Anniversaries and Resolutions

Article Outline

• Copyright

• 
  • View Large Image
  • Download to PowerPoint

At the beginning of each year, many of us take stock of what we have done during the past year and what we might do during the year to come. This year is a special one for the Emergency Nurses Association. It is the 40^th Anniversary of the dream of two nurses, Anita Dorr and Judith Kelleher, who made a difference.

I wonder how many of you can find your first membership cards or remember your first Annual Meeting? Who still has a Road Runner pin? My first annual meeting was in 1980, the year I graduated as a Clinical Nurse Specialist focusing on Emergency Nursing, even though I had been a member since 1977 (I do not want to hear that many of you were not born yet). It was a small group, but the fact that we all had something in common was important.

ENA has seen a lot of changes and growth in the past 40 years. The association is currently at its highest membership. The organization has been active in health care reform, patient safety, but most importantly the welfare of emergency nurses.

So, one important resolution for all of us to make this year is the continued support of ENA's efforts. Renewing your membership and offering your expertise when asked. On the www.ena.org Web site, there are constant opportunities to be active. Also, do not forget you can always write about your experiences and send them to us, the Journal of Emergency Nursing, especially if you have found something that has been working well within your department or community to improve patient care or emergency services.

Another resolution I would like you all to consider is the significance of recognizing who and what we are as emergency nurses. This past October I was invited to speak at the College of Emergency Nursing of Australia. During their annual meeting, they established a new award of excellence in emergency nursing for one of their founders and leaders, the Julie Finucane Cross. This was presented by the Health Minister to Julie herself. Remember similar excellence in emergency nursing with Judith Kelleher award.

Each year, you have an opportunity to honor yourself or others. ENA has many awards, scholarships and grants available. I would like you to think of emergency nurses who deserve similar recognition. I hope you will all consider the resolutions I have proposed this year. Congratulations to you the members and ENA on its 40^th anniversary!