Florida Nurse - August 2022

THE 

FLORIDA 

NURSE 

Volume 70 • No. 3 

August 2022 

OFFICIAL BULLETIN OF THE FLORIDA NURSES FOUNDATION 

Quarterly publication direct mailed to approximately 10,000 Registered Nurses and delivered electronically via email to 310,000+ Registered Nurses in Florida 

INSIDE 

President’s Message 

Janice Adams, DNP, MPA, BSN 

President FNA 

Happy Summer 2022! 

As we continue our journey 

toward the FNA Membership 

Assembly, I want to celebrate 

our success this past year. In 

June, the American Nurses 

Association (ANA) held a 

very successful Membership 

Assembly in Washington DC 

with hundreds of constituent 

state member organizations 

attending. Florida sent six 

members to the assembly. Several recommendations 

were discussed, approved by the members and will be 

effective this year. These proposals were voted on for 

ANA to take action: 

1. The impact of climate change on human and 

population health. 

2. Addressing verbal abuse and workplace violence 

across the continuum of care. 

3. Nurse staffing – The ANA Nurse Staffing Think 

Tank Report was discussed as was the priority 

topics and recommendations on actionable 

short-term solutions to mitigate the nurse staffing 

crisis. The report can be found at the link below. 

Please share widely. 

ANA Nurse Staffing Think Tank Report: https:// 

www.nursingworld.org/~49940b/globalassets/ 

practiceandpolicy/nurse-staffing/nurse-staffing-thinktank-recommendation.pdf 

President’s Message continued on page 13 

South Region Highlights: 

Joint Nurse Week Celebration at 

Miami Regional University 

Pages 7 

FNA Event Highlights: 

Research Conference 

Pages 16-17 

2 Notes from the Executive Director 

12-13 Members in the News 

current resident or 

Non-Profit Org. 

U.S. Postage Paid 

Princeton, MN 

Permit No. 14 

CONTENT 

3 Focus on the Foundation 

4 FNPAC 

6 Calendar of Events 

6 News From Headquarters 

7-8 Regional News 

9 Legislative Update 

9 State Employee News 

10-11 Student Forum 

14 Member’s Voice 

15 How Can I Get Involved in FNA? 

16-17 Research Conference 

18 Membership Assembly 

18 Focus on New Grads 

20 2022 Nurses Week Event Highlights 

21-23 Welcome New FNA Members 

23 Membership Activation Form

Page 2 The Florida Nurse August 2022 

Notes from the Executive Director 

“I was TODAY years old when….” 

T H E 

FLORIDA 

NURSE 

Willa Fuller, BSN, RN 

Executive Director, Florida Nurses Association 

Have any of you social 

media mavens seen this phrase 

come across your feeds? It’s 

just another fun way of sharing 

life experiences on social 

media. It highlights moments 

when someone either learns 

something that is surprising 

that they never knew, OR 

when they discover something 

they have thought to be true 

their entire life is not accurate 

Willa Fuller 

at all. In my career, I call these 

moments my nursing epiphanies and as a preceptor (a 

role that I loved), I used these experiences to enhance 

my practice and to teach my orientees. We come to 

these moments in many different ways and we all have 

these stories. I thought it might be fun to share some of 

mine with you and maybe jog your memory about some 

of yours. 

I had been a very sheltered child with a helicopter 

mom whose goal was to get us all through school with 

good grades that would lead to scholarships. My mom 

intervened and did many things FOR ME and I have a 

theory that it kind of delayed my critical thinking abilities 

for a time. I am not criticizing my awesome mom, just 

stating what I think about my cerebral development. I 

often had to see something or have it pointed out to me 

to make the next logical leap. For example, I knew what 

congestive heart failure was, I knew the symptoms, but 

in my task-oriented brain, I could only be concerned 

about hanging up all the IV’s at change of shift even one 

that was going 100cc an hour even though the patient 

was rattling like a baby with croup! I had a grumpy nurse 

who often followed me that complained bitterly about 

everything I did wrong and nearly empty IV’s were the 

flavor of the week so that was my focus! I had a “cream 

of the crop” preceptor who identified every teachable 

moment and pulled me aside to make sure I captured 

the impact and importance of the event. She connected 

the dots with me. My epiphany for that moment? 

What I was doing mattered. If I do the wrong thing, my 

patients will be affected. I knew that of course, but this 

moment put it directly in my view. What that did for 

me was make me view every patient interaction as an 

opportunity to gather information. We move so rapidly 

to get things done, sometimes forgetting that every 

action has an impact. 

One of my first epiphanies in nursing was that I could 

learn from other peoples’ mistakes. I experienced several 

devastating occurrences or heard about others that I 

filed away into my nursing databank so that I would 

integrate it into my practice as a matter of routine. One 

morning I came into work to a patient that was bitterly 

complaining of pain after a knee surgery. Apparently, 

she had been asking for pain medicine all night and 

she had received it but it was not relieving her pain. 

The nurse, who was excellent, was very distressed, but 

this was a physician that everyone was terrified to call. 

So when he came in in the morning, he was informed 

about her complaint. (There had been a call during the 

night to get additional pain meds). When he unwrapped 

her dressing, he found that the blood had hardened like 

concrete and created great pressure behind her knee. 

As a result, she had experienced a permanent foot 

drop, due to peroneal nerve damage. What I learned 

there was that fear cannot override your obligation to 

your patients. What happened to that patient made me 

fearless in my advocacy. 

Another epiphany came when my preceptor and I 

were taking care of a new quadriplegic patient who 

was experiencing a crisis of unknown origin. We were 

frantically checking everything and finally we flung back 

the covers and started manipulating his Foley catheter. 

She flushed it with saline and he felt immediate relief 

as it began to empty and he felt immediate relief. We 

identified it as autonomic dysreflexia after the fact and 

shared the information with all of the staff to make sure 

they were educated about it. That day, I learned that 

nurses really do save lives on a daily basis. What’s funny 

is that I didn’t think much about that until much later. 

There were many incidents like this over the years 

but the next memorable moment came when I was 

shopping in the mall and a woman came up to me 

and informed me that I had been her nurse. I have 

shared this story before. One part of me knew I was 

making a difference as a nurse, but I felt like I was 

on sort of a treadmill just churning out patient care 

“tasks.” This patient who I did remember, said to me, 

I would feel so comforted when I would hear your 

voice in the morning, I would always hope you were 

my nurse because when you were there, I was never 

in pain. I remembered her because I felt like she 

had more anxiety than actual pain and I gave her 

some relaxation techniques I had learned at a pain 

management conference. She utilized them all and as 

a result, she asked less frequently for pain medication. 

This was probably a couple of years in, but I think 

that may have been the moment that I felt like a “real 

nurse.” Imposter syndrome is real, folks. 

The next standout moment was a time I had to utilize 

the chain of command to advocate for a patient that 

I knew was in dire straits. The physician kept hanging 

up on me and I had critical information to report. The 

patient was on anticoagulants which had not been 

responding and now all of sudden the patient had a 

critical lab value and was experiencing excruciating pain. 

On my assessment, it was clear the patient was bleeding 

into his surgical site and was quite possibly experiencing 

compartment syndrome. I called the partner, then the 

medical doctor, then the medical director, and by the 

change of shift, he was off to emergency surgery for 

a vena-caval umbrella. In this moment, I realized that 

nurses have power – power to navigate the system to 

advocate for a patient. After that, I made sure I not only 

recognized when and how to use it, I mentored others 

to do the same. 

I have to mention my former preceptor who since 

that time became my friend. Diana Vaughan is no 

longer with us. But she will always be with me. She 

recognized my deficit in connecting the dots early on 

and instead of giving up or being frustrated with me, 

she coached me through our early situations, which 

helped me to develop that skill not only in clinical 

situations but in life situations. She was never bullying 

or insulting, she was informative and supportive. 

Recently, I was watching a “Live” on Tik-Tok where 

a patient was sharing about his journey with a blood 

dyscrasia. There was another nurse online watching 

and he shared his lab results with her. Her response 

stunned me. She told him that nurses didn’t bother 

with all those values, they only looked at hemoglobin 

and hematocrit. “The rest was for the doctors.” I have 

seen similar postings on some of social media groups 

dedicated to nursing. Fortunately, experienced nurses 

chime in immediately and inform them how important 

it is for nurses to have a full knowledge about the 

total care related to that patient. But this was an 

epiphany that after all this time there are still nurses 

that do not understand the full breadth and depth of 

their responsibility. 

I focused on this topic right now because of the 

status of nursing as it has evolved and continues to 

evolve after the pandemic. It is more important than 

ever for nurses to develop these skills and establish 

themselves as experts in patient care. As scope of 

practice is continually challenged, we need to make 

sure knowledge, expertise and continuing education 

is a focus for nurses at the bedside as it is critical that 

we continue to promote high standards and safety. It is 

also important to look at work conditions and practice 

models to make sure nurses are supported in order to 

provide optimal care. As we start to emerge from the 

mental and emotional as well as the physical fatigue 

exacted by the devastating pandemic, we must be 

mindful of nursing’s journey back, and our goal must 

be to make things better than before. We cannot lose 

the opportunity this crisis has provided to shed light 

on the essential nature of our profession. 

Owned and Published by, 

Florida Nurses Association 

1235 E. Concord Street, 

Orlando, FL 32803-5403 

P.O. Box 536985, Orlando, FL 32853-6985 

Telephone: (407) 896-3261 

FAX: (407) 896-9042 

E-mail: info@floridanurse.org 

Website: http://www.floridanurse.org 

Office Hours: 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., 

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contact Arthur L. Davis Publishing Agency, Inc., PO 

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sales@aldpub.com. FNA 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 

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Acceptance of advertising does not imply 

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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 

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Inc. shall not be held liable for any consequences 

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product. Articles appearing in this publication express 

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reflect views of the staff, board, or membership of 

FNA or those of the national or local associations. 

Published quarterly, February, May, August and 

November by FNA, a constituent member of the 

American Nurses Association. 

Editor – Kaitlin Scarbary, 1235 E. Concord St., 

Orlando, FL 32803-5403 

Subscription available at $20.00 plus tax, per year. 

Members of FNA receive the newspaper as a benefit of 

membership. 

COPIES of The Florida Nurse are available on 

35mm microfilm, 106mm microfilm, article reprints 

and issue copies through Bell & Howell, 300 North 

Zeeb Road, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48106 

Board of Directors 

2021–2023 

Officers 

Janice Adams, DNP, MPA, BSN, President 

Marie Etienne, DNP, APRN, FNP, PNP, PLNC, 

President-Elect 

Debbie Hogan, RN, BSN, MPH, Vice President 

Valerie Halstead, PhD, APRN, FNP-BC, Secretary 

Mavra Kear, PHD, APRN, BC, Treasurer 

Region Directors 

Jake Bush, MSN, RN, Northwest Region 

Kellyann Curnayn, DNP, APRN-BC, North Central 

Region 

Susie Norman, MSN, Northeast Region 

Marcos Gayol, EdD, MSN, MPH, RN, East Central Region 

Meghan Moroney, BSN, RN, West Central Region 

Cynthia Tagliaferri, RN, BSN, DNP Student, Southeast 

Region 

Camille Baldwin, EdD, MSN, RN, CNE, CHSE, 

Southwest Region 

Linda Washington-Brown, PHD, EJD, MSN, APRN-C, 

FAANP, FAAN, South Region 

Director of Recent Graduates 

Danielle Weaver, BSN, RN, CEN 

LERC Liaison 

Marsha Martin, RN 

FNA Office 

Willa Fuller, BSN, RN, Executive Director 

John Berry, Jr., Director of Labor Relations & 

Government Affairs 

Kaitlin Scarbary, Director of Member Programs, 

Technology, and Marketing

August 2022 The Florida Nurse Page 3 

Focus on the Foundation 

Daleen Penoyer, President FNF 

The Florida Nurses 

Foundation sponsored 

the Eighth Annual Nursing 

Research and Evidence-Based 

Practice Conference on July 16, 

2022 at the Sheraton Orlando 

North in Maitland, Florida. The 

purpose of the event was to 

promote the practice of nursing 

research and disseminate 

nursing research and evidencebased 

practice projects being 

conducted in various settings in Florida. This year, the 

theme was “Nursing Art and Science: Bridge to Innovation.” 

