Tennessee Nurse - May 2021

May, June, July 2021 Tennessee Nurse Page 3
From the Executive
Director
Tina Gerardi, MS, RN, CAE
I am looking forward to the beginning of Summer.
Summertime for me is a time to relax and renew with family
and friends. My wish is that since most of you have been fully
vaccinated that you will be able to do this over the next few
months. I hope you have enjoyed the Nurses Month activities
and reading about TNA members featured on the TNA
Facebook page during the month of May and are as inspired
as I was by their work and commitment to advancing the
profession.
The Tennessee Nurses Foundation has begun selling
merchandise on Bonfire to help support the work of the
Foundation, including nurse scholarships and grants. Tina Gerardi
Merchandise is available for purchase at https://www.bonfire.
com/store/tennessee-nurses-foundation/ More selection will be added over the next few
months.
TNA has worked tirelessly during the legislative session to update nursing practice,
increase penalties for assaulting nurses, increase the number of school nurses, and
improve legislation related to the use of graduate nurses and medical assistants. For more
details, review the legislative update.
We are beginning work to bring you all an exciting annual conference on October
14-16 in Chattanooga. Please consider submitting an abstract for a poster or podium
session. TNA is also soliciting a call for nominations for the offices of secretary, director
for operations, director for governmental affairs, director for practice, and TNA
representatives to the ANA Membership Assembly. To learn more about TNA and
leadership opportunities within TNA, please make plans to attend the TNA Leadership
Boot Camp on June 12. This will be a half-day virtual event.
Finally, as I looked back on the one-year anniversary of the pandemic, I took time to
pause and evaluate my life and what was most important to me. Having spent some
portion of the year working virtually from my home in Florida and being closer to family
and friends there, I made the decision that it was time for me to retire from full-time
employment. I always promised myself that if I was not 100% committed to my position,
it was time to move on. I found myself in that position and decided to submit my intent
to retire to the Board in March. I am happy to continue working through conference
2021 and look forward to seeing many of you there to celebrate the Year of the Nurse 2.0
because one year was not enough!! Wishing you all a Happy Memorial Day weekend –
please take time to reflect, relax and renew!!
From the President
Carla Kirkland
MSN, APRN, ACNP-BC, FNP-BC, ENP-BC
This time last year, I was thinking, “Surely this epidemic
stuff will be much better by the end of October, and we
can still have our annual TNA conference in person, maybe
with some safety measures.” As you know, we ended up
switching to a virtual conference last year, which was well
received and well attended by our nurses. BUT, I’m so
ready to see everyone again! I’m back to being cautiously
optimistic that we will be able to meet in person this
year. And I’m excited that we will be in Chattanooga! If
you haven’t been to a TNA annual conference before,
the educational offerings are always amazing; members
receive insight and updates on the workings of the Carla Kirland
Association, the Foundation, Government Affairs, and
the TN Nurses PAC, are able to vote on candidates for the TNA Board of Directors
and other matters affecting the Association at Membership Assembly; and the
networking with other nurses from around the state IS.THE.BEST!
Another huge reason to attend conference this year is to say farewell and
express our tremendous gratitude to our TNA Executive Director, Tina Gerardi. As
you have heard by now, Tina has decided it is time to retire. We wish her only the
best! Tina has been wonderful to work with and has done an exceptional job being
the face and voice of the Association, especially over the past year as she advocated
for PPE and other essential supplies for health care workers during the pandemic,
provided updated COVID-19 information to nurses and the public, and worked with
other organizations and coalitions for improved health care in our state. Tina has
had an active voice in health policy at the state and Federal level, working with ANA
and AANP, and advocating with our legislators for Full Practice Authority for APRNs,
stronger laws regarding violence against nurses, improved school nurse ratios,
protecting the title “nurse,” and many others. Her experience and expertise have
enriched the Tennessee Nurses Association and the Tennessee Nurses Foundation
under her leadership!
Thank you for your continued stamina and resilience! Thank you for your
continued membership and support of TNA. I look forward to seeing you at the TNA
Annual Conference October, 14-16 at The Chattanoogan Hotel!
TNA/TNF Seeking
Dynamic Leader
Executive Director for the Tennessee
Nurses Association (TNA) &
Tennessee Nurses Foundation (TNF)
The Tennessee Nurses Association is a non-profit membership organization
representing the interests of registered nurses in the state of Tennessee.
TNA’s vision is to be the unifying voice for nursing in Tennessee to positively
influence the future of healthcare. The Association’s mission is to empower the
registered nurse, advocate for the practice of nursing, and champion quality
health care for all Tennesseans. The Tennessee Nurses Foundation is a
charitable organization formed to provide a mechanism for supporting
programs that meet the special needs of TNA members and other nurses in
Tennessee. The goals of TNF are to promote the professional image of nursing;
support nursing education; facilitate leadership development, encourage
nursing research, and support professional health and wellness.
The Executive Director is a representative of the TNA/TNF mission, vision,
and goals to the public, community partners, legislators, and membership.
The Executive Director will report directly to the TNA/TNF Board of Directors
and will manage the day-to-day operations of the TNA office and staff. The
five key areas of responsibilities include: leadership and management;
financial and legal; communications; advocacy and engagement; and
membership and development.
Graduate education required, with executive leadership experience
or management experience in a healthcare organization or healthcare
membership association. Registered nurse preferred.
Interested applicants should submit queries and CVs to: Diane Cunningham, TNA
Office Manager via email: Diane.Cunningham@tnaonline.org or visit https://tnna.
associationcareernetwork.com/job/executive-director/56867895/
Tennessee Board of Nursing
Appoints New Executive Director
Effective March 7, 2021, Sherry Richardson was appointed
Executive Director of the Tennessee Board of Nursing. Sherry
said, “It has been a pleasure to work with the Board for over
five years, serving in the interim director role for the past
year and as a nurse consultant. I am thankful for the support
I have received and look forward to continuing to work with
our applicants, licensees, facilities, and organizations.”
During Sherry’s time with the Tennessee Board of
Nursing, she has had the privilege of working with schools
of nursing, board members, facilities, and professional
organizations. She currently serves as a Nurse Licensure
Compact Commissioner for Tennessee with the National
Council of State Boards of Nursing (NCSBN) as well as a
Sherry Richardson,
MSN, RN, CMSRN
member of the Leadership Succession Committee. Sherry previously served on the
NCLEX Item Review Subcommittee for three years.
Sherry began her nursing career in 1997 with an associate degree from Columbia
State Community College. She later completed her BSN at MTSU and an MSN at
APSU. Sherry has been a Certified Med-Surg Nurse since 2007. Prior to her time at
the Board of Nursing, she devoted 13 years to nursing education as an instructor
and program director at TCAT-Hohenwald, coordinating nursing education, surgical
technology, and nurse assistant programs in four rural counties. Her previous practice
experience includes Med-Surg, OR/PACU, mental health, geriatrics, and hospice care.
Sherry also volunteered to teach BLS/CPR classes for Girl Scouts, local rescue squad
members, and middle school health classes.
Let us care for your career.
Call 931-438-7380 or visit
LincolnHealthSystem.com to apply.
Sign on Bonus & Incentives Available!
Lincoln Health System is looking for
exceptional RNs and LPNs to help
us care for our community.