President s Message By Cherie Wilcher, RN MSN FNP

Transcription

1 Volume 7, Number 1 October, 2008 President s Message By Cherie Wilcher, RN MSN FNP Greetings to you all! This fall I have the pleasure of addressing the members of Sigma Theta Tau as your new president. My term began after the Annual Xi Phi Dinner meeting held in May 2008 at the Olive Branch restaurant. Currently, the officers are as follows: Cherie Wilcher, President Artcher2@cs.com Vicki Brownrigg, President-elect vbrownri@uccs.edu Jenenne Nelson, Vice-President jnelson@uccs.edu Valerie Galloway, Secretary & Faculty Counselor VALJIM_Gallo29@msn.com Sara Clutter Lee, Treasurer tlee2409@comcast.net Lori Peppard, Nominating Chairperson tompeppard@msn.com Sherry Lee, Nominating Committee Slee3@uccs.edu Sarah Garner, Nominating Committee THEGARNERS00@msn.com Trellis Moore, Faculty Counselor tgmoore@uccs.edu To begin, let me provide a bit of biographical data. Currently, I am employed as a Family Nurse Practitioner at Lutheran Medical Center in Wheat Ridge Colorado. And, I am proud to inform you that I am a graduate of Beth- El. Originally, I was a diploma nurse having graduated in 1981 in Tennessee. After twenty years in nursing, I returned to school at the University of Colorado at Colorado Springs and was awarded my BSN in 2004 and my FNP in However, I am not quitting there, in May of 2009 I will graduate with a CNS and NP in Psychiatric/Mental Health Nursing, and I am almost certain that in the near future I will pursue the new Doctorate of Nursing Practice degree at Beth-El. I mention my interest in pursuing advanced nursing degrees because it is an excellent segue into the purpose of the Honor Society of Nursing. The mission of Sigma Theta Tau is to support learning, knowledge and professional development. As a member of Xi Phi, you have the honor and distinction of supporting that mission. And to that end, I would like to take this opportunity to remind each of you that Xi Phi continues to serve our members and promote nursing by offering scholarships and research grant money to undergraduate and graduate nurses. If you are interested in applying for a scholarship or research grant, information can be found on our website at m. Along with supporting nursing scholarship, the Honor Society of

2 Nursing encourages the selfless virtue of service. Serving our fellow man is a founding principle of Sigma Theta Tau and is depicted in our insignia by the pillars surrounding the crest. Eleanor Roosevelt felt so strongly about service that she once said, When you cease to make a contribution, you begin to die." In his Baccalaureate Address, Richard Levin, the President of Yale, reminded the 2006 graduating class that it was their responsibility to contribute to the wider society and to take an active role in serving their communities. To make his point, Levin referred to the life of the great American Benjamin Franklin as an example. He noted that among Franklin s many personal qualities was his belief in service to his country. Franklin spent his entire adult life devoted to public service. As a member of Xi Phi, you can be proud that you are contributing to this great American tradition. In closing, I would like to thank all the selfless committee members for their commitment to Xi Phi. It is because of you that this noble organization continues to thrive. And for those members who would like to contribute, several positions will be available. In the near future, the Leadership Succession Committee will be seeking candidates for office for the following positions: Vice-President; Treasurer; Secretary; Nominating Committee one member; Faculty Advisor one member. I hope that you will consider serving and take an interest in a committee position. Finally, thanks to all of you for your support of Xi Phi. Please note the calendar of events following this article. Hope to see you at our next function! Thank you all for your support of Xi Phi Chapter and Sigma Theta Tau, Cherie Wilcher, RN, MSN, FNP Event Calendar Oct. 7, :00 6:00 PM Board Meeting 6:00 6:40 PM Membership Meeting 6:40 7:40 PM Program The Uncertain Future of Public Health in El Paso County University Hall 3955 Cragwood Dr. Colorado Springs Nov.10, :00 7:00 PM University Hall 3955 Cragwood Dr. Colorado Springs Dec. 7, :00 4:00 PM The UCCS 1420 Austin Bluffs Pkwy. Feb. 13, :00 5:00 PM The UCCS 1420 Austin Bluffs Pkwy. May 5, :00 8:00 PM Biaggis Shops at Briargate STT Board Members Light Dinner & Business Meeting Acting Public Health Administrator El Paso County Dept Health and Environment Speaker: Kandi Buckland, RN, MPA Information Meeting for Fall Inductees STT Fall Induction Keynote: Dr. Kikikipa Kretzer Inductees, family, STT member and friends STT Research Conference Keynote: Dr. Ju Young Shin UCCS Students and Faculty Annual Dinner Meeting Speaker: TBA Chapter members