Thirty-one peer reviewed posters were accepted for the 

event and 85 nurses attended the program. The keynote 

this year was presented by Susan V. White, PhD, RN, 

CPHQ, FNAHQ, NEA-BC, Chief of Quality Management 

and Stephanie Sinnett, MS, RD, LDN, Health Systems 

Specialist (Innovation) at the Orlando VA Healthcare 

System, Department of Veterans Affairs. The program was 

another successful one, providing a forum for experienced 

and potential/novice nurse researchers to share their 

knowledge and experiences with the growing science 

behind nursing practice. 

The Foundation has over 30 scholarships available 

for nursing students living in Florida who are enrolled in 

a nationally accredited nursing program and have one 

semester in their program to qualify. The Foundation 

has given over $500,000 in scholarships and grants over 

its nearly 40-year history. The scholarship application 

was due June 1 and awards for the scholarships will be 

awarded in September 2022. The Foundation also has 

several Research Grants available including the new 

Sandra Walsh fund. A second window of applications 

for research grants will be opening in September. 

The Foundation is supported through philanthropic 

donations and we encourage FNA members to 

contribute to support nurses entering practice and 

conducting research. When renewing one’s membership, 

there is an opportunity to add donations. You can also 

make a one-time donation or setup a recurring donation 

at www.floridanurse.org/GiveBack. Members of the 

Board of Foundation Trustees will be holding a raffle at 

the FNA Membership Assembly in September to raise 

funds for the Foundation. 

Some of the existing Foundation Trustee positions 

are becoming vacated, so the FNF is seeking to fill 

several Trustee positions. To qualify, one must be 

an FNA member in good standing. The role is an 

opportunity to serve others through the work of grants 

and scholarship awards. We welcome a new nurse 

graduate to serve so that the Board gets perspectives 

from early career nurses for its activities. To apply 

for one of these positions, please download the 

application at www.floridanurse.org/Foundation. 

NOW HIRING 

Psychiatric RNs & LPNs 

Full-Time 

Inpatient & Residential Programs 

NURSING 

OPPORTUNITIES IN 

TALLAHASSEE, FL 

RNs may qualify for the Nurse Corp 

loan repayment. 

Visit apalacheecenter.org or call 

Stephanie at 850-523-3212 for 

additional information. 

To access electronic copies of 

The Florida Nurse, please visit 

Apalachee Center, Inc participates in E-Verify. Federal law requires Apalachee Center, Inc to verify the identity and employment eligibility of all persons 

hired to work in the United States. Apalachee Center, Inc. is an at-will employer. An equal opportunity/affirmative action employer. Drug-free workplace. 

www.nursingALD.com/ 

publications


FNPAC 

Florida Nurses Political Action Committee Makes Its 

Candidate Endorsements for Primary Election 2022 

The Florida Nurses Political Action Committee (FNPAC) held Candidate Interviews 

on Saturday, July 30, 2022 with the purpose of determining candidates’ alignment with 

FNA’s top legislative priorities. The Trustees selected several candidates to endorse in the 

upcoming primary election. Their selections are listed below. 

Candidates were asked a series of questions to determine their alignment with the 

FNA Legislative Agenda. The FNA Legislative Agenda is a multi-year plan highlighting the 

top issues that FNA advocates for on behalf of nursing. Some issues that remain on our 

legislative agenda include supporting the ability of RNs and APRNs to practice to the full 

extent of their education, safe practice environments for nurses, and protection of the 

rights, jobs, wages, and other benefits of state-employed healthcare professionals. The full 

Legislative Agenda can be viewed at www.floridanurse.org/Advocacy. 

The FNPAC exists to raise funds to support candidates that will work with us on issues 

related to nursing, patients and healthcare. For the 2022 primary election, the FNPAC 

has endorsed the following candidates: 

2022 Primary Elections FNA PAC Endorsements 

House 

Michelle Salzman (R) 

Griff Griffitts (R) District 6 

Garrett Dennis (D) District 14 

Bobby Payne (R) 

Liz Cornell (R) District 25 

David Smith (R) 

Chase Tramont (R) District 30 

Fred Hawkins (R) 

Josie Tomkow (R) 

Kevin Steele (R) District 55 

Brad Yeager (R) District 56 

District 1 (re-election) 





The Florida Nurses Political Action Committee (FNPAC) is a powerful tool to 

support grassroots efforts by members. Supporting candidates that we can build 

relationships with and work with on nursing issues is key to our success. We need 

YOUR support to continue making an impact on healthcare in the state. Even a 

little helps a lot. You can even make small monthly donations to show your support. 

Donate online at www.floridanurse.org/fnpac. We must make our presence known 

through both our voice and our donations. Please consider donating to support our 

legislative activities. 

Five Reasons to give to the Florida Nurses Political Action Committee: 

• FNPAC endorses candidates that have stated that they will support FNA issues. 

• FNPAC vets candidates to determine their positions on nursing and healthcare 

issues. 

• Legislators and candidates actively seek the FNA endorsement through FNPAC. 

• FNPAC has a record of success with endorsements over many years. 

• Donations to FNPAC provide a way to contribute to the political advocacy for 

FNA and for nurses and patients throughout the state. 

One thing that nurses MUST understand is that it takes VOTERS to influence 

legislation. As nurses who vote, you can make a difference in your future as 

well as the care you deliver to your patients. Participation in the association and 

donations to the PAC are a key element in this kind of advocacy. You can become 

knowledgeable and have input into the agenda by being a member, by contacting 

your legislator and becoming a resource and a conduit from the association to the 

legislator. The FNA website has a page dedicated to political advocacy as a resource 

to members, students and other interested nurses. You can access this at www. 

floridanurse.org/Advocacy. 

BECOME A TRUSTEE: We have openings for new trustees on our PAC this year. 

Trustees help with fundraising activities, participate in candidate interviews, and 

vote on which candidates to support. If you are interested in being involved, please 

complete the application on our website at www.floridanurse.org/FNPAC. 

For questions about FNPAC, donations or becoming a PAC trustee, email Iris 

Lopez at info@floridanurse.org. 

The FNPAC will hold Candidate Interviews for the General Election on Saturday, 

September 10. RSVP to observe the interviews at www.floridanurse.org/events. 

Kimberly Berfield (R) District 58 

Patricia Hawkins-Williams (D) 

Daryl Campbell (D) 



Hillary Cassel (D) District 101 

Marie Woodson (D) 

James Mooney Jr (R) 



Doug Broxson (R) 

Jay Trumbull (R) 

Senate 



Tracie Davis (D) District 5 

Kamia Brown (D) District 15 

Jim Boyd (D) 


Barbara Sharief (D) District 35 

Veterans’ Homes 

RNs, LPNs, & CNAs needed at all locations 

Lake City 

Daytona Beach 

Land O’ Lakes 

Pembroke Pines 

Panama City 

Port Charlotte 

St. Augustine 

Port St. Lucie 

Orlando 

The Robert H. Jenkins Jr. Veterans’ Domiciliary Home 

The Emory L. Bennett State Veterans’ Nursing Home 

The Baldomero Lopez State Veterans’ Nursing Home 

The Alexander “Sandy” Nininger State Veterans’ 

Nursing Home 

The Clifford C. Sims State Veterans’ Nursing Home 

The Douglas T. Jacobson State Veterans’ Nursing Home 

The Clyde E. Lassen State Veterans’ Nursing Home 

The Ardie R. Copas State Veterans’ Nursing Home 

Alwyn C. Cashe State Veterans’ Nursing Home 

For employment opportunities at the homes, call the FDVA 

Human Resources Office at (727) 518-3202, Ext. 5579 or visit the 

People First website at https://jobs.myflorida.com/joblist.html

We’re hiring nurses. 

Select hospitals have been recognized by U.S. News and World Report for 2022-2023. 

You care about your patients. We care about you. They say if you love your job, it’s never work. 

If you’re a nurse, you love helping people, but it’s still work. Demanding work. At Orlando Health 

we want it to be rewarding work too. It’s why we support our nurses with some of the best benefits 

around—competitive pay, education programs to grow your career, loan repayment, and much 

more. If you’re a nurse, we’re hiring. So join us and work with the best. You’ll be in great company. 

Apply today. Visit OrlandoHealth.com/Nursing 

choose well.


News From Headquarters 

Assistance for Kentucky 

As you are probably aware Kentucky has experienced severe flooding. In the past, we 

have donated to state nurses associations when they have a disaster like this. We have 

also received donation checks from several states for the last two hurricanes as well as in 

the past. To donate to Kentucky Nurses, visit their GoFundMe campaign at https://gofund. 

me/627d2fc8 . 

What are your strengths? 

And on a fun note, the last board completed the Clifton Strengths Assessment 

which helps people to determine their strengths and we shared it in a document so 

that everyone else could see the strengths of their colleagues. Some of us found it 

2022 

Calendar of Events 

Some meetings such as committee meetings and recurring regional 

meetings are not included in the list below. 

View the Full FNA Calendar at 

www.floridanurse.org/events. 

Infectious Disease Update: Monkey Pox 

August 30 | 6:00-7:00pm ET • Zoom Webinar 

West Central Region Meeting 

September 1 | 6:00-7:00pm ET • Zoom Meeting 

FNPAC Candidate Interviews 

September 10 | 8:00am - 12:00pm ET • Zoom Meeting 

2022 FNA Membership Assembly 

September 22-24, 2022 

Mission Inn Resort, Howey-in-the-Hills, FL 

Southeast Region Leadership Meeting 

October 12 | 6:30-7:30pm ET • Zoom Meeting 

South Region Leadership Meeting 


East Central Region Meeting 


FNSA Convention 

October 27-29, 2022 

Hilton Daytona Beach Oceanfront Resort 

Mental Health PPE Webinar 

November 14 • Zoom 

Southeast Region Legislative Meet & Greet 

November 18 | 4:00-7:00pm ET 

Location TBD 

Health Policy Special Interest Group 

Every Second Tuesday | 7:00-8:00pm EST • Zoom Meeting 

Ethics Special Interest Group 

Every Third Tuesday | 6:00-7:00pm EST • Zoom Meeting 

Holistic Nursing Special Interest Group 

Every Third Thursday | 5:00-6:00pm EST • Zoom Meeting 

Interested in presenting for FNA? 

Go to www.floridanurse.org/speak 

Members of FNA/ANA will be given priority. 

We welcome all nursing students and Registered Nurses regardless of membership status 

to all of our events unless otherwise noted. For registration and more information about 

FNA events, go to www.floridanurse.org/events. 

frighteningly accurate. It was not only fun, it was really enlightening and it informed 

our goal of moving forward based on our strengths rather than our challenges. You can 

purchase Clifton Strengths 2.0 on Amazon should you want to explore your own strengths 

as you move through your professional journey. 

Florida Nurses Political Action Committee Candidate Interviews 

PAC Interviews for the primary election are over and the endorsements have been 

made. The Lobby Team has notified the candidates and are working on delivering 

contributions. We did not endorse incumbents or candidates we were already certain 

would win their races. PAC members as well as several members and colleagues attended 

the virtual interviews. This event not only gives us the opportunity to meet candidates 

but also to educate them about our issues. We will be holding another round of candidate 

interviews for the General Election. Please watch your emails for that announcement. 

Registration will be available on the FNA website under events as soon as the date is 

set. We encourage you to educate yourself on your local candidates and you can share 

your insights during this virtual meeting. Our lobbyists had already interviewed over 100 

candidates before our event. Thank you to PAC trustees, Carole Amole, Chair; Megan 

Moroney; Barbara Russell; Donna Sabatino, and Mary Lou Brunell for spending the time 

with us on a Saturday to help strengthen our voice in Tallahassee. 

