PNA Indiana
UNITY. GROWTH. SERVICE.
PHILIPPINE NURSES ASSOCIATION OF INDIANA
PNA Indiana's 15th Anniversary
Hurray! The Philippine Nurses Association of Indiana, Inc. (PNA-IN) is 15 years old.Thus, I could only pause and reflect on our organization’s past achievements and how we are looking forward to the future.
PNA-IN celebrated its 15th year anniversary with a Luau on August 22nd, 2015 at the Latvian Community Center, in Indianapolis, Indiana. It was very well attended by almost 200 guests.It was headed by the Mayor of Indianapolis Greg Ballard & his wife Winnie & Winnie’s sister, 2014-2016 PNAA Vice President for North Central Region (NCR) Becky Schirocky, 2015 NCR Circle of Presidents Regional Representative (COPRR) Erlinda Gonzalezwho came all the way from Cleveland, Ohio, PNA-Northwest Indiana President Lena De Jesus and members, PNA-Cincinnati Northwest Kentucky Executive Board led byRowena David, Indiana Black Nurses Association President Dr. Denise Ferrell and husband Aaron, my mentors from Riley Hospital for Children at IU Health Dr. Gopal Krishna, Dr. Lillie May Padilla Krishna, Dr. Eugene Presto and his family, the Nationalities Council International led by President Marlon Alfonso, Indiana Philippine Medical Association(IPMA) officers led by Ofie Balmaceda, Philippine Association of Medical Technologists (PAMET) led by Tito Ricafort, Barangay Club of Indiana led by Doming & Pearlie Riego, The Filipino Lunch group headed by Dr. Nilda Sangalang, the Filipino Prayer Groups led by Tina Ricafort and Vic Romero, all of our dear friendsfrom Carmel, Fishers, Kokomo, Greenwood, Plainfield, Avon andIndianapolis, the DJ Expo & his assistant who came all the way from Chicago, allour friends and family, my husband Emerito who has been PNA-IN’s Legal Counsel for several years, my two sisters in law Violet Reyes and Eleanore Isada, who have been there with me in my life journey and most especially all the PNA-IN officers led by our ever dynamic & energetic Executive Director Redd Knotts, President-Elect Karleen McGill and her ever supportive husband Keith, Vice President & Chair of the Ways & Means Committee Nenita Delacruz whose inexhaustible efforts with the help of Basil, her ever loving husband, