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The Official Publication of The Wyoming Nurses AssociationVol. 21 No. 3September, October, November 2008PRESIDENT’S MESSAGEAs I prepare to turn over the presidency of WNA I felt itimportant to share with the nurses of Wyoming what the goalsof WNA have meant and will mean to nursing in Wyoming.One of the goals of mine as I led a great board of nurses forWNA was to organize and guide the professional organizationin a way that could demonstrate that WNA does work activelyfor you. So when a nurse says Why should I join WNA anyboard member and hopefully members can say this is why.1) Promote the development of nursing leaders in Wyoming!What does that mean? To me it is clearly that WNA must“grow” leaders to move our organization and the profession ofnursing forward. We do this with the President-elect process. Itis time for me to pass the presidency on to a very capable andknowledgeable nurse, Susan Howard, RN, MSN. Sue with herpassion will guide the organization. While being President ofWNA takes time and commitment, the past four years (two aspresident-elect and two as president) seems to have flown by.Representing WNA and Wyoming nurses in Washington DC atANA House of Delegates, constituent assembly, and the Centerfor American Nurses council meetings has been an opportunityof learning and networking. I would like to take this time tothank the nurses of Wyoming for giving me this gift.The WNA board is made up of a strong representation ofnursing in Wyoming. Leaders who believe in the professionand desire to make a difference. I want to thank them for theirdedication and time commitment to WNA.2) Be the leader in legislation and health policy: WNAlegislative agenda is developed every year at the annual meetingwhere members can share what is on their minds and whatthey feel is important to nursing in Wyoming. This year WNAhas been looking at school nursing, continued competency/education of nurses, smoke free Wyoming, and of course willstay tuned for any legislation that affects safe delivery of patientcare. The legislative committee is active and will notify youthrough email if a bill is in the process that we should commenton or lobby for or against. Citizen lobbying is very importantin Wyoming—our legislators need to know what we think andwhy we are for or against a piece of legislation. WNA haveset the dates for our legislative days and is actively planningfor another successful trip to the capital. Toni Deklever, RN,MS has agreed to be our lobbyist for another year. Thank youToni, WNA does appreciate your energy and enthusiasm. Yourepresent us well.3) Advance the professional development of nurses: Thesummit and WNA annual meeting is planned and underwaywith exciting speakers and networking events. Plan to attendand be part of the “voice of Wyoming nurses.” Nurses sharedthrough a survey in 2007 that their main dissatisfier in theworkplace was documentation, two speakers—Jill Fuller willspeak about transforming care at the bedside and Terri Hallwill speak on electronic health care records. They will shareways that they have addressed documentation concerns. I lookforward to seeing you at the summit and annual convention.Remember to mark your calendars for all “centennial” to becelebrated in Cheyenne in 2010, Sept 16–18. We want thatconvention to be a “real historical celebration of nursing inWyoming. I’ve heard a rumor that even Florence N. will bevisiting the great state of Wyoming.Another way that WNA has contributed to the developmentof nurses is the nurse refresher course. This past year LauraMeloche, continuing education chair has revised and updatedour course and it is now online to provide greater accessibilityand quicker response time for the participants. This was a lot ofwork and I want to thank Laura for making this possible.4) Influence workforce initiatives: WNA has participatedas a member state forthe Center for AmericanNurses since 2003.Our current bylawsincluderepresentationat the center councilandmembershipopportunities. Howeverthis year major changesoccurred at ANAveRonica tayloR, Rn, MSHouse of Delegates.Wna PReSiDentThe Center will nowbe independent of ANA so WNA must determine will wecontinue with a memorandum of understanding to offer thismembership