show your support for the nursing profession
in Georgia by purchasing a special nurses license plate today! Get
details at http://www.georgianurses.org/?page=LicensePlate.
Connect with Chapter Chairs to find out when they will
hold their next Chapter meeting!
The steps you should follow to create a NEW GNA
chapter are below. If you have any questions, contact
the membership development committee or GNA
headquarters; specific contact information and more
details may be found at www.georgianurses.org.
1. Obtain a copy of GNA bylaws, policies and
procedures from www.georgianurses.org.
2. Gather together a minimum of 10 GNA
members who share similar interests.
3. Select a chapter chair.
4. Chapter chair forms a roster to verify roster
as current GNA members. This is done by
contacting headquarters at (404) 325-5536.
5. Identify and agree upon chapter purpose.
6. Decide on chapter name.
7. Submit information for application to become a
chapter to GNA Headquarters. Information to be
submitted includes the following:
To become a member of GNA please
review and submit our membership
application located on the homepage of
our website at www.georgianurses.org
Chapter chair name and chapter contact
information including an email,
Chapter name, Chapter purpose, and Chapter
roster.
8. The application will then go to the Membership
Development Committee who will forward it to
the Board of Directors. The Board will approve or
decline the application and notify the applicant
of its decision.
AUBURN UNIVERSITY SCHOOL OF NURSING
Assistant/Associate Professor
Tenure Track | 2 positions
Minimum Qualifications for Tenure Track:
Requires an earned Ph.D in a relevant discipline, Masters in
Nursing and BSN with a specialty in Adult Health/Medical Surgical,
Pediatrics, Community Health, Maternal Health and Mental
Health and must have current clinical skills. Must be eligible for
Alabama RN License and meet eligibility requirements to work
in the United States at the time the appointment is scheduled to
begin and continue working legally for the proposed term of the
employment at the time employment begins.
Review of applicants will begin April 22, 2019
Candidates should use the following link to apply:
aufacultypositions.peopleadmin.com/postings/3445
Auburn University is an EEO/
Vet/Disability employer.
As a GNA Member, you are part
of the largest Nursing association
in the State of Georgia.
Other benefits include:
• Active representation at the State
Legislature by respected professional
lobbyists
• Opportunity to serve as a GNA Board and/
or Committee Member*
• Access to shared-interest and local
chapters, and avenues to connect with
leaders in the profession
• Participation in the Biennial Professional
Development Conference and Membership
Assembly
• Hot-off-the press legislative updates that
affect the nursing profession
• Member-only access to ANA’s Nurse Space
• Free access to The Online Journal of Issues
in Nursing (OJIN)
• Free subscription to The American Nurse
Today - the official journal of ANA
• Discounts at NursesBook.Org
• Access to free and discounted webinars at
Navigate Nursing Webinars
• LARGEST discount on initial ANCC
certification ($120/full members only)
• LARGEST discount on ANCC recertification
($150/full members only)
Member Lifestyle Benefits
We partnered with trusted organizations to
meet the needs of our members beyond the
professional scope so that at the end of a long
day or week they can focus on what matters
the most: enjoying life with their loved ones.
GNA Members receive exclusive access
to valuable retail, hospitality and financial
planning discounts and services at:
*Serving as a GNA Board Member is subject to
running in and winning the GNA Board of Directors’
Election for the position of interest.