Conversations with a Purpose: Violence Against Nurses 

We have been concerned with escalating violence against nurses in various work 

environments. Many of you have attended our Town Hall meetings related to the 

devastating impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on the Healthcare Professions. We have 

titled these meetings Conversations with a Purpose to denote that we wish to move 

beyond the conversation to actions on each of the issues that have been illuminated 

by these discussions. Some future actions were discussed and the FNA Board will be 

working on actualizing some of these strategies. Some participants also shared strategies 

that seem to be having a positive impact in their work environments. 

Research and Evidence Based Practice Conference 

The Research Conference is behind us and again it was a great success. This was our 

first face to face conference since the pandemic began and so it was a great “testing” of 

the waters before our Membership Assembly in September. We would like to introduce 

a fun promotion called Race of the Regions based on our dynamic conference logo to 

determine which FNA Region will have the greatest representation. Stay tuned. 

Are you a STAR? 

It has been two years since we were able to recognize our STAR FNA recruiters at 

the Membership Assembly. In order to make sure everyone is recognized we will be 

including TWO YEARS of recruitment efforts by individual members. Those who attend 

Membership Assembly will receive gold stars to wear on their badges to denote how 

many members they have recruited. We already have some clear front runners. If you 

recruited members and they included your name in their membership application then 

you are a Star Recruiter. This is one more fun aspect of the conference. In addition to that 

we will be handing out “years of membership” ribbons for your badges. These will denote 

5-50 years of membership. 

Florida Nurses Foundation 

The Scholarship selection process is complete and we will be notifying recipients 

in August. The Trustees have voted to have another call for Grants (there were no 

applications) and for scholarships that did not receive any applicants this year. These 

additional awards will be given based on the Foundation budget. 

There is also currently a call for Foundation Trustees as there are several current and 

upcoming vacancies. If you would like to know more about this opportunity email Willa 

Fuller at wfuller@floridanurse.org 

Pandemic and Disaster Task Force 

Filming has begun on a video project by the Pandemic and Disaster Task Force which 

will share the experiences of nurses from diverse areas of practice. We hope to use this 

video to inform stakeholders, legislators and other policy holders. This task force is chaired 

by Dr. Dierdre Krause. 

Public Relations Project by the Board of Directors 

This year the Board of Directors allocated “Innovation Funds” for special projects 

of benefit to the profession. The board engaged Ron Sachs communication to help us 

formulate messaging for a public relations campaign that will serve as a companion to the 

video project to illuminate the impact of the pandemic and the critical needs within the 

nursing profession. These projects will serve as tools in our Advocacy Toolbox as we move 

forward to heal and repair nurses and patients. A survey was sent to licensees with some 

pertinent questions. 

JEDI Task Force 

The DEI and Social Justice Task Force merged to form the Justice, Equity, Diversity 

and Inclusivity Task Force (JEDI). They will be reporting on their work at the Membership 

Assembly, including the results of the survey they deployed last year. They will discuss the 

question, How Diverse is FNA? They will also share other plans of the Task Force and lead 

a discussion group to help form future work in this important space. 

Membership Assembly 

We are happy to report that ANA President Ernest Grant will serve as our Keynote 

Speaker for the 2022 Membership Assembly live and in person at the Mission Inn Resort 

in Howey-in-the-Hills, FL. We have many excellent presentations planned and our Award 

Selection process has been completed. The Awards Gala is always an uplifting and heartwarming 

part of our conference as we recognize our “Nursing ICONs.”


Regional News 

Recently, we had a productive East Central 

Leadership meeting, which was well attended and 

appreciated. Many healthcare professionals are 

currently receiving the second round of Covid booster 

vaccinations so they may continue to provide for their 

families and their places of employment. While we all 

may be experiencing Covid fatigue, I appreciate the 

nurses who have stayed the course, and are caring for 

our communities and those providing nursing services 

to patients. 

As 2022 is concluding, I hope that we continue 

to stand together and advance the needs of nursing 

and healthcare in our communities and throughout 

the State. Legislative sessions will take place soon, 

and nurses must be heard. With the recent Supreme 

Court’s decision regarding Roe vs Wade, we can 

provide input to influence those who make decisions 

on behalf of the public. In order to make healthcare 

safer and more equitable for all patients including 

those who are underprivileged and underserved, 

lawmakers at the municipal and state levels need to 

hear from nurses. 

If you have any networking or educational initiatives 

suggestions for East Central Region, please reach out 

to me at: fnaoffice@floridanurse.org. 

which provided a relaxing and fun filled day. All nurses 

were presented with a Praying Angel memorial vase in 

memory of patients, friends, and loved ones lost during 

the COVID 19 pandemic. Several awards were presented 

to the Miami Regional University’s President, Ophelia 

Sanchez, Dean of Nursing, Dr. Guillermo Valdez, and 

nursing faculty Dr. Elizabeth Levine, for their support of 

the Florida Nurses Association Nurse Week Celebration. 

There was lots of food and several raffles for gift baskets 

and gift cards. Needless to say, the winners were very 

pleased with their awards. Highlights of the event are 

seen in the photos below. 

The post-event evaluation showed that the 

participating nurses valued this experience and would 

participate again if offered next year. Thank you FNA 

and all our supporting organizations for a successful 

nurse week celebration. A special thanks goes out to: 

Dr. Sharon Rogers, President Miami Chapter Black 

Nurses Association, Joan Howard and Lornette Patrick, 

President and President-elect, Jamaican Nurses 

Association, Nargita Arora, President of the Indian 

Nurses Association, Cleo Reynolds, Anti-Basileus Chi 

Eta Phi Nursing Sorority, Dr. Armando Riera, President 

Hispanic Nurses Association, Rose Valcin, President 

Haitian American Nurses Association, Dr. Helen 

Bhagwandin, and Dr. Marie Etienne. 

Linda Washington-Brown, PhD, EJD, PNP, 

ANP-C, FNP, FAANP, FAAN 

American Nurses Association Minority Fellow Alum 

South Region Director 

Greetings everyone! I am working on an October 

event, more information to come as available. Please 

let me know if you are interested in being part of the 

Northwest Region Leadership Council. You would be 

instrumental in planning collaborative events in your local 

area. If you would like to be part of our region’s leadership 

council, share any professional accomplishments, or have 

any regional activity ideas/questions, please feel free to 

contact me at fnaoffice@floridanurse.org. Thank you for 

allowing me the opportunity to serve our region! 

Dr. Jake Bush 

Greetings SE Region members! Hot off the press 

this summer….cool ideas for fun and fellowship as we 

continue to strengthen our region. A big thanks to all 

of you who are making this year a great success! And 

to the rest….come join us! We need you! 

Regional News continued on page 8 

On Friday, May 6, 2022, Florida Nurses Association 

(FNA) South Region, supported by the Black Nurses 

Association, Chi Eta Phi Nursing Sorority, Haitian Nurses, 

Hispanic Nurses Association, Indian Nurses Association, 

and the Jamaican Nurses Association held its first Joint 

Nurse Week Celebration at Miami Regional University 

in Miami, Florida. The theme for Nurse Week was “We 

Care About You.” The event was well attended with over 

65 nurses and nursing students, who participated via 

Live stream and face-to-face programming. Our Keynote 

Speakers were Michel Hirschberg, Paola Gutt, and Dr. 

Binde Patel, who led the audience in the essentials 

of meditation. The Nurse Week program also offered 

Massage therapy, Aroma therapy, Yoga, and Zumba


Regional News 

Regional News continued from page 7 

Here’s what’s happening: 

Monthly zoom meetings for planning events and 

developing committees. Next SE Region Leadership 

Zoom Meeting August 17th, Wednesday, 6:30-7:30 

pm. See you there! 

Road Trip!! You deserve a break today! FNA 

Membership Assembly – Mission Inn Resort @ Howeyin-the-Hills, 

Florida. September 22-24. Bonus CE 

sessions, Keynote presentations, Awards reception 

& dinner celebration, live region meetings and more. 

New member registration discounts and Region 

Rebates available for members. Checkout our FNA 

website events for details and registration. 

Save The Date - Happy Hour: Meet & Greet your 

newly elected local Legislators. Mix it up with some 

fun and fellowship this November 18 from 4-7pm. 

Location to be determined by our (12 member and 

growing) event planning committee. Openings still 

available for those interested in joining the committee. 

Legislative Outreach - This is an important 

election year, and our voices must be heard! There is 

power in numbers, and we are gathering to make a 

difference! Be a small part of the big change. Email 

for information on key legislative issues and how to get 

started. 

There are also opportunities for service on the 

Legislative Committee for those interested. 

Because of my commitment to advocacy and 

legislative outreach, my Florida Atlantic University 

Christine E. Lynn College of Nursing DNP Project, 

entitled Out of the Shadows and Into the Light… 

Illuminating a Bright Future for Nurses through Legislative 

Advocacy is currently in development and will be rolling 

out to all FNA members soon. 

This Legislative Advocacy training is offered to 

raise awareness about the necessary process for 

implementing changes in the nursing profession, 

to improve the nurse’s enthusiasm for legislative 

advocacy, and to increase nurse participation in 

effecting the needed changes through legislative 

channels. 

Out of the Shadows and Into the Light…Illuminating 

a Bright Future for Nurses through Legislative Advocacy 

is a fun, informative and interactive virtual webinar 

training consisting of four (4) sessions, offered to 

FNA members once each week over a four (4) week 

period, and lasting approximately 20-30 minutes each 

(including time for questions and answers), and will be 

evaluated by a select study group of participants for 

quality improvement analysis. But ALL are welcome to 

attend! 

• Session 1: Wednesday August 24th at 6:30 pm 

• Session 2: Wednesday August 31st at 6:30 pm 

• Session 3: Wednesday September 7th at 6:30 pm 

• Session 4: Wednesday September 14th at 6:30 pm 

Stay tuned for updates and registration. 

Again, a heartfelt thank you for all your support and 

dedication. Great job SE Region!! Enjoy the rest of 

your summer! 

See you soon, 

Cynthia Tagliaferri, RN, MSN, DNP Student 

FNA Southeast Region Director 

cynthia.fna@gmail.com 

The Florida Nurses Association is the only 

nursing organization representing ALL of nursing 

regardless of nursing specialty or practice area. 

We are a strong voice for the nurses of Florida 

fueled by the strength and commitment of the 

professional nurses who comprise our membership. 

We encourage and support all nurses to become 

engaged in our Grassroots program and the 

legislative process to improve the health status 

of our communities and the practice and working 

environments of Florida nurses. 

Public Affairs Consultant, PA is a governmental 

consulting firm that represents FNA’s collective 

voice before the Florida Legislature. Jack Cory 

(Founding Partner), Keyna Cory (President) and Erin 

Ballas (Vice President) promote FNA’s Legislative 

and Regulatory Policy Platform to State Legislators 

and State Agencies. 

This year, FNA joined the Florida Chamber 

Political Institute as our lobbyist interviewed 

legislative candidates across the state. West Central 

Region interviews were hosted in Tampa, June 7-8, 

at the Florida Aquarium. 

A second round of candidate interviews were 

conducted by The Florida Nurses Political Action 

Committee (FNPAC) Board of Trustees with 

subsequent endorsements based on FNA’s priority 

legislative agenda. 

FNA’s year-round Grassroots advocacy offers 

several opportunities for your voice to be heard 

including delegation meetings with local legislators, 

FNA’s Health Policy Special Interest Group (HP- 

SIG), FNPAC, and attending Advocacy Days at the 

State Capitol during legislative session. 

Every day, lawmakers make decisions affecting 

nurses, ensure FNA is part of the healthcare 

policy dialogue by voting on General Election Day, 

November 8, 2022. 

Your Vote, Your Voice! 

FNA Lobbyist Team: Erin Ballas, Jack Cory, and 

Keyna Cory of Public Affairs Consultants, PA 

#3 Best Online FNP 

Master’s Program


Florida 2022 Election Season 

Legislative Update 

John Berry, Director of Labor Relations 

& Governmental Affairs 

The 2022 Florida Election Season is upon us. This year’s 

Primary Election is August 23, and the General Election 

takes place on November 8. The deadline to register for the 

Primary Election was July 25, and the last day to register for 

the General Election is October 11. All statewide offices are 

up for grabs as well as the Florida House of Representatives 

and the Florida Senate. 