initiative of workforce advocacy to our members.At the annual meeting we will discuss this and make a decision.The Center acts as a resource to the individual nurse providinginformation and experts on workforce issues. A new benefit isa new online journal called “nurse first” that will be available.If members vote to continue this partnership then WNA mustmarket this resource to our members. If asked, I wonder howmany nurses know what the Center is and what the Center doesfor them?The second piece on workforce initiatives that I would liketo touch upon is WNA’s participation in the Partners in Care(PIN) project with Robert Wood Johnson. WNA and manynursing and healthcare provider groups in Wyoming formeda consortium with the Wyoming Community Foundation andwere successful in a grant to form a nursing center and providesmall grants to look at best practices in Wyoming nursing, onethat will be specifically for long term care. The goal is to lookat what works well and how it affects nursing retention andquality patient/resident care. This initiative is just in the infancystages—stay tuned for much more information.5) Evaluate organizational effectiveness: During mypresidency and Linda Mink’s Presidency, while I was presidentelect, WNA made some hard choices about what worked forthe organization. One of those choices was to develop a virtualoffice. WNA is totally virtual —we have a mail box and wedo most of our business through the internet. Tobi Lyon ourexecutive director has really assisted the organization withmembership and communication. Our membership has grownto 339 members. This continues to be a goal—to increasemembership. Our second goal is to have a current webpageand email distribution list. Please make sure that WNA hasyour current email address for information. I remember yearsago being on the WNA board and every week we received themailings, it is so much nicer and more current now to receive itby the internet (electronically); Sure saves on the trees.Remember the old slogan “She’s come a long way baby;”WNA has come a long way over my 33 years ofmembership. It will be fun in 2010 to review what eachPresident felt was important during their reign. We areworking hard on the history of WNA so if you have anytidbits you want to share or include please email themto me so I can compile it. I also need help in finding allthe past presidents and having a list back. I can namethe ones since I have been involved but I really do needhelp for the other sixty plus years.I want to take this opportunity to thank you forallowing me to serve the nurses of Wyoming and theWyoming Nurses Association for the past four yearsas President-elect and President. What a great group ofnurses we have and the future of nurses in Wyominglooks very bright!ADN to BSN NursingCommunity PartnershipSanDRa conKlin, Rn, MSnDiRectoR of nURSing SeRviceS,WyoMing MeDical centeRWyoming Medical Center (WMC) and the Universityof Wyoming, Fay W. Whitney School of Nursing haverecently created a joint venture to support staff nurseswho desire to advance their academic preparation. Thiscollaborative is designed to enhance the number of staffnurses who hold Bachelor of Science degrees withinthe hospital setting. Currently, only 22% of the WMCnursing staff hold a bachelor degree when compared witha national benchmark of 35% from the National Databaseof Nursing Quality Indicators, held at the University ofKansas. The American Nurses Association, the NationalLeague for Nursing along with other nursing interestgroups have long advocated for a bachelors of science asa minimum entry level for professional practice. Giventhe complexities in health care and the rapid expansion ofknowledge need to care for patients in day to day practice,WMC is promoting this program as part of their careerand professional development for their nurses.Under the direction of Mary Sue Hager, MS, RN,FNP, Coordinator from the University of Wyoming andJulie Cann Taylor, RN, BSN, Associate Vice Presidentfor Nursing at Wyoming Medical Center the first cohortwas selected in July of 2008 for the University’s on-lineprogram. Interested staff nurses are advised by Ms. Hageron electives and nursing courses needed. Ms Cann Taylornotes that “many of our associate degree nurses are CasperCollege graduates