Ohio Nurses Review - December 2020

CEO’S MESSAGE
By Lisa Ochs, CEO
Dear ONA Members,
As the year 2020 comes to an end, we cannot help but reflect on
the difficult and good times of the year.
The World Health Organization named 2020 The Year of the
Nurse and I know we all had great anticipation. As the year
2020 approached, our organization looked forward to what the
new year would bring and how ONA would celebrate the great
work of our nurses. We learned quickly that indeed 2020 would
be the Year of the Nurse and nurses would be the lifeline across
the world.
As we approached March and were preparing for a sold-out
Nurses Day at the Statehouse, COVID-19 came to the forefront.
It quickly became clear that we would need to cancel our event.
Although we were unable to hold Nurses Day at the Statehouse,
we were actively engaged in the General Assembly; especially
regarding COVID-19 and HB 144.
During mid-March, ONA staff were on calls with the
Governor’s office and CDC to gain the latest information
surrounding the virus. Our staff worked diligently to provide
the latest information regarding COVID-19 and toiled through
PPE challenges that were facing our bedside nurses. We held
tele-town events to hear from our members and to help them
navigate the impact the virus was having on their jobs and their
health. We were fortunate to have experts in the area of human
resources, employment law and healthcare to assist our many
members who were experiencing legal and financial challenges
as a result of the virus.
help our nurses stay safe. Through their generosity, we were able
to provide surgical masks, face shields, wipes and other PPE.
Unfortunately, ONA was unable to secure N95 masks.
In October, we were fortunate to receive 10,000 N95 masks
from AFT to share with nurses across the state. We are grateful
to AFT and all organizations that were able to help our nurses
who were helping everyone else.
The Year of the Nurse was a year of adapting to the “new
normal.” Our academic nurses were challenged to provide
virtual classes to prepare our future nurses. Somehow, they rose
above the difficulties and managed to find a way.
Not only were our academic nurses challenged to work virtually,
ONA was forced to adapt with staff working remotely while
cancelling some events and offering new ones. Among events
cancelled was the Special House of Delegates meeting slated
for October. With the “new normal,” ONA made the decision
to offer almost all CEs free to our members and utilization
dramatically increased. Our ONA Board of Directors worked
through these unprecedented times by holding virtual board
meetings to fulfill their responsibilities, complete strategic
planning and continue to move the organization forward.
2020 has truly been the Year of the Nurse and our country saw
firsthand why nursing is hailed as the most trusted profession
year after year. While this year has been difficult, I have been
privileged to work for an organization that serves such an
honorable profession.
As COVID-19 grew in strength, so did the resolve of our bedside
nurses who worked day and night to help our communities’ most
vulnerable. While many of our nurses worked in hospitals, many
became ill with COVID-19. And yet, they healed and went back
to work to help those in need. Many of our bedside nurses stayed
away from their families to keep them safe from the virus. To
assist them, we were able to provide gift bags with toiletries
from generous donors on Amazon Smile. Staff put bags together
for our nurses on the frontline.
There was a great deal of chaos around COVID-19 and our
nurses were greatly impacted with PPE shortages. Our nurses
were going into battle with an invisible enemy and they
didn’t have the PPE needed to protect them. The Ohio Nurses
Foundation Board was committed to donating funds to purchase
PPE and other needs. Through ONF, we were also able to team
up with companies such as Homage and Arlene’s Candles to
4 | Ohio Nurses Review | Volume 95, Issue 4 | www.ohnurses.org