My name is Laura Barry, and I am a member of District 2 of the Tennessee Nurses Association. I was raised on a tobacco farm in East Tennessee with strong Appalachian roots. My mother and grandmother are Appalachian women known for resiliency, a strong work ethic, and pragmatism. Appalachian women fight for their families and beliefs unapologetically. I decided to become a nurse in a similarly pragmatic way—I wanted to be able to provide for a family. I applied to every state school that had a nursing program and picked the school that gave me the best scholarships, the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga.

 While I did not have an idealistic reason for becoming a nurse, after I graduated and became an emergency nurse, I realized that nursing is so much more than a paycheck. I was twenty-one years old when I took my first patient assignment. As a night shift emergency nurse, I got to see the best and worst of humanity. Babies were born to proud mothers, and people died too young. Nursing taught me that life and death are intimately linked and that I still had much left to learn about what it means to be a human. Nursing has been both a tragic and a beautiful teacher, one whose lessons never cease.

Through my experience at the bedside, I witnessed firsthand the systemic disempowerment of nurses. We are entrusted to be the hands of healthcare, but our voices are often ignored about ways to improve the system. I wanted a louder voice and the power to make a more widespread impact. I sought a master’s in nursing education to give my voice that volume, which led me to a nursing education preceptorship at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville (UTK).

Joining TNA

TNA District 2 hosts Healthcare Policy Day every year, at which Dr. Carole Myers speaks to area nurses and nursing students about the legislative actions that the Tennessee Nurses Association (TNA) is currently pursuing. I attended Healthcare Policy Day during my preceptorship at UTK in February 2020. Hearing about the way that TNA advocates for the disempowered through the legislative process inspired me to add my voice to this passionate group of nurses. That night, I went home and joined TNA. Though I have only been a member of TNA and the American NursesAssociation (ANA) since 2020, those memberships have afforded me countless experiences to demonstrate that nurses arepowerful. We can drive healthcare and healthcare policy if we unite our voices to advocate for our patients and profession.  

Why it Matters?

Today, I am an instructor at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, and continue to work as a bedside emergency nurse. I try to impart upon my students what was taught to me through my Appalachian familial culture. I want my students to know they can and should fight for their beliefs. I believe in fiercely advocating for the disempowered within the Tennessee healthcare landscape. I love being a part of TNA because I can see the actions of this group of nurses and the impact those actions have on healthcare within our state. I am the secretary for District 2 and have had the opportunity to see and meet the incredible nurse leaders within this state. I believe that healthcare is far from perfect and that nurses have the insight needed to enact change, but only if we are willing to work together. By working beside other nurses, TNA helps give me a voice, and that gives me optimism for the future.  

Recently I heard an individual express their frustration that since an organization would not speak for them, they felt their voice was being silenced. As long as you have a voice, as long as you can write, you cannot be silenced! You may not have the platform you desire, but you are not silenced! You have the option of writing letters to the editor, articles, or social media posts. You may speak at public meetings or buy time on public airways, but you are not silenced!

For example, currently, America is in the middle of a Presidential election, as well as many other federal, state, and local elections. You have the right to endorse a specific candidate or ballot initiative and ask others to vote for your choice. However, you should back up your endorsement with facts regarding the candidate or ballot initiative. These facts may be obtained from public records or other sources that stand up to public scrutiny. Facts may lead to opinions, but opinions are not facts! Honestly, it is your assessment of the facts that led to your opinion and your endorsement or support of a candidate or initiative.

But what facts should be considered? Consider information regarding thought, word, and deed. Regarding thought, consider what the candidate says they will do or what supporters of the candidate or initiative say will happen if elected. What are the candidate’s reasons for running, or why was the initiative proposed? This leads to words: what has the candidate or supporters of the candidate or initiative said? What is the goal of the candidate or initiative as stated by the candidate or by the wording of the initiative?

Finally, what is the history of the candidate or supporters of the initiative? What deeds have they, and the people with which they surround themselves, done in the past, and are they in line with their current statements or goals? Carefully evaluate the facts and decide on a candidate or position regarding a ballot initiative, your assessment of the facts compared to your goals and values, and make an endorsement.

You have a right to make your endorsement, to donate to your chosen candidate or initiative position and to make your endorsement public. But this does not mean that others must agree with you. They have the right to go through the same decision-making process and make a different decision.

You may have a public debate about the facts or decision-making process, but you should always remain civil and factual. Debate your facts and sources; explain your reasoning, but never insult the other person. Pick your battles and know when to walk away. However, remember - the most important thing you can do for your choice is vote!

Have you ever had one of those days when your mind feels like it’s playing the “Plinko” game from The Price is Right? Well, today, that is me. There is so much TNA news to share, I don’t know where to begin.

So, let’s start with Ray.

Ray Coe stepped into the President’s role last October and has been working hard to listen and take to heart the interests of all RNs in the State regardless of their membership status. He has also brought a renewed interest in collaborating and sharing resources with the American Nurses Association (ANA). To that end, he, along with board members Marilyn Smith, Courtney Nyange, and District 3 President Ashley Carter, collectively applied for a grant from ANA to support our efforts in advocating for a workforce that reflects the diversity of the communities nurses serve. TNA was awarded the grant, and as a result, we will have the opportunity to share the film Everybody’s Work: Healing What Hurts Us All, at our Annual Conference. Additionally, we will host a panel featuring ANA Past President Ernest Grant with facilitation by TNA members Ashley Carter and Courtney Nyange.

Our new Director of Operations, Marilyn Smith, has dedicated much of her time in her new role to reviewing TNA’s governing documents and helping to shape our future as a member of the Long Range PlanningCommittee. Marilyn’s work on updating our Mission Statement has been invaluable as we prepare to launch our new strategic framework at the Annual Conference.

Courtney Nyange, our new Director of Practice, has spent a great deal of time creating and recruiting members for a new Bedside Nurse Advisory Committee. I view this committee as vital to our future as we hope to bring the bedside nurse perspective to the forefront of our strategic initiatives.

Our new Government Affairs Director and chair of TNA’s GOVA committee, Mark Miller, hit the ground running as well. Mark has held listening sessions with every active TNA District in an effort to learn about specific issues that most affect each District and nurse in the State. These sessions will directly impact our legislative agenda as we strategize for 2025 and beyond.

Christie Manasco, our Education Director and Primary Nurse Planner, has been one of the busiest and most productive board members of the past two years. In addition to her director responsibilities, she has worked closely with the South Carolina Nurses Association to ensure that TNA retains our status as an Approved Provider Unit which allows us to develop and offer nurse continuing education contact hours (CNEs) for TNA’s programs and events. Christie has also been collaborating with our newest partner, Whitecoat Technologies, in creating our new Virtual Continuing Education platform which will launch this fall with a variety of CNE programs designed for both our nurse members and non-members.

Our Membership Director, Jennifer Hitt, continues her work in retaining TNA members at a time when membership organizations continue to struggle. She, along with Christie, created the re-imagined Nurse Educator Institute (NEI), which TNA has presented twice in the past two years. The NEI is a program designed to help new and current Nursing School Faculty members succeed in their role as nurse educators. This program was developed in partnership with and support of the Tennessee Deans & Directors of Schools of Nursing.

We are pleased to partner with the Tennessee Hospital Association (THA) in support of the Belmont Inman College of Nursing for Innovation Summit 2024. As part of the Summit, TNA President Ray Coe and TNF’s new President, Loretta Bond, revealed our new Innovation Grant Program. The initial funding for the program is being underwritten by the Tennessee Nurses Foundation, as they have set aside $25,000 to fund our first grants.

That brings us to our Annual Conference: Transforming Nursing Together, which will take place on October 10-12 at the Hilton Garden Inn in Mt. Juliet, Tennessee. This year’s conference will be filled with exciting speakers and networking opportunities, not to mention our exhibitors and poster presenters who always bring their “A” game to our conference.

The conference will feature topics as diverse as jazzing up micro-learning to better understand the journey of internationally educated nurses, nursing innovation to compassion fatigue, research and evidence-based practice to assessment in domestic & intimate partner violence, the era of open notes to micro-aggressions, building resilience in undergraduate nursing students to understanding the attitudes and perceptions related to full practice authority, conflict management to transactional to transformational.

TNA will conduct the business of the association at the Membership Assembly during the conference, and once again this year, every TNA member will have the opportunity to vote during TNA’s annual election of officers, directors, and nominating committee members. More details on this will come later. In the meantime, check out the Slate of Candidates and view each candidate’s video HERE.

The Tennessee Nurses PAC (TNPAC) is planning an old-fashioned Ice Cream Social, and we can’t forget the Foundation’s auction and wine pull. There is something for everyone at this year’s conference; you don’t want to suffer from FOMO. To register for this year’s conference, click here.

I’d say TNA's “Plinko” puck is definitely headed for the winner's slot.

Falls are a significant concern in the hospital setting, posing serious risks for patient safety and well-being. As nurses, we play a crucial role in preventing these potentially devastating events. This article explores evidence-based strategies and interventions to minimize fall risk, drawing on the latest research and best practices.

Understanding the Scope of the Problem

Falls are alarmingly common in hospitals, affecting an estimated 30% to 50% of patients. These incidents can lead to various injuries, ranging from minor bruises and fractures to severe trauma and even death. Moreover, falls can significantly impact patient morale, prolong hospital stays, and increase healthcare costs.

Identifying Fall Risk Factors

Early identification of patients at high risk of falling is crucial for implementing preventive measures. Numerous factors contribute to fall risk, categorized into intrinsic (patient-related) and extrinsic (environmental) factors:

Intrinsic factors:

• Age (over 65 years)
• Cognitive impairment
• Gait and balance problems
• History of falls
• Weakness and decreased muscle strength
• Visual impairments
• Medications (e.g., sedatives, diuretics)
• Dehydration
• Pain

Extrinsic factors:

• Wet or slippery floors
• Poor lighting
• Cluttered environment
• Unstable furniture
• Inadequate bed brakes and side rails
• Lack of assistive devices (canes, walkers)
• Footwear with poor traction
• Implementing a Multifaceted Approach

Preventing falls requires a comprehensive approach incorporating various interventions on both individual and environmental levels. Here are key strategies:

Universal Fall Precautions:

These precautions apply to all patients, regardless of their perceived fall risk. They create a safe environment and promote patient awareness:

• Maintaining a safe environment: Keep floors clean and dry, ensure adequate lighting, eliminate clutter, and use non-skid mats.
• Bed positioning: Keep bed in the lowest position when unoccupied and at a comfortable height for transfers. Lock bed brakes and side rails appropriately.
• Call light accessibility: Ensure the call light is within reach and patients understand its use.
• Footwear: Encourage patients to wear well-fitting, closed-toe shoes with good traction.
• Patient education: Inform patients about fall risks and encourage them to call for assistance before attempting ambulation.

Individualized Fall Risk Assessment:

Use validated fall risk assessment tools like the Morse Fall Scale or the Hendrich II Fall Risk Model to identify high-risk patients.

Regularly reassess fall risk as factors can change during hospitalization.

Individualized Interventions:

• Strengthen mobility: Encourage early mobilization as tolerated and provide physical therapy if needed.
• Address medication concerns: Work with physicians to review medications with fall risk potential and consider safer alternatives.
• Visual and hearing aids: Ensure patients have access to corrected vision and hearing aids, if necessary.
• Manage pain effectively: Uncontrolled pain can affect balance and gait, so proper pain management is crucial.
• Cognitive impairment interventions: Supervise patients with cognitive impairment closely and implement environmental modifications like cognitive aids.
• Assistive devices: Provide and train patients on using appropriate assistive devices such as canes, walkers, or grab bars.

Communication and Collaboration:

• Effectively communicate fall risk assessments and individual interventions to the entire healthcare team.
• Encourage family involvement in fall prevention efforts.
• Conduct debriefings after fall incidents to analyze contributing factors and implement corrective measures.

Evidence-Based Interventions:

Multicomponent fall prevention programs: Studies have shown that multifaceted programs combining various interventions, such as patient education, environmental modifications, and exercise, can significantly reduce fall rates.

