2021 TNA Virtual Conference
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<strong>TNA</strong> VIRTUAL CONFERENCE | <strong>2021</strong>: YEAR OF THE NURSE 2.0 - ONE YEAR WASN’T ENOUGH<br />
Welcome from the Executive Director<br />
Tina Gerardi, MS, RN, CAE<br />
Welcome to the <strong>2021</strong> Tennessee Nurses Association (<strong>TNA</strong>) <strong>Virtual</strong> Annual <strong>Conference</strong>.<br />
The Board of Directors and staff were looking forward to having this conference be our<br />
first in-person event since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic. COVID, however,<br />
had other ideas, and out of an abundance of caution, the Board decided to go virtual<br />
again this year. I will miss saying goodbye to all of you personally, as this is my final<br />
conference as the Executive Director of <strong>TNA</strong>. I will be retiring at the conclusion of the<br />
conference and look forward to having you welcome Kirk Lawson as the new <strong>TNA</strong><br />
Executive Director.<br />
Throughout 2020 and <strong>2021</strong>, the globe has witnessed in real-time the incredible<br />
impact that nurses and nursing have on public health, healthcare delivery, and the human essence of caring<br />
while delivering high-quality care to everyone across Tennessee, the country, and around the world. <strong>TNA</strong><br />
continues to honor that impact with the conference theme, Year of the Nurse 2.0: One Year Wasn’t Enough.<br />
We acknowledge how physically, mentally, and emotionally depleted many of you are and honor all that you<br />
have done to support your patients, students, and communities throughout the pandemic.<br />
The conference planning committee hopes you will see the theme of self-care throughout the conference.<br />
There will be a general session on racism, diversity, and inclusion featuring <strong>TNA</strong> member panelists sharing<br />
their own first-hand accounts of the struggle for inclusivity and equity in nursing. The Membership<br />
Assembly will convene to do the work of the Association – reviewing resolutions and setting direction and<br />
priorities for the upcoming year, as well as electing new members of the board of directors. You will be able<br />
to receive 4.5 contact hours for taking concurrent educational sessions during the virtual conference and<br />
receive up to 9.5 contact hours for taking additional sessions after the conference concludes.<br />
Since we cannot have our regular fundraisers for the Foundation and PAC, please go to the <strong>TNA</strong> website<br />
and donate to the Foundation https://tna.nursingnetwork.com/page/94390-donate-to-tnf and to the PAC<br />
https://tna.nursingnetwork.com/page/94251-donate-to-tn-nurse-pac. A $25 donation or a donation of any<br />
size will be greatly appreciated. Please visit the sponsors’ pages on the <strong>TNA</strong> website. <strong>TNA</strong> could not provide<br />
the conference the way we do without their financial support.<br />
I hope you all enjoy, learn, support each other, and have fun! I wish you a fond farewell and best wishes for<br />
continued success as the premier nurses association in Tennessee.<br />
Warmest regards,<br />
Tina<br />
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