District news.

District 1 News

District 1 has been actively meeting and held a special dinner meeting on February 10 in Memphis. Sharon Adkins, MSN, RN, TNA Executive Director, provided a complete update on a range of issues affecting professional nursing and nursing education. We also learned about the Nurses Walk for Health project on May 9 in celebration of National Nurses Week, and the specialty nurse license plate proposal by TNA and the Tennessee Nurses Foundation. Tommie Norris, DNS, RN, TNA Vice President and District 1 Secretary, provided membership information. There was time for networking during the delicious meal, and a significant number of those in the group were first time attendees to a TNA meeting. District 1 President Diane L. Ruppel presented an updated overview of the district's officers, committees, activities and volunteer opportunities.

District 1's meeting information is located on the TNA website at www.tnaonline.org, following the links for About TNA, then District Associations. Our next dinner meeting is April 23rd and we will hear speakers from several schools of nursing: Baptist, Union, University of Memphis and the University of Tennesseee. They will describe the newer programs at their respective schools. Diana Baker at [e-mail] is the main contact for the local Nurses Walk for Health activity, a TNA Districts event in celebration of National Nurses Week.

Respectfully submitted by: Diane L Ruppel, MSN, RN, APRN, BC District 1 President

District 2 News Meetings

March 12, 2009, 6 p.m., UT Medical Center, Wood Auditorium

Legislative Update by Carole Myers, PhD, RN, Chair, TN-PAC

April 2, 2009, 6 p.m., UT Medical Center, Wood Auditorium

Celebrate Students!

For information, contact Dr. Jan Brown ([e-mail])

The Board of Directors is asking for volunteers to serve on the District's standing committees. Name and contact information of the responsible BOD member is listed following the committee name.

Finance & Fundraising [e-mail] Mary Jane Johnson

Programs & Special Events [e-mail] Jan Brown

Public Relations & Communications [e-mail] Mary Gunther

Membership [e-mail] Mel Viney

Nominating [e-mail] Mary Gunther

Not receiving e-mails about District 2 events? Send your updated and current e-mail address to Mary Gunther ([e-mail]) for inclusion on mailing lists.

Respectfully submitted by: Mary Gunther, PhD, RN District 2 President

District 4 News

We usually meet on the second Thursday of every month at 6 p.m. unless otherwise noted. Meeting agendas vary, depending on the need between Board business and designated topics for members meetings, although all members are welcome to every meeting. Please check the TNA website at www.tnaonline.org and monitor email for updates on meeting locations and topics. We cannot wait to meet you there! Please email [e-mail] if planning to attend, or call [phone].

April 9, 2009, Members Meeting, Erlanger East, Classroom B Speaker TBA, Sponsored Dinner

May 7, 2009, Members Meeting, Nurses Week Celebration Reception possibly at the Warner Park Zoo or Coolidge Park

June 11, 2009, Board Meeting, UTC School of Nursing

July 9, 2009, Members Meeting, Location TBA-Probably Hamilton Place Area Nurses, We Have a Voice, is Yours Being Heard? Sponsored Dinner

August 13, 2009, Members Meeting, Location TBA Impact of Spiritual Well-Being on Violence in HIV Positive Individuals by Ardyce Ridolfo, DPhil, MSN, RN, GNP-BC Sponsored Dinner

September 10, 2009, Board Meeting, Location TBA

October 16-18, 2009, TNA Annual Convention, Chattanooga Marriott

November 12, 2009, Members Meeting, Speaker TBA Sponsored Dinner in Hamilton Place Area

December 10, 2009, Members Meeting, Christmas Party, Location TBA

Respectfully submitted by: Lena Patterson, MSN, RN, APRN, BC, CCNS 

District 4 President

TNA District 8

TNA District 8 met on December 1 for a brief business/planning meeting followed by a presentation with a holiday focus entitled "Managing Holiday Stress and Depression" by District President, Charlene Stewart, with assistance and input by mental health professional, Ken Stewart, Regional Director for Centerstone. Upcoming meetings were tentatively set with an agreement to hold other meetings via email.

The spring meeting is tentatively set for March 16, 2009, at Motlow State Community College with plans to involve area nurses as well as many students through the use of ITV to broadcast to all Motlow campuses. The meeting will include a legislative update and primer.

May 2, 2009, District Breakfast Meeting prior to joining the Nurses Walk for Health

September 14, 2009, Meeting and Election of District Officers

December 7, 2009, 2009 State of Health Care Post Convention Update

We invite all area registered nurses to get involved at the District level as well as in the many opportunities afforded nurses through TNA.

Respectfully submitted by: Charlene Stewart, BSN, RN District 8 President

District 12

Greetings and Best Wishes for 2009!

This spring, during Nurses Week, the National Nurse's Day event will be a Nurses Walk for Health (walk-a-thon) to spot-light nurses in all communities across the Tennessee. We will recruit walk workers in every county and/or facility to provide leadership and organization.

I attended Governor Bredesen's Summit meeting for the E-Prescription Initiative as a TNA representative in December 2008. The goal of the Initiative is to convert prescription transactions between prescriber and provider to a computerized system throughout the state. Currently, only about 5% of the physicians/providers in this country utilize an electronic system in their practice for prescription writing. The outcome/goal of this conversion will enhance patient safety and increase productivity. Imagine how much time would be saved just in translation of illegible handwritten orders. One could only hope that more time could be spent with patient education by all providers.

On January 6, Dr. Karen Bowyer, President of Dyersburg State Community College, and I met with the newly-elected Rep. Barrett Rich, District 92. We toured the DSCC Jimmy Naifeh Campus Nursing Department that includes the traditional two-year Associate Degree Program, the Bridge Program (LPN to RN) and the 2+2 program (RN to BSN).

During the TNA 2008 Annual Convention, District 12 member Martha Hall proudly wore her army nurse uniform and announced that her grandson, Spc. Keith Eric Essary, was serving in Afghanistan. On Thursday, January 8, Keith, who was a member of the U.S. Army Operation Enduring Freedom, was killed in the village of Maiwand while on patrol. Keith was buried on Saturday, January 16, 2009 with Military Honors. District 12 has established a Keith Eric Essary Memorial Fund that will be donated to the organization of Martha's choice. Please send your contributions to Belinda Douglas, Treasurer, TNA District 12, Ripley Technology Center, 127 Industrial Drive, Ripley, TN 38063. Please join District 12 as we continue to keep Martha Hall and her family in our thoughts and prayers.

[ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]

Respectfully submitted, Doris Glosson, RN, CNO District 12 President

District 15 News

The January meeting was very well supported by TNA members and students from MTSU and Motlow Community College. The speaker, Rick Schell, discussed "Tick Borne Diseases including Lyme Disease." Schell, whose wife suffers from Lyme disease, has become and advocate for raising awareness about the ailment and how its misdiagnosis can affect the lives of its victims. It was very informative and enjoyed by all attendees.

The next meetings are March 26, 2009 and April 30, 2009. Both meetings are scheduled to be held at the NHC Conference Room at 6:30 p.m. NHC is the nursing home across the street from MTMC in Murfreesboro, Tenn. Welcome to the new District 15 Board members Carolyn Hix and Lita Warise. Welcome also to Julie Ludwig as a new member of TNA and Vice-President of District 15. I would like to express a big thank you to everyone else as they continue to work for our District.

Respectfully submitted, Janice Harris, MSN, RN District 15 President