Nightingale tribute.

Charlotte Katona, RN, MSN died on February 13, 2010 in Sun City Arizona. She was born in 1924 in Cedar Grove, Wisconsin and was one of seven children. Charlotte attended Marquette University where she received both Bachelor and Masters degrees in Nursing--the foundation of her 53 year long nursing career. During her years in Wisconsin she worked at the Veterans Administration Hospital and later became Vice President of Nursing at St. Michael's Hospital in Milwaukee Wisconsin. Creating a professionally strong and healthy work environment for nurses, St. Michael's became a "Magnet Hospital" under her leadership.

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Charlotte and her husband Joseph moved to Phoenix, Arizona in 1981, bringing her progressive and open-minded style to St. Luke's Medical Center. As Vice President of Nursing she again mentored and built a strong team, as she empowered so many to grow and become leaders themselves. While she retired from nursing administration in 1987, Charlotte never retired from nursing leadership. For a short time, she served as the Interim Executive Director of the Arizona Nurses Association. She valued and maintained her professional activities and colleagues in the American Nurses Association, Wisconsin and Arizona Nurses Associations, Sigma Theta Tau, Arizona Organization of Nurse Executives and the Arizona Association of University Women.

Nurses involved in innovative practice and research are invited to submit abstracts for poster presentation at the Wisconsin Nurses Association's Annual Convention at the Monona Terrace and Convention Center, Thursday October 7 through Saturday, October 9, 2010 in Madison, Wisconsin. The Research Council will accept posters on all nursing topics.

Research Council members are willing to offer pre-review assistance and limited telephone consultation to persons who would like help with their poster abstracts provided the abstract is received by Friday, June 4, 2010. For assistance, call or e-mail the WNA office and you will be directed to a Council member.

Instructions, application and other information go to www.wisconsinnurses.org.