Promoting Healthy Communities by Enhancing the Practice of Public Health Nursing

Letter from the President...

Dear PHNAC Members,

It is with honor and pride I begin my term as president of PHNAC and welcome you all to what promises to be an interesting year.  I feel pulled in so many directions this year, it will be challenging and I am sure to learn many lessons.  I am so proud of the steps PHNAC has taken to move forward in the future with the Public Health Nurse Practice Council or PHNPC.  I believe that this is a step in the right direction for PHNAC.  PHNAC is participating and taking control of its destiny.  I know that the majority of all Public Health Nurses are involved in the H1N1 Pandemic Flu response.  Where would the county, state, or nation be without all of us Public Health Nurses?  We all have to be supportive of one another and gentle to ourselves to make it to the other side of this pandemic emergency and I know we will with greater strength in the end. 

In the PHNAC “retreat” or as we should refer to it planning session or work day, we decided that one of our goals was to pamper ourselves and the Public Health Nurses that work day today in Public Health.  Perhaps we will come up with a “wellness committee”, which is what most of us teach about daily to our clients, so let’s take our own advice.  We have ideas and will put them into action at the winter and fall conference; more to come on this issue.

These are some of the highlights from our retreat, and strategic planning for 2009-2010:

1. Scholarship Committee – The board voted to increase line item in budget to $5000.  We want to market and expand the scholarships that are awarded to members.   We feel that the investment we make in members and new members will pay off with returns to PHNAC.  Some of the ideas are APHA scholarships to the Denver conference in 2010, and scholarships to assist rural public health nurses in obtaining BSN degrees.  The scholarship committee will be working on this.  If you are interested in the committee please contact Glenda Miller, RN.
2. Membership/Marketing – The Buddy Program is part of this committee, and Rita Beam (Past-President) would like to “formalize” this program, as well as work on the Mentoring Program.  If you are interested please contact Rita Beam, RN.
3. Legislative – PHNAC's lobbyist, Jennifer Miles will send out a legislative survey to members soon to gather thoughts on the priorities for the 2010 legislative session.  The legislative committee will meet the 2^nd Thursday of each month from 12 - 1PM, starting December 10^th, 2009.  Conference calling will be available.
4. Website – We would like to use the website as a place to share info, in place of our newsletter.  If you have information to be posted on the website, please send it to the Public Health Alliance. This can be an exciting place for PHNAC to share information, stories, education opportunities, and other issues related to PHNAC or public health nursing.
5. Silent Auction – The board discussed new ways to enhance our silent auction to raise money for the scholarship fund.  We will explore using the website as an on-line auction in between the conferences. 
6. Winter Conference – Dates are set in conjunction with 2 other meetings – the Colorado Public Health Nurse Directors will hold their meetings prior to PHNAC and the CNA Legislative Dinner will also correspond with PHNAC.  Save The Date!  February 25-26, 2010.
7. Public Health Nurse Practice Council (PHNPC) – Dawn James is working on grants to fund PHNPC for 3 years. We hope to have the council seated by April 2010!

We want your input, your ideas, and your expertise to guide PHNAC into a new era.   Be gentle to yourself, be patient, and be active in PHNAC – it’s an investment in your future as an awesome Public Health Nurse!

Brene Belew-LaDue, RN
2009 - 2010 PHNAC President