Alert systems: Using wearable devices or bed sensors, patient monitoring systems can alert staff of potential falls. However, their effectiveness needs further investigation and careful consideration of potential downsides like alarm fatigue.

Strength and balance training: Targeted exercise programs can improve patient strength, balance, and gait, reducing fall risk.

Conclusion

Preventing falls is a shared responsibility within the healthcare team. By implementing the strategies outlined above, nurses can play a crucial role in keeping patients safe and preventing the devastating consequences of falls in the hospital setting. Remember, early identification, comprehensive assessment, and evidence-based interventions are key to success. Let's work together to create a culture of safety and minimize the risk of falls for our patients.

In addition to caring for patients, nurses often take care of everyone else while neglecting themselves. So, who takes care of the nurse while the nurse takes care of everyone else?

Key topics: the nursing profession, burnout, self-care, and resilience. 

The Nursing Profession and Where We Stand 

The 2023 State of Nursing Report prepared by Nurse.org revealed the realities of nursing, and there are a few things worth highlighting.

1. When asked why they became a nurse, the primary response from nurses was “to help others.” The second most common response was due to the specialties and career options of choice.
2. Of those polled, 60% of nurses said they "love being a nurse," but 62% of nurses are concerned about the future of nursing.
3. A whopping 81% of nurses said they have felt burnt out in the past year, slightly less than in 2021. 

It's heartwarming to know that nurses still have an innate love for their profession and the desire to help others.However, 81% is a significant number of nurses who responded that they felt “burnt out.” Despite nursing being an admirable profession, this burnout is projected to contribute to the ongoing nursing shortage.

According to the American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN), the Registered Nurse (RN) workforce is projected to increase by 3.3 million nurses by 2030. However, 203,000 RN openings are expected annually leading up to 2030. 

These findings are based on retired nurses and those who are potentially going to leave the workforce. The nursing shortage is further exacerbated by an aging population, which will result in a higher demand for medical care. Additionally, there are restricted nursing school enrollments due to a shortage of nursing school faculty and understaffing in the healthcare setting in general (AACN, 2022). This seems to be creating a never-ending cycle of problems.  

Burnout: Self-Assessment and Awareness

With that being said, the following questions should be asked of all nurses: 

• Do you feel emotionally drained?
• Do you wake up feeling exhausted after an adequate amount of sleep?
• Do you dread going to work?
• Do you find yourself insensitive to the things you would usually be empathic toward?
• Do you think about quitting your job often?
• Do you find yourself more cynical or judgmental?
• Do you no longer find joy in going to work?

If most of these questions are answered with a yes, one may be experiencing signs and symptoms of burnout. Experiencing burnout throughout a nurse's career may be inevitable, and it's important to know what it is and how to prevent it when possible. 

Burnout is a state of emotional exhaustion, depersonalization, and feeling drained, as defined in the Future of Nursing, 2020-2030 report. This condition can cause nurses to lose interest in their jobs and become less empathetic toward their patients. 

Burnout can lead to high turnover rates, negative patient outcomes, personal illnesses, and even suicide. While there is no definitive solution to overcoming burnout, nurses can start by taking control of their priorities and caring for themselves. This requires being intentional and bringing the best version of themselves to the work environment. Another name for this is self-care.

Self-Care – Making the Necessary Changes

Iyanla Vanzant says it best, "My cup runneth over; what comes out of the cup is for y'all, but what is in the cup is mine, so I have to keep my cup full." 

In other words, you cannot pour from an empty cup, so metaphorically, do not attempt to pour from an empty cup in your own life. You have to take care of yourself and keep your cup full.

According to the National Institute of Mental Health, self-care is taking the time to do things necessary for an individual's overall well-being. Well-being includes physical and mental health, whereas one or both can be unhealthy. It is essential to strive to be the best version of yourself while also wanting the best for your patients and peers.

Keith Carlson emphasizes that self-care is not rocket science and can differ from person to person in his Nurse.org article "5 Simple Self-Care Practices For Busy Nurses. We're Not Talking A Spa Day | Nurse.org," 

Keith explains how to use the nursing process to identify your self-care needs. He suggests performing a self-assessment, diagnosing any self-care deficits, planning a course of action, implementing the plan, and evaluating your progress.

