The Canfield Fair has come and gone and gone with it, are the long hot days of summer. As Co Chair, along with Renee McManus, of the District Three, ONA Blood Pressure Screening Project held at the fair, I had ample opportunity to witness the effectiveness of our volunteer RNs. They were taking blood pressures, teaching, advising and referring thousands (almost seven thousand) of members of our community and the surrounding areas in an effort to maintain or improve their health. Side by side, I watched as RNs from a variety of health care settings and Nursing Students from three area Nursing schools work together "making a difference".
Besides noting the importance of the preventative screening, I was reminded of the necessity for mentoring newcomers to our profession. There is no better way of learning than to adapt the model from medicine, "see one, do one, and teach one". The only learning component missing from that model is the application of respect. I observed the value of this collaboration in action and the positive effect that it had on the booth visitors, the RNs and most definitely the students. The element that made it work was the mutual respect given between RN and patient, student and patient and a reciprocal esteem between RNs and the students.
Promoting the nursing profession is the responsibility of every registered nurse. There is no better way to accomplish that than to assist in the development of new nurses into fine professionals. The best way to do that is to mentor them in the fine art of nursing based on ethics, best practice and basic human respect. The end result will be that these new RNs will become effective practitioners, respected as professionals and they in turn will mentor those that come after them.
As members of District Three, ONA, opportunities exist for interaction with nursing students and new RNs frequently. On October 24, 2010, we will be administering Flu Vaccine at the UAW Hall. We have District continuing education events that students and new nurses attend. Please join us. Get involved. Make a difference. Imagine a world where there are enough nurses. Mentoring can make it so.
Board of Directors
(2010 - 2012)
President
Jeannie Mulichak
First Vice President
Louise Aurilio
Second Vice President
Gaylene Englert
Treasurer
Jennie Wood
Secretary
Lori Kemp-Campana
Directors
Gina Ianazone
Joanne Hedrick
Mary Ellen Seiter
Patricia Gayle Bonaquist
Colleen Wilson
Candace Root
Karen Himes
Janet Reeves
Executive Director
Linda Warino
Williamsburg West
5669 Mahoning Avenue, Suite C
Youngstown, Ohio 44515
(330)799-4199
Last updated September, 2010 • Created by Bethany Powell