South Dakota Nurse - August 2022

South Dakota 

NURSE 

THE OFFICIAL PUBLICATION OF THE SOUTH DAKOTA NURSES ASSOCIATION 

Vol. 13 • Number 3 Quarterly publication distributed to approximately 16,450 Registered Nurses and Licensed Practical Nurses in South Dakota 

AUGUST 2022 

By M. Claire May, South 

Dakota Nurses Foundation 

Community Board Member 

Drive, Dedication, Hard Work, and Mindfulness 

Assuredly, it does take plenty 

of drive, dedication, hard work, 

and mindfulness to complete a 

Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) 

at Northern Kentucky University 

in Highlands Heights, KY, in 

2022. In addition to her graduate 

studies, this South Dakota Nurses 

Foundation 2021 SDNF Scholarship recipient fulfills her 

responsibilities to the South Dakota State University (SDSU), 

Aberdeen, College of Nursing Accelerated BSN program 

students as a full-time lecturer. Furthermore, she is on call as 

needed as an Intensive Care Unit (ICU) staff nurse at Avera 

St. Luke's, Aberdeen, SD. This phenomenally focused woman 

is none other than Instructor Lyncee Monson. 

Monson tells her story. 

“I was born and raised in [Groton, SD], graduating from 

Groton High School and [getting] my bachelor's in Nursing 

at Presentation College in Aberdeen, SD. My background 

in healthcare began in my teens when I took a position as 

a Certified Nursing Assistant at a local nursing home. I 

come from a long line of healthcare workers, and despite my 

desire to ‘do something different,’ I ended up accepting the 

calling and began my career as a Registered Nurse in 2001. 

“My clinical practice began on the Medical floor at 

Avera St. Luke's [Aberdeen, SD], and I soon went on to 

work in Intensive Care, Cardiac Rehab, and as a House 

Supervisor. In 2006, I also took an adjunct position as a 

clinical instructor and really enjoyed training nursing 

students. I continued to work as a clinical instructor for 

both PC [Presentation College] and SDSU. In 2014, I 

graduated with my Master's in Nursing Education from 

Western Governor's University [Salt Lake City, Utah]. 

“In 2015 I took a full-time position at SDSU. I continue 

to keep an active clinical practice working as a staff nurse 

in both ICU and Cardiac Rehab. I live in rural Groton, SD, 

with my two daughters, Hailey and Hannah. I am excited 

that both of my daughters are interested in healthcare 

careers. Hailey, 19, is beginning her nursing courses this 

fall at SDSU in Brookings, and Hannah will be a junior at 

Groton High School.” 

current resident or 

Presort Standard 

US Postage 

PAID 

Permit #14 

Princeton, MN 

55371 

Monson chose the DNP program as it is a practicefocused 

doctorate. “I am very passionate about education. 

I believe that effective nurse educators have a strong 

background in practice and should be able to integrate 

current practice with progressive, evidence-based theory.” 

“While the most common doctorate for educators 

is the PhD, the DNP can be better suited for the nurse 

educator. A PhD is focused on research, while the DNP 

prepared educator has a strong background in clinical, 

are considered practice experts, and can help students 

effectively integrate evidence-based practice into all 

elements of patient care,” she elaborated. Monson’s bottom 

line is patient safety and promoting collaboration amongst 

professions to assure the best possible care for patients. 

“The DNP nurse will evaluate research, collate 

best practices, and initiate practice changes to improve 

healthcare practice. Currently, I am working on an 

onboarding program for new graduate nurses to ease the 

transition into practice, improve critical thinking skills, and 

build resiliency amongst new nurses through simulation 

activities, didactic coursework, and reflective discussion.” 

Monson seeks to influence change in the nursing 

practice. “I hope to work with nurse scientists to lead 

change in my practice setting where currently only one 

bedside nurse has a doctorate.” In healthcare, change is 

inevitable and necessary to assure good patient outcomes. 

Monson clarified her role as an educator. “I am 

challenged to facilitate effective learning, communicate 

clearly, and help students develop critical thinking skills. 

Through assessment, I can identify the experiences and 

skills that the student brings and implement teaching 

approaches that affirms the student and supports them in 

constructing meaningful nursing knowledge and skills.” 

“My greatest strength is probably my ability to bring 

a personal touch to teaching and patient care in the form 

of humor and storytelling,” interjected Monson. “I find 

that adding humor helps to reduce stress and tension, 

improves retention of information, and promotes creative 

understanding. Demonstrating a good sense of humor can 

help the new graduate nurse to develop their own coping 

strategies, which will benefit them throughout their 

careers and help to relieve stress, prevent burnout, and 

increase job satisfaction.” 

She added, “I like to interweave my instruction 

with personal stories to help them visualize a scenario, 

Index 

2022 South Dakota Nurses Foundation Scholarships .. 3 

President’s Message .........................3 

District News ..............................4 

2022 SDNA Annual Convention ...............5 

SDNA Candidates for Office. .................6 

Welcome New Members. .....................7 

2022 SDNA Calendar of Events. ...............7 

helping them retain the content and principles that 

I am trying to teach. It is important that education 

includes the opportunity to role model patient advocacy, 

professionalism, and the EBP change process. Storytelling 

is a fundamental component of effective teaching, and 

sharing my personal stories of how patient advocacy and 

EBP positively impacted a patient helps light that fire in 

our next generation of nurses.” 

Monson's doctorate project is titled “Supporting 

New Nurse Transition into Practice: Development of 

a Structured Orientation Program.” “This project was 

designed at the request of my practice facility in order 

to create an organized approach to orientation of new 

graduates to facilitate an improved transition into 

practice. This project has included the restructuring of the 

orientation competency checklist, integration of a learning 

management system, development of didactic coursework, 

creation of an unfolding simulation, and design of a 

debriefing exercise to promote critical thinking and 

resiliency in practice," she said. 

Not only is she driven by her passion for the profession, 

Monson also finds inspiration through her colleagues and 

family. "I have been lucky enough to have an amazing 

group of family and friends that have helped me become 

who I am today. Professionally, I have been exposed to so 

many amazing nurses, both educators and practice nurses. 

Lastly, I certainly wouldn't be the person I am today 

without learning from the patients and students that have 

been in my life. They have all taught me the strength of 

the human spirit!" 

On a personal note, Monson and her daughters enjoy 

camping, girl trips, and will “travel to anywhere with a 

beach.” Monson’s bucket list includes “a trip to Europe.” 

The fourth member of the family, Rylee, a Treeing Walker 

Coonhound, does not do much traveling with the family 

because “she howls too much.” 

“Drive, dedication, hard work, and insight/ 

mindfulness” are the pillars that anchor Monson as she 

completes the excellent work of the DNP that she has 

begun. As a future Doctor of Nursing Practice, Monson 

sees "the potential to revolutionize the current healthcare 

system and contribute meaningfully to the evolution of our 

profession in education, practice, research, and service to 

our communities.” 

The SDNF awards scholarships to nurses who reflect 

the foundation's education, research, and service purposes. 

Find details at https://sdnursesassociation.nursingnetwork. 

com/page/72461-scholarship-applications 

Auction Items Needed. .......................8 

Membership Application .....................8 

WHY NURSING? ..........................9 

American Nurses Association Elects Jennifer Mensik 

Kennedy As New National President. .............9 

ANA’s Racial Reckoning Statement. ........... 10

Page 2 South Dakota Nurse August, September, October 2022 

SDNA Board of Directors 

President 

Term: 2021-2023 

Deb Fischer Clemens 

District 10 

deb.fischerclemens@avera.org 

Vice President 

Term: 2021-2023 

Kay Foland 

District 1, 2, 3 

Office: 605.394.2878 

kay.foland@sdstate.edu 

Secretary 

Term: 2020-2022 

Dawn R. Warren 

District 2 

Office: 605.791.6348 

dawn.warren@usd.edu 

Treasurer 

Term: 2021-2023 

Sara Watson 

District 5-7 

sara@prnpros.net 

Government Relations 

Committee (GRC) Chair 


Ashley Kingdon-Reese 

District 5-7 

Huron, SD 

AshleyK@IndependentHealthSD.com 

W: 605.352.4663 

President, District 1-3 


Linda Wolden 

lrwolden@gmail.com 

President, District 4 

Term: 2022-2024 

Carrie Clausen-Hansen 

carrie.clausenhansen@yahoo.com 

President, District 5-7 

Term: 2020-2021 

Sara Watson 


President, District 8 & 9 

Term: 2021-2023 

Venita Winterboer 

venita.winterboer@sdstate.edu 


Term 2020-2022 

Gala Woitte 

gwoitte@gmail.com 

Cell: 605-376-8639 


Term: 2021-2023 

Charlene Bierema 

biecrn@yahoo.com 

SDNA Staff 

Eric Ollila 

Executive Director 

PO Box 1015 Pierre SD 57501 

Phone: 271.7708 

Fax: 888.600.1232 

contactus@sdnurses.org 

Revised Feb. 2021 

The SOUTH DAKOTA NURSE is published quarterly 

every February, May, August and November by the South 

Dakota Nurses Association (a constituent member of 

the American Nurses Association) and Arthur L. Davis 

Publishing Agency, Inc. All rights reserved by copyright. 

