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PRESIDENT’S CORNER Wow! I can’t believe we just had another wonderful GRAC Extravaganza at Maggiano’s! What an exciting year! We have seen our membership and amount of certified nurses flourish, our website is being built, and we have added several new Beacon Units. In addition to our annual Odyssey conference and Certification Review, next year GRAC will host the Region

4 meeting!

As always, NTI this year, in San Diego, was as dynamic and inspirational as ever! A special thanks to Shelley Orr for planning our GRAC night out! We had 17 members enjoy a wonderful Tapas filled evening! Our new AACN President, Karen A. McQuillan, shared her

vision and this years theme, “Courageous Care”.

Karen stated the following: What courage really means is that we face our fears to do what we know is right, even when it’s not easy. Especially if it’s not easy. For us as nurses, Courageous Care means doing what is necessary to provide the best possible care for our patients and their families. Period.

Thank you so much for allowing me to serve as your president. I think we all share Karen’s thoughts when she said, “We consider it a privilege and an honor to perform the greatest job in the world with skill, compassion, conviction and –above else-courage”.

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2014 - 2015 EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

DeAnn Smith BSN, RN, PCCN-CSC President

Beth Torres PhD, RN, CCRN President- Elect

Cheri Lenzi BSN, RN, CCRN Secretary

Mary Smith BSN, RN Treasurer

Tonka Williams MHA, RN, CMSRN, PCCN Program Chair

Jennifer Powers BSN, RN, CCRN Membership Chair

Tressie Turner BSN, RN, CCRN Newsletter Chair

Sue Miner MSN, RN, CCRN Past President

GRAC NEWSLETTER

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DeAnn L. Smith BSN RN PCCN-CSC President GRAC-AACN: dsmith@mcvh-vcu.edu

Highlights for the Leadership Development Workshop

This year the Leadership Development Workshop (LDW) focused on increasing membership engagement using the AACN Healthy Work Environment (HWE) as the conceptual framework. The HWE includes 6 components:

• Skilled Communication • True Collaboration • Effective Decision-Making • Adequate Staffing • Meaningful Recognition • Authentic Leadership

The AACN website provides a wealth of information on creating HWE in our chapters as well as in the work place. Nationally, AACN has over 100,000 members. Less than 20% of these members are actively engaged at the local level.

GRAC currently has 240 names associated with our chapter through the AACN national database. Of these names, 210 are active AACN national members and of these members, 157 are active GRAC members. Average attendance at our meetings and programs runs around 30 people. All members are encouraged to attend our business meetings, usually held prior to an educational program. Most of our educational programs are offered free to members (and some are free to non-members).

During the LDW, we Focus[ed] the Flame, AACN’s outgoing President Teri Lynn Kiss’ theme. One way to focus involves appreciating the diverse generations’ strengths within our chapter. For example, the Millennials (also known as Generation X; 1980-2002) are the largest group in the workforce today. This group has grown up in the computer age and is strongly civic-minded. As a chapter, we can use these skills to improve our communication internally and externally. I would also like to see a Gen X’er lead our volunteer efforts to promote a healthier community. If you have an interest in serving on a communication team or volunteerism team, let me know. All ages welcome!

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Here are some ways other chapters are engaging members by focusing their FIRE and what we could potentially do . Fearless: Traveling road shows to hospitals. Is your hospital having an event that you would like an ambassador to attend? We have a tri-fold board that can be used for this purpose.

Inquiry: Asking Why? ”Why are we doing x this way?” What questions do you have about how GRAC is doing things? Can you think of a potentially better way that we can try?

Resiliency: Some chapters described how they have had to overcome various obstacles to keep the chapter functioning. We are blessed in that we have a group of very engaged members who work hard to provide meaningful programs and have kept our chapter financially solvent. We do, however, have a large number of Baby Boomers, who in the coming years will seek retirement. In order to remain resilient, we need the “younger” generation to become more involved. Start by serving on a committee. If you are interested in mentoring for a chair position, let us know. Succession planning is a must to maintain a thriving chapter.

Engagement: People attend meetings and programs that they find meaningful. How can we make GRAC meaningful and relevant to your practice? What educational programs would you like to see us offer? One chapter has members submit abstracts for topics the individual (or group) would like to present at an upcoming

meeting. Do you have ideas for a program? Let us know. The program planning team will meet this summer to plan our 2015-2016 programs. Consider joining or submitting an idea to this team.

The incoming president’s theme is “Courageous Caring.” Will you be Courageous by volunteering to serve on a team? Show how much you Care about your local chapter by becoming engaged and by inviting others to become engaged. The rewards are worth it!

Beth Torres PhD, RN, CCRN

President-Elect

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RECOGNITION BOARD Received CCRN (Critical Care)

Heather Allmon

Shannon Carpenter

Kim Peterson

Received PCCN (Progressive Care)

Doni Agee

Sara Ameen

Received CPN (Certified Pediatric)

Shannon Carpenter

Received SCRN( Stroke Certified)

Sue Miner

Mandy Unkefer

Ashley Beyer

Jillian phillips

Received MSN concentration Education

Jacqueline Renee Crawford

Lillie Phillips

NURSE OF THE YEAR AT CHIPPENHAM MEDICAL CENTER!

Lori Stump

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“Focus the Flame” Award Recipients!

On May 28th, GRAC had their annual award ceremony. Prior to the event the organization invited everyone to nominate someone who Focused their internal flame… to make a change for the positive. Each member received a one year national and GRAC membership.

According to this year’s president, Terri Lynn Kiss, “ Each of us has an internal flame driving our desire for excellence when we make our optimal contribution. Focus our internal flame, and we prepare ourselves for the future”.

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Welcome New Members Sarah Ameen Maria Houston Kristin Seigler

Allison Anton Malissa Howard Emily Slater

Devon Broaddus Triste Kaminski Chris Straub

Allison Cook Kimberly Keane Erin Walker

Kelsea Dance Nicole Keller

Karina DelToro Emily Love

Letoria Edwards Kathryn Perkinson

Mary Falk Sara Pribus