As of May 31, 2022, here are the numbers for Voter 

Registration in Florida: 

Republican Democratic Minor Party No Party Affiliation Totals 

5,135,749 4,959,838 255,510 3,865,575 14,216,672 

There isn’t a big difference in the number of registered Republicans and Democrats 

in our state. There are few who belong to a Minor Party, but there are quite a number 

of residents who don’t have any party affiliation, making up just over a quarter of total 

registered voters. Both major parties like to target those potential voters because 

they could vote either way in a General Election. 

Let’s take a look at the results of the 2018 Governor’s Race here in Florida: 

Election Results: 

Percent Candidate Party Votes Winner 

49.6 Ron DeSantis Republican 4,076,186 X 

49.2 Andrew Gillum Democratic 4,043,723 

1.2 Other 100,585 

100% Precincts Reporting 

8,220,494 Total Votes 

John Berry 

What that means is that there were 5,996,178 registered voters who did not take the 

time to perform their civic duty in 2018. 

This is not an article about who you should vote for, this is a message about the 

importance of getting out to vote. Every vote counts. Every vote can make a difference. 

It can be discouraging when your candidate doesn’t win. It can get tiresome being 

bombarded with political ads this time of year. Elected officials and candidates will not 

only talk about why they’ll be the best one for the job, but a number of them can be 

pretty nasty with each other in the press, and that can be a turn-off for a lot of voters. 

Some people will look at a campaign and think that this person doesn’t stand a chance, so 

why bother. That’s my point. You should bother, you should care. 

There were just under 6,000,000 registered voters who could have made a difference 

in the 2018 election. How do you know if you’re not going to try? Whoever you’re going 

to vote for this year, that’s your personal choice. Vote for the candidate that you feel can 

make the greatest and most positive impact in not only the statewide races for the Florida 

House and Senate, but your local races as well. Just don’t waste the vote you have by not 

voting at all. Whether you’re voting by absentee ballot or in-person, just make sure that 

you vote. Your vote can make a difference. 

References: 

dos.myflorida.com/election/for-votes/voter-registration/ 

politico.com/election-results/2018/florida/governor/ 

State Employee News 

Public Health Prevention – 

Vaccines Work! 

Prevention of disease is the hallmark of public health service. As public health 

providers and nurses, we realize the value of vaccines in providing immune protection for 

both children and adults. 

Data on prevention success is inspiring. According to the 

Center for Disease Control, for children born between 1994 

and 2018, vaccines will prevent 419 million illnesses- that’s 

more than the population of the United States currently! This 

vaccine protection will help avoid 936,000 deaths and save 

$1.9 trillion in societal costs. This is the power of prevention! 

(www.cdc.gov/features/vfcprogram) 

According to sources, including the American Association 

of Critical-Care Nurses ( AACN), the COVID-19 Pandemic has 

brought challenges to vaccine prevention programs, among 

many others. It has interrupted immunization programs both 

in the United States and around the world leading to delayed Debbie Hogan 

immunizations for both children and adults. Without this 

protection, children are at risk for up to fourteen different diseases including measles, 

pertussis (whooping cough), and COVID itself! For more information on the current 

vaccine schedules go to cdc.gov/vaccines/schedules/resource-library/syndicate.html. 

As nurses, we need to support and advocate for the Immunization Agenda 2030 ( 

IA2030), adopted as part of the World Health Assembly. These efforts include preventing 

disease, promoting equity and building (or rebuilding) strong immunization programs. 

Efforts also include programs to promote vaccine confidence and trust in science, as well 

as encouraging further vaccine research to develop and increase the supply of quality, 

safe, effective and affordable vaccines. 

Our patients and communities depend on us as nurses and public health providers 

to serve as resources for disease prevention and health care. Please join our prevention 

team!!!


Student Forum 

The August edition of The Florida Nurse is our Annual Nursing Student Issue in which we feature articles, op-eds, and stories written by nursing 

students or related to nursing student life. Some articles featured are experiential pieces that reflect the opinion of the author and are not an official 

position of the Florida Nurses Association. If you would like to submit an article for consideration in next year’s Nursing Student Issue, 

please contact Kaitlin Scarbary, Editor at kscarbary@floridanurse.org. 

Senior Practicum Nursing Student to Practicing Nurse 

Trilla Mays, Ph.D., Ed.D., RN 

Recently, I had the 

opportunity to present my Ph.D. 

research findings as a poster 

presentation. It was interesting 

to discover that some nursing 

programs have stopped the 

senior practicum experience, 

some are considering stopping 

that experience due to 

difficulty finding preceptors in 

the hospital, and some have 

continued the practicum 

Trilla Mays 

experience. Adequate academic 

and clinical preparation are essential for the transition 

from student to registered nurse (RN) working in a practice 

setting. The National Council of State Boards of Nursing 

(NCSBN, 2020) recognized that newly graduated nurses 

(NGNs) who are unable to transition to practice impacts 

the quality of care, leading to the risk of medical errors 

and diminished patient safety. NGNs have reported a lack 

of competence and preparation for practice based on 

academic preparation (Hatzenbuhler & Klein, 2019). 

I interviewed RNs who had been practicing less than two 

years and had a senior practicum or preceptor clinical their 

last semester of nursing school. The results of that study 

revealed that the learning environment resulted in some 

unmet needs, particularly the nurse who had the practicum 

only on Saturdays. However, it made her realize she could 

work on a medical-surgical unit in the hospital. There were 

more than sufficient positive learning experiences where 

the preceptor served as a role model impacting the NGN’s 

transition to practice (Meleis, 2010). Role modeling by the 

preceptor impacts transition to practice (Edward, et al., 

2017; Ford, et al., Gale, et al., 2016; Rooke, et al., 2022). All 

participants reported valuable experiences, reinforcement of 

skills learned in previous clinical courses, and the opportunity 

to learn from the RN preceptors. They benefited from 

working one on one with an RN in their last semester of 

nursing school. Edward, et al., (2017) discovered that a 

positive preceptor-nursing student relationship improves 

clinical competence of new nurses entering practice. 

Although, there was a limitation of three participants due 

to COVID, the meaning of the data consistently supported 

continuing a senior practicum experience. Academia and 

practice partners should discuss the availability and even 

expansion of practicum opportunities, training of preceptors, 

and additional enhancements to the practicum experience. 

Working together should improve not only the number of 

nurses prepared to transition to practice; it should increase 

the retention of new nurses. 

Biography: Dr. Mays has a BSN, MSN, an Ed.D. in higher 

education leadership and a Ph.D. in nursing. She has over 30 

years of experience as an RN, a pediatric nurse practitioner, and 

professor in higher education. Her current position is School of 

Health Sciences Dean at Chipola College. 

References 

Edward, K.-L., Ousey, K., Playle, J., & Giandinoto, J.-A. (2017). 

Are new nurses work ready - The impact of preceptorship. An 

integrative systematic review. Journal of Professional 

Nursing: Official Journal of the American Association of Colleges 

of Nursing, 33(5), 326–333. https://doi.org/10.1016/j. 

profnurs.2017.03.003 

Ford, K., Courtney-Pratt, H., Marlow, A., Cooper, J., Williams, D., & 

Mason, R. (2016). Quality clinical placements: The perspectives 

of undergraduate nursing students and their supervising 

nurses. Nurse Education Today, 37, 97–102. https://doi. 

org/10.1016/J.NEDT.2015.11.013 

Gale, J, Ooms, A., Sharpesl, K, & Marks-Maran, D. (2016) The 

experiences of student nurses on placements with practice 

nurses: A pilot study. Nurse Education in Practice, (16) 1, 225- 

234. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.nepr.2015.08.008 

Hatzenbuhler, N. & Klein, J. (2019). Educational Preparation 

for clinical practice: reflections of newly graduated RNs. 

Nurse Educator, 44, 93-97. https://doi.org/10.1097/ 

NNE.0000000000000550 

Meleis, A. I. (2010). Transitions theory. [electronic resource]: middlerange 

and situation-specific theories in nursing research and 

practice. Springer Pub. 

NSCBN (2020). Transition to Practice. https://www.ncsbn.org/ 

transition-to-practice.htm 

Rooke, S., Thevenard, G., Suthendran, S., Jung, S., Tolentino, N., 

Annandale, J. F., & Ward, K. (2022). What makes a great 

preceptor? Nursing students have their say. Kai Tiaki Nursing 

New Zealand, 49–58.


The BSN-Ph.D. Student: 

Finding Your Place In the Profession 

Student Forum 

Walter Wills BSN, RN 

As we recognize nursing 

students this August, I took 

a moment of reflection for 

myself as I finish the first year 

of my BSN to Ph.D. program. 

I recently graduated with a 

BSN in 2021 and worked at 

the bedside throughout the 

beginning of my graduate 

training. However, the decision 

to move immediately into my 

graduate training came at a Walter Wills 

great cost to understanding 

where I fit in the nursing profession, and I hope this will 

serve as a message to young students who may want to, but 

doubt, their ability to pursue a similar path. 

The decision to pursue a Ph.D. may never be an easy 

one, whether the burden lies in giving up status in a 

current position, sacrificing time with family or friends, 

accepting substantial financial burden, or all of these things 

combined. For me, it came at a cost of many of those 

elements, but also a struggle in finding my identity within 

the nursing profession. The decision to go back for a Ph.D. 

the very next semester after graduating with a BSN may 

be seen by many as premature, lacking in the volume of 

clinical experience many other graduate prepared nurses 

have. For a while, I believed this claim to be valid too. 

When I look around my Ph.D. classroom, I see successful 

CNO’s, DNP’s, and APRN’s, all with storied careers already. 

How could I measure up to them at my young age and 

level of clinical experience? My supporters through my 

undergraduate training also questioned why I would ever 

want to return to school so quickly, asking me why I didn’t 

want to “use” my degree before going back. This too made 

me question the validity of my decision. These ideas lead 

me towards a case of severe “imposter syndrome,” and a 

loss of where I felt I fit within this profession. 

However, through a journey of self-reflection and 

peer support, I was able to find my place within this 

profession, and I’d like to leave a message of clarity for 

those questioning pursing this same path. Being a nursing 

scientist is ultimately very different from the skills we learn 

in our undergraduate training, bedside practice, or any other 

academic program. I love designing new research studies, 

getting to know the participants I recruit, running my own 

statistics, and speaking on my results. An awareness of 

these personal strengths allowed me to recognize that I can 

best aid in improving the lives of our patients by focusing 

on these skills and committing fully to being the best 

scientist possible. In closing, no matter when you graduated 

your undergraduate program, how long you have been at 

the bedside, or how many credentials you have behind your 

name, if you believe you will best improve patient lives in 

the role of a Ph.D. Nurse, then I urge you to take a chance 

on yourself and go get that degree. 

Biography: Walter graduated from the University of South 

Florida in 2021 and began practicing at Bayfront Health St. 

Petersburg as Trauma Care RN prior to starting his graduate 

training. Currently, he is an early-stage investigator, beginning 

his 2nd year at USF’s Ph.D. in Nursing Science program.


Members in the News 

FNA Member Karen Baez-Wallis runs for county 

commissioner seat in Miami-Dade County 

Karen Baez-Wallis, 

Registered Nurse and 

member of the Florida 

Nurses Association, 

is running for county 

commissioner in Miami- 

Dade County. Karen’s 

top priorities are finding 

innovative solutions to 

traffic problems, creating 

jobs and incentivizing 

businesses to open 

their doors, working with leaders on appropriate 

infrastructure to protect homes and safe water, and 

taking care of veterans by creating a VA office in 

South Miami-Dade. 

