2016 WSGNA
President
Hello Everyone,
Summer has finally arrived in Wisconsin! I trust you are all enjoying the warm weather.
I hope that many of you had the opportunity to attend the Spring Conference held in Milwaukee, “Cruzin’ Along the River.” I would like extend a heartfelt thank you to Lynn Miller, Amy Komp, Margaret Ullman, Deb Schmeling, and Mary Garcia for the wonderful work they did with putting it altogether. Congratulations to them for making it such a successful morning for us all.
I am happy to report that WSGNA awarded four $1,000.00 scholarships for Amy Komp, Pamela Ostrowsky, Dawn Orlovsky, and Renee Jaynes to attend the SGNA annual course in Seattle. Since 1973 WSGNA has provided educational and networking opportunities for our members and these scholarships are a way to advance knowledge and promote professionalism.
This year Wisconsin is excited to be hosting the 24th Annual Multiregional SGNA conference in collaboration with the Michigan, Indiana, and Central Illinois SGNA regions. It will be September 16-18, 2016 at the Country Springs Hotel in Waukesha. Save the Date!! There will be a wide range of topics including using anesthesia in the GI Lab, updates on duodenoscope related CRE transmission, pregnancy issues in endoscopy, celiac and gluten sensitivity and more. Please watch for those tiny letters as there will be more information coming your way. Visit the Multiregional website for more information at www.multiregionalsgna.net.
It’s not too early to be thinking about “Investing in Yourself” and “Inspiring Others,” the slogan for the 44th Annual SGNA Course in New Orleans next May 7-9. “Jazz up your journey” to your professional growth. Remember, learning doesn’t stop with a diploma—nursing school is not the end of your education. With today’s healthcare practices come extreme challenges for nurses and health care organizations. It isn’t enough to just be a good nurse. Gaps in advanced knowledge or advanced technology and unawareness of evidence based practices will leave you behind in your career. We are challenged daily on ways to provide new skills and expertise to nurses.
WSGNA has been breaking the mold by providing ELearning through video conferencing over the past several months. This is a convenient and inexpensive way for members to grow professionally and work towards certification. Certification validates your qualifications and helps you gain recognition for your competence and your professionalism.
Recent research shows that certified nurses report greater confidence in their practice, demonstrate better decision making skills, have a proven ability to detect complications, are more effective communicators and collaborators with other health care team members, and have fewer adverse events and errors in patient care. Bottom line—isn’t that what we all want for every patient?
Reach your full potential—start today. And a WSGNA scholarship can help!
Mary Fiebelkorn. BSN, RN, CGRN
WSGNA President 2016