and already have completed electiveswhich will make their transition to the University easy.”It is expected that WMC and their patients will reap thebenefits of approximately 30 baccalaureate preparednurses over the next 3 years through this program.Funding for this program is made available through boththe hospital’s tuition reimbursement program and a grantawarded to the hospital earlier this summer throughthe Wyoming Department of Health and Rural Affairsin support of the hospital’s pursuit of ANCC Magnetrecognition. Ms. Hager states that “educational standardsinfluence the perceptions about nursing as a career choiceand this partnership between the hospital and the schoolof nursing will raise the standard for our profession herein central Wyoming.” WMC internally promotes careeradvancement for their nurses and acknowledges those whoreceive their baccalaureate degrees monetarily and throughtheir clinical ladder program.Presort StandardUS PostagePAIDPermit #14Princeton, MN55371
Page 2 Wyoming Nurse September, October, November 2008MESSAGEFROMThanks to the WyomingNurses Association fornominating me for theBarbara Thoman CurtisAward at ANA. WNAwas very sneaky andfilled the necessary formsand all the supportingdocuments without myknowledge. I did learnabout it when Sue Howardcalled me to meet her tosign the application whileshe was in Casper. It isalso an honor to have theMaRy l. behRenS person who the award isnamed after still be alive.Barbara Thoman Curtis has been a political force in thiscountry and has not missed an ANA convention since1968. That is pretty important since she receives kidneydialysis, has several bone fractures and rides around in amotorized chair. “ She called me from Florida just beforethe House of Delegates in DC and said” I will not missthis one I will be there.” It was hard to hold back tearswhen 23 members of my family traveled to Washington,the Wyoming delegation of nurses and other nurses fromaround the country were there too. There was a letter ofCongratulations from Vice President and Lynne Cheneyput up on the screen. Senator Enzi and Senator Barrassowere also very supportive. No one ever wins alone butrather one needs the support of other nurses to get the workdone. I am humbled and honored to be a proud member ofthe Wyoming Nurses Association.Today is primary day in Wyoming and I hope you allvote. If not, there is still the general election coming upin November. It is important to support the candidatesthat have a positive view about nursing and concern abouthealth care. This is not a democratic or republican issue.In fact ANA will be hosting a health care awareness eventat both conventions in Denver and Minneapolis. We haveseen close elections in the recent past and also knowthat every vote counts. There is no good excuse becauseif you are out of town during an election, you can voteabsentee. We have many good causes too-nursing shortage,workplace safety, patient safety and lack of insurance formany. This is not the time to sit back to watch and see. Ilook forward to great discussions at our Convention andNursing Summit in September. Congratulations to all thenurses who worked so hard for the Robert Wood Johnsongrant on workforce issues. This is another way we can beactively involved in keeping nurses in our state.Finally here is an opportunity for students to consider:Health Care Without Harm’s Nursing Student EssayContest (2009)MARYIn an effort to spread the word to nursing students ofthe important role nurses can and do play in advocating forenvironmental health, the Nurses Work Group of HealthCare Without Harm (www.noharm.org/us/nurses), alongwith The Luminary Project (www.theluminaryproject.org), are holding the second annual Nursing Student EssayContest.The essay: Nurses have played a key role in the modernenvironmental health movement through their participationin the Health Care Without Harm Campaign, throughactivities in their professional associations, and throughfacilitating changes in their communities and places ofwork that help improve human health through improvingthe environment. In an essay between 1000 and 1500words discuss the nurse’s role as an environmental healthactivist. The essay should discuss specific activities thatdemonstrate the nurses’ role as an environmental