Karen obtained her bachelor’s in health services 

administration from FIU Biscayne Campus, a 

registered nursing degree from Miami Dade College 

and her master’s in nursing from West Coast 

University. Karen worked as a registered nurse at 

John Hopkins and Ryder Trauma before advancing 

to the service line director of nursing for emergency 

and trauma services at Jackson South Medical 

Center. 

Karen has continuously given back to her 

community including work with the United Way, 

Women of Tomorrow, and the Children’s Burn 

Foundation. She considers her largest contribution to 

her community as her service as a nurse for the last 26 

years. 

“I am dedicated to maintaining the substantial 

relationships that I have established with Police and 

Fire Departments to provide for the safety and security 

of the community. This is to support my #1 priority 

other than quality of life which is community safety. 

Of which I have an intimate understanding having 

seen firsthand while running the trauma center and 

emergency department which serves as the catchment 

facility for district 8. I will work to collaborate and 

empower the community councils as they have the 

pulse on the issues for the communities that they 

serve.” 

To learn more about Karen’s Campaign visit 

Https://karenbaezwallis.com 

Dr. Stone-Gale receives 

multiple awards and 

induction as a Fellow 

Dr. Vicky Stone-Gale, 

DNP, APRN, FNP-BC, 

FAANP, FNAP was inducted 

in March 2022, as a 

Distinguished Fellow of 

the National Academies of 

Practice. She also received 

the 2022 Outstanding 

Policy Award from the 

National Organization of 

Nurse Practitioner Faculty 

(NONPF) in April at their 

yearly conference in Minneapolis, Minnesota, and the 

2022 AANP Advocate State Award of Excellence from 

the American Association of Nurse Practitioners at the 

national AANP conference during the Salute to the 

States Award Ceremony June 24th in Orlando, Florida. 

This prestigious award is given annually to a dedicated 

advocate in each state who has made a significant 

contribution toward increasing the awareness and 

recognition of nurse practitioners. 

Dr. Stone-Gale is an Associate Professor in the FNP 

program at Frontier Nursing University and practices 

as an Autonomous APRN in Primary Care in Plantation. 

She is the current President of the South Florida 

Council of Advanced Practice Nurses, First VP of 

Legislation for the Florida Nurse Practitioner Network, 

and is Chair for the North Probable Cause Panel for 

the Florida Board of Nursing.


Members in the News 

Association of Nurses in AIDS Care Conference comes to Tampa 

Nov. 17-19 led by FNA Member Donna Sabatino, RN, ACRN 

ANAC’s annual national conference will be held in Tampa 

this year, bringing together nurses, researchers, educators, 

policy experts, healthcare innovators, community members 

and nursing students from across the country and the 

globe. This is the conference’s 35th year and Florida Nurses 

Association member Donna Sabatino, RN, ACRN leads 

the planning as the ANAC2022 conference chair. Donna 

also serves in a consultant role at ANAC, supporting the 

organizations national and global health policy and advocacy 

work. Additionally, she is Director of State Policy & Advocacy 

for The AIDS Institute in Florida. 

Dr. Sharon Rogers Elected 

President of Miami BNA 

Florida Nurses Association (FNA) South Region 

congratulates Dr. Sharon Rogers as the newly elected 

President of the Black Nurses Association, Miami Chapter 

(Miami BNA). Dr. Rogers has been active with FNA for many 

years and participated in several of their initiatives; Tallahassee 

Advocacy Days, FNA Health Policy Special Interest Group 

(SIG), South Region Leadership Council and various Taskforce 

initiatives. Her experience and background are with the 

Jackson Health System (JHS) for 26 years in the neonatal 

intensive care unit (NICU) and pediatric intensive care unit 

(PICU), and as Associate Director of Patient Care Services, 

Women’s Center at Jackson South Community Hospital. 

Dr. Rogers has served on the Nomination Committee for FNA from 2017-2019. She 

was the recipient of both FNA “Nurse Educator” Award in 2017 and the “Promoting 

Environmental for Excellence in Nursing Practice” Award in 2019. She has also 

completed the ‘Board Service Initiative’ (BSI) with the Florida Center for Nursing (FCN). 

As BNA Health Policy Chair, she has consistently participated in FNA “Advocacy Days” 

coordinating legislative appointments with State Legislators in Tallahassee. She is a 

sustained supporter of FNA South Region and continues to be actively engaged with their 

platform. 

Submitted by 

Dr. Linda Washington-Brown, 

FNA, South Region Director 

Donna has been in the HIV fight for 30 years, holding several positions including a 

bedside RN in a dedicated HIV/AIDS unit in Ft. Lauderdale in the early 90s, an HIV clinic 

nurse and manager, director of operations for a Disease Management Program and an 

industry partner. She truly believes that “nurses have always been respected advocates 

and are at the intersection between social justice, health policy and the needs of our 

patients.” Donna has served on the national ANAC Board of Directors, chaired the 

ANAC Policy & Advocacy Committee and is the recipient of the 2021 Helen Miramontes 

Award, presented by ANAC and Until There’s a Cure Foundation to an individual whose 

work influences policy to improve the lives of vulnerable persons. Her extensive policy 

background makes her the perfect fit to chair this year’s conference, which will have a 

strong focus on health equity and policy. 

The ANAC2022 conference theme is Equity, Compassion & Science - Keys to Ending 

the Epidemic. Sessions will amplify the messages of inclusion, equity, and compassion, 

which are nursing values necessary to end the HIV epidemic and address health equity. 

Attendees will learn about the latest developments and advancements in HIV care 

through abstract-driven sessions from highly acclaimed speakers. There will be skillsbuilding 

opportunities and networking to advance nursing roles in advocacy and education 

that draw attention to the intersections of human rights and health disparities and HIV. 

You’re invited to join other nurses to celebrate the amazing work being done in support 

of LGBTQ+ individuals and people with or at risk of HIV in Florida and around the world. 

Attendees are eligible for up to 18 hours of nursing continual professional development 

credit hours (formerly known as CNE), which are included in the registration fee! 

We can’t wait to see you at ANAC2022 Nov. 17-19 in Tampa, 

Florida (pre-conference activities on Nov. 16). Check out the 

agenda and stay tuned for more details. Visit our website for 

registration information and a welcome message from Tampa 

Mayor Jane Castor. 

The Association of Nurses in AIDS Care (ANAC) is the leading 

nursing organization responding to HIV/AIDS. Since its founding in 

1987, ANAC has been meeting the needs of nurses and other healthcare professionals in HIV/ 

AIDS care, education, research, prevention, and policy. 

President’s Message continued from page 1 

The ANA Membership Assembly was highly successful. We also elected Dr. Edward 

Briggs of St. Petersburg, FL to the ANA Board of Directors! Dr. Briggs is a longtime 

member and past president of FNA who has been a strong voice for nurses over his 

career. We proudly stood with ANA President Dr. Ernest Grant and Dr. Barbara Nichols. 

Pictured left to right: Mavra Kear (Treasurer-FNA), 

Janice Adams (President-FNA), Ernest Grant 

(President-ANA), Barbara Nichols (Past President- 

ANA), Marie O. Etienne (President-Elect-FNA), 

Ed Briggs (Newly elected board member- 

ANA), George Peraza-Smith (Representative & 

Immediate Past President-FNA) 

The nursing crisis in 

Florida is evident in all 

venues where care is 

delivered. A recent 

report from the Florida 

Hospital Association 

(FHA) indicates a 

projected shortage of 

approximately 59,000 

nurses by 2035. We 

have much work to do 

relating to recruitment 

and retention, improving 

National Council 

Licensing Examination 

(NCLEX) pass rates in 

Florida, and improving 

workplace concerns. 

FNA has several 

opportunities available 

for you to speak to 

these concerns. To join this important work please visit the FNA website at 

www.floridanurse.org. 

This is a priority concern for Florida nurses. The Quality & Unity in Nursing 

Council (QUIN) has been working to address the Florida nurse needs for the 

future. The QUIN Council and the Nursing Action Coalition of Florida (NACFL) 

will be presenting our white paper on recommended resolutions during the FNA 

Membership Assembly. The Board of Directors and I look forward to hearing from 

you and having you join us at the Membership Assembly in September.


Member’s Voice 

Todd’s Paralysis: Know the Signs 

Ashley Davis 

Ashley Davis 

Ashley is currently 

working as a rapid 

response team nurse. 

Ashley’s nursing career 

began in 2014. Ashley’s 

primary background is in 

emergency nursing. She 

is currently enrolled at 

the University of South 

Alabama to become 

a dual certified FNP/ 

AGACNP. She lives with her husband and two 

daughters in Pensacola, Florida. 

“Todd’s paralysis is a neurological condition 

experienced by individuals with epilepsy, in which 

a seizure is followed by a brief period of temporary 

paralysis. The paralysis may be partial or complete but 

usually occurs on just one side of the body” (National 

Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, 2022). 

The importance of being aware of Todd’s Paralysis 

is that the signs and symptoms of this disorder are 

very similar to those of a stroke (National Institute of 

Neurological Disorders and Stroke, 2022). Observable 

signs can include flattened nasolabial fold, upper and/ 

or lower extremity weakness, and more. 

Todd’s Paralysis occurs after a patient has 

experienced an epileptic seizure. The symptoms 

can last between thirty minutes and up to thirty-six 

hours, with an average time of symptoms lasting 

approximately fifteen hours (National Institute of 

Neurological Disorders and Stroke, 2022). Mastriana 

et al. (2022) report that the current understanding 

regarding the cause of Todd’s Paralysis signs and 

symptoms is when a patient experiences a seizure 

there is exhaustion and/or hypo-perfusion of the area 

of the brain that controls the area of the body that 

becomes paralyzed for a period. As that portion of the 

brain recovers from the epileptic state, the symptoms 

diminish and eventually go away. 

If it is suspected that your patient is experiencing 

Todd’s Paralysis, it is imperative to notify the patient’s 

attending physician and/or neurology team, and 

to complete a thorough neurological assessment. 

The patient may require a CT scan of the brain, 

antiepileptic medications, as well as other diagnostics 

and/or treatments. 

References 

Mastriana, J., Pay, J. L., De Jesus, O., & Taylor, R. S. (2022, May 

9). Todd paresis. StatPearls. Retrieved June 21, 2022, from 

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK532238/ 

National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke. (2022, 

April 25). Todd’s paralysis. NIH. Retrieved June 21, 2022, 

from https://www.ninds.nih.gov/health-information/ 

disorders/todds-paralysis#:~:text=Publications- 

,Definition,one%20side%20of%20the%20body. 

Currently hiring faculty in Florida for all 

specialty areas. 

We change the life of one to care for the 

lives of many 

Student Success, Institutional Excellence, Relationships, Stewardship 

Galen College is currently hiring expert educators and committed 

professionals in all areas of expertise whose guidance and experience 

contribute to the success of thousands of students entering the 

nursing field every year. 

Must have MSN, DNP or PhD degree 

St. Petersburg, Gainesville, 

Pembroke Pines, Sarasota 

galencollege.edu/careers 

Voting as Nursing 

Advocacy 

Charlotte D. Barry PhD & 

Savina O. Schoenhofer PhD 

Contact info: 

cbarry@health.fau.edu 

savibus@gmail.com 

“ANA believes that advocacy is a pillar of nursing. 

Nurses instinctively advocate for their patients, in their 

workplaces, and in their communities; but legislative and 

political advocacy is no less important to advancing the 

profession and patient care.” 

Advocacy (nursingworld.org) 

The most basic practice of advocacy is also the most 

basic practice of citizenship – voting. In the US, voting 

is the mechanism for political expression in a way 

that matters most. However, research has found that 

nurses and other healthcare professionals have a lower 

likelihood of voting than members of professions such 

as teaching, engineering and the law. (https://www. 

ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7822395/). 

We need to do better in order to live up to our 

commitment to advocacy for ourselves, for our 

patients and for the healthcare system in general. 

What are some practical ways to help us improve the 

record of voting? Allow us to suggest one avenue that 

is readily accessible – the League of Women Voters. 