This newspaper or parts there of must not be reproduced in 

any form without permission in writing from the publishers. 

ADVERTISING 

For advertising rates and information, please contact 

Arthur L. Davis Publishing Agency, Inc., PO Box 216, 

Cedar Falls, Iowa 50613, (800) 626-4081. SDNA 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 South Dakota Nurses Association 

of products advertised, the advertisers, or the claims 

made. Rejection of an advertisement does not imply a 

product offered for advertising is without merit, or that 

the manufacturer lacks integrity, or that this association 

disapproves of the product or its use. SDNA 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 SDNA 

or those of the national or local associations. 

CIRCULATION, ARTICLES, LETTER TO THE EDITOR, 

ETC. 2022 deadlines for articles submitted to the South 

Dakota Nurse: October 7 – November issue. 

The South Dakota Nurse accepts and encourages 

manuscripts or editorials. We will determine which letters 

and articles are printed by the availability of publication 

space and appropriateness of the material. We welcome 

signed letters of 300 words or less, typed and double spaced 

and articles of 1,500 words or less. All materials should be 

mailed to: South Dakota Nurses Association, P.O. Box 1015, 

Pierre, SD 57501 or e-mailed to: contactus@sdnurses.org. 

The views expressed in the articles and editorials are those 

of the individual contributors and do not necessarily reflect 

the viewpoint of SDNA. 

South Dakota Nurse is the newsletter of the South Dakota 

Nurses Association. Direct inquiries about SDNA or this 

newsletter to: 

South Dakota Nurses Association 

PO Box 1015, Pierre, SD 57501 

Phone: 605-945-4265 

Fax: 1-888-600-1232 

Email: contactus@sdnurses.org 

Website: www.sdnursesassociation.org 

‘Like’ us on Facebook! 

www.facebook.com/sdnurses 

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To learn more or to apply, visit www.universalpediatrics.com

August, September, October 2022 South Dakota Nurse Page 3 

2022 South Dakota Nurses 

Foundation Scholarships 

October 1st Deadline 

President’s 

Message 

Carman Timmerman, EdD, RN (ret.) 

SDNF Treasurer and 

Scholarship Committee Chair 

With appreciation for the many individuals who’ve 

contributed to the South Dakota Nurses Foundation, 

the South Dakota Nurses Foundations is proud to offer 

these scholarships for nurses advancing their education. 

Here are the details about the 2022 scholarships: 

South Dakota Nurses Foundation 

Scholarship (1 available): 

Amount—$2000 

Purpose—To support a registered nurse pursuing 

a master’s or doctoral degree with the career goal of 

education program. 

Criteria 

1. Current South Dakota resident. 

2. Current South Dakota RN license. 

3. Member of SDNA for at least one year. 

4. Graduate student pursuing a master’s or doctoral 

degree in nursing or a related field in an 

accredited program with the goal of practicing 

nursing in a South Dakota high need area or 

teaching in a South Dakota baccalaureate or 

higher degree nursing education program. 

5. Cumulative GPA 3.0 or higher upon completion 

of highest degree, i.e., baccalaureate nursing 

program or master’s in nursing program. 

6. Career goals and personal qualities congruent 

with South Dakota Nurses Foundation purposes. 

7. Evidence of leadership, compassion, involvement 

in professional organization(s), professional 

activities, and community service. 

Rita H. Walsh Scholarship (2 available): 


Purpose—To support a person pursuing a nursing 

education. The scholarship will be awarded annually for 

the spring semester. 

Criteria (please note these are NEW, and 

BROADER criteria) 


2. Current South Dakota RN license if an RN. 

3. A student pursuing a bachelor’s degree (or higher) 

in nursing. 

4. Demonstrates the qualities of patient advocacy, 

patient education, compassion and leadership. 

Marianne M. Stenvig Scholarship 

(1 available): 


Purpose—To support a male registered nurse in 

pursuit of his educational goals. 

Criteria 


2. Current South Dakota RN license. 

3. Male RN pursuing a graduate degree in nursing 

(preferred) or a related field in an accredited 

program. 

4. SDNA membership preferred. 

5. Career goals consistent with South Dakota Nurses 

Foundation purposes of education, research and 

service. 

6. Evidence of leadership, compassion, involvement 

in professional organization(s), professional 

activities, and community service. 

Dr. Carl and Leona Stadler Scholarship 

(1 available) 

Amount—$500 (may be funded for a second year if 

eligible) 

Purpose—To support a Native American student’s 

nursing education. 

Criteria 

1. South Dakota resident. 

2. Enrolled member of a recognized tribal nation in 

South Dakota. 

3. Admitted to the South Dakota State University 

College of Nursing. 

4. Documentation of enrollment in Semester 1 or 2 

of the standard undergraduate nursing major at 

Rapid City site. 

5. Documentation of tribal enrollment (form BIA- 

4432 or equivalent). 

6. Application must include a 500-word essay 

describing “My Passion for Learning.” 

7. Selected scholarship recipients who remain 

in good standing will be funded for a second 

consecutive year without reapplication. 

Scholarships’ Application Deadline: 

A postmark or email date of October 1, 2022 is 

the deadline for the South Dakota Nurses Foundation 

Scholarships. 

Award Date for Scholarships: Fall 2022 

Applying for More Than One 

Scholarship: 

If you meet the criteria for more than one 

scholarship, consider applying for more than one 

scholarship. 

Application Materials for Scholarships: 

Access the South Dakota Nurses Association (SDNA) 

website at www.sdnursesassociation.org / South Dakota 

Nurses Foundation / Scholarships. Alternatively, 

contact the South Dakota Nurses Association office at 

contactus@sdnurses.org or 605.945.4265. 

Questions About Scholarship Eligibility 

and Applications: 

Contact Carman Timmerman, SDNF Scholarship 

Chair and SDNF Treasurer, at 605.391.4053 or 

carmantimmerman@gmail.com. 

Supporting the South Dakota Nurse 

Foundation: 

The fact that these scholarships are available 

underscores the generosity of South Dakota nurses as 

well as their families and friends. We thank you for 

that generosity. If you are interested in donating to 

the South Dakota Nurses Foundation, your gift will 

help sustain the Foundation’s efforts to endorse the 

nursing profession as SDNF promotes positive health 

care changes in South Dakota. Please make your check 

payable to South Dakota Nurses Foundation Fund 

and send your check to South Dakota Community 

Foundation ~ Box 296 ~ Pierre, SD 57501. 

SDNA Convention to 

be in Sioux Falls in 

October; and Time to 

pass Amendment D 

Deb Fischer Clemens, President, SDNA 

Happy Summer. I am not 

sure about you, but I am finding 

it hard to believe we only have 

half of the summer left. My 

advice is to take time to enjoy 

this South Dakota summer. 

One thing that brings my 

thoughts to the fall is the 

planning for our annual SDNA 

Convention. As chair of the 

planning committee, our group 

has put together a powerful group 

of nurse leaders to provide panel 

discussions. The convention Deb Fischertheme 

of “Better Together – Clemens 

Nurses are Community” provides the opportunity to learn 

and discuss the roles and work of nurses in our community 

outside of the hospital and long-term care environment. As 

you consider attendance for the event on October 2nd & 3rd 

at the Sioux Falls Ramkota, plan to be wowed by the work 

of these community nurse leaders. 