activist;the essay can discuss, for example, the nurse’s role inadvocating for clean water, air or food. The essay mayconsider the nurse’s role in advocating for populations thatare particularly vulnerable to environmental pollutants,such as the very old, the very young, or the immunecompromised. The topic should be presented in the contextof environmental health advocacy in the workplace, thehome, or community. The essay must be original, notpublished elsewhere, and not written as part of one’s paidemployment. The essays will be judged on quality ofwriting, originality of thought, how well they adhere tothe criteria outlined above and by how clearly they addressthe issue of the nurse as an environmental health activist.Citations must be in APA format.Eligibility: The contest is open to all undergraduatenursing students presently enrolled and in good standingin a nursing program in the United States or Canada. Thiscontest does not apply to nursing students who alreadyhold RN licenses. Registered nurses who are interested inenvironmental health issues are encouraged to participateas Nurse Luminaries in The Luminary Project.Essay winners: The Guiding Lights, the advisory groupof The Luminary Project, will judge the essays. Winnerswill be announced February 15, 2009. There will be oneprizewinner, and two honorable mentions. All winningessays will be posted on The Luminary Project web siteand their authors will be given full credit. The writer ofthe essay that is awarded the first prize will be given theaward at CleanMed 2009, to be held in Chicago, IL in May2009. The winning student essayist will receive funds fortravel to Chicago and accommodations for one day.How to enter: Entries should be submittedelectronically to Colleen Funkhouser at cfunkhouser@hcwh.org. They should be submitted by 5 P.M. (EST)Eastern Standard Time on December 15, 2008. All entriesshould include a cover letter listing the nursing student’sname, phone number, nursing school in which enrolled,expected date of graduation, and contact info for onenursing school professor or advisor to verify student status.The “WYOMING NURSE” is theofficial publication of the Wyoming Nurses’Association.Articles appearing in the publicationexpress the opinions of the authors; they do notnecessarily reflect the views of the staff, board,or membership of WNA or those of the national/district associates.Wna boaRD of DiRectoRSPresident:Veronica TaylorHome: 687-7160Email: vftaylor@gmail.netPresident-Elect:Sue HowardHome: 682-8491; Work: 688-6007Email: howardsm@ccmh.netVice President:Dee GilsonHome: 672-0586; Work: 672-1127Email: dgilson@sheridanhospital.orgSecretary:Ardyce HillHome: 789-1804; Work: 789-2950Email: ahill@wwcc.wy.eduTreasurer:Rose RennellHome: 686-2195; Work: 688-6008Email: rennellrr@ccmh.netDiStRict RePReSentativeS#1 Cheyenne:Christine KercherHome: 632-1644; Work: 633-7195Email: ckercher@umcwy.org, ckercher7@aol.com#2 Casper:Mary BehrensHome: 577-5023; Work: 235-1503Email: mary.behrens@bresnan.net#3 Sheridan:Vacant#6 Rock Springs:Marlene EtherHome: 382-2019; Work: 382-1804Email: mether@wwcc.wy.edu#10 Gillette:Anne RagaHome: 686-5180; Work: 688-1907Email: ragaaa@ccmh.net#12 Laramie:Jeanine NiemollerHome: 742-5755; Work: 742-2141Email: UncleBob60@msn.com#14 Lander/Riverton:Vacant#15 Torrington:Vacant#16 Powell/Cody:Lisa HortonHome: 762-3270; Work: 754-7780Email: lhorton@pvhc.org#17 Evanston/Kemmerer:Ardyce HillHome: 789-1804; Work: 789-2950Email: ahill@wwcc.wy.edu#50 Non Districted:Barbara Jean JamesHome: 328-1812; Work: 328-9274Email: Barb.james@bresnan.neteXecUtive DiRectoRTobi LyonPMB 101501 S. Douglas HwySte. AGillette, WY 82716PHONE: 1-800-795-6381E-Mail Address: tlyon@bresnan.netFor advertising rates and information, contact ArthurL. Davis Agency, 517 Washington St., P.O. Box 216,Cedar Falls, IA 50613, Ph. 800-626-4081. Responsibilityfor errors in advertising is limited to corrections in the nextissue or refund of price of advertisement. The WyomingNurses’ Association and the Arthur L. Davis Agencyreserves the right to reject advertising.The WNA and the Arthur L. Davis Publishing Agency,Inc. shall not be liable for any consequences resultingfrom purchase or use of advertisers’ products from theadvertisers’ opinions, expressed or reported, or the claimsmade herein.
