CHAPTER OF THE YEAR
NGNA
Chapter Name: Florida Gerontological Nursing Association
FLGNA
Chapter President/Contact Person: Sandy Yochem, R.N., B.S.N.
Mailing Address: 3425 Heirloom Rose Pl., Oviedo, Fl. 32766
Work Phone: 321 352-1816, 813 625-8358 Home Phone: 321 352-1816
E-Mail Address: [email protected]
Meeting Chapter Documentation
Chapter Management
President Sandy Yochem’s expectations are communicated to
our membership by monthly notations and agenda items via
email. The collective decisions are made among the officer’s.
Our President, Sandy Yochem, makes the final decision. The
chapter officer positions are filled. We have each held our
office for more than 3 years. We feel continuity is imperative
for success of our chapter. The named officer positions are
currently on file and up-to-date at the National office.
President Sandy Yochem R.N., BC B.S.N.
3425 Heirloom Rose Pl.
Oviedo, FL. 32766 321 352-1816
[email protected], [email protected]
Vice President: Marcia D. Shad R.N. BC FNGNA
1816 Eagle Crest Dr.
Port Orange, FL 32128 386 679-1945
[email protected]
Treasurer: Judith Tivnan R.N. BC MSN
676 Glade View Dr.
Sanford, FL. 32771 407 760-2707
[email protected]
Secretary: Patricia Smith R.N. BC ICM B.S.N
Chronic Disease Specialist
811 Pine Shadow Dr.
Apopka, FL. 33712 407 455-3808
[email protected]
The treasurer’s records are audited annually by Rick Yochem,
C.P.A.; Oviedo, Fl. This is done on an informal basis.
Membership Development
The FLGNA membership is reminded via email for chapter
membership dues by our treasurer. Our new, prospective
members and guests of FLGNA, are given a pamphlet that
reveals our mission statement which includes our purpose, our
values and where we came from. We not only welcome nurses
to our organization, but diverse disciplines in the health care
field, with the one common interest in older adults. These can
include CNA’s, social workers, hospital administrative staff,
ARNP’s and supportive staffing personnel in the care of the
older adult.
FLGNA’s Welcome Program consists of a personal greeting by
an officer. They are introduced to the body in attendance and
given one of our chapter brochures. At each meeting, we selfintroduce.
ANCC Certification and recertification is strongly encouraged.
Marcia D. Shad R.N. BC FNGNA and FLGNA Vice President,
discusses this at each meeting. The process of starting the
program to become certified is available to our membership.
Recruitment is an important aspect of our growing chapter. In
attending many facets of networking opportunities in the area,
we make known our purpose and value of offering continued
education opportunities as well as the networking that evolves
among the older adult care facilities we are employed in.
Member Relations
FLGNA provides Florida Board of Nursing approved contact
hours for several disciplines as noted. One of our Specialized
Committees, Educational Opportunities, is coordinated by
PattiCantillo-Kodzis, MSN, ARNP, NP-C. Prior to our monthly
meetings, she applies for the CEU through the Florida Nurses
Association and the CE Broker as our communication center.
See attached listings of our CEU’s.
Our FLGNA updated news is communicated via email and at our
monthly meetings.
Through our fund raising efforts, educational opportunities are
premier. There have been several opportunities throughout the
year that we have offered tuition to our members. With the
grant from the Winter Park Health Foundation, we will award
our speakers travel costs and tuition to our 4-5 delegates to
enlighten the NGNA convention body about The Conversation
Project.
Our Vice President, Marcia D. Shad R.N. BC, FNGNA, has
presented a Consumer Session for several years on the national
level. She also sits on the Planning Committee for the last
several years with a Co-Chair position for 2 years and supports
the Fellows program through the national organization. She is
especially supportive of the attending nursing students to the
convention. Her present interest is to secure a token of
remembrance to celebrate NGNA’s 30 years of strong influence
on the older adult through education, research and aid.
Judy Tivnan, Treasurer of FLGNA also serves on the Planning
Committee of NGNA.