We will hear about school nurses, community health 

workers, legislators, palliative care network and state 

department nurses. I am confident that it will be a 

valuable learning experience. I am excited to see you 

all and hear how you are all doing. Plan to bring an 

auction item. 

As I close this out let me add one thing about 

Medicaid Expansion. Effective Monday July 11th at 

5:00pm IM28 was pulled from the ballot by the sponsor. 

We are grateful to have all Medicaid Expansion 

supporters working together now to pass Amendment D. 

It is exciting to have the Dakotan for Health volunteers 

joining with the strongest, broadest, bipartisan coalition 

members. From the beginning as history tells us that 

a Constitutional Amendment is the way to achieve our 

goal of expansion for the working poor to have access to 

Medicaid by July 2023. 

Thank you in advance for any help you can provide 

in speaking to others and asking for support of 

Amendment D. 

Do you want off rotating shifts? Do you want 

holidays off? Do you want the possibility of 

working a condensed workweek? 

This could be for you! 

The South Dakota Department of Health 

is hiring a full time Registered Nurse II/ 

Health Facilities Surveyor. 

Areas surveyed include nursing practices, 

medication administration and pharmaceutical 

standards of care, patient activities, dietary, 

infection control, resident rights, and physical 

environment. The Surveyor’s role is to ensure 

compliance with state and federal regulations 

for the protection of health and safety hazards. 

Travel and get paid per diem, as well as the 

use of a state vehicle while on the road. These 

position(s) have the option of being located in 

multiple locations throughout the State. 

Come join us! 

For more information and to apply, please go 

to http://bhr.sd.gov/workforus 

or contact any South Dakota Department of 

Labor and Regulation Local Office.


District News 

District 1, 2, 3 Report 

We met with a hybrid meeting on 6/16/2022 at 

Minerva’s Restaurant and with members also attending 

by Zoom. Our May meeting to celebrate Nurses’ Week 

was postponed due to myself contracting Covid. Our 

meeting’s highlight was our guest speaker: Yuliya 

Grassby, a nurse originally from Ukraine. She did not 

pursue getting her RN licensure after her entry to the 

US but pursued additional education with a degree in 

Healthcare Administration and has worked in several 

capacities for the past 20 years. She is currently with 

Phoenix University’s nursing program in compliance 

and licensure. Her presentation focused on her mission 

trip home several years ago and noted that war injuries 

from Russian aggression has been ongoing since 2014. 

An overview of Ukraine since 2000 provided a very 

interesting and informative presentation. Ms. Grassby 

provided information on where donations are best 

utilized for the current war. Her parents and other 

family members remain in Ukraine and currently are 

safe. 

The limitations of a individual Zoom account was 

noted in time (40 min) and that holding a Zoom in a 

public place was not conducive for the participation of 

the Zoom audience. 

Our next meeting is scheduled for August 9, 2022 

at 5pm, this will be held by Zoom due to my absence. 

Topics will include: donation to a Ukraine support 

agency, convention auction items, nominations for 

award recipients, setting topics for future meetings and 

meeting frequency. 

A PDF with information presented by Ms. Grassby 

and the suggested agencies for donations can be 

forwarded to any interested parties. 

Linda Wolden, RN, BSN, District 1,2,3 President 

lrwolden@gmail.com 605 381 1289 

District 5-7 Report 

Hello, fellow nurses. 

Are you ready to get involved? Let me tell you how; 

we currently have leadership positions available right 

here in Districts 5-7. Feel free to reach out to me via 

email, text, or phone call to serve today. 

District 5-7 is a strong supporter of future nurses 

in South Dakota. We have the pleasure of five nursing 

schools in our districts. Shout out to Faculty and 

students at Lake Area Technical College, Sinte Gleska 

University, Dakota Wesleyan University, Mitchell 

Technical College, and Southeast Technical College. 

Our social media following on Facebook has been 

continuing to grow. Everyone is welcome to follow 

us and check out giveaways of donated prizes, news, 

articles, statics, and events both locally and at the state 

level. 

Just a reminder Ashley Kingdon-Reese from our 

district is running for GRC chair again so don’t forget to 

vote. There are many great future leaders of the SDNA 

board awaiting to serve as you vote them into office this 

fall. It will be awesome to connect with you all at the 

Annual Convention in Sioux Falls on Sunday, October 

2, 2022, from 8:00 am CT - Monday, October 3, 2022, 

at 4:00 pm CT2022! 3200 W Maple St. Sioux Falls, SD 

57107 don’t forget to register. 

District 5-7 would like to remind its members 

that nominations are due by September 1, so let’s 

highlight nurses in our districts and celebrate them 

with nominating for the following awards: District 

Nurse of the Year Award, Rookie of the Year Award, 

Distinguished Service Award, Nursing Practice Award, 

Joy of Nursing Award, Pioneer in Nursing Award, The 

Nurse Educator Award, SDNA Hall of Fame Award. 

Can’t wait to celebrate the awesome nurses of District 

5-7! Ashley and I are serving locally on the nursing 

taskforce to address how the Huron area can: 

1) Maintain and sustain the nursing programs and 

expand opportunities of support for addition 

health care roles in community. 

2) Ensure enrollment 

3) Develop strategies so students stay in our 

community 

It has been awesome to connect with many caring 

community leaders at the HRMC hosted meeting. The 

group is mixed members who are stakeholders in the 

future of our profession. 

The last area I have been working on is planning for 

the 2023 Annual Nursing Convention hosted by District 

5-7 next year. We are forming planning committees 

with district members. 

The committees are: 

Convention Program Committee (5-10 members) 

Exhibit/Sponsor Committee (5 members) 

Registration/Hospitality Committee (5-7 members) 

Auction Committee (5-10 members that are not 

on the Registration/Hospitality Committee – 

activities take place at the same time) 

Decorations Committee (2-5 members) 

To stay up-to-date with district news, check out the 

Facebook link to follow us is: https://www.facebook. 

com/SouthDakotaNursesAssociationDistricts57 

Looking forward to hearing from you, 

Sara Watson, MBA, MSN, RN 

District 5-7 President 

SDNA Treasurer 


Cell (605) 353-5799 

District 8&9 Report 

In May District 8 & 9 hosted representatives of 

“Feeding Brookings.” They presented the history of the 

Feeding Brookings organization and shared information 

about food insecurity in the area. The program 

originally began serving around 75 families and has 

grown to currently feeding about 300. The organization 

is staffed by volunteers who pack boxes and assist with 

delivery. Several District 8 & 9 members volunteered 

this summer with the program. 

In June, Deb Soholt presented an overview of 

“Influential She.” SDNA members were treated to 

information on podcasts, blogs and social media posts 

that can help accelerate women’s influence. Deb shared 

the 10 identified high leverage practices (HLPs) that 

“Influential She” refers to as the “Talismanic 10.” 

Attendees learned more about each HLP as well as 

some of the influential women featured in the podcasts 

on the website that have overcome hardship and become 

influential in a variety of fields. 

Venita Winterboer, District 8& 9 President 

District 10 Report 

District 10 is very excited to be hosting the SDNA 

Fall conference on Oct. 2 and 3 at the Ramkota Hotel 

and Conference Center, 3200 W Maple St. Sioux Falls 

SD 57107. We have been busy working on putting on 

a Fabulous conference. We have been meeting once a 

month to discuss our progress. Our next meeting is July 

19th at 6pm at Scooters 57th and Western. 

If you would like to be involved please reach me at 

gwoitte@gmail.com or Marie Cissell marieanncissell@ 

gmail.com or come to the meetings and we can find 

something you will enjoy doing. 

Our conference will be a panel presentation with 

every speaker having a nursing background. I am 

so excited to be a part of this program. Deb Fischer 

Clemens and her committee has worked hard to put 

together an outstanding program. 

We have a block of rooms saved for this conference. 

Online Registration is here: https://bit.ly/3LNFheF. 

We will also have a live and silent auction. Items are 

still needed for both auctions. 

Please let us know if you have any questions on the 

auction items. These will be brought to the conference 

for display and bidding. 

We are looking forward to seeing you at the 

conference! 

Gala Woitte District 10 President 

gwoitte@gmail.com 

605-376-8639 

District 11 Report 

District # 11 met April 19, 2022, at Sanford 

Vermillion Hospital. D. Sternhagen representative from 

Call to Freedom was the guest speaker. Call to Freedom 

is an organization that deals with human trafficking. 

The District did not meet during the months of May 

and June. 

Charlene Bierema, District # 11 President 

Join SDNA Today! 

https://sdnursesassociation.nursingnetwork.com/ 

off-site-membership


2022 South Dakota Nurses Association Annual Convention 

October 2-3, Best Western PLUS Ramkota, Sioux Falls, South Dakota 

 


October 2-3, Best Western PLUS Ramkota, Sioux Falls, South Dakota


SDNA Candidates for Office 

SECRETARY 

Carol Stewart, DNP, FNP-BC, 

PMHNP-BC 

• School/College of Nursing: 

Mount Marty University, 

University of Mary, Rocky 

Mountain University 

• Area of Practice: Rural 

healthcare as a RN, 

Family and Psychiatric 

Mental Health Nurse 

Practitioner; Nursing 

Education - teaching 

experience at the Practical Nursing, Bachelor 

of Science in Nursing and Master of Science in 

Nursing programs 

• Present position and place of employment: 

Associate Professor of Nursing, Graduate Program 

Director, FNP Track and Clinical Coordinator 

- Mount Marty University; Family and Psychiatric 

Mental Health Nurse Practitioner – Wapiti Medical 

Staffing and NativeArc Medical Staffing (work 

primarily at Indian Health Services) 

• Professional Organization Activities at District 

(Region), Council, State, National Level(s) for the 

past five years, including Student Association office: 

SDNA/ANA member, NPASD, NONPF, SDONL, 

MNNP, Sigma Theta Tau International Nursing 

Society, and PEO (current chapter president); 

Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education 

(CCNE): Site Evaluator’ Quality Matters: Master 

Reviewer 

• Personal Statement: My professional goal is to 

provide high-level, evidence-based care to benefit 

a diverse population while gaining knowledge and 

understanding to further benefit clients and students 

I serve while enhancing professional growth. 

Throughout my nursing career, I have served in 

various frontline and leadership positions in practice 

and academia. I have served on the nominations 

committee and am interested in becoming more 

directly involved with the SDNA and look forward 

to the opportunity to participate in the growth of the 

nursing profession during these new and challenging 

times. 

GOVERNMENT RELATIONS COMMITTEE CHAIR 


• School/College of 

Nursing: (MBHCA) 

Western Governor’s 

University, (BSN) Dakota 

Wesleyan University 

• Additional Professional 

Education: MBHCA, 

SANE Trained, ANAI 

Scholar, Goldman Sachs 

10KSB Allumni, LNC, 

Forensic Nurse Training, 

Certified BLS Instructor 

• Area of Practice: Home health, Behavioral health, 

Assisted Living, Aging adults, Occupational 

medicine, community outreach, memory care, 

persons with disabilities, Chronic disease 

management, patient advocacy, SANE trained- care 

• Present position and place of employment: Executive 

Director of Independent Health Solutions, COO 

Angelhaus Huron, Owner & Co-founder PRN 

Professionals 




Current GRC Chair, ANAI Lobbyist Scholar 2022, 

SDNA, ANA, SANE taskforce, Beadle County 

COVID taskforce, Aging Adult Coalition, Goldman 

Sachs 10kSB 2019, ANCA member 

• Personal Statement: My goal is to continue to 

serve SD nurses as GRC Chair and advocate for 

our profession, policies, and patients regarding 

legislative decisions. My focus will remain on 

promoting policies which elevate the value of 

nurses that assist the most vulnerable populations, 

including workplace violence prevention, mental 

health awareness, nurse burnout and shortage. I 

hope to unite and amplify the voices of nurses in 

ALL fields by continuing to seek input from YOU, 

my fellow nurses. 

Madeline Miller 


Nursing: South Dakota 

State University 


Education: ANCC 

Psychiatric and Mental 

Health Nursing 

Certification 

• Area of Practice: 

Psychiatry/Mental Health, 

Addiction Medicine, 

Pediatrics and Adults 

• Present position and place of employment: Nurse 

Manager, The Link Community Triage Center, 

Sioux Falls, SD (Avera McKennan) 




Leadership South Dakota Program Participant, 

2023 Cohort; SDNA Annual Conference Speaker, 

2022 (upcoming); Sioux Falls Community Health 

Improvement Plan (CHIP) Committee, 2022; 

Registered Lobbyist and Bill Author (SB 136, HB 

1121), 97th Legislative Session, 2022; Member 

APNA 2018, 2019; Member SDNA, 2018, 2019, 

2022; Sioux Falls Young Professionals Network, 

2021, 2022; EmBe Center for Nursing Workforce 

Leadership Program Participant, 2021 Cohort; 

Avera Rising Nurse Leader Program Participant, 

2018 Cohort 

• Personal Statement: My personal mission is 

to support and encourage others by fostering 

meaningful relationships. These relationships are 

incredibly important in the world of government. 

As a registered nurse, I want to use my professional 

position to advocate for my community members 

and their families and to influence lawmakers to 

develop public policies that will support our local 

healthcare agencies and the people we serve.. 

NOMINATION COMMITTEE 

Brittany Brennan, PhD, RN, 

CHSE 


Nursing: 2009, BAN, 

Concordia College, 

Moorehead, MN 


Education: 2016, MSN 

Nursing Education, 

Purdue Global University, 

Davenport, IA; 2021, 

PhD Nursing, SDSU, 

Brookings, SD 

• Area of Practice: Nursing Education, Simulation, 

Critical Care 

• Present position and place of employment: 

Implementing and Expanding Self-Measured Blood Pressure Monitoring in South Dakota 

Funding Opportunity Currently Open for Applications 

Funding Objective: Facilities could utilize American Medical Association and Johns Hopkins Blood 

Pressure Control Program, Healthy Heart Ambassador Blood Pressure Self-Monitoring*, Check. Change. 

Control, Million Hearts SMBP, Target: BP or similar program guidance to implement SMBP within their 

practice, add additional patients to current program, or expand to additional providers or sites.* 

RFA Release: October 1, 2021 

RFA Due Date: This is a rolling funding opportunity. Applications will be reviewed as they are submitted. 

Project Period: Project period lasts one calendar year, beginning one month after award 

Anticipated Award Amount: $20,000 per facility (including up to $2,500 for purchase of blood 

pressure cuffs) 

Primary Contact: Rachel Sehr, Heart Disease and Stroke Prevention Coordinator 

Primary Contact Email: Rachel.Sehr@state.sd.us 

Application Procedure: Applications are due via electronic submission to Rachel.Sehr@state.sd.us. 

*Healthy Heart Ambassador Program is for non-clinical locations only. All awarded initiatives would be developed 

and implemented with assistance from the 1815 team. 1815 team consists of experts from South Dakota Foundation for 

Medical Care (SDFMC) and SD Department of Health who have knowledge and experience related to 1) data, workflow, 

process analysis, 2) strategic plan development and implementation, 3) PDSA (Plan, Do, Study, Act) cycles, and 4) policy 

and protocol development. Additional partners may be utilized as needed. All team members are available to awarded 

facilities as a resource for accepted activities at no cost to the awardee. 

View the full instructions and application at 

https://goodandhealthysd.org/grants/


Beginning in August 2022, Instructor, South Dakota State University College of 

Nursing; 2013 to 2022, Nursing Instructor, Lake Area Technical College; 2010 

to Present, PRN Registered Nurse Critical Care Unit, Prairie Lakes Healthcare 

System; 2019 to Present, Clinical Teaching Assistant, South Dakota State 

University 

• Professional Organization Activities at District (Region), Council, State, National 

Level(s) for the past five years, including Student Association office: Sigma Theta 

Tau International Honor Society of Nursing, Phi Chapter Member, 2008-present; 

Phi Chapter Leadership Succession Committee, 2020-present; 2019 STTI Research 

Day Conference Poster Judge, 2020 Research Grant Recipient, & 2022 Presenter; 

National League for Nursing Member, 2013-present, NLN Mary Anne Rizzolo 

Doctoral Research Award Recipient, 2021; Graduate Nursing Student Academy 

Member, 2014-2021; American Nurses Association and South Dakota Nurses 

Association Member, 2015-present; Midwest Nursing Research Society Member, 

2018-present; International Nursing Association for Clinical Simulation and 

Nursing Member, 2020-present; Society for Simulation in Healthcare Member, 

2021-present; Presenter at SSH International Meeting on Simulation in Healthcare 

Conference, 2022, IMSH 2023 Content Reviewer for Research Abstracts 

• Personal Statement: During the unprecedented times nursing has recently seen, it 

has been more important than ever for nurses to be an advocate for the safety of 

patients and themselves. I believe nurses individually and collectively, have the 

power and passion to fulfill that advocacy role and inform practices and policies 

in healthcare and nursing. By means of the SDNA, nurses have that collective 

voice to address current nursing issues and concerns. My passion for nursing 

and preparing the future generation of nurses has led me to seek opportunities to 

influence change. On the nominations committee, I will promote nursing and seek 

opportunities to develop future members and leaders in SDNA and nursing. 

Stacy Eden 

• School/College of Nursing: South Dakota State 

University 

• Area of Practice: Education, Acute Care, Correctional 

Medicine 

• Present position and place of employment: Dakota 

Wesleyan University, Administrative Chair of Nursing 

• Professional Organization Activities at District (Region), 

Council, State, National Level(s) for the past five 

years, including Student Association office: SDNA 

Nominations Committee, 2020-current 

• Personal Statement: I love the phrase that decisions are 

made by those who show up. This has somewhat become 

a part of my mantra. As a part of the nominations committee, I would love to be a 

part of getting others involved and helping others “show up.” 

Dawn R. Warren 

• School/College of Nursing: 1991, BSN, SDSU; 2000, 

MSN, SDSU; 2014, EdD, USD 

• Area of Practice: ED, ICU, and Nursing Education 

• Present position and place of employment: USD 

Department of Nursing, Rapid City, Site Director and 

Faculty 

• Professional Organization Activities at District (Region), 

Council, State, National Level(s) for the past five years, 

including Student Association office: 

o SDNA Secretary, 2016-2022 

• Personal Statement: I have had the honor of being a RN 

practicing in South Dakota since 1991, and I am a firm believer that if you want to 

be involved in what is happening in our state in relation to nursing, then you must 

be involved. I have worked in critical care, emergency nursing, nursing education, 

and am currently the Director of the USD Department of Nursing at the Rapid City 

site. I have been the SDNA Board Secretary since 2016. I would be honored to be 

a part of the Nominations Committee. 

District 1, 2 & 3 

Katelynn Gray 

Alex Vander Hoek 

Jacquelyn Ahlcrona 

Catherine Miglionico 

Susan Mekala 

Karen Murphy 

Maretta Afraid of 

Bear 

Heather Hazen 

SEPTEMBER 

Sept. 14-16 

ANA Lobbyist Meeting 

OCTOBER 

October 2 

SDNA Board of 

Directors Meeting 

(Sioux Falls) 

Welcome 

New Members 

District 5-7 

Amber Moody 

Angela Deboer 

District 8&9 

Tara Rodriguez 

District 10 

Rachel Matthaei 

Paula Pulse 

Chase Ditmanson 

SDNA 

Calendar of Events 

If you have events that you want posted on the SDNA 

Calendar of Events please contact the SDNA Office at 

(605) 945-4265 or by email at 

contactus@sdnurses.org. 

October 2-3 

SDNA Annual 

Convention (Sioux Falls) 

October 10 

SD Nurse Article 

Submission Deadline 

Ariel Neu 

Joseph Ray 

Deanna Stoll 

Julie Bostic 

Madeline Miller 

Carrie Ensz 

District 11 

Karyl Yockey 

Barbara Buss 

DECEMBER 

December 1 

District Leadership 

Reporting Form Due to 

SDNA Office


AUCTION ITEMS NEEDED 

SOUTH DAKOTA NURSES ASSOCIATION 

MEMBERSHIP APPLICATION 

PO Box 1015, Pierre, SD 57501 

P: 605.945.4265 | F: 888.600.1232 | E: contactus@sdnurses.org 

*LAST NAME / FIRST NAME / MIDDLE INITIAL 

CREDENTIALS 

*STREET OR PO BOX # BASIC SCHOOL OF NURSING HOME PHONE/ 

*CITY / STATE / ZIP GRADUATION: MONTH / YEAR WORK PHONE/1JH21 

EMPLOYER NAME *R. N. LICENSE # FAX/ 

EMPLOYER ADDRESS / CITY / 

STATE / ZIP 

TITLE / POSITION 

E-MAIL 

MAJOR CLINICAL, PRACTICE, 

OR TEACHING AREA 

RECRUITED BY 

MEMBERSHIP CATEGORIES 

PLEASE CHECK ONE 

□ FULL ANA/SDNA MEMBERSHIP 

RN employed full or part time 

□ REDUCED TO 75% OF FULL ANA/SDNA MEMBERSHIP DUES (STUDENT) 

RN enrolled in baccalaureate, masters or doctoral program, at least nine (9) credit hours per calendar year 


Hello from SDNA District 10: 

October 2-3, Best Western PLUS Ramkota, Sioux Falls, South Dakota 

The South Dakota Nurses Association’s annual convention offers the opportunity for 

nurses to build professional relationships and share practice and professional issues. The 

2022 convention will be held October 2 and 3 at the Ramkota Hotel at 3200 West Maple 

in Sioux Falls. Our celebration theme is Better Together: Nurses Are Community. 

In addition to being our annual meeting, the annual convention serves as the primary 

SDNA fundraiser, helping us to remain as a non-profit organization. The Auction 

Committee seeks items to be auctioned at both the silent and live auctions. We are 

asking for donations of 1) high-quality items and 2) theme baskets valued at $40 or more. 

Moneys raised from these auctions will assist SDNA’s efforts to continue representation 

of the nursing profession. 

As in the past, individual members are encouraged to provide donated items and/or 

baskets of items for the auction or ask businesses and organizations for a donation. Some 

ideas for basket themes include baby, personal spa, wine, cooking, reading, family night, 

etc. Baskets are a great opportunity to use your creativity to celebrate NURSING AND 

THE SDNA. Any item is welcome! 

Please contact us at contactus@sdnurses.org if you have any questions. 

An Auction Item Form for donations is on our convention website here: https://bit. 

ly/3LNFheF. Please complete one form for each item or basket donated. Forms should 

accompany the auction item to the convention or be emailed to marcusgoodfellow25@ 

gmail.com. 

Attention District 5-7 members: 

We will be hosting October 

2023 Convention! 

Beyond Excited! 

Looking to fill a few committee positions: Convention Program Committee, 

Exhibit/Sponsor Committee, Registration/Hospitality Committee, Auction Committee, 

Decorations Committee. 

If you are interested or know someone who is, please contact via text or phone call our 

current District President Sara Watson (605) 353-5799. 

□ REDUCED TO 50% OF FULL ANA/SDNA MEMBERSHIP DUES (NEW GRADS GET A 2-YEAR 

RATE) 

RN who is unemployed 

- OR - over 62 years of age & earning less than maximum allowed receiving Social Security benefits 

- OR - enrolled in baccalaureate, masters or doctoral program, at least 20 credit hours per year 

- OR - RN FIRST YEAR, WITHIN SIX (6) MONTHS AFTER GRADUATION (RECEIVES RATE FOR 2 

YEARS) 

□ REDUCED TO 25% OF FULL ANA/SDNA MEMBERSHIP DUES (RETIRED) 

RN who is over 62 years of age and unemployed 

- OR - who is totally disabled 

□ SDNA ONLY MEMBERSHIP 

RN employed full or part time 

According to Federal tax law, you may claim 50% of your annual SDNA/ANA dues as a tax deduction. The other 

50% are used in lobbying activities and are not tax deductible. 

