President's Message
Dear Nurse Leader
Colleagues:
IONL represents
the voice for nursing leadership in Illinois. As of October 2007
our membership totaled 360. IONL is organized into seven regional
chapters that allow for local networking and educational
opportunities on a monthly or quarterly basis.
In addition, top
ranked speakers are recruited to speak on “high interest topics” for
an organization-wide spring mid-year and fall annual meeting.
Members are further connected through the icohere
interactive website that draws together nurse leaders into
communities of practice. With our hectic schedules and dwindling
reimbursement for program attendance our ability to network with
peers around the state is a must.
In 2007 IONL’s
major accomplishment was to advocate for a nurse staffing by patient
acuity law and prevention of nurse patient ratios in Illinois. As
an organization we look to further our work this year to address
nurse work environment and quality, safe patient care. One current
initiative being developed is a model for collaboration between
hospitals and institutions of higher learning to use masters
prepared hospital nurses as clinical faculty to assist colleges with
their nursing faculty shortages.
2008 looks to be a
challenging year. The support you will find in membership in IONL
and the knowledge available to you is invaluable.
Come
join us!
Sincerely,
Connie Scott
Connie Scott
President