Page 3 Wyoming Nurse September, October, November 20082008 Wyoming Nursing Summit andWyoming Nurses Association ConventionCasper, WY - Ramada Plaza RiversideSeptember 18-20, 2008Wyoming Nurse Leaders Actto Support HealthThe Fay W. Whitney School of Nursing and the WNABoard of Directors invites visionary health care leaders toparticipate in the 5th Annual Wyoming Nursing Summitand the 2008 Wyoming Nurses Association Convention.Participants will address best practices for the ten mostcommon dissatisfiers in the workplace. Attend one orboth meetings as nurses share resources, knowledge, andvisions to improve the health of Wyoming residents.Who should attend?Nurses across the um should attend,including nursing leaders,CEO’s, nurse educators,members and boards ofprofessional organizations,representativesfromhealthcare agencies, andlawmakers.Summit/WNA AgendaWyoming Nursing SummitThursday, September 188:00Registration8:45Welcome9:00Keynote Speaker–Jill Fuller, Transforming Care atthe Bedside10:00Break10:15Panel of organization leaders–Updates RegardingNursing Workforce Issues.NoonLunch1:15Panel Discussion, continued2:45Break3:00Legislative Issues–Toni Decklever, Sue Howard5:00Reception6:00WNA Baord of Directors MeetingFriday September 197:30Networking, Continental Breakfast8:30Keynote Speaker–Terri Hall, EHR Technology &Implementation, Your Defined Role9:30Posters & Roundtables10:30Break with Vendors11:00RWJ Nursing Workforce Center–PlanningNoonLunch/Vendors–Combined WNA/SummitWyoming Nurses AssociationConventionRegistration Form for5th WY Nursing Summit & WNA ConventionCasper, Wyoming: September 18-20, 2008Friday September 19Name:NoonLunch/Vendors–Combined WNA/Summit1:15Colorado Center for Nursing ExcellenceAddress:2:15Break2:30WNA Annual MeetingCity/State/Zip:Saturday, September 208:00Breakfast & WNA Awards Presentation9:00Break9:15Speaker, Katheren Koehn, Pathways to Excellence10:30Break10:45Robin Roling, Another Change? Good Grief11:45Wrap-up and EvaluationsPhone:Email:Keynote SpeakersJill Fuller, RN, PhD, Chief Nursing Officer,Prairie Lakes Healthcare System, Watertown, SDRe-engineered nursing departments and care deliverymodel to decrease turnover, improve retention, improvestaff and patient satisfaction, and lower operating (labor)costs.Implemented an information management strategic planthat included transition to an electronic health record andredesign of patient care documentation practices. Theseprojects have been presented at regional and nationalconferences.Participated in two national projects to addresshealthcare workforce issues, patient safety, patient centeredcare, and adding value to services using various methodsincluding “lean” engineering. Associated projects havebeen presented at national conferences and featured invarious publications.Terri Hall, MHA, RHIT, CPC,CACHIM/RM Program CoordinatorIndian Health Service,Billings, MTThree years EHR experiencewith implementation of EHR at the Billings Area IndianHealth Service Hospitals and Clinics. Has written twentyone EHR policies and procedures for Indian HealthService.Helped write the EHR User manuals for HIM,Nursing, and Clinicians. Received the e-HIM award fromher State Association in 2007 for her involvement withimplementing and training others in EHR. Serves on theprivacy and security task force for Health Share Montana,which is the Health Information Exchange (HIE) for theState of Montana.Voted to sit on the Council for Certification–AHIMA.Has served on the EHR Practice Council for AHIMA aswell as serving as the AHIMA EHR Practice Council fortwo years. Board member for Montana State University,College of Allied Health.Application for contact hours has been made to CNENet, the education division of the North Dakota NursesAssoc., an accredited approver by the American NursesCredentialing Center.Questions?WNA: 800-795-6381 * Summit: 307-766-6821Organization:UW employees, please list department:Registration optionsOnline: ail: UW Conferences and Institutes/Nursing SummitDept. 3972, 1000 E. University Ave., Laramie, WY 82071.Phone: 1-877-733-3618 or 307-766-3362 Make Checks payable to UW/Nursing Summit VISA/MasterCard/AMEX only 50 administrative processing fee will be assessedfor cancellation after 9/12/2008. Please send writtenconfirmation. No refunds for no-shows.University of Wyoming is committed to making thisconference accessible to all individuals. If you have adisability and require accommodations to participate inthis activity, or have special dietary needs please checkhere. The Office of Conferences and Institutes willcontact you to discuss your specific needs.Registration Fee: (Includes materials, reception, &meals.)Both Events (best value) 225 WNA Only: Members 175 WNA Only: Non-Members 200 Summit Only 200 Student: WNA 50 Student: Summit 50 Guest Awards Breakfast Ticket 20 Late Registration(After 9/12/2008) 20Card# Expires:Accommodations: 877-576-8636. Ramada Plaza Riverside(formerly Holiday Inn on the River), 300 W. F St.Casper, WY. 82601.Reserve by Sept 3, 2008 for conference rate, 72.00.Mention Nursing Summit/WNA.