MEMBERSHIP TYPE MONTHLY (EDPP) ANNUAL 

FULL ANA/SDNA MEMBERSHIP $23.59 $277.00 

STUDENT ANA/SDNA 

MEMBERSHIP 

NEW GRADS ANA/SDNA 

MEMBERSHIP 

RETIRED ANA/SDNA 

MEMBERSHIP 

$17.82 $207.75 

$12.04 $138.50 

$6.27 $69.25 

SDNA ONLY MEMBERSHIP $16.04 $186.50 

PAYMENT OPTIONS 

□ FULL ANNUAL PAYMENT BY CHECK 

□ PAY BY ELECTRONIC DUES PAYMENT PLAN (EDPP) 

Read, sign the authorization, and enclose a check for the first month’s payment (amount shown in bold above); onetwelfth 

(1/12) of your annual dues will be withdrawn from that checking account monthly, in addition to an annual 

$6.00 (50¢ per month) service fee (total is amount above). 

AUTHORIZATION: This authorizes ANA to withdraw 1/12 of my annual dues and any additional service fees 

from the checking account designated by the enclosed check for the first month’s payment. ANA is authorized 

to change the amount by giving the undersigned 30 days written notice. The undersigned may cancel this 

authorization upon receipt by ANA of written confirmation of termination 20 days prior to the deduction date as 

designated above. ANA will charge a $5.00 fee for return drafts. 

SIGNATURE FOR EDPP AUTHORIZATION: 

□ PAY BY CREDIT CARD 

___Full annual payment—automatic annual credit card payment (automatic renewal) 

___Monthly payment from credit card 

___Full annual payment---one year only 

__ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ 

__ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ Visa/MasterCard _______ Expiration date


WHY NURSING? 


WHY NURSING? No, seriously…why? You may have 

asked yourself this question at one time in your career, but 

maybe especially in light of recent events. You may have even 

asked others this question, others who are just contemplating 

a nursing career. We survived two long years (and counting) 

of COVID torture only to end up in a staffing crisis with 

amplified responsibilities, increased nurse violence, blurred 

liabilities, and an obvious disregard from our legal system. 

SO WHY NURSING? 

We all have our individual reasons as to why we serve as 

nurses, but collectively the answer is the same, we were called 

to do so. That calling may be generational with influence from 

our family members who have also served. It may be a personal medical experience 

that evoked feelings of responsibility to help those in need. At times, this calling may 

seem like a thankless and demanding life commitment that has little reward, no matter 

what specialty you are in. Here is where having a professional support system in place 

can save a dedicated nurse from burnout. This is one reason why the SDNA and ANA 

involvement are so important to our vocation and can support our decision to be nurses. 

Lately I’ve taken solace in collaborating with fellow nurses in a national program, 

American Nurse Advocacy Institute (ANAI). This remarkable opportunity offers a yearlong 

mentored program, that educates and trains nurses to be more effective in advocacy 

for our profession and our patients. This program promotes nurse collaboration and 

works to unite us to lead legislative decisions that affect healthcare. We are EXPERTS at 

patient care. 

Healthcare decisions should be made by us, the experts. Not paid legislators that 

will never hold the hand of a patient in crisis, or respond to an emergency code, or 

design a person-centered care plan for an individual that cannot afford their prescribed 

medications. We pay the consequences as care providers for decisions that often don’t 

take into consideration the impact on us, the experts. It is time to lean in and lend 

our voice to the legislative process. It is time to reignite nurses to reconnect with our 

profession and invest our efforts in the prevention of poor decision making versus 

cleaning up the wreckage afterward. 

Nurses are not heroes, we MAKE heroes! We celebrate the Aides who go the 

extra mile to support us, we praise the patients who meet their goals, we promote 

those community resources that serve our most indigent, we nominate and elect nurse 

legislators to represent our field; we MAKE heroes. 

The ANAI program gave me the opportunity to meet hero-makers from all over 

the country. We worked together to address opportunities that allow us to: Serve as an 

advisor to state Nurses Associations in establishing legislative/regulatory priorities, 

recommend strategies for execution in advancement of a policy issue, educate colleagues 

about the political realities, and promote nurse engagement. More specifically, ANAI 

encourages participants to contribute to column(s) in the state nurse association’s 

newsletters; present at the annual convention; and participate in the lobby day, serving as 

the “go to” contact for legislators within their district. 

Since its introduction, ANAI has educated 229 nurse participants from 46 states. 

I am proud to participate and represent South Dakota nurses in this year-long session. 

Although the pandemic halted our in-person advocacy (meaning no field trip to DC), one 

of the unforeseen benefits of virtual meetings is increased nurse teamwork; it’s been a 

privilege to support fellow nurses in their endeavors to better our profession and protect 

our patients. 

This ANAI session has been wrought with complicated issues like nurse safety, 

APRN full practice authority, safe staffing, nurse mental health, workplace violence, 

continuing education, reproductive rights, telehealth practices, continuing education for 

nurses, and of course COVID. Here is a limited highlight reel from a few nurses around 

the Nation. 

Indiana: Members Denise Kerley MSN, RN, CNRN, AG-CNS & Jean Ross 

MHA, BSN, RN are working with the American Nurses Association and Indiana 

State Nurses Association from October 2021 to October 2022 to focus on identifying 

legislative opportunities to impact nurse staffing in Indiana. Denise and Jean are 

counting on the stories and experiences of Indiana nurses to present legislative needs. 

In fact, Denise and Jean will be conducting 1:1 interviews and surveys over late 

fall and winter 2022 to further paint the personalized picture of a day in the life of 

nurses. As reference, here is a link to the survey developed to reach nurses Indiana 

Nurse Staffing Interviews (jotform.com) 

Louisiana: Member Ahneyel Burkes is striving to enact R.S. 37:936 and R.S. 

40:2009.13, relative to safe harbor protections for nurses; ViewDocument.aspx (la. 

gov). allows nurses to invoke safe harbor in certain circumstances; to provide for a 

procedure to invoke safe harbor; to require healthcare facilities to establish a safe 

harbor process; to prohibit certain actions against nurses who invoke safe harbor; and 

to provide for related matters. 

Illinois: Member Elizabeth (Liz) Aquino is working on establishing the template 

for a campaign school assisting nurses, and formally supporting this field. 

Many others are still working to complete their projects, so stay tuned for more updates. 

My project was focused on opposing Amendment C , which we South Dakotans defeated 

on the ballot in June. The Legislature-driven measure was at complete odds with how the 

Legislature itself is run. Ballot measures in South Dakota currently need only a simple 

majority vote (50%+1) to be adopted, but Amendment C would have changed our constitution 

by requiring any citizen initiative to pass legislation by a super-majority of 60%. 

South Dakota nurses have a history of proposing health and safety initiatives like 

seatbelt use, texting and driving laws, smoking in public, and car seat requirements, 

and several SANE measures. If Amendment C passed, nurses (along with all citizens) 

would have had to gain super-majority support, instead of obtaining a required number of 

voters’ signatures to put a measure on the ballot. It was the type of amendment that the 

SDNA, the ANA, and our valued ANAI were meant to defeat, and we did. 

So why nursing? It’s simple. Because we make differences everywhere we go and in 

everything we do. Because care, concern and professionalism are always our standard. 

Because our nursing process is effective and efficient and may be applied to ALL aspects 

including legislation. Because from the bedside to the boardroom, we nurses are called to 

make heroes. 

American Nurses Association 

Elects Jennifer Mensik 

Kennedy As New National 

President 

Shannon McClendon, shannon.mcclendon@ana.org 

Keziah Proctor, keziah.proctor@ana.org 

SILVER SPRING, MD - Today, the American Nurses 

Association (ANA) Membership Assembly elected 

Jennifer Mensik Kennedy, PhD, MBA, RN, NEA- 

BC, FAAN, of the Oregon Nurses Association as the 

association’s next president to represent the interests 

of the nation’s more than 4.3 million registered nurses. 

Mensik has more than 25 years of nursing experience in 

a variety of settings ranging from rural critical access 

hospitals and home health to hospital administration, and 

academia. She has served as President of the Arizona 

Nurses Association and 2nd Vice President and Treasurer 

of ANA. The term of service for Dr. Mensik and all other 

newly elected leaders will begin January 1, 2023. 

