Greetings, Richmond Region!
I am Kristen Johnson, the President for the Richmond Region. I noticed that our page was a little outdated, so I wanted to update the Richmond Region about the 2019 year and what is to come for 2020!
The Richmond Region started out the year with a complimentary continuing education event on January 10, 2019. It was presented by Christina Wilson, MS, RN, WHNP-BC, PhD candidate and Rachel Cloutier, MS, RN, ACNP-BC. The topic that was covered was Genetic Screening in Hereditary Cancers for the Primary Care Provider. Rachel has severed in various positions on the Richmond Region board and continues to serve. She works at the VCU school of nursing and in oncology at VCU Massey Cancer Center. She is in school for her DNP. Christina also works in oncology and volunteers at the fan free clinic. She is a PhD candidate and has served as the Public Relations chair on the Richmond Region Board. Our next dinner meeting was sponsored by Abbvie and was held on February 25, 2019. On March 20th, 2019 another continuing education event was held for its region’s members. This counted towards one continuing education credit. The topic was the opioid epidemic and alleviating pain presented by Cathy A. Harrison DNAP, MSN, CRNA. She currently practices in a dental office in Midlothian and previously served in the Navy. In order to provide events like theses to our members, we rely on our nurse planners. Debbie Dellinger graciously volunteered as the nurse planner for both continuing education events. Debbie has served on the Richmond Region board in the past and continues to volunteer her time for VCNP. Our next meeting will be held on April 23, 2019 and will be sponsored by Amgen. For the first time, we will be offering a suturing work-shop. This will be held on May 4, 2019 at the VCU School of Nursing. There will be a fee. More information to come! Please save the date for our annual Pharmacology Symposium on October 19, 2019! Please see below up updates to our new board members.
On May 4, 2019 the Richmond Region VCNP partnered with VCU School Nursing to hold a suturing work-shop. It provided participants with 4 continuing education hours. Since we received positive feedback from this event, we are considering holding another work-shop in the future.
We would like to congratulate one of our newest members on obtaining Autonomous practice!
Here is his story!
Life experiences frequently guide our path unwittingly. My grandmother who I thought the world of had Alzheimer’s many years ago during my RN program. Advocacy for the underserved, voiceless and sometimes forgotten has been my career path. After working in family practice as a NP I started in long-term care, post-acute and assisted living settings and they became my passion. When Virginia passed the autonomous practice licensure for nurse practitioners, it was an obvious direction for me, allowing the continuation of the path I’d started a long time ago. For me, practicing as an autonomous NP ensures the geriatric population, unable to care for themselves, has consistent and reliable care.
-Jeremy G. Kellems, MSN, NP-C
The Richmond Region partnered with the Alzheimer’s Association of Richmond to provide continuing education to its members on June 19, 2019. The topic of dementia was covered including 10 things that providers need to know about dementia.
UBS financial services sponsored a dinner meeting on June 26, 2019.
We would like to highlight the following members’ accomplishments!
Debbie Dellinger has been a member of VCNP since 2009. She graduated with her Masters in 2012 and served as President elect on the VCNP board, Richmond region through past president from 2015-2017. She has done an excellent job as chairperson of the Richmond region VCNP Pharmacology symposium in 2016. She is currently serving as co-chair of the state VCNP Education Committee. She has been a staunch supporter of the full practice policy being launched in Virginia. She has mentored many new NPs, helping them to grow in their careers and been a role model to many. She presents classes nationally on web sites through the VA and in the Richmond region for continuing education credit for members of VCNP. Debbie obtained her Autonomous Practice licensure!
Christina Marie Wilson, WHNP from the Richmond region who recently graduated from Virginia Commonwealth University with her PhD in Nursing. Her research focuses on the clinical issues of body image, sexuality, and sexual functioning in women with gynecologic cancer.
The Richmond Region held a dinner meeting on August 13, 2019 at Tarrant’s West. The sponsor was Virginia Interventional & Vascular Associates. Dr. Doherty spoke on Uterine Fibroid embolization, varicose veins and pelvic congestion.