It needs to be said up front that the League of 

Women Voters is not just for women – it’s for all 

persons, men and women, of all political persuasions, 

all demographic groups. The League’s motto is 

“Empowering Voters – Defending Democracy.” The 

Florida League of Women Voters (Home - League of 

Women Voters of Florida (lwvfl.org)) has much to offer, 

whether or not you are a member. They have well 

researched position papers on various relevant issues, 

they sponsor local and statewide in-person and online 

Voter Forum opportunities prior to every election, they 

provide information about the how-to’s and when-to’s 

of voter registration and voting in-person, online and 

by mail. 

One of the most valuable services available through 

the League of Women Voters is the website called 

Vote 411 (https://www.vote411.org/). At Vote 411, 

you can find out when and where to register and vote 

and get information about candidates for office - just 

go to https://vote.411.org and put in your address 

for valuable details that will help you plan your voting 

experience. 

As part of the League of Women Voters’ 

commitment to Empowering Voters, the League 

engages in extensive Get Out The Vote (GOTV) efforts. 

Some examples of these efforts include posting signs 

with registration deadlines and voting dates, writing 

postcards to voters to remind/encourage them to vote, 

and offering rides to the polls on election day. 

So, if you would like to help raise the percentages 

of nurse involvement in empowering voters, please 

consider joining your local League of Women Voters. 

Use Vote411.org to check out candidates and find your 

polling place. Share the resource of Vote411.org with 

your colleagues, your patients, your family and friends. 

That’s a wonderful way to honor your commitment to 

advocacy as a pillar of nursing! 

References 

Solnick, R. E., Choi, H., & Kocher, K. E. (2022). Voting behavior of 

physicians and healthcare professionals. J Gen Intern Med, 

36, pp. 1169-1171. 

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7822395/ 

The League of Women Voters of Florida. (2022). https://lwvfl.org/ 

Vote 411. (2022). https://www.vote411.org/


How can I get involved in FNA? 

This is a question we hear often from both new and seasoned members of 

FNA. Sometimes, they are new, have settled in their job and are ready to add 

professional involvement to their “resume” of activities. Often, they are older 

members who have always intended to become more involved and decided this 

was the time. Others have retired and have more time to dedicate to advocacy 

efforts. No matter what the situation we feel we have SOMETHING that 

members can sink their teeth into. 

Governance Level 

FNA has opportunities for the FNA Board of Directors, the Florida 

Nurses Foundation Board of Trustees and the Florida Nurses Political Action 

Committee. These are “executive” and board level positions that provided 

leadership to important entities of the association. The work includes quarterly 

meetings which are currently mostly virtual and perhaps some quick meeting 

in-between to take care of emergent business. The FNA Board determines the 

directions and actions of the association and steers it toward the mission while 

overseeing the financial status and managing the strategic plan. The Foundation 

oversees the philanthropy arm of the association by overseeing the Grants and 

Scholarship Program and creating fundraising opportunities to grow the funds. 

Like the FNA Board they also provide governance and fiscal oversight. The FN- 

PAC board oversees the process for endorsement of political candidates and 

promotes fundraising and donations to the PAC. They also meet multiple times 

a year but most frequently during elections. 

Standing Committees 

Like most organizations, FNA has standing committees that are a part of 

the governance structure. The Bylaws Committee oversees the governing 

document of the association and review them regularly to ensure that they are 

serving the organization in a way that supports the mission and complies with 

best practice. This committee is great for individuals who love organization, 

structure, and order. 

The Reference Committee promotes, writes and receives Reference 

Proposals from members or Structural units with our position statement of 

importance that the association might make. These are brought before the 

Membership Assembly and discussed and voted on. If they are adopted, they 

become a position of the association. This committee would be great for a 

member who understands and is passionate about an issue and who is adept at 

editing and evaluating content. 

The Membership Committee works on initiatives and strategies to promote 

and preserve membership in the professional association. This committee 

would be great for a creative member who is excited about the association and 

wants to inspire and motivate others to join. Creativity is a great attribute for a 

member of this committee. 

Task Forces 

Task Forces are time-limited groups formed for a specific purpose. Currently, 

the Pandemic and Disaster Task Force and the JEDI Task Force are active groups 

within FNA. We are also in the process of starting a Workforce Violence Task 

Force to look at the ongoing problem of violence against nurses. 

External organizations 

Other organizations and entities sometimes seek out FNA for nursing 

representatives. Currently, Debbie Hogan has served on the Child Abuse Death 

Review Committee (CADR) and Patty Geddie serves on the Cancer Control 

Advisory Board or CCRAB, in a position specifically designated for FNA. There 

is also a position on the Florida Center for Nursing Board that is an FNA specific 

slot. We have representation on the Quality and Unity in Nursing (QUIN) 

Council and we have many members on the Florida Action Coalition. We have 

representatives on the Florida Coalition of Advanced Practice Nurses as well, 

which is a group we help to form. Bill Pruitt and Valerie Morrison represent FNA 

on the Nurses on Boards Coalition (NOBC) where we disseminate information 

about board opportunities for our members. 

Other opportunities 

Do you have expertise in a topic? Present a webinar or CE for us. 

Serve as a reviewer! We have reviewers for grants, scholarships, research 

projects, awards, abstracts for poster sessions and speakers for conferences. 

Serving as a reviewer is a short-term contribution that has great value to the 

association. 

This is an overview of some great engagement opportunities in the Florida 

Nurses Association. Don’t be afraid to dip your toe in the water and any level 

that feels comfortable to you. We look forward to working with you! 

Ad Hoc Committees 

The Finance Committee is a committee of the Board of Directors (and other 

appointed members) who oversee the association finances and report to the 

Board (at each official meeting) and the Membership Assembly. They create 

a proposed budget which is then approved by the Board of Directors and is 

then utilized to make sure the association is fiscally solvent. This committee is 

appointed by the president. 

Awards Committee 

The Awards Committee is also appointed by the President. They score 

the awards each year and make the selections for the FNA Peer Recognition 

Awards. The awards have been created by leadership over the years and 

also have been amended or completely changed by various committees. 

Nominations are sought from the membership and the committee receives 

those nominations. 

Special Interest Groups (SIGs) 

Special Interest Groups are created by the members upon request. They 

must have 10 interested members to form a SIG and each SIG defines it goals 

and purposes. Currently we have the Health Policy SIG, The Nursing Ethics 

SIG, the Research SIG, the Recent Graduate SIG, and the Holistic Nurses SIG. 

Several SIGs have been closed over the years due to lack of activity which is 

the beauty of a group formed by members. They determine if it is viable and 

valuable. The SIGs have also met virtually since their inception but have the 

option for in-person events. At one time the Recent Graduate SIG did several 

meetups in the state via our Meetup.com account. 

American Nurses Association Opportunities 

FNA members may also become involved at the national level, including 

running for office, serving on committees, running for ANA delegate in our 

elections and attending the ANA Membership Assembly. 

We have had several ANA board members, including Dr. Edward Briggs 

who was very recently elected. We also have several members serving on 

committees at the current time.


FNA Event Highlights 

Research Conference 2022 Recap 

The 8th Annual FNA Nursing Research and Evidence-Based Practice 

Conference was held on Saturday, July 16, 2022 at the Sheraton Orlando North 

in Maitland, FL. This year’s keynote address was “Nursing Art and Science: Bridge 

to Innovation” presented by Susan V. White, PhD, RN, CPHQ, FNAHQ, NEA-BC 

and Stephanie Sinnett, MS, RD, LDN of the Orlando VA Healthcare System. Dr. 

White and Ms. Sinnett kicked off the conference with an exciting and engaging 

presentation that inspired attendees to consider the ways in which innovation 

is born within the nursing workplace. The session included a mock “Shark Tank” 

pitch with participation from Sue Fowler, PhD, RN, CRRN, FCNS who pitched 

an innovative idea to the “sharks” in the audience. Some takeaways from the 

presentation included know the problem you’re working on, don’t be afraid to fail, 

use iterations and pivots when needed, and be sure to have a great pitch to help 

garner support for your innovation. 

The keynote presentation was followed by several podium presentations from 

nurse researchers. Each podium presentation was unique, creative, and met a 

need/answered a question related to nurse’s impact on health care issues and/ 

or professional nursing issues. Both qualitative and quantitative studies were 

presented. The presenters provided the participants with opportunities to hear 

about the research and evidence-based process in action. While each presenter 

had a different “journey” to their research, the common goal of research and 

evidence being the guiding force of practice and the profession of nursing was 

most evident. 

Trecia D. Jones, MSN, RN, CNL, PCCN of the University of Central Florida 

presented her work with veterans and vitamin B12 deficiency monitoring. Her 

project entitled, “A Quality Improvement Project to Increase Vitamin B12 

Monitoring in Veterans Who Have Diabetes and Take Metformin” demonstrated 

that education intervention to increase awareness of ADA guidelines on 

B12 deficiencies in patients taking metformin had a positive correlation with 

monitoring B12 levels. 

Anita M. Stephen PhD, RN, CNL of the University of Florida College of Nursing 

shared her research involving students’ acceptance of technological systems 

in nursing education entitled, “Nursing Students’ Acceptance of an Online



Computer-based Simulation System Utilizing 

the Technology Acceptance Model.” The study 

showed that external factors influence the students’ 

acceptance of these models and that clear, concise 

instructions, and instructor support are key for 

success. 

Walter Wills BSN, RN, a PhD student at the 

University of South Florida presented his study on 

patients with COPD and the link between quality 

of life and cardiovascular disease. The research, 

“Cardiovascular Disease as A Moderator of GOLD 

Stage and Quality of Life in COPD Patients” 

suggested a relationship between lower degrees of 

airflow limitation and worsened quality of life when 

presenting with comorbid CVD and identified the 

need to develop innovative interventions to promote 

symptom management and self-care. 

Rounding out the podium presentations was a look 

inside the lives of former victims of sex trafficking. 

Elizabeth H. Sassatelli, PhD, RN, CNE and Katherine 

Justus, RN presented “Out of the “Life” But Still 

Out of Sight: The Long-Term Health Effects of Sex 

Trafficking on Women in Florida.” The presentation 

used survivor testimonies on experiences in the 

health care system to emphasize the importance of 

trauma informed care when providing health care 

services to individuals with a history of sex trafficking. 

The conference boasted two lively poster sessions 

with thirty-one posters from a diverse range of topics. 

The poster presentations were diverse in area 

of focus as well as research method. Poster 

presentations included both qualitative and 

quantitative research and evidence-based projects, 

and were from both state and national sites. There 

were completed studies and studies in progress 

presented. There were studies from clinical, academic, 

and community environments. Each presenter had 

time for participants to view their posters and ask 

questions. It was a great opportunity to see the types 

of work being done by the diverse Florida nurse. 

Start thinking now for next year’s Research 

and Evidence-Based Conference to be held in 

July 2023. The call for abstracts usually goes out 

in March. For those who are new(er) to writing 

abstracts, FNA provides an abstract writing 

webinar given in both April and May, to assist and 

encourage everyone to submit. More details will be 

announced soon! 

Thank you to everyone involved in making this 

conference a roaring success including our speakers, 

poster presenters, podium presenters, and members 

of the planning committee. 

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Focus on 

Recent Grads 

Several years ago, the 

FNA Membership Assembly 

voted to add a Director of 

Recent Graduates to the 

Board of Directors. The 

goal of this position was to 

create activities to engage 

the young professionals 

and to make sure the 

organization was addressing 

the needs of newly 

graduated nurses. Recent Danielle Weaver 

graduates were defined as 

nurses in practice for five years or less. We recently 

sent out a call for new graduates meeting this 

criterion to form a group to serve as an advisory 

board to develop activities and programs for recent 

graduates. We also created a group on Meetup.com 

for new graduates to network in different parts of 

the state. 

We are working on a section of the FNA website 

dedicated to new graduates. We need our members 

who are in the workforce to help us develop 

this resource. Danielle Weaver is the current 

Director, Recent Graduates. She recently initiated a 

networking series called Coffee with a Nurse. The 

first one was held on August 10 and was a great 

conversation with Danielle who is an ER Nurse. We 

will continue this series with various other nursing 

roles. 