ANA’s Membership Assembly also elected four members to serve as officers of 

the 9-member board of directors. The newly elected board members are: Secretary 

Amanda Oliver, BSN, RN, CCRN, of ANA – Illinois; Director-at-Large, Edward 

Briggs, DNP, MS, APRN, of the Florida Nurses Association; Director-at-Large, 

Jennifer Gil, MSN, RN, of the New Jersey State Nurses Association; and Director-at- 

Large, Staff Nurse, David Garcia, MSN, BSN, RN, PCCN, of the Washington State 

Nurses Association. 

The following ANA board members will continue their terms: Susan Swart, EdD, 

MS, RN, CAE, of ANA-Illinois as Vice President; Joan Widmer, MS, MSBA, RN, 

CEN, of the New Hampshire Nurses Association as Treasurer; Amy McCarthy, 

MSN, RNC-MNN, NE-BC, of the Texas Nurses Association as Director-at-Large; 

and Marcus Henderson, MSN, RN, of the Pennsylvania State Nurses Association as 

Director-at-Large, Recent Graduate. 

Elected to serve on the Nominations and Elections Committee are: MaryLee 

Pakieser, MSN, RN, FNP-BC, of ANA Michigan; Jennifer Tucker, MA, RN, of the 

Minnesota Organization of Registered Nurses; and Kimberly Velez, MSN, RN, of 

ANA - New York. 

Full-Time/Part-Time 

Day Shift/Night Shift RN/LPN 

Make a difference in someone’s life every time you go to work!! 

We are looking for a highly motivated individual to be part of our 

caring and compassionate team here at Highmore Health. We are a 

40 bed skilled nursing facility located 45 miles east of Pierre in a tight 

knit, welcoming community. We are currently seeking a motivated and 

highly organized individual with good communication skills. A full time 

Charge Nurse works three 12 hour shifts a week and is responsible 

for managing on-going care of residents, playing an active role in 

collecting data, problem solving, and reporting. The Charge Nurse 

ensures standards of care and practices are followed. 

$5,000 sign on bonus!! 

Competitive wages!! 

Benefit package!! 

Applications are available www.highmorehealth.com under the 

Employment Tab or they can be picked up onsite at 

410 8th St. SE Highmore, SD 57345. 

May email resume to libby.jones@highmorehealth.com.


ANA’s Racial Reckoning Statement 

Opening 

This is a journey. 

Throughout our history, the American Nurses 

Association (ANA) has sought to lead nursing into the 

future. Through acts of omission, when we failed to 

act, and commission, when ANA’s actions negatively 

impacted nurses of color, we have caused harm and 

perpetuated systemic racism. This statement serves as 

a starting point for a journey during which we seek to 

acknowledge past actions that continue to impact the 

profession today and as a starting point of a new journey 

toward the future. 

ANA begins this journey in conjunction with the 

efforts undertaken by the National Commission to 

Address Racism in Nursing (the Commission). This 

statement focuses on ANA’s own actions, while the 

Commission seeks to address racism in nursing within 

the broader profession. We recognize that as a leader, 

ANA holds accountabilities at both the organizational 

and the broader professional level. Through both 

efforts, we are striving for a more inclusive, diverse, 

and equitable professional organization and a nursing 

profession that meets the needs of all people. 

Our intention with this statement is to publicly 

identify and acknowledge our past actions while 

addressing the harms that continue today. The section 

on ANA Reckoning is not meant to be a complete listing 

of all ANA actions that have caused harm. Historical 

exclusions of and transgressions against Black nurses 

will be discussed in this document. This harm has 

undoubtedly extended to all nurses of color. In addition, 

there is much debate about labels and terms to identify 

racialized minorities. We have chosen to use the term 

“nurses of color” to reflect all nurses representing race 

and ethnic groups. It is our intention to be fully inclusive 

in the use of this language. 

In the end, it is our actions that will truly reflect the 

sincerity of this apology and serve as the underpinning 

for forgiveness. For it is forgiveness that we seek — 

forgiveness from nurses of color, the nursing profession 

and the communities that have been harmed by our 

actions. We fervently hope that this statement, its 

subsequent work and the efforts of the Commission will 

contribute to healing — individual healing for nurses, 

reconciliation with the ethnic-minority nurse associations 

and healing of the profession. ANA wants this statement 

to reflect genuine reconciliation and acknowledgment 

and hopes that it is a step toward forgiveness. Ultimately, 

we seek to contribute to the healing of nursing. 

ANA Reckoning 

There is much that can be said about ANA’s history 

and failure to include and represent the views and needs 

of nurses of color. The examples below are not to be 

considered as a complete reckoning of ANA’s past, but 

they are representative of times and actions when ANA 

failed. 

To begin, we must acknowledge that from 1916 until 

1964, ANA purposefully, systemically and systematically 

excluded Black nurses. ANA’s predecessor organization, 

the Nurses’ Associated Alumnae of the United States and 

Canada, was open to alumnae associations of schools 

of nursing, including Black hospitals and nurse training 

schools (Hine, 1989). The Nurses’ Associated Alumnae 

became the American Nurses Association, and in 1916, 

the membership rules shifted away from an alumnaebased 

membership to that of a state- and district-based 

membership. This resulted in Black nurses being denied 

membership in some state nurses associations. Despite 

significant advocacy and pressure from the National 

Association of Colored Graduate Nurses (NACGN), 

this discrimination persisted. In 1946, the ANA House 

of Delegates voted to adopt a statement that urged the 

“removal, as rapidly as possible, of barriers that prevent 

the full employment and professional development of 

nurses belonging to minority racial groups” (Carnegie, 

1991, p. 76). And in 1948, the ANA House of Delegates 

established an “Individual Membership Category” that 

was open to all nurses who were not accepted through 

a state or district association. However, it was not 

until 1964 that a final district in Louisiana dropped its 

discriminatory rule for membership (Carnegie, 1991). 

This timeline reflects the failure of ANA leaders to 

aggressively pursue changes in its discriminatory 

membership rules and allow for full membership 

regardless of race. While membership within ANA 

was hard fought by NACGN, the full inclusion of Black 

nurses within ANA leadership and decision-making 

remains unrealized and elusive for all nurses of color. 

One representative incident from 1939 involved 

Estelle Massey Riddle Osborne, president of NACGN 

from 1934-1939. In 1939, President Osborne was invited 

by ANA President Julia C. Stimson to meet with ANA’s 

Advisory Council to discuss the status of Black nurses 

in the profession. The site of the meeting was the St. 

Charles Hotel in New Orleans, where Black guests were 

required to use the service entrance and freight elevator. 

President Osborne called on ANA and President Stimson 

to adamantly protest this discrimination. Instead of 

protesting the discriminatory policy, President Stimson 

offered to enter the hotel with President Osborne through 

the service entrance. In the end, President Osborne 

decided against attending and ANA failed to step into a 

space of advocacy and support (Hine, 1989). 

President Osborne was the first Black nurse to earn 

a master’s degree in the U.S. and became the first Black 

nurse elected to the ANA board in 1948. However, after 

her four- year term, there were no Black nurses elected to 

the board again until 1970 (Carnegie, 1991). This lack of 

representation on the policy level for 22 years concerned 

many Black nurses, and when it was brought up at ANA’s 

1972 convention, it was communicated that the only 

obligation of ANA from the dissolution of NACGN was 

the awarding of the Mary Mahoney Award. 

In 1965, ANA approved a position paper on nursing 

education that recommended the minimum preparation 

for “beginning professional nursing practice should be a 

baccalaureate degree” (ANA, 1976). The stated rationale 

for this change was the increasing complexity of nursing 

activities and patient care. One result of ANA taking this 

position was the disenfranchisement of institutions and 

schools of nursing that were available to students of color 

and the exclusion of nurses who graduated from those 

programs. ANA sought to advance the educational level 

of nurses without ensuring that all nurses would have the 

same access to the education necessary to achieve the 

desired educational level for entry into the profession. 

There continues to be a need to examine how this policy 

advances nursing today and to examine strategies for 

ensuring that educational opportunities are equally 

available to all students, especially students of color. 

In 1970, Dr. Lauranne Sams organized a meeting with 

200 Black nurses for the primary purpose of organizing 

a Black nurse association. The group reported the 

following concerns (Carnegie, 1991): 

1. Concern over the absence of Black nurses in 

leadership positions at ANA. 