Page 4 Wyoming Nurse September, October, November 2008Message fromSue Howard,President ElectAs I look towards September, and stepping into the roleof WNA president I am humbled to think of all the nurseleaders who have held this position in the past. VeronicaTaylor, WNA President, has been my friend and mymentor for years. She has promised me that she will stillbe there to answer all my questions and discuss new ideas!Our organization has many nurse leaders throughout all ofWyoming who make WNA strong and credible.My consent to serve letter seems like it was written along time ago, but my hopes and plans for WNA are notchanged. We are members of a powerful organization.The Wyoming Nurses Association is the professionalorganization for registered nurses in Wyoming. As weincrease members and as ANA allows more nursingorganizations to affiliate with ANA, the voice of nursesbecomes more powerful.Our mission is to promote the profession of nursing,provide a unified voice of nurses, and advocate for ahealthier Wyoming. This past year WNA strengthenedour relationship with the legislators. Nurses throughoutWyoming need to speak with the candidates, tell themyou are a nurse, and ask questions.form relationships on alocal and a state level.The goals of WNA are:1. Promote leadership roles of nurses for healthcare inWyoming.2. Provide leadership in legislation and health policy.3. Promote the continuing professional development ofnurses.4. Promote quality workplace environment for nurses.5. Evaluate organizational efficiency.WNA has committees and projects that promote eachof these goals. We need to be active and involved, andthrough our work and enthusiasm we will increase ournumbers and our voice!The WNA vision is "Nurses United in Caring for OurProfession." The nurses who have been leaders in WNAand in other nursing organizations in Wyoming havevolunteered their time and expertise and have demonstratedthat we care about our profession. Professional growth andprofessional curtsey will continue to strengthen us, butindividually and as an organization.The future is ours, WNA is the voice for WyomingNurses, and we have a lot of work to do! I am honored tobe the new President of WNA; I am honored to work witha great group of nurses. I am honored and proud to say thatI am a nurse.