Here are some helpful tools and knowledge to promote physical and mental health, whether to address self-care deficits, improve upon them, or simply be more intentional about caring for oneself.

Let’s break self-care down even more.

Physical Health

• Regular exercise 

• 150 minutes per week of moderate-intense aerobic activity or 75 minutes of vigorous aerobic activity is recommended by the American Heart Association. *Start small and remember consistency is key. 
• Fitness Apps
• YouTube videos
• Active Gym Membership(s)
• Live workouts on social media
• Yoga or Pilates

• Healthy Diet

• Eating a well-balanced diet of fruits, vegetables, and protein 
• Limit sugar and sodium intake
• Limit pre-packaged foods
• Reduce consumption of fried foods and fat intake

Check out High protein & high energy snacks for nurses on Nurse.org for more ideas. 

• Stay Hydrated

• 13 cups of daily fluid intake are recommended for men, and 9 cups of daily fluid intake is recommended for women, according to the Institute of Medicine (IOM).
• Limit caffeine, sodas, and alcohol 

Mental Health

In addition to exercise, diet, and improving your physical health, here are some other ways to improve your mental health. 

• Rest

• Make rest a priority by creating a sleep routine and taking a vacation or days off work as scheduled. 
• Stay Positive
• Focus on positivity by finding things you are grateful for and challenging your unhelpful thoughts. 
• Support
• Create a support system by finding ways to destress and have an outlet. 
• Spiritually - return to what gives you meaning and get grounded in your faith, hope, and beliefs. 
• Socially - be intentional in occasionally meeting with family, friends, or associates and socializing. 
• Habits, interests, or hobbies - get creative and start doing things you used to love to do when you were younger: color, draw, write, build things, read books, or explore something new!
• Professionally - seek professional help and counseling services if you find yourself feeling depressed, stressed, suicidal, anxious, or need guidance. 
• Set Boundaries
• It's okay to say “no” and be okay when others say “no” 
• Boundaries protect your overall well-being and others
• These boundaries may include physical, sexual, mental, emotional, financial, and/or time boundaries 
• Check out How To Set Boundaries at Work as a Nurse by Nurse Alice for more details on how to set boundaries and why it's important

Check out 7 Tips To Help Nurses Be Physically, Mentally, and Emotionally Healthy

Resilience - Keep moving forward

Resilience is the ability to overcome challenges while remaining optimistic for the future. Resilience may also help nurses cope with feelings of burnout (JONA, 2020). 

Focusing on self-care can help nursing professionals become more self-aware and develop coping mechanisms to navigate the challenges of their profession. Most nurses choose this career path because they strongly desire to help others, demonstrating strength, compassion, empathy, and selflessness. However, nurses must also practice what they preach and prioritize their own self-care, just like they would for their patients, family, friends, and community. This is important to avoid burnout and ensure they remain healthy and effective in their caregiver roles.

1.) Licensing/Regulation

• Board member vacancy:  Public Member.
• Government Operations Committee approved updated Comprehensive RN, LPN, APRN comprehensive rules packet September 18, 2024.
• Updated rules will go into effect October 2024.  These rules will be available at the following link:  https://publications.tnsosfiles.com/rules/1000/1000.htm

2025 Board of Nursing Meeting Dates:

• February 19-20
• May 14-15
• August 6-7
• November 19-20

2.) Nurse Licensure Compact (NLC)

• 42 jurisdictions have joined, 39 have implemented.
• On January 2, 2024, a new NLC rule went into effect.  Nurses relocating to another compact state have 60 days from the time they move to apply for a new license by endorsement in a new primary state of residence.  Information may be found at NLC.gov.

In West Tennessee, Sarah Freeman won a five-way Democratic primary in Congressional District 8 and will now try to unseat Congressman David Kustoff in November.  Moreover, Democratic incumbent Steve Cohen had a strong primary showing and won a four-way race with over 73 percent of the vote.  He will now face Charlotte Bergmann in the general election.   

State Senate Election Results

This election cycle, 16 of Tennessee’s 33 Senate seats are on the ballot, with nine of those 16 seats having contested primaries. 

