Running head: PROFESSIONAL MEETING PAPER 1

Professional Meeting Paper

Siarra C. Stith

Bon Secours Memorial College of Nursing

Dr. Catherine Mikelaites, DNP, RN-BC, CMSRN

NUR 3142

April 16, 2019

“I pledge”
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Professional Meeting Paper

The Central Virginia Emergency Nurses Association held a professional meeting on

April 16, 2019, located at Johnston Willis Hospital. This is a local chapter of the large

nationwide organization, the Emergency Nurses Association, also abbreviated the ENA. The

overall purpose of this organization is to promote optimal safe and quality nursing care in the

emergency setting (Emergency Nurses Association, About ENA Section, n.d.). The meeting

topics varied on a well-organized agenda. Meeting discussion included upcoming events,

fundraising, new ways to have increased meeting attendance, and an education presentation on

the dangers of vaping. The purpose of this paper is to utilize what has been learned in the course,

including business in healthcare, leadership, advocacy, and quality and safety and apply it to the

components discussed in the professional business meeting.

Application of Course Material

Leadership is an essential part of nursing. Leadership in nursing is everywhere. It is

usually associated with a nurse in a managerial position, but it can also be observed in an

informal setting like for example, floor nursing. Leadership was very evident at this meeting.

The meeting was called to order by the president, Jane Pugh, and she did an excellent job with

keeping everyone on task and ensured the meeting went smoothly. In class discussion, the theory

of quantum leadership was presented. The president exhibited many traits of a quantum leader.

The president acknowledged that the current meeting time could be an inconvenience for the

members that wanted to attend. The president proposed to change the meeting time to a time that

best for everyone. There was also a discussion led by the president to increase attendance at the

meetings. She took many suggestions and listened to many concerns and ideas. Virtual meetings

was an innovative idea that the group seemed to favor the most. Collaborating with the members
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to ensure the organization is productive and performing at their best makes her a quantum leader

(Huston & Marquis, 2017).

Moreover, healthcare is essentially a business. It is also important to recognize that with

every organization, the business portion is what keeps the organization operating and functional.

The ENA is a healthcare related organization designed to make health care better, but without

funding, it is impossible to do that. The treasurer was not present, so the president read the

treasurer’s report for the group. They discussed the amount of money in their account and

opened the floor to the members to discuss new ways to fundraise. The issue of the organization

being non-profit means they will always have to find ways to create income. It was mentioned

that they cannot use the money they make off the products they sell with their logos on it.

Therefore, there will be more strict stipulations on how they generate income and will only be

allowed three free events per year to fundraise. A large portion of the meeting was consumed by

the discussion on alternative ways to raise money. Most ideas presented had a downside or an

obstacle; therefore, the President made the decision to push the discussion into the next meeting

in hopes that some other members who weren’t present could provide input.

Furthermore, the president moved the meeting along to discuss new business. There is an

upcoming annual event called “Day on the Hill” scheduled for May 21st through the 22nd of this

year. This is a day where the members of ENA and other organizations travel to Capitol Hill to

advocate for different nursing issues to members of Congress. Next, the president had a member

who had gone to “Day on the Hill” elaborate more on what ENA does at the event. She began to

explain that they have an appointed member advocating for healthcare reform of certain

emergency nursing issues to congress and specific members representing their area. The goal is

to convince the member of congress to support or not support a certain bill. One example was
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when the Drug Enforcement Administration or DEA, wanted to limit the medications the EMT

administers in the field, specifically narcotics. She explained that it was a poor bill because for

instance, if a patient was experiencing a seizure, the EMT’s would not be able to treat them

before serious neurological deficits. Moreover, if a patient needed to be intubated in the field,

they would not be able to give them proper sedation so the patient was not made aware of what

was happening. The nurses who advocated that day were able to get the bill turned over.

Advocacy is a crucial and necessary part of nursing. Patients have better outcomes when they

have someone always ensuring they go through a successful healing process. The actions those

nurses took at the “Day on the Hill” was empowering to the patients and in their best interest.

Lastly, the meeting concluded with an education piece on vaping. The nurse elaborated

on what vaping was, the statistics that support the dangers of vaping, and the consequences that

led patients to the emergency department for vaping. She explained there were events where the

vape exploded causing patients to be rushed to seek treatment. Vaping is becoming more and

more prevalent in our society. Unfortunately, it is being normalized in our culture. This was an

important topic for an education piece since this an organization that revolves around emergency

nursing. Education on quality and safety is imperative in nursing. It allows nurses to continue to

educate themselves and possible peers on what is occurring in the world to improve the health

care system. Staying up to date on what is new and safe in nursing practice not only creates

good, quality patient outcomes, but also more knowledgeable and competent nurses (Windle,

2015).
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Reflection

Nurses involvement within their workplace is where real change can happen. There is

more to nursing than just being in a clinical setting. We have real opportunities where we can

collaborate with administration if there are situations that need a change. Involvement promotes

advocacy not only for us but for the patients we are trying to do right by. Our influence is

typically respected and unique in the health care field, which is why leadership is such an

important component of nursing.

I learned more than I thought I would attending the Central Virginia ENA meeting. I truly

believe it will shape my future as I develop into a registered nurse. I learned the importance of

being a part of an organization. I would have a well-known affiliation, an everlasting opportunity

to network, a forum where I am able to share my concerns and receive constructive feedback,

and most importantly, the opportunity to learn what is currently going on in the healthcare

industry. I think that is the most important takeaway because when I learn more, my future

patients will benefit the absolute most.

Conclusion

Overall, I appreciated the experience of attending the ENA meeting. It broadened my

horizons, as I may join this organization in the near future. In addition to the topics discussed in

the meeting, I was able to apply theory learned in class in a setting other than clinical rotations.

Leadership, advocacy, business, and safety and quality were all reflected in the professional

meeting. The nursing profession has many facets and opportunities for growth, innovation, and

application that do not always involve direct care. Nurses are fundamental to the larger scope of

the health profession; therefore, the journey ahead of me has boundless potential for making an

impact in my community.
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References

About Emergency Nurses Association. (n.d.). Retrieved April 17, 2019, from
https://www.ena.org/about#mission

Marquis, B. L., & Huston, C. J. (2017). Leadership roles and management functions in nursing
theory and application. Philadelphia: Wolters Kluwer.

Windle, M. (2015). QSEN: Quality and Safety Education for Nurses. MEDSURG Nursing, 9.
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