We are also open to other suggestions from our 

members who have graduated recently. Support, 

mentorship and networking are some of the 

activities past novice nurses have asked for. If you 

are interested in new graduate activities please 

email Iris Lopez at info@floridanurse.org and we 

will add you to the Recent Grad Special Interest 

Group and the Advisory Board. 

EMPOWERING NURSES 

LEADING CHANG--.E ►.-: 

SEPTEMBER 22-24, 2022 

MISSION INN RESORT, HOWEY·IN·THE·HILLS 

Diversity Workshop 

KEYNOTE 

Dr. Ernest J. Grant 

President, American 

Nurses Association 

Leading Change: Diversity, Equity and 

Inclusion Survey Results and Actions 

presented by Leaders of the FNA JEDI Task Force 

Susan B. Fowler, PhD, RN, CRRN, FCNS 

Marie Etienne, DNP, APRN, FNP, PNP, PLNC 

Karen Kuperberg, RN 

Charlie P. Buscemi, PhD, APRN (he/him) 

Visit the Membership Assembly 

homepage for more details 

floridanurse.org/MA2022 

 


Join us in Howey-in-the-Hills! 

» 12 + Breakout Sessions 

» 8 Contact Hours for Nurses 

» Discounted registration and 

rebates available for FNA Members 

Thursday, September 22 

» Two hours of BONUS breakout sessions! 

» Networking Happy Hour 

Friday, September 22 

» Keynote Presentation by ANA President 

» Dr. Ernest J. Grant 

» Work session with the Justice, Equity, Diversity, 

and Inclusion (JEDI) Task Force 

» Dynamic presentations from FNA Members 

» Poster presentations from Florida Nurse 

Researchers 

» Networking opportunities and Region 

meetings 

» Icon Awards Reception and Dinner 

Saturday, September 23 

» Advocacy Breakfast featuring Workplace 

Rights presentation 

» Update on the Nursing Workforce from the 

Florida Center for Nursing 

» FNA Annual Business Meeting 

» Foundation Luncheon honoring current and 

past scholarship and grant recipients 

Continuing Education: This activity has been submitted to the Ohio Nurses 

Association for approval to award contact hours. The Ohio Nurses Association 

is accredited as an approver of nursing continuing professional development 

by the American Nurses Credentialing Center's Commission on Accreditation. 

(OBN-001-91)


2022 Nurses Week Event Highlights 

FNA Southeast Region holds First Annual Nurse Appreciation 

Self-Care Event 

The FNA Southeast Region held its First Annual 

Nurse Appreciation Event on May 12th from 3pm 

– 9pm at the Florida Atlantic University Boca Raton 

campus in Palm Beach County. The self-care themed 

event was a tremendous success! 

Participants were able to indulge in self-care 

services such as acupuncture, massage, foot therapy, 

microdermabrasion hand therapy, guided imagery 

meditation, reiki, and catered food and beverages. 

Hourly gift give-ways and keynote speakers kept 

the event interactive and informative. A featured 

silent auction item raised $2,000 and offered one 

of our nurses a lovely vacation home for an entire 

week on beautiful Lake Lure, North Carolina during 

this upcoming Thanksgiving holiday. Thanks to the 

generosity of sponsors throughout the community, 

nurses were able to attend the event for free. 

The event was led by an amazing volunteer team 

of FNA members: Angela Bonaby, Altavia Evans, 

Deirdre Krause, Mara Raggi, Delilah Rivera, Maritess 

Quinto, and Yamiley Theodore, whose dedication, 

perseverance, and focus created a magnificent 

event for all nurses to enjoy! The team also received 

outstanding administrative support from Sydney 

Goldberg and the FNA staff. 

The Southeast Region team plans to make this an 

annual event during Nurses Week. We hope to see you 

there next year! 

The Student Nurses Association of Arizona 

College of Nursing – Fort Lauderdale Campus 

Reprinted Article with Corrections from May 2022 TFN 

have thousands 

We 

nursing jobs! 

of 

Find your dream job now. 

The Student Nurses Association of Arizona College of 

Nursing – Fort Lauderdale Campus (SNAAZC - FL) was 

officially created in February 2022. I am honored to serve 

as the Founding President alongside these great Founding 

Board Members: Casey Norton, President-Elect; Nathalie 

Canterbury, Vice President; Camasha Douglas, Treasurer; 

Dhana Clarke, Secretary; Gabriela Belchior, Program 

Coordinator; and Jada Williams, Historian. 

I want to thank our Faculty Advisor – Professor Kaydene 

Bailey-Green, RN, MSNED, and Dr. Marie O. Etienne, DNP, 

APRN, FNP, PNP, PLNC, President-Elect of the Florida 

Nurses Association for helping us create the chapter at 

the Fort Lauderdale Campus. Additionally, I would like to 

thank Dr. Shawn Higgins, PhD, RN, CHC, Dean of Nursing 

and Mr. James Jones, Executive Director of Academic 

Operations for their support to SNAAZC-FL. 