Tom Hatcher won a three-way GOP primary in Senate District 2, which is currently an open seat with the retirement of Sen. Art Swann. 

As was mentioned earlier, two incumbent Senators lost their primary elections, which was the first time since 2016 that a Republican state Senator lost such race.  Jon Lundberg, who has been a champion for nurses in the past, lost his race by less than 1,000 votes, while Frank Niceley was defeated in the state’s 8th Senatorial District. 

The biggest primary election victory for nurses was Sen. Ferrell Haile (R-Gallatin) winning his hotly contested race in District 18.  Senator Haile has been a friend to the nursing profession throughout his tenure, and we are pleased that he was victorious.  The remaining Senate districts saw incumbent Senators Becky Massey (R-Knoxville), Todd Gardenhire (R-Chattanooga), Ken Yager (R-Kingston), John Stevens (R-Huntingdon), and Sara Kyle (D-Memphis) all win primary races.

State House Election Results

The state House saw 29 of its 99 legislative seats have contested primary elections.  The biggest upset of the entire day was Rep. Hazlewood, chairwoman of the powerful House Finance Committee, losing her District 27 race to Michele Reneau, while her colleague and fellow chairman, John Ragan, lost to Rick Scarbrough in the 33rd House District.  The remaining House primaries went largely as planned with incumbent Representatives Robert Stevens (R-Smyrna), Sam McKenzie (D-Knoxville), Kevin Raper (R-Cleveland), Yusuf Hakeem (D-Chattanooga), Ron Travis (R-Dayton), Tim Rudd (R-Murfreesboro), Paul Sherrell (R-Sparta), Bob Freeman (D-Nashville), Scott Cepicky (R-Culleoka), Chris Todd (R-Jackson), Rusty Grills (R-Newbern), Mary Littleton (R-Dickson), Johnny Shaw (D-Bolivar), Joe Towns (D-Memphis), Justin Pearson (D-Memphis), G.A. Hardaway (D-Memphis), and John Gillespie (R-Memphis) all winning.

Looking Ahead

All eyes now turn to the general elections on November 5th, and as was the case in the primaries, voter turnout could play a key role in the upcoming general.  The presidential election at the top of the ticket will certainly drive individuals to the polls, which should result in more votes cast for down ballot candidates.  A race that is sure to capture the attention of many will be held in the 7th Congressional District in middle Tennessee, where incumbent Congressman Mark Green is being challenged by former Nashville Mayor Megan Berry.  At the state level, only a handful of races are likely worth watching, most notably in Shelby and Davidson counties.  While many of the 132 legislators have November races, most of the significant battles took place during the primaries.   

Nurses are natural leaders, and government needs more nurses to get involved and provide leadership benefits in healthcare to our communities and our profession. One of the responsibilities of nursing is to take an active role in politics and policy development, but so few do. Why do nurses not participate in lobbying efforts? There are likely many reasons. Some reasons include poor nursing images, feelings of inefficacy in influencing political decision-making, perspectives of public policy advocacy as not in the scope of the nurse's professional role, lack of confidence and mentorship, and insufficient knowledge of policy-making strategies.  One of these may be the reason you, like most nurses in Tennessee, aren’t involved actively in policy. We all experience issues that impact how we provide care to patients daily. The shortage of nurses and healthcare policy changes are two politically important issues that will affect all nurses in Tennessee. The impact on patient care can be widespread, including longer wait times, decreased access to care, provider shortages, and increasing workload for nurses. These are issues that hit home, and it is why all Tennessee nurses need to be active in policy development and advocacy. All nurses want to provide the best possible care.

The TN Nurses PAC is bipartisan and supports members of the Tennessee Legislature who have demonstrated a commitment to the initiatives of the GOVA Committee and Tennessee Nurses Association and/ or hold valuable positions on key committees. Recently added to the PAC website is a list of recipients of PAC donations for 2023. The PAC Board has already approved donations for 2024 and will continue to identify, with the help of TNA’s lobbyist, where additional funds may be needed. So why make these contributions? These contributions provide visibility for nurses in Tennessee and ensure we have a seat at the table with legislators working on healthcare issues.  For nurses, a seat at the table is better than just being on the menu. It also helps build strong relationships with legislators that may be an asset in our future endeavors. Through advocacy and monetary support, your TN Nurses PAC assists campaigns, policy proposals, legislative initiatives, and the candidates that support the nursing profession. We know that our nursing priority is bringing the best possible care to our patients and the residents of Tennessee. The priority of the PAC is to help accomplish this goal.