2. Limited opportunities for Black nurses to support and 

shape ANA policies. 

3. Persistent tokenism. 

4. Limited recognition of Black nurses’ contributions to 

the profession. 

5. Lack of significant increases in the number of Black 

registered nurses. 

6. No recognition of achievement with awards (other 

than the Mary Mahoney Award). 

7. Limited appointments of Black nurses to committees 

and commissions. 

In 1973, in her first address to the newly created 

National Black Nurses Association (NBNA), Dr. 

Sams considered the question of why a Black Nurses 

Association was needed: 

“No, I am speaking about all the past deficits and 

discriminatory practice which have continuously 

disgraced and limited the full potential, the 

development, the selfhood, and the self determination 

of Black folk. I am speaking about today, Here and 

Now.” 

In telling the history of the formation of the NBNA, 

the article From Invisibility to Blackness: The Story 

of the National Black Nurses’ Association by Gloria 

R. Smith notes that there was a desire on the part of 

the Nurses’ Associated Alumnae of the United States


and Canada and ANA for Black nurses to be members, 

but these professional associations granted them few 

privileges “other than paying dues” (1975, p. 225). 

Although by 1964 there were no tangible rules 

preventing membership for nurses of color, it was evident 

that exclusionary practices and a failure to represent all 

nurses remained. Similar to the concerns raised by Black 

nurses, in 1974, led by Dr. Ildaura Murillo- Rhode, a 

group of 12 Hispanic nurses who were also members of 

ANA came together to consider establishing a Hispanic 

Nurses Caucus within ANA because “ANA was not 

being responsive to the needs of Hispanic nurses” 

(National Association of Hispanic Nurses, 2022). 

Ultimately, this core group and their organizing efforts 

led to the establishment of the National Association of 

Hispanic Nurses (NAHN). Today, “NAHN members 

advocate, educate, volunteer, seek partnerships, and 

conduct programming in the Latino community to 

improve outcomes, elevate literacy, heighten education, 

and influence policy. We also work collaboratively with 

others to improve health equity and to create a future 

in which everyone regardless of race or ethnicity has 

opportunities to be healthy.” 

ANA recognizes that issues of racism persist today 

and continue to harm nurses of color. Findings from 

the Commission’s 2021 national survey on racism in 

nursing (n = 5,600) noted that racist acts are principally 

perpetrated by colleagues and those in positions of 

power. Over half of nurses surveyed (63%) said they had 

personally experienced an act of racism in the workplace 

with the transgressors being either a peer (66%) or 

a manager or supervisor (60%). Fifty-six percent of 

respondents also noted that racism in the workplace has 

negatively impacted their professional well-being. During 

listening sessions with nurses of color convened by ANA 

and the Commission, persistent themes of stereotyping, 

prejudice, discrimination, exclusion, oppression, 

tokenism, inequity, and insistence on conformity and 

assimilation were found (National Commission, 2021). 

The impact of these experiences is demoralization, 

exhaustion, spirit murder (murder of the soul), invisible 

workload, silence, invisibility and self-doubt. 

“The power in nursing is primarily held by middleage 

to old-age white women who have just recently 

begun to consider racism in nursing care. There are 

racist principles that have been carried down through 

history and never challenged.” 

(Anonymous Quote, National Commission to Address 

Racism in Nursing, 2021) 

Seeking Forgiveness 

As leaders of ANA, we apologize for the named 

and the unaccounted-for harms. Our past actions have 

caused irreparable physiological, psychological and 

socioeconomic harm, not only to nurses of color but to 

all patients, families and communities that depend on 

ANA as the national leader of the nursing profession. We 

failed to live up to the professional values established 

through the Code of Ethics for Nurses (ANA, 2015) and 

our social contract that guides the relationship between 

the nursing profession and society and their reciprocal 

expectations (ANA, 2010). In addition, as ANA sought 

to “professionalize” nursing, we failed to support a 

robust education approach that included the appropriate 

preparation to care for ALL our patients, especially 

patients of color. 

More specifically, we apologize to all nurses of 

color. Not only is the profession richer for your having 

persisted, but the people you cared for and continue to 

care for today have been better served. ANA failed to 

uphold your work and support you as you advanced in 

nursing and worked to improve the profession. Having 

failed you, ANA also failed in supporting and caring for 

communities of color and other marginalized people. 

We apologize to the ethnic-minority nurse 

associations that have ably represented the needs of their 

nurses and communities. Early in the profession’s history, 

there was a stated desire for one association to meet the 

needs of all nurses. ANA only represented the needs of 

some nurses and some patients. Nurse leaders of color 

stepped into the breach. ANA’s failure to lead resulted 

in a fragmentation of the profession that contributed 

to a fragmentation in nursing care for minoritized 

communities. 

Moving Forward 

As important as it is to reconcile ANA’s history, our 

path points toward the future and actions that should 

be taken as a means of holding ANA accountable, 

continuing reconciliation to repair the breach and 

becoming a restored association. Each of the actions 

below will lead to additional actions and efforts as ANA 

continues the journey. 

Therefore, the ANA Board of Directors will: 

• Continue to reckon with and apologize for past 

harms that are made known to ANA. 

• Engage in direct reconciliation with each of the 

ethnic-minority nurse associations. 

• Develop and implement a diversity, equity and 

inclusion impact analysis that is considered in all 

policies and positions of the association. 

• Initiate an oral history project dedicated to 

amplifying the contributions by nurses of color to 

ANA and the nursing professions. 

Therefore, the American Nurses Association will: 

• Continue to serve as a partner in and support 

the National Commission to Address Racism in 

Nursing as it strives to create antiracist practices 

and environments. 

• Advocate for and follow established guidance on 

the reporting of race and ethnicity in professional 

journals and publications. 

• Advocate for appropriate representation and 

inclusion in textbooks and other educational 

material. 

• Actively engage in a program of diversity, equity 

and inclusion within the association. 

• Provide transparency into the race and ethnic 

makeup of the ANA Board of Directors, leadership 

and staff. 

• Deliberately work to build diversity within ANA’s 

volunteer and governance structure. 

Conclusion 

We, as ANA, are on a journey — a journey of 

reckoning and reconciliation, forgiveness, and healing. 

This journey will take some time, but it is one that ANA 

is fully committed to. We invite others to join us as 

ANA seeks to strengthen who we are as a professional 

association and the broader nursing profession through 

inclusion, diversity and equity as we strive for antiracist 

nursing practices and environments. 

“As nurses we need to unlearn much of what we 

thought we knew about racism — and get comfortable 

being uncomfortable about our profession and our own 

way of being — need to see nursing through a new 

lens and be open to what we might see versus stating 

that racism does not exist.” 

(Anonymous Quote, National Commission to Address 

Racism in Nursing, 2021) 

References 

American Nurses Association. (2015). Code of ethics for 

nurses with interpretive statements. American Nurses 

Association. 

American Nurses Association. (2010). Nursing’s social policy 

statement: The essence of the profession. American 


American Nurses Association. (1976). One strong voice: The 

story of the American Nurses Association. American 


Carnegie, M.E. (1991). The path we tread: Blacks in nursing, 

1854-1990. National League for Nursing Press. 

Hine, D.C. (1989). Black women in white: Racial conflict 

and cooperation in the nursing profession 1890–1950. 

Indiana University Press. 

National Association of Hispanic Nurses. (2021). History. 

https://www.nahnnet.org/history. 

National Commission to Address Racism in Nursing. (2021). 

Defining Racism. final-defining-racism-june-2021.pdf 

(nursingworld.org). 

National Commission to Address Racism in Nursing. (2021). 

Summary Report: Listening Sessions on Racism in 

Nursing. final-racism-in-nursing-listening-sessionreport-june-2021.pdf 


National Commission to Address Racism in Nursing. 

(2022). Survey Shows Substantial Racism in Nursing. 


Sams, L. (1973, September). Presidential Address. National 

Black Nurses Association. Cleveland; Ohio. 

Smith, G.R. (1975). From invisibility to blackness: The story of 

the National Black Nurses Association. Nursing Outlook, 

23(4), 225-229.

South Dakota Nurse - August 2022

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