Melissa Georges, President, SNAAZC-FL


Welcome New FNA Members 

Northwest 

Marty Adkins 

Murriah Allen 

Sefphra Arias 

Janay Barnes 

Tavaris Brooks 

Brittany Cox 

Nancy Derby 

Brett Floyd 

Sabrina Francois 

Hellena Goff 

Judy Grant 

Eva Grumbir 

Kristian Hill 

Sarah Holloway 

Lindsay Jusino 

Talisman Lundy-Lleshi 

Andrea Malone 

Meredith Midalm 

Kristen Miner 

Kirk Jones Molitas 

Andrea Page 

Sherman Platt 

Anges Rivers 

Michelle Scheetz 

Alexandra Scofield 

Claryssa Taylor 

Paige Ward 

Cynthia West 

John Wetzel 

Dawn Wilkosz 

North Central 

Katelyn Alli 

Patrick Asselin 

Carl Baquie 

Amanda Batson 

Marites Bautista 

Lorena Becerra 

Tara Belcher 

Kristina Bell 

Ermite Caris Barlatier 

Hunter Cash 

Chivon Charles-Hadley 

Leigh Cooper 

Rebekah Costello 

Ellen Daly 

Nandini Dataram 

Savannah Downes 

Joanne Dumerand-Andre 

Nikalina Dundas 

Uma Durairaj 

Rhianna Fagan 

Maruja Gamad 

Maria Garcia 

Ahsia Gray 

Lonnie Gunn 

Jane Hoesterey 

Sarah Hula 

Rochelle Johns 

Rubi Johnson 

Elizabeth Jones 

Christie Kennedy 

Matthew Kirkland 

Pamela Kulniszewski 

Tiffany LeGault 

Elizabeth Leon Corcoba 

Toni Lindsey 

Richard McGlew 

Peri Miarecki-Lepoer 

Barbara Minor 

Orlando Miranda 

Sadid Momen 

Kelley Morgan 

Vivien Murphy 

Kerri Norton 

Deborah OHearn 

Jacqueline Pintos 

Jane Prouty 

Olive Quintana 

Meagan Reeves Bible 

Catlin Riggenbach 

Modesta Rivera 

Rachelle Sansing 

Marika Sauter 

Aron Schacht 

Annie Smelt 

Valree Smilek 

Christopher Thomas 

Jaime Thomas 

Boris Towns 

Lani White 

Deana Yates 

Northeast 

Alysia Adams 

Rebecca Alter 

Vilma Avila 

Lisa Barcaro 

Brielle Barnhill 

Whitney Bates 

Pamela Bicknell 

Timika Bracken 

Amelia Brown 

Renee Cave 

Diego Cerquera 

Timothy Chaffey 

Taylor Colgate 

Linda Connelly 

Donna Cothren 

Dawn Dust 

Roxanne Finch 

Jakweita Fisher 

Erica Flamm 

Jacsely Flores Rodriguez 

Summer Flynn 

Dawn Forrest 

Michelle Glanert-Kempf 

Jessica Godbey 

Collette Grafton 

Bianka Irizarry 

Carla Joseph 

Leslie Kerce 

Lori Kirk 

Paulin Laroque 

Christina Latone 

Emma Lawrenz 

Mathew Lenner 

Gigi Love 

Hillary Luke-Tindley 

Tina Masters 

Fuchcia McClendon 

Terri Minwer 

Audrey Mulvaney 

Daniel O’Lena 

Mayelin Palmero Capote 

Caryn Parkhurst 

April Poe 

Emerald Quiroz 

Sonia Reisdorf 

Karen Roop 

Amonae Russell 

Maya Saikali 

Erin Sekelsky 

Savannah Shaw 

Meredith Simmons 

Ava Smith 

Jennifer St. Clair 

Karyn Taylor 

Allison Chenel Trevellini 

Frank Tudela Ruiz 

Denielle Waschek 

Edith West 

Gina Williams 

Tequila Williamson 

Cherise Wilson 

Denise Wright 

East Central 

Vanetta Anderson 

Christie Anton 

Cheryl Asbell 

Sean Austin 

Laura Bailey 

James Bean 

Molly Bennett 

Kristina Birkner 

Jazmin Blanco 

Deborah Bradshaw 

Monique Bressler 

Hannah Broche 

ShellyAnn Brooks 

Victoria Brown 

Susan Castello 

Mary Chereskin 

Sherrie Childs 

Patricia Clayton- 

LeVasseur 

McKenzie Cleland 

Helene Cohn 

Dione Coney 

Janelle Cooney 

Tracy Coughlan 

Valerie Cruz 

Christina Daly 

Demi Davis 

Christian Jolou Dela Cruz 

Cynthia Devine 

Susan Diaz 

Taylor Donald 

Keegan Doud 

Diana Duran 

Alero Ekata 

Marjorie Essenberg 

Leisha Fee 

Debra Fisette 

Lesley Fore 

Marjorie Gedeon 

Brittany Gillenwater 

Jacqueline Giralt 

Angela Glover 

Roimer Gomez 

Michelle Gosnell 

Myra Greene 

Saijem Guzman 

Homeyra Hafizi 

Jamie Harrison 

Dawna Hazelwood 

Jacqueline Helmy 

Michelle Hernandez 

Pamela Homer 

Tammy Horvath 

Ha Hua 

Karla Huckabee 

Andrea Hughes 

Lauren Hunter 

Bertha Ibarra 

Priscila Isackson de Melo 

Lindsey Jackson 

Marckenson Janvier 

Elizabeth Jarvis 

Erika Jubitana 

Dorothy Grace King 

Jennifer Konowitz 

Antholeth Leckie 

Mary Lindquist 

Sandee Lyons 

Olga Marquez 

Erin McClellan 

Sandra McFarland 

Victoria Melhado Daley 

Angela Mellen 

Jacquelyn Merrill 

Jennifer Miller 

Heather Mirch 

Christina Mohanani 

Shay Mulvany 

Daisy Naiju 

Amanda Nash 

George Ngo 

Cantave Obas 

Miriam Olaciregui 

Georgina Orozco 

Shire Padao 

Anuradha Pal 

Nadine Parkinson 

Hetal Patel 

Krishna Patel 

Yannorkis Perez Napoles 

Aimee Phillips 

Beena Pirmal 

Deepa Ramalingam 

Manuel Manny Ramos 

Katia Robelo 

Donna Robinson 

Tammie Rodgers 

Yuleidy Rodriguez 

Clint Joseph Romero 

Miranda Saint-Louis 

Juliana Sanches Frois 

Rosalea Sanderson 

Mariah Sartain 

Andrea Schuermann 

Edita Sehic 

Cristina Maria Shaw 

Mariettes Sienes 

Lucy Simas 

Michaela Slover 

Kathleen Spellman 

Rebecca Staubs 

Margaret Steuart 

Nemie Thelot 

Zachary Thuring 

Caryn Toledo 

Kacie Turner 

Valarie Urquhart 

Angelica Vander Zalm 

Diana Vasilenko 

Widillia Verges 

Kameelah Vose 

Kimberly Warren 

Charmaine Watson 

Sharon Weyer 

Alinda Williams 

Shelby Wood 

Cynthia Woolery 

Donna Wrobel 

Mona Young 

Wendy Young 

West Central 

Erika Adipietro 

Vicky Alfonso 

Ruth Altamirano 

Ruby Arroyo 

Katy Aschenbrenner 

Cherilyn Ashlock 

Samuel Battle 

Sunnie Beardsley 

Rebecca Beattie 

Catherine Belden 

Jecklaine Borrero 

Welcome New FNA Members continued on page 22



Welcome New FNA Members continued from page 21 

Jennifer Bouzid 

Alexandra Boyd 

Jennifer Calloway 

Marie Campbell 

Katherine Cancel 

Hilda Canon 

Janice Caril 

Jose Carlos Cavalcanti 

Philomene Charles- 

Doristin 

Maximilian Cheung 

Luz Cobian 

Molly Cook 

Yvelle Corrielus 

Vivien Cruz 

Olivia Daigle 

Ericka Daniels 

Jennifer De Gaspard 

Lindsey DeBruler 

Panagiota Demetriou 

Anna Marie Di Santi 

Allyson Duffy 

Karissa Dyar-Short 

Jennifer Fahringer 

Rachael Feathers 

Sarah Filosi 

Marie Free 

Jacqueline Gilbert 

Kim Hagans 

Allison Hargrave 

Tiffany Harris 

Julia Havelin 

Nicole Hawthorne 

Mary Healy 

Cindy Heden 

Stephanie Henry 

Amanda Hunt-McCart 

Va Imath 

Julie Jefferis 

Katia Jimeno-Londono 

Kristin Johnson 

Chanae Jones 

Tina Jones 

Stela Karkatselos 

Larisa Khailo 

Justin Kindrick 

Tracy LaCourse 

Alfa Lafleur 

Maria Laufer 

Tiffany Lemelle 

Terrie Lewis 

Erika Mammoser 

Mollie McClenthan 

Sarah Menendez 

Jeanne Minnear 

Sonia Mitchell 

Kaylyn Munroe 

Paige Nelson 

Angely Olavarria 

Rodriguez 

Lazaro Oliva Torres 

Alexandria Olivo 

Corinne Paige 

Ysulin Parrado 

Victoria Parray 

Julie Pham 

Rowdy Phillips 

Rachel Pierce 

Heidi Pillion 

Vikki Pinkos 

Yanay Pino Osuna 

Jennifer McComis 

Pintavalle 

Emily Podoll 

Danielle Porter 

Jonathan Ralph 

Gesline Rodne 

Karen Roig 

Brandi Sagers 

Bobbie Schaffer 

Kristen Sciarra 

Valeria Seidl 

Jamison Shaw 

Fallon Shelton 

Kristen Sheppard 

Erica Simplice 

Sandra Smith 

Marcia Spencer 

Natalie Stangl 

Kellie Steiner Dawson 

Barbara Suarez 

DeWayne Tudor 

Regina Turner 

Annie Tyrell 

Susan Urrutia 

Lori Urvakis 

John Vrabel 

Stephanie Walker 

Dawn Warren 

John Webb 

Breanna Wells 

Jonathon Wilder 

Southeast 

Jessica Abernathy- 

Lenowitz 

Diana Aguirre 

Aneilla Alcin 

Felix Alfred 

Amber-Shaye Anderson 

Susan Apostol 

Denise Arce 

Lourdes Arias 

Karen Baez-Wallis 

Valeria Bass 

Angela Bilotti 

Helyna K Bissell 

Aubrie Bond 

Rose Boscaino 

Leslie Brannon 

Raniquia Brown 

Megan Buncie 

Giselle Cancino 

Gilda Capapas 

Laura Carr 

Isis Cendan 

Lilla Chin 

Stacy Cirrito 

Makaylan Clark 

Jabbar Clarke 

Sabrina Clarke 

Jennifer Conner 

Lidis Corcho 

LaToy Cotton 

Megan Cox 

Taryn Dadesky 

Lashawn Delancy 

Blanca Diez Plasencia 

Georgia Dixon 

Lisa Dobison 

Brittany Dupre 

Marie Ellis 

Laurie Felix-Nicolas 

Elaine Fredrickson 

Brittanie Gebara 

Karinna Gershater 

Katrin Gorman 

Kelly Grogan 

Juan Guanzon 

Regla Gutierrez 

Sherese Harrison 

Angela Hazellief 

Delaney Holdt 

Elizabeth Hutchinson 

Eugene Jacobs 

Peyton Janssen 

Matilda Jarocki 

Taina Jean-Pierre 

Jessica Joseph 

Katherine Justus 

Natalya Keable 

Summer Kellogg 

Rice Kleya 

Nagamani Kota 

Alphena Lawrence 

Melinda Longlet 

Corlina M. Johnson 

Phoebe Magana 

Ashley Markant 

James Marra 

Fernanda Martinez 

Ahkira McPherson 

Paul Mensah 

Megan Merritt 

Damika Mervilus 

Maximilian Mihel 

Megan Milbourne 

Michaelia Mitchell 

Bryanna Murray 

Christine Murray 

Yanet Musa 

Kathleen Navarrete 

Nickesha Nelson 

Jessie Oliver 

Julia Palermo 

Tasha Patterson 

Kimika Peterkin 

Amber Pfeiffer 

Terri Pinder 

Luisa Plata 

Debra Price 

Rachel Rairden 

Julie Ann Richards-Henry 

Priscillia Rinaldy 

Maria Rodriguez 

Luis Romero 

Nicole Rosembert 

Allison Rosenberg 

Michelle Royal 

Shayna Rubio 

Andrea Sabdull 

Ruth Saint Hurbain 

Kimberly Salmon 

Kayla Sanderson 

Tyler Schaefer 

Dneil Schmall 

Juan Segura 

Kristine Smith 

Tracey Soper 

Christopher Soto 

Cathi Stephens 

Sivan Stulberger 

Christia Swearingen 

Bente Torvund



Kerri Ann Uter Bryson 

Jyna Valcimond 

Daylin Walker 

Vicki Wilcoxson 

Moraima Yanes 

Nicole Young 

Dominique Zubrod 

Southwest 

Jose Amador Mejias 

Anna Axley 

Juliette Capriles 

Caroline Clay 

Stefanie Crofton 

Christina Dale 

Beth DiModica 

Melissa Neal Dossett 

Mary Anne Enns 

Sindy Fox 

Angela Gosselin 

Cori Hendry 

Benjamin Hoffman 

Jeanne Hopple 

Kristine Howell 

Kimberly Jaklitch 

Lindsay Jakovac 

Bridget Jessop 

Laverne Jones 

Jessica Lehman 

Ronita Loy 

Nichole Lynch 

Jocelyn Martinez 

Salina McLellan 

Alysa Memoli 

Brynn Mona 

Megan Murr 

Anisa Musollari 

Holly Page 

Dawn Papp 

Nickisha Parker-Jacobs 

Charlene Perno 

Wendy Reyes 

Thomas Sokol 

Jennifer Strahan 

Kristine Strumpfler 

Renee Stults 

Ramon Suarez Carmona 

Leslie Taylor 

Vivian Thomas 

Diancy Torres Garcia 

Jennifer Vavrinchik 

Jaime Verastegui 

South 

Karen Abreu Cabrera 

Yasmany Acosta 

Aria Alberti 

Arianna Alvarez 

Rosario Alvarez 

Patricia Anyamele 

Brianna Aponte 

Elizabeth Atkinson 

Beatriz Bacallao Ravelo 

Raquel Baron 

Jennifer Barreto-Frie 

Kristina Baxter 

Lourdes Bazan 

Karleen Bien-Aime 

Elizabeth Blake 

Valerie Borelly 

Jan Brodnax 

Kerry Cabrera 

Gabrielle Caccavale 

Lorenzo Calzadilla 

Peggy Campbell 

Tania Carballo 

Alba Carrillo 

Carolyn Carter 

Giovanni Casines 

Stephania Charles 

Dorothy Chatelier-Orelus 

Shelli Chernesky 

Francisco Coronado 

Diana Cowan 

Andrew Davies 

Ceci de Socarraz-Novoa 

Arlet Del Toro Gamez 

Alexis Delgado 

Jeanette Deniz 

Astride Desario 

Annie Devandara 

Margret Diston 

Samara Donaldson 

Jacobus Duncan 

Lyz Eidam 

June Ellis 

Mimi Farride 

Sara Feigenbaum 

Maria Francia 

Madelina Friedman 

Geraldinne Fuentes 

Melissa Fundora 

Angira Gakhaeva 

Robin Gale 

Stefanny Gamboa 

Valenzuela 

Anissa Garces 

Mayelin Garcia 

Michelle Garcia 

Grace Garlobo Rodriguez 

Jaimie Geyer 

Viviana Giraldo 

Sherildan Glynn 

Keith Gonzalez 

Marilyn Gonzalez 

Victor Gonzalez 

Hunter Gordon 

Lissa Green 

Jean Guerrier 

Denise Guerrier-Watson 

Rhonda Harris 

Tajae Harris Townsend 

Wendelle Henry 

Christopher Hill 

Astride Honore 

Yvette Howell 

Anamaria Hoyos 

Brianna Huebner 

Lidianis Izquierdo 

Marsha Jackson 

Sara Jaffe 

Ashley Johnson 

Robert Jones 

Patricia Joseph 

Joyce Judovich 

Elaine Juliano 

Brittany Kava 

Anita Komninakis 

Margaret Lancaster 

Diana Lankenau 

Alexandra Laroche 

Macrina Lisbey 

Luz Lopez 

Janelle Lovell 

Amber Lubie 

Alexis Luria 

Nadine Marcellus 

Eddy Marcial 

Blondel Martin 

Aquiles Martinez 

Hernandez 

Michelle Mendez 

Grethel Mercado 

Lourdine Mervilus 

Luisa Mesa 

Lisette Metauten 

Yanisleidy Mondeja 

Marcia Moodie 

Paola Moreaux 

Crystal Motay 

Morgan Nestingen 

Stephanie Ortega 

Damian Otano 

Helen Del Palacios 

Roseline Paraisy 

Jennifer Parker 

Francisco Paula 

Katia Pena 

Yelena Perez 

Natalie Perotte 

Vera Perrett 

Amber Petras 

Tanya Pintado 

Rachel Pittell 

Silvio Planas Gonzalez 

Blondine Poliard 

Glenda Polycarpe 

Ruth Pouchie 

Javier Quinonez Meza 

Anna Rachman 

Francesse Raphael-Larose 

Sara Reilly 

Rosa Rivera 

Soraya Roa 

Jennifer Rodriguez 

Adriana Roque 

Maria Rosero 

Marta Ross 

Yvrose Saintil 

Gertrude Saint-Louis 

Marc Tito Sangalang 

Amal Sarsour 

Susan Schiffman 

Jackson Sejour 

Dionna Shelton 

Muhammad Siddiqui 

Jessica Sloan 

Joan Soria 

Gisselle Spina 

Rebekah Stage 

Cierra Summers 

Bonita Talsma 

Nassima Taylor 

Sarahjane Ternier 

Stacy Thalassites 

Barbara Torres 

Karen Toussaint 

Gabriella Tyrrell 

Maria Urban 

Martha Valdes 

Natasha Wilson 

Manuel Yee 

Other 

Iris Bracken 

Yadira Garcia 

Tiffany Hammond 

Hillary Lloyd 

Esther Louis 

Melissa Lovemore Wright 

Rosalee Serju 

Theresa Taylor

NURSES MAKE THE 

WORLD A BETTER 

PLACE. 

At NSU, you'll learn how to 

deliver patient-centered care 

from experienced practitioners 

who bring case studies to life. 

NSU prepares you to become a 

confident, capable, and caring 

nursing professional. 

Advance your nursing career and get the NSU Edge at nursing.nova.edu. Contact us at 

nsu_ nursing@nova.edu or (954) 262-1975. 

NSU 

Florida

Florida Nurse - August 2022

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