Members of the Tennessee Legislature frequently hold fundraising events in their districts. This is especially the case with elections. These events serve as a venue for political networking and personal connections. Many of these events carry steep entry fees of $1000 or more. The TNA lobbyist attends many of these events with the support of our PAC. This is where nurses come in! TN Nurses PAC pays the cost for our lobbyist to attend these events, providing an opportunity to make personal connections and foster relationships with legislators and their staff. Events like this often hold the key to gaining long-term support from members of the Legislature. The PAC provides an organized way for nurses to support political candidates, causes, legislation, regulations, or initiatives supporting healthcare issues important to Tennessee nurses and residents. Donating to our PAC is a simple way for nurses who share common goals and interests to have their voices heard within our political system and become active advocates.

The 113th General Assembly has adjourned. We can only look forward to the 114th General Assembly in 2025. The Tennessee Nurses Association must continue to be avid in developing our relationships, and the PAC must continue making donations. This being an election year, TNA will likely see new faces in the Legislature as well as on those key committees. This will necessitate ongoing relationship building. I am happy to report that the TN Nurses PAC has been able to donate to candidates in 2024 who are TNA and nurse-friendly. This is made possible only with your continued donations, so consider making a donation today!

We’ve had an exciting quarter! We celebrated Nurses’ Week and recognized our most seasoned nurse, Nurse Weston for dedicating 54 years to the nursing profession. We are inspired and encouraged by her commitment to the field.

Congratulations! Lisa Lucas, the Chief Certified Registered Nurse Anesthesiologist (CRNA) at the Memphis Veterans Affairs Medical Center (MVAMC), has been named the 2024 recipient of the Alice Magaw Outstanding Clinical Anesthesia Practitioner Award by the 62,000-member American Association of Nurse Anesthesiology (AANA).

Lucas became the 38th recipient of the award on Aug. 3 during the AANA’s Annual Congress in San Diego. Each year, the Alice Magaw Award recognizes the accomplishments of a CRNA who is directly involved in patient care and has made important contributions to the advancement of nurse anesthesia practice.

Congratulations to Dr. Susan Newbold for recently receiving the Ball State University (BSU) Nursing Lifetime Achievement Alumni Award. She is the first to receive this accolade. The award recognizes significant contributions to the profession of nursing and the BSU School of Nursing. She was presented with the award during the 2024 Alumni Association Reunion. Dr. Newbold is a November 1975 BSN graduate of the Muncie, IN. school and received the BSU Outstanding Nursing Alumni Award in 1995. She is an internationally known pioneer in nursing informatics. Susan and her husband live in Franklin, TN.

Congratulations to Michele Marbet, who was the lucky winner of the raffle for the TNA Annual Conference and Membership Assembly!

Congratulations to all the District 3 members who were selected for the 2024 Slate of Candidates for TNA at the state level:

• Mark Miller, DNP, MSN, MA, APRN, AGACNP-BC for President-Elect
• Sherry Raber, DNP, MMHC, MSN, RN for Vice President
• Jacqueline Buford, DNP, MSN, APRN-BC, RN for Vice President
• Tiffany Street, DNP, ACNP-BC for Vice President
• Julie Hamm, BSN, MSN, ACNP-BC for Treasurer
• Nancy Muldowney, DNP, RN, CHIE for Director of Education
• Daphny Peneza, MSN, RN, CNOR, CSSM, FAORN for Nominating Committee

I am Loretta Bond, the new president of the Tennessee Nurses Foundation (TNF). You might know me as the Vice President of the Tennessee Nurses Association. However, I am transitioning from the TNA Vice President role in October to serve as the new TNF President. I have been a member of the Tennessee Nurses Association since relocating to Nashville in 2015 from Wisconsin. Prior to that, I was an active member of the Wisconsin Nurses Association since graduation from nursing school. In practice, I have served as a nurse educator for 30 years. I also had my own clinical practice until 2019.

