GVNA News & Views - Spring 2024

In the newsletter:

• From the Editor
  
• Lobby Day
• Legislative Committee Update - GVNA's 40th Legislative Reception
• CORNO 2024

Message from Newsletter Editor Pamela White

Spring is a time when nurses both celebrate and advocate.

At GVNA, we a re holding our annual Spring banquet on Thursday, May 30. This is a wonderful opportunity  to connect with other members over dinner and drinks. In addition to GVNA's annual awards, you'll hear about what GVNA has been doing over the past year. Our featured speaker, Joy Hogan, PPCNP-BC, RN will present an update on the topic of palliative care. Please see the attached flyer for more information and to register, click on https://forms.gle/taG82ofjzFXrTtUz6.

Nurses are well-regarded as patient advocates, but advocacy has broader implications as well. Below is a report on the annual Lobby Day in Albany held on May 7 from ANA-NY President, and long-time GVNA member and former president, Marilyn Dollinger. 

If you are interested in getting more involved in your local nursing organization, there are several ways to do this:

• Network with colleagues at our annual banquet on May 30
• Join one of GVNA's committees
• Volunteer to serve on the Board of Directors. Information about open positions can be found at https://gvna.nursingnetwork.com/nursing-news/198665-call-for-gvna-board-position-nominations. Elections will be held after the annual banquet, so there is still time to place your name in nomination.
• Attend a GVNA meeting. Members are welcome to attend all board meetings, held on the third Wednesday of each month at St.John Fisher University. Meeting information will be posted as an announcement so check your email for the announcement and information about the location.

The theme of National Nurses Week this year was "Nurses Make the Difference" and on a daily basis, nurses do make an impact on the lives of their patients and families. But together, we can also make an impact on our profession. GVNA needs you -- and your ideas -- to make this a more vibrant organization. You can use the Contact Us link at the bottom of the page to find out where you might fit.

Wishing you all a belated Happy Nurses Week!

- Pam

Lobby Day

Each year, nurses from numerous organizations throughout New York head to Albany to meet with legislators in order to promote the nursing profession and share priorities for improving health care for all. ANA-NY President Marilyn Dollinger shared some of the legislative priorities for 2024:

1. Bill to expand ground transport (EMS) to be able to administer O neg blood in crucial situations
2. Bill to expand scope pf practice for CRNA
3. Bill NP Modernization act to remove unnecessary practice restrictions
4. Nurse Licensure Compact Act (still needs senate sponsor, has House sponsor
5. Bill to create income tax credit for preceptors who are doing 1-1 precepting (grad students)
6. Bill to restrict sale of flavored e-cigs
7. Bill for vaccine registry – changes from opt-in to opt-out for providers
8. Bill to include bullying in horizontal violence

For more information about ANA-NY's legislative activities, see: https://anany.org/policy-and-advocacy/legislative-priorities-and-positions

Legislative Committee Update - GVNA's 40th Legislative Reception

Genesee Valley Nurses Association’s 40th Legislative Reception was held on Thursday evening, February 22, 2024 at St. John Fisher University. 

Those in attendance were nurses, future nurses from SUNY Brockport and SJF Wegmans School of Nursing and 19 legislators and/or their representatives.  Our speakers included Marilyn Dollinger and Wade Norwood.  Dr. Dollinger, ANA-NY President and a Professor Emeritus at St. John Fisher Wegmans School of Nursing gave an overview about legislative issues affecting health care and the nursing profession.  Our featured speaker was Wade Norwood, CEO of Common Ground Health who spoke on the Medicaid 1115 waiver that was just approved for New York State by the Federal Government.

Following the presentations, there was a question-and-answer period with legislators and/or their representatives.  There is never any charge for this event because of our many sponsors.

For more information:

• Dr. Dollinger's complete report, including a list of participating legislators and representatives, and our sponsors is attached.
• Additional information about the Medicaid waiver can be found at https://www.health.ny.gov/health_care/medicaid/redesign/medicaid_waiver_1115.htm.

CORNO 2024 - Annual October Program

Save the Date for the Annual CORNO Educational Program - Wed. October 9, 2024 beginning at 6:30 p.m.

• The topic will be “Health Equity” presented by Dr. Kenya Beard
  

Dr. Beard served as an Advisory Board Member for the New York Academy of Medicine's Health Equity Scholars and co-authored the National Academy of Medicines' (NAM) Perspectives Dismantling Systemic Racism and Advancing Health Equity throughout Research. She co-authored the 2022 Racism in Nursing foundational report and continues to serve on the National Commission to Address Racism in Nursing.

In our next newsletter we'll report on the annual spring banquet and elections.
Hope to see many of you on May 30th!