Page 5 Wyoming Nurse September, October, November 20082008 Wyoming Nurses AssociationLeadership CandidatesMeet your 2008 WNA Leadership Candidates. Ballotshave been mailed to all Wyoming Nurses AssociationMembers. The winners will be announced during theannul business meeting held during WNA ConventionSeptember 19th in Casper.PRESIDENT ELECT CANDIDATESName: Faith M. Jones,MSN, RNCity: PowellDistrict: #16School/Collegeof Nursing: VenturaCollegeA d d i t i o n a lProfessional Education:BSN from the Universityof Wyoming and MSNfrom the University ofPhoenixArea of Practice:Patient CareAdministrationfaith JoneSPresentPosition:Vice President of Patient Care Services at Powell ValleyHealthcare, Powell, WYProfessional Organization Activities at District(Region), Council, State, National Level(s) for the pastfive years, including Student Association office: SigmaTheta Tau, Honor Society for Nursing, member May 2002–present; Appointed to the Northwest College School ofNursing Advisory Board October 2002-2004 and servicedas President of the Board October 2003-October 2004;AONE and WONE member since 1998, elected to the Boardof WONE and served as President-elect, President, and PastPresident from 2005-2007; ANA and WNA member since2001, appointed to the Board as Practice Committee Chairfrom 2006 to present and served as District 16 secretary/treasurer 2007Position Statement: I believe that professional nursingpractice is at a critical juncture nationally as well as inWyoming. As nursing’s scientific body of knowledgecontinues to expand, it is our ethical responsibility to applythese finding not only to patient care but to the nursingprofession as a whole.In past years, membership in our association has grown.Now, we need to tap into the wisdom and creativity of ourmembers to further define our professional practice and itsimpact on patient outcomes.The citizens of Wyoming have become more dependenton nursing care. The inevitable nursing shortage cannotsway their expectations for excellence. I believe that throughour collaboration and engagement we can develop a modelof care that will ensure positive patient outcomes, increasednursing satisfaction, and healthy work environments whilemaintaining access to care.I have demonstrated the ability to bring variousconstituents together. As a dual member of WNA and theWyoming Organization of Nurse Executives (WONE), Iprovided an avenue for open dialog between the two Boards.Additionally, I facilitated inclusion of the WONE Board tothe Wyoming Hospital Association Board Meetings on aregular basis. These actions are the first steps at developinga stronger nursing presence in Wyoming.As we continue to move forward, our journey willencounter some uncomfortable moments however; I believeI have the courage and leadership ability to navigate ourassociation through these times. I look forward to theopportunity to serve.TREASURER CANDIDATESName: Cyndy Rankin,RN, CRRN, NHACity: SheridanDistrict: #3School/CollegeofNursing: Laramie CountyCommunity CollegeA d d i t i o n a lProfessional Education:Bachelor of Science inBusiness AdministrationfromUniversityofPhoenix; CRRNArea of Practice:Long Term Care andcynDy R anKinRehabPresent Position: Nursing Home Administrator,Westview Health Care Center, Sheridan, WYProfessional Organization Activities at District(Region), Council, State, National Level(s) for the pastfive years, including Student Association office: QualityHealthcare Foundation Association member for past 7 yrs.;WNA/ANA 3 yrs.; Advisory Board President—LaramieCounty Community College Nursing Program 2007;Stakeholder for QIO 4 yrs., member of NADONA since2005Position Statement: Wyoming nurses are faced witha shortage in their workforce, just as in many states today.This is our number one challenge at this time. Becauseof the increased demands of more and more paperworkcompliance, fewer physicians in practice and less time forour patients it is difficult to find and keep great nurses. Isee discouragement and burn out occurring frequently. Andnow with the economy in decline it may be more difficult tobegin or continue education.It is my belief that the Wyoming Nursing Associationshould continue to work toward better work conditions forthe nurses in the state of Wyoming and elsewhere; promotecooperation and appreciation for all levels and specialties ofnursing; and actively encourage men and women to choosenursing as a career.I have to be honest and say that the position of Treasurerdoes not directly contribute to any of these goals; however,by participating in the organization at a State level as well asparticipating at the District level is important. Being presentand active will contribute to keeping the organizationmoving forward and toward our goals. I can share myexperiences with other members of the WNA and networkwith them so that ideas may be formed. I currently functionin an Administrator’s role so I am accustomed to beingresponsible for a budget and reporting on its status.Thank you for your consideration!
Page 6 Wyoming Nurse September, October, November 2008WNA Member Mary L. Behrens, RN, FNP, Recipient ofthe 2008 Barbara Thoman Curtis AwardTHE VICE PRESIDENTFor significant contributions to nursing practice andhealth policy thr
FNP, Coordinator from the University of Wyoming and Julie Cann Taylor, RN, BSN, Associate Vice President for Nursing at Wyoming Medical Center the first cohort was selected in July of 2008 for the University's on-line program. Interested staff nurses are advised by Ms. Hager on electives and nursing courses needed. Ms Cann Taylor
