The UVAHS Professional Nursing Staff Organization

Nursing Professional Organizations

The PNSO encourages UVA nurses to become involved in local and national professional organizations. UVA nurses value professional organization membership as a means of networking with peers, reinvigorating professional energy, promoting clinical and professional expertise, and addressing practice and political issues that affect nurses, nursing and health care.

See below for local chapters and opportunities, or click here for a list of national professional organizations.

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Virginia Opportunities

  • Virginia Board of Nursing
  • Virginia Nurses Association
  • Virginia Partnership for Nursing
  • Virginia Association of Community Psychiatric Nurses

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    Local Chapters and Opportunities

    The PNSO is extremely proud of the UVA nurses participating in these local and state professional organizations -- in many cases, UVA nurses hold elected leadership roles, and in some cases are responsible for founding local chapters of the national organization. Thank you for your commitment on behalf of the nursing profession!

    Local Chapter: Purpose: 2006 UVA Contacts:
    Virginia Nursing Association (VNA)  The Virginia Nurses Association is the professional organization representing all nurses in the Commonwealth of Virginia.  It promulgates standards of nursing practice, provides continuing education for nurses and influences public policy related to nursing practice and the consumer's health.
    • Terri Haller, Director of Clinical Resources - President;
    • Pam DeGuzman, Director, Ambulatory Care Services - Treasurer;
    • Janet Garnett, Clinician IV, 6 West Neurosciences - Director At Large;  
    • Jackie Loach, HR Center for Organizational Development - Commissioner on Nursing Education
    • Catherine Kane, Faculty, UVA School of Nursing - Chair, Council of Psychiatric Mental Health Nursing;
    • Kathleen Fletcher, Director, Senior Services - Chair, Council of Gerontological Nursing.

    Sigma Theta Tau International - Beta Kappa Chapter

    (also see the Region 13 website)

    Beta Kappa Chapter is a chapter of Sigma Theta Tau International, the only International Honor Society of Nursing.  Our mission is to foster excellence, scholarship and leadership in nursing to improve health care worldwide. Purpose: recognize superior nursing achievements; promote the development of leadership qualities; foster the ideals and standards of the profession; encourage creative activity and scholarship; mentor students to professional excellence.
    American Association of Critical Care Nurses (AACN) - Monticello Chapter  The AACN Monticello Chapter mission is to promote a Healthy Work Environment for critical care nurses to make optimal contributions to patients and families. We will accomplish this through education, networking, and community service. We promote evidence-based practice as the foundation of critical care nursing.
    • Leah Wacksman, Director, Office of Nursing Governance Programs - President
    • Kim Clark, Nurse Manager, Surgical Trauma Burn ICU - President-Elect
    • Sharon Bragg, Clinician IV, Medical ICU - Treasurer
    • Rick Carpenter, Nurse Manager, Medical ICU - Treasurer-elect
    • Cheri Blevins, Clinician IV, Medical ICU - Secretary
    Academy of Medical Surgical Nursing (AMSN) - Central Virginia Chapter #220

    The Academy of Medical-Surgical Nurses (AMSN) is the only national professional nursing specialty organization dedicated to adult health/medical-surgical nurses. Its mission is to enhance the knowledge, skills, and professionalism of medical-surgical nurses in all practice settings through certification, education, nurturing relationships, and the promotion of quality nursing care and wellness.

    The Central Virginia chapter won the national AMSN 2004 Chapter Achievement Award for Political/Legislative activities!

    • Kristen Titus, Clinician II, 5 Central Digestive Health - President
    American Nephrology Nurses Association (ANNA) - Central Virginia 

    ANNA will advance nephrology nursing practice and positively influence outcomes for patients with kidney or other disease processes requiring replacement therapies through advocacy, scholarship, and excellence.

    • Cathy Husser, Clinician III, UVA Lynchburg Dialysis - Vice President
    • Judy Kauffman, Clinician IV, Renal Unit - Leader, National ANNA Hemodialysis Special Interest Group

    Association of periOperative Registered Nurses (AORN) 

    -AORN Richmond 

    -AORN Shenandoah Valley

    AORN is the professional organization of perioperative registered nurses whose mission is to support registered nurses in achieving optimal outcomes for patients undergoing operative and other invasive procedures.
     

    American Radiological Nurses Association (ARNA) - Colonial Chapter

    ARNA Core Purpose: To foster the growth of radiology nurses who advance the standard of care. ARNA Core Values: Commitment to professionalism; Responsive to technological Advances; Being leaders in a constantly evolving environment.  

    Association of Women's Health, Obstetric & Neonatal Nurses (AWHONN) 
    (regional chapter)

    AWHONN advances the nursing profession by providing nurses with critical information and support to help them deliver the highest quality care for women and newborns.  
    National Black Nurses Association - BNA of Charlottesville

    The National Black Nurses Association's mission is to provide a forum for collective action by black nurses to investigate, define and advocate for the health care needs of African Americans and to implement strategies that ensure access to health care, equal to, or above health care standards of the larger society. NBNA is committed to improving the quality of life of persons who share the African American heritage and other ethnic groups by: building consumer knowledge and understanding of health care issues; educating and mentoring registered nurses, licensed vocational/practical nurses, nursing students and retired nurses; facilitating the professional development and career advancement of nurses in emerging healthcare systems; and, promoting economic development of nurses through entrepreneurial and other business initiatives.

    Emergency Nurses Association (ENA) - Mr. Jefferson's ENA ENA leads the way in knowledge, resources, and responsiveness for emergency nurses, their patients and families. ENA is a professional member organization recognized internationally for promoting excellence in emergency nursing through leadership, research, education, and advocacy.
    Preventive Cardiovascular Nurses Association (PCNA) - Central Virginia Chapter  Cardiovascular nurses and allied health professionals seeking options for: networking; staying current in cardiovascular patient care; updating skills and receiving valuable cardiac nursing continuing education; pursuing cardiovascular nurse certification and recognition; community outreach.
    Society of Gastroenterology Nurses and Associates (SGNA) - Old Dominion chapter  In recognition of SGNA's purposes, the purposes for which the Regional Society has been formed and will be operated are:  to unite Regional Society persons engaged in any capacity in the fields of gastroenterology and/or endoscopy nursing; to encourage and develop educational programs for persons in such fields; to advance the technology, science and arts of practioners in such fields; to advocate optimal care for patients with digestive disease and those undergoing diagnostic and therapeutic procedures; and to cooperate with other professional societies, corporations and governmental bodies involved in such fields.

    Virginia Council of Nurse Practitioners 

    (Piedmont region website)

    The Virginia Council of Nurse Practitioners (VCNP), the statewide professional organization for all nurse practitioners (NPs) licensed in Virginia, is a council of the Virginia Nurses Association (VNA) Commission on Professional Practice.  The goals and purpose of the VCNP include: to increase the awareness of and the impact of the role of nurse practitioners on health care and on the professional, educational, and political systems; to facilitate the advancement of the nurse practitioner role as an integral component of quality health care delivery through public relations, political activism and consultation; to foster professional and collegial growth through continuing education; to provide for a communication system for nurse practitioners throughout the state of Virginia.