Introduction:
The Georgia ENA has not had an active nurse practice committee for over a decade. This year we are trying to revitalize this committee. I am new to this committee as will all of the committee members be. What I am including in this writing is not the official definitions, vision or plan of the committee but my vision for wanting to revitalize the committee.
Definition:
What does a nurse practice committee do? It is to promote excellence in Emergency Nursing practice. I envision this to include identifying areas of Emergency Nursing practice that Emergency Nurses across the state of Georgia are concerned about and providing resources for our members.
Vision:
To examine practice issues in Emergency Nursing of concern to our members in Georgia. These practice issues will be researched using literature and regulatory searches and research projects to develop and recommend evidence based best practice guidelines for consideration for use by Emergency Nurses across Georgia.
A long term vision is for this committee to provide mentorship. The committee would be available to mentor our members to do research, to educate their co-workers, to present at conferences, to publish and to provide assistance on questions related to nursing practice.
Action Plan:
1. Develop an active committee, ideally with at least one representative from each chapter. Meeting one hour before the 3 state meetings held in person and by conference call as needed. Members will agree to have assignments completed on time to keep the progress of this committee moving forward.
2. Complete a membership survey in conjunction with the membership committee to identify practice issues our members are facing and a research project they would be interested in participating in.
3. Present information about a nursing practice issue at each Georgia ENA meeting if approved by the board to be added to the agenda during the committee reports. As a member of the committee you will be asked to present or assist in a presentation.
4. Develop a state wide research project.
5. Develop evidence-based Emergency Nursing Resources for our members to use. This would be developed using the 6 step approach used by the National ENA to develop Emergency Nursing Resources (ENRs).
6. Present a state poster presentation after the research is complete.
These are some high goals but I believe this will help our members grow professionally and help with practice issues we face every day.