The Tennessee Nurses Foundation’s mission is to promote professional excellence in nursing. The goals are:

• Promote the professional image of nursing.
• Improve the professional and educational advancement of nurses.
• Facilitate leadership development.
• Encourage nursing research.
• Support professional health and wellness.

You will see programs from the Foundation that highlight these goals.

This is an exciting time for the Foundation as we prepare for the TNA Annual Conference on October 10-12, 2024. TNF, a major event sponsor, will hold its’ Annual Silent Auction fundraising event on Monday, September 30 – Saturday, October 12. The auction will be held online again this year, which was a great success last year. This is the link to TNF’s 2024 Silent Auction: https://tnfsa24.cbo.io. Click the link and register early as a bidder so you will be ready to bid on some fabulous items and excursions. Registering as a bidder is free, and you do not have to attend the conference to participate in the auction. The auction is open to everyone, so please share the auction link with your family and friends. Attendees at the conference will have an additional opportunity to purchase grab bags full of some great items and the foundation’s wine pull. The Silent Auction is TNF’s primary fundraiser for the year. Funds raised from this initiative help support the foundation’s scholarships, grants, and leadership fund. For more information on TNF’s scholarships and grants, visit TNurses.Care/TNF. We are currently accepting donations for the auction. Contact TNF@TNurses.Care for details.

Another TNF Initiative:  As you drive around Tennessee, you will likely find yourself driving behind a car with a Nurses Change Lives license plate. We are happy to say that they are all over the state, and the foundation appreciates the support of everyone who has purchased the plate and is continuing to renew! If you haven’t purchased yours yet, you may have wondered what these plates represent. These plates, honoring Tennessee nurses, were designed by the Tennessee Nurses Foundation and approved by the Tennessee Legislature and the State of Tennessee Department of Revenue. TNF receives approximately one-half of your specialty plate cost, which helps support the initiatives I mentioned in the previous paragraph. When you purchase the specialty plate, you are supporting nursing here in Tennessee and sharing the important work that nurses perform with those who see your license plate. Drive with pride! Visit your local County Clerk’s Office to purchase your plate. It can be personalized for an additional fee.

TNF has a great group of Nurses and community members who serve the nurses of Tennessee, and we are proud and excited to support the work of the Tennessee Nurses Association.

Campaign School for Nurses & Midwives

Duke Sanford School of Public Policy

Durham, NC

June 5-8, 2024

Report by Courtney Nyange, Campaign School Participant, Recipient of the TNF Leadership Nursing Grant

My attendance at this remarkable, information-filled, and impactful campaign school would not have been possible without the support of the Tennessee Nurses Foundation. I am immensely grateful for the opportunity to have participated in the second annual Healing Politics Campaign School for Nurses & Midwives! From learning about the campaign process, to witnessing bipartisanship in action, to networking, this 4-day experience exceeded my expectations and increased my desire to run for elected office. I not only left the campaign school with concrete goals and an action plan to help me accomplish my goals, but I also left with the ability to articulate “my” why for running for office. 

During my time at the campaign school, I learned a great deal about working with the media, developing a campaign plan and budget, fundraising, developing a communications and voter contact strategy, and how to help get out the vote. Most importantly, I connected with other nurses and legislators (also nurses) who share a common vision: making our voices heard and authentically representing the people. I am blown away by the compassion and dedication exhibited by my fellow cohort participants and left with so many lessons learned from them. I experienced a level of connectedness that has been hard to come by in this technologically enhanced world we are now living in. 

Above, I mentioned that I left the campaign school with an ability to articulate my why. Here is my why for running for elected office: I believe it’s important for decision-makers to make decisions based on the values of the people they represent. I aim to bring diversity of thought, experience, and background to decision-making and be an advocate for solutions that are inclusive and equitable.

If you are at all interested in making a difference and are considering running for elected office, I encourage you to explore the Healing Politics Campaign School for Nurses and Midwives and get involved with our Tennessee Nurses Association political action committee (PAC) and/or our Government Affairs committee (GOVA). We need more nurses to run for office!