Patricia Smith, our Secretary, is on the Joint Commission
Resource Library Board as a consultant.
Community Health/Health Promotion
3 of us attended the kick-off event of The Conversation Project
(www.TheConversationProject.org) in Maitland, Florida on 27
February. Tuition was paid by FLGNA for participants. The day
was hosted by The Florida Gerontological Nursing Association
(http://flgeronurse.org). We received a grant of $85,000 that is
unsurpassed in any local NGNA chapter across the country. We
were recognized by the Winter Park Health Foundation because
of our community connection. Over 150 people in diverse areas
of healthcare and healthcare support attended. The
Conversation Project in Central Florida
([email protected]) is dedicated to helping people talk
about their wishes in end-of-life care. These tough decisions
can be made less stressful when the time arises if these types
of discussions take place beforehand. Donna Gray RN, BSN,
CHPN and FLGNA member is our Project Coordinator. The
Institute for Healthcare Improvement is the project
administrator. FLGNA has submitted an abstract in anticipation
of 4-5 of us presenting The Conversation Project at the National
convention in Indianapolis in October, 2015. A portion of the
monies raised for education, would assist the delegates to
attend. The learning experience, we feel, is pertinent to diverse
areas of healthcare.
One of our members and secretary of FLGNA, Patricia Smith
R.N., ICM, B.S.N. conducted Integrated Care Management
Course for Health Care Literacy held 21 June 2014 at Oakmont
Health Care Ctr., Maitland, FL. This course was designed to
prepare health care providers to assess and direct patients,
families and physicians in person centered evidence based,
coordinated care. There were 12 CEU’s offered for this
endeavor by CE Broker. There were 4 modules necessary to
complete the 8 hour course. A final exam on line was
conducted for completion.
In July, 2015, 2 of our FLGNA members will showcase The
Conversation Project to the Florida State Guardianship Assn. in
Orlando, Fl. Judy Tivnan and Sandy Yochem are excited to bring
awareness of end-of-life matters to enlighten and educate.
Sandy Yochem, Judy Tivnan, and Marcia Shad, along with
Donna Gray, Project Coordinator, will present The Conversation
Project to the State of Florida State Social Workers Assn.
Convention in August, 2015 in Daytona Beach, FL.
A presentation will also be made by FLGNA to the Florida
Assisted Living Assn. (FALA) at The Marriott in Orlando, FL. On 8
August 2015. Sandy Yochem is on the Board of Directors of
FALA.
Florida Gerontological Nursing Association supports FALA
(Florida Assisted Living Assn.). Sandy Yochum is an active
attending member. This is a senior community based
organization focused on legislative updates. With QUIN (Quality
Unity in Nursing) through the Florida Nurses Association (FNA),
we support the cause of improvement in healthcare of the
older adult in Tallahassee.
Special Committee Activities
Education Committee is chaired by Pat Smith, R.N. ICM, B.S.N.
She overseas and coordinates our educational opportunities
through our organization and in collaboration with local
opportunities (Alzheimer’s Association, FALA, FNA, QUIN,
Winter Park Health Foundation, Fl. Healthcare Assn.).
CEU Coordinator, Patti Cantillo-Kodzis, ARNP, NP-C, is our
communication between CE Broker and FLGNA. See attached
listing of the continuing education credits offered to our
membership.
FLGNA Speaker’s Bureau is jointly coordinated by the officers of
FLGNA. By working together as a professional collaborative
team, it allows each member to contribute to a collective
knowledge that promotes interesting speakers within the scope
of diverse learning.
One of our year’s highlights was the submission of an abstract
in anticipation of presenting at our national conference in
Indianapolis entitled The Conversation Project of Central
Florida.
An article appeared in the GN Magazine to address the 2014
convention in San Antonio. It was submitted by Marcia D. Shad
R.N.
Marcia D. Shad R.N. BC FNGNA
Completion of submission 5 May 2015
Marcia D. Shad R.N. BC FNGNA
ChpYearFLGNA2015Final