Message from Madelyn D. Yu, RN,MSN - PNANJ President 2008-2010 PNANJ Annual Spring Convention April 19, 2008
As we all gather today in celebration of the nursing profession in general, and looking at specific issues that affect nursing at present, we look back with grateful appreciation to our founders and leaders who have paved the way for us to be in the position right now to have a voice in charting our future. The theme of our annual spring convention is as timely and as relevant as can be, given the state of healthcare today, and the plight of some of our Filipino colleagues. “Advocacy for Nursing, The Heart of our Profession” is very meaningful and needed today as we look at every aspect of the nursing profession. The challenge of nursing shortage is still experienced by most of us in a daily basis. The cry for equal and fair treatment from recruiters and employers, local and foreign, calls for our attention and assistance as we read the headlines and stories of some of the unfortunate nurses who are in the U.S. recently, and some who have been practicing their profession here for some time. Some of our colleagues suffer in silence, some have found their voices, and some of them have found comfort and assistance from organizations like the PNANJ, PNAA, ANA, NJSNA, the legal advisers, and the community of nursing in general. There are tremendous challenges for all of us. The Filipino spirit is strong and pliant like our native bamboo tree, that sways with the wind and arches its proud branches to the heavens. The Filipino nurse comes to our adopted home, the USA, armed with knowledge, skills, perseverance, diligence to overcome any roadblock she or he may have while practicing the nursing profession. The Filipino spirit is indomitable. In a survey of the most happy people in the world, the Filipinos ranked high in spite of the economic challenges that beset our motherland. As a profession, the nurse enjoys the confidence of the community she works in, as survey shows year after year that nurses are the most trusted professionals in the U.S. The Filipino nurse has all the ingredients needed to succeed in the exciting, albeit, challenging arena of nursing, whether it is in the boardroom, the nursing administration, the halls of academia, the education and research field in hospital settings, the specialty areas as advance practice nurses, or the regulatory Board of Nursing, or liaisons in the community. Today we thank our partners in the nursing profession who have extended their hands in collegial support to the efforts that PNANJ continue to do. We will continue the mission of the PNANJ “for which the organization was formed to uphold the image and foster the welfare of Filipino-American nurses in the State of New Jersey as a professional group”. The Executive Board, officers and members of the 2008-2010 have the goals of promoting the strategic imperatives of the Philippine Nurses Association of America and Philippine Nurses Association of New Jersey through its local strategic goals and ways of achieving them:
1. Strategic growth by increasing the membership to 1000 plus strong by 2009 by reaching out to counties in New Jersey that do not have a PNANJ subchapter.
2. People development by conducting continuing education for the members; leadership training for the Executive Board, enhancing IT skills, rewards & recognition (CARE Awards), health promotion through participation in wellness challenges, advocacy for its members and research development.
3. Community Alliances through involvement with the regulatory board such as the NJ Board of Nursing, partnership with the media, PAC group, alliances with nursing stakeholders and global alliances. We thank the leaders who gave us the foundation to make this organization the most successful chapter of the PNAA. We welcome new members as we charge forward to fulfill our mission to advocate for nurses and provide support in many ways as we develop & implement strategies to enhance the image of nursing and provide the best care possible to our patients.
Our Mission
Uphold the image and foster the welfare of the Filipino-American nurses in the State of New Jersey as a professional group.
Our Beginnings
The first subchapter was established in 1987 by Filipino nurses at Newark Beth Israel Medical Center. Formation of hospital-based subchapters followed: St. Peter's Medical Center, Raritan Bay Medical Center, South Amboy Memorial Hospital, St. Michael Medical Center, Elizabeth General Medical Center, Irvington General Hospital, Bergen Pines Hospital, Community Medical Center at Ocean County, Jersey City Medical Center and Somerset Medical Center. As membership expanded and work-based subchapters proliferated, subchapters were reorganized to represent members within each county within the state. At present, there are nine subchapters formed; Atlantic/Cape May, Bergen, Essex, Middlesex, Monmouth, Morris, Ocean County, Passaic, & Somerset.
PNANJ members were instrumental in the creation of the national organization, the Philippine Nurses Association of America (PNAA). As a chapter of the PNAA, it continues to provide key leadership role in the national organization. PNANJ is an active member of other Filipino organizations as the Federation of Philippine Societies of New Jersey and NAFFAA. The Association is closely involved with humanitarian and socioeconomic projects of the Philippine Consulate Office in New York City. PNANJ is a member of the New Jersey Coalition of Nursing Organizations and participates in the activities of the New Jersey State Nurses Association and the New Jersey Asian American Association for Human Services.
Our Goals & Objectives
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Foster Unity among Filipino nurses in the State of New Jersey.
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Provide a mechanism for networking with other organizations and agencies in developing and implementing programs relevant to nursing practice, education and research.
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Formulate and implement strategies for acting on nursing issues, legislation, and public policies which directly or indirectly affect nursing.
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Coordinate and provide educational programs designed to assist members and qualified individuals in the acquisition and expansion of knowledge, professional excellence, and nursing practice through scholarship.
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Promote advancement of professional nursing through scholarship and research awards.
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Collaborate with organizations and agencies, both in New Jersey and the Philippines to facilitate the professional and cultural adjustments of Filipino nurses in New Jersey.
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Organize and actively participate in community health programs relating to disease prevention and health promotion.