The Richmond Region held
a dinner meeting on September 5, 2019. It
was sponsored by Amgen. Michael
Bolognese, MD reviewed how to build bone and reduce fracture risk in high risk
PMO patient’s with EVENITY.
We will hold a continuing education event on September 26, 2019. The topic was pulmonary arterial hypertension, presented by Omar Minai, MD.
Our annual legislative reception will be held on October 3, 2019 at Bistro 27.
Please
consider nominating a fellow VCNP member for one of the following awards:
The Donna Campanella Distinguished Nurse Practitioner Award will go to a member who has demonstrated excellence and initiative in one or more of the following categories: Clinical Practice, Leadership, Research and/or contributions to VCNP at the local or state levels.
and/or
The APRN NP student
award for an Outstanding Nurse Practitioner Student will go to a student member who shows a significant potential to be able to make a
contribution to the role of nurse practitioners. Nominees should
demonstrate excellence and initiative in one or more of the following
categories: clinical practice, leadership, research and/or contributions
to VCNP at the local or state levels
Eligibility: All nominees must be a VCNP member and nominated by a
VCNP member.
Please send the nominees
resume and letter of support to Samantha Taylor at schwebsn@gmail.com by September 20, 2019.
Winners will be
announced at the Richmond Region’s Annual Pharmacology Symposium on October 19,
2019.
Our
annual pharmacology symposium will be held on October 19, 2019 at Lewis Ginter
Botanical Gardens. Registration is open. Cost will be $85 for members and $135 for
non-members.
We would like to recognize a Richmond Region Member
for obtaining her autonomous practice licensure!
“Autonomous practice
opens the door for true patient centered care. I believe nurse practitioners
are healthcare changemakers. Our unique approach to healing invites the
community to be fully engaged in their health. Autonomy, strength and
resilience are the keys that unlock our limitless potential.”- Dana Burns
DNP, FNP-BC
The Richmond Region held It legislative event
on October 3, 2019. Approximately 70
nurses attended this event. Senators
attending this event, Senator Siobhan Dunnavant representing district 12 and
Senator Ryan McDougle representing district 4.
Delegates attended, Delegate Hyland (Buddy) Fowler representing house
district 55 and delegate Dawn Adams representing house district 68. Senate candidates Stan Scott for district 4
and Joe Morrissey for district 16.
Delegate candidates included Amanda Pohl for district 11, Larry Barnett
for district 27, Carrie Coyner for district 62, Morgan Goodman for district 55,
Juanita Jo Matkins for district 56,
Sheila Bynum-Coleman for district 66, Kevin Washington for district 97
and Scott Wyatt for district 97.
The Richmond Region held its annual pharmacology symposium on
October 19, 2019, it was held at Lewis Ginter Botanical Gardens.
Topics included antibiotics presented by Dr. Markley, heart failure
presented by Dr. Dube, Ketamine for the treatment of refractory depression,
presented by Dr. Oliver, polypharmacy in the elderly, presented by Dr.
Turbedies, biologics presented by Mandy Gatesman, Pharm D and gastrointestinal
disorders presented by Mary Kathleen Engelken NP. We had a guest speaker,
Delegate Dr. Dawn Adams. She reinforced the importance of eligible nurse
practitioners obtaining autonomous practice licensure. Shelly Smith and
Cindy Fagan were available and answered numerous questions that arose
throughout the day. We had 125 nurse practitioners attend this year. We
presented Rachel Cloutier with the Donna Campanella distinguished NP
award. We thank this year’s sponsors were Coram, Summit medical
billing solutions, Otsuka, VCU School of Nursing, Salix pharmaceuticals and Novartis. I
would like to send a special thanks to the pharmacology planning committee that
helped me plan this year’s Symposium.
Leah Loomis, Rachel Cloutier, Helen Willis, Debbie Dellinger, Samantha
Taylor, Brittney Toms, Christina Wilson, Jack Weisskohl and Molly Sandel.
The Richmond Region partnered with local merchants to offer
nurse practitioners discounts and specials during Nurse Practitioner Week at
local restaurants (Bistro 27 & Tarrant’s West)), breweries (Fine Creek),
Spas (Luminous Skin Care and Wellness) and South River Compounding
Pharmacy.