Illinois Organization of Nurse Leaders

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Congratulations to IONL Member, Susana Gonzalez- 2012 Regional Nursing Excellence Winner for Greater Chicago for Volunteerism & Service

Throughout 2012 nurses are honored at Nurse.com’s regional Nursing Excellence Awards. These prestigious events honor superior nurses from across the nation. Nurses are nominated by their peers and colleagues. The Volunteerism and ServiceAward is given to an RN who has given of self in outstanding humanitarian or heroic ways by providing nursing care, skills and expertise in outreach to the community, either at home or abroad, to improve the lives, well-being, and health care of others.

Susana Gonzalez, MSN, MHA, RN, CNML

Vice-Chair of IONL’s Policy & Advocacy Committee

Director of Perinatal Services at MacNeal Hospital

In her second six-year term, Gonzalez volunteers on the executive committee for the board of directors of Mujeres Latinas en Accion, a social service and advocacy organization. In 2007, the agency recognized her as a community leader, honoring her with the Maria Maruca Martinez Community Service Award. For more than 10 years, Gonzalez has volunteered to serve on the board of directors for the Chicago chapter of the March of Dimes. She serves on the board of directors for the Chicago Bilingual Nurse Consortium, dedicated to guiding and educating women on becoming RNs in the United States. She is an active member of the National Association of Hispanic Nurses, in which she volunteers on the awards and scholarships committee. Again, Susana is the Vice Chair of IONL’s Policy & Advocacy and is an active participant on IONL’s Education & Practice Collaboration Committee. She spends the holiday week each November giving free flu shots for the homeless and serving them dinner at a local church.

A Letter from IONL President, Cathy Smithson

I am a SCUBA diver as travel time and weather permits. I have questioned my own intelligence when I think about getting in a small boat on such a vast sea with a group of strangers but this is the process required for the adventure. When on a "dive trip” you quickly develop camaraderie with the individuals assigned to your boat. You may or may not know the other divers when you start the trip, however some universal practices occur: divers assist each other; divers look out for each other; and divers share experiences. If there is an equipment issue, boat engine failure, sudden storm, or diver emergency, the other divers immediately respond and develop the team to assist whatever the issue may be. This is the same for nurses who achieve licensure and choose a career in nursing. Getting on the boat offers experiences and opportunities worth the risks.

I have just finished the first day of orientation for AONE Chapters Leaders and Affiliates.It has been a day of discussing the work and direction of nursing across the nation.We spent the day reviewing legislative activities, the AONE strategic plan, issues pertinent to nurses and current hot topics for healthcare.As I talked with nurse leaders from Maine to California we focused on the practice of nurses, strategized how to improve the delivery of healthcare, reviewed tactics to achieve the Future of Nursing recommendations and provided encouragement to each other to persevere in the day to day struggles and successes of our careers.Many of us started the day knowing few of the attendees but our commitment and passion for nursing created the synergy to accomplish the work.We all climbed in the boat of nursing and became a unified group, enthusiastically supporting professional nursing practice.

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The same situation exists in Illinois with the Illinois Organization of Nurse Leaders. You may attend a meeting as a single member, but you will become part of a unified group for nursing leadership AND there is plenty of room on the boat for novices and experts! The coming year will offer educational meetings with nationally recognized nursing experts, networking to our members, monthly continuing education programs, regional meetings, and resources to new nurse managers. Our Illinois boat will navigate healthcare reform, nursing practice, staffing, education issues, and carry the most valued member for patient care, NURSES.

Please join me and the entire IONL Board for an exciting year.Let IONL assist and support you in your nursing career.The adventures await and the experiences are only available by signing up and climbing on the boat.

Cathy A. Smithson MS, RN

President

Illinois Organization of Nurse Leaders