Congratulations to Lindsey Harris, RN, BSN, MSN. Lindsey was awarded a Master's of Science in Nursing degree from UAB Graduate School of Nursing with a concentration in Family Nurse Practitioner on December 17, 2011. Lindsey is the Nursing Practice Congress Chairman.

Congratulations to Kim Rutley-Campbell, RN, BSN, CRRN, CHPN, BA, MAE, CHES. Kim was awarded a Bachelor's in Nursing, Magna Cum Laude, from the University of Alabama at Birmingham on December 17, 2011.

Marcia Lowe, MSN, RN-BC, NBNA Board member, and BBNA member passed the Gerontological Nurse Certification Examination. The certification is given by the ANCC (American Nurses Credentialing Center). This achievement signifies her commitment to patient care and professional development. Congratulations Marcia!

Marcia attended the Montgomery Black Nurses Association's Open House on September 8, 2011. Ms. Lowe presented the history of NBNA and highlights from the NBNA conference 2011.

Martha A. Dawson, DNP, FACHE, NBNA Board Member, and BBNA member was appointed as the Director of the System Division at the University of Alabama at Birmingham School of Nursing (UABSON). As the division director, she will provide oversight to five master's tracks: Nursing and Health Services Administration, Clinical Nurse Leaders, Nursing Informatics, Nurse Educators, Individualized Studies, and the Clinical Research Management certificate program. Dr. Dawson was one of 30 international leaders to contribute an essay to Sigma Theta Tau International's (STTI) recently released book the 2011-2013 Power of Ten (2011). These leaders were asked to identify and discuss the 10 most critical issues in the profession. Dr. Dawson's essay discusses the BSN degree as a requirement for entry into nursing practice. You can purchase the book online from STTI.

Dr. Dawson was appointed to the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO)/World Health Organization (WHO) Collaborating Center on International Nursing as an Associate Scholar. She is serving as a mentor to three nurses from Zambia and will visit the country in August 2012. Dr. Dawson presented "The Future of Nursing: Sustaining the Next Generation of Nurses" at the Cleveland Council of Black Nurses on October 14, 2011. This open forum presentation highlighted findings from the Institute of Medicine and Robert Wood Johnson Foundation report on The Future of Nursing and the role of professional organizations in building nursing capacity and developing future nurse leaders. The chapter highlighted many of its programmatic focuses including a partnership with schools of nursing to establish student nurses associations on college campuses.

Dr. Dawson was the guest speaker at the New Orleans Black Nurses Association Annual Social and Membership drive held on October 16, 2011. Her topic was "The Future of Nursing: The Role and Value of Professional Organization in Helping Nurses to Design Their Career Pathway." She also visited a local hospital to discuss the NOBNA and the NBNA. This event was highly successful. Twenty new members were recruited: 15 nurses (one male RN) and 5 students (one male). The chapter has challenged itself to recruit 75-100 new members prior to the July conference.

Dr. Dawson was recognized, a 2nd year, by the University of Alabama Birmingham (UAB), School of Nursing, for her excellence in service scholarship.

Candace Starks, SN, a member of the Birmingham Black Nurses Association, Inc. and a participant in the Mentorship Program wrote an article that appeared in the NBNA Fall Newsletter. Candace is a student nurse at Lawson State Community College in Birmingham, AL.

Read the article below:

The Thoughts About the 2011 NBNA Conference
Candace Starks, SN

Upon arriving at the conference, I immediately realized that I was part of something bigger than I could imagine. The first day I attended the Opening Ceremony and had the opportunity to walk in with my chapter. People were cheering and smiling at me as if I had won something more valuable than any amount of money. I watched the other chapters walk in the auditorium with such pride that anyone that wasn't a nurse watching would instantly want to become one.
After the chapters walked in, the officers and past presidents of NBNA walked in as the moderator read off their accomplishments and credentials. It was inspiring to know that they have such an impact on the individual communities and the world collectively. I knew that if they could do it, so could I. After the opening ceremony, I attended the Fierce and Under 40 session. This session allowed me to personally see individuals that were in the profession that I wanted to be a part of in the future. I talked with them, asked their advice, and obtained contact information. I learned a great deal about other programs in this country and received some insight on how to objectively accomplish my goals. This session also enlightened me to what other students or professionals were doing to try to accomplish their goals and learned from their accomplishments or failures.
I attended the Student Forum hosted by Marcia Lowe. The forum had three speakers—Dr. Howard Adams, Dr. Jennifer Coleman, and Jabar Akbar. Dr. Adams told us how to go from being a student to being a success at whatever we decide to become in our lives. Dr. Coleman provided information on how to approach the world after graduation which included interview tips. Mr. Akbar discussed one of the projects he completed from Duke University on diabetes management titled, "Endocrine Zone."
As a student, I feel empowered after attending the conference because I got the opportunity to see the nursing profession and its many other possibilities that I may not have otherwise known existed. I also had a chance to feel the support of the Black Nurses Association which is needed for all students.