3 Fall Program: Public Health in El Paso County By Jenenne P. Nelson Kandi Buckland, MPA, RN, Acting Public Health Administrator, from the El Paso County Department of Health and Environment, discussed the uncertain future of Public Health in El Paso County. The presentation highlighted the ongoing budget cuts in the El Paso County Department of Health and Environment at the meeting. The presentation provided information and a trend analysis of budgetary reductions over the past eight years and comparing it with an increasing population in El Paso County. According to Buckland, the Health Department s county funding (has been) cut $1.8 million since 2001 (and the) Health Department has reduced from 251 FTEs in 2000 to 209 in These reductions have left El Paso at risk for infectious diseases, with the Health Department taking a more reactive than proactive approach in disease prevention, identification, treatment, and mitigation of infectious disease. As compared to other counties in the state of Colorado, El Paso county citizens pay approximately $189 per capita/person annually, one of the lowest amounts as compared to other Colorado counties such as Mesa ($500 per capital/person), Pueblo ($379 per capital/person), Weld ($333 per capital/person), and Arapahoe ($279 per capital/person) (Ten County Budget Survey, 2008). In addition, the Sheriff s office is affected by the same fiscal constraints that circumscribe the Health Department. Calls for Sheriff Service have steadily increased since 2001 with over 22,000 calls for service in 2008 more than any other county in the state of Colorado. What does this all mean to the everyday citizen living in El Paso County? If there is no talk support to the Health Department, services will continue to be limited or may not exist in the future. What can citizens do? Amendment 1A, an amendment on the ballot in the November election, addresses the Public Health and Safety of the County in funding. Seek out information and become informed on how your vote on this Amendment will affect the public health of El Paso County. ~ ~ ~ The time has come again to think about who you would like to see as your officers for next year. Waanntteedd:: Nurses who are eager to learn, like to be involved, want to make new friends, and want to be in on the action and decision-making! The upcoming Board vacancies are: President-elect, Secretary, one Faculty Counselor, and one vacancy on the Leadership Succession Committee. For specific information regarding these offices, responsibilities and time required (minimal!), contact the members of the Leadership Succession Committee. ~ ~ ~

4 The Xi Phi Officers for are: Cherie Wilcher, President learning to improve the health of the world s people. STTI Mission: to support the learning, knowledge and professional development of nurses committed to making a difference in health worldwide. Vicki Brownrigg, President-elect vbrownri@uccs.edu Jenenne Nelson, Vice-President jnelson@uccs.edu Valerie Galloway, Secretary & Faculty Counselor valjim_gallo29@msn.com Sara Clutter Lee, Treasurer tlee2409@comcast.net Lori Peppard, Nominating Chairperson tompeppard@msn.com Sherry Lee, Nominating Committee Slee3@uccs.edu Sarah Garner, Nominating Committee Thegarners00@msn.com Trellis Moore, Faculty Counselor tgmoore@uccs.edu STTI Vision: To create a global community of nurses who lead in using knowledge, scholarship, service and

5 XI PHI CHAPTER SCHOLARSHIPS Application Deadline: April 15, 2009 [amount to be awarded $500] Purpose: The purpose of the scholarship award is to facilitate the student (undergraduate or graduate) to meet personal and professional goals in nursing. Criteria for Award 1. Student must be enrolled in an accredited baccalaureate or graduate nursing program 2. Validation of potential for success in academic program 3. Preference given to active Sigma Theta Tau members, other attributes being equal 4. Students meeting eligibility requirements prior to induction may apply Submit the following: Guidelines for Application: A one page statement which includes Personal and/or professional accomplishments 1. Official transcript of course work completed 2. Two letters of reference Submit Application to: Valerie Galloway, Faculty Counselor, Xi Phi Chapter Beth-El College of Nursing & Health Sciences #113 CU - The Springs 1420 Austin Bluffs Parkway P.O. Box 7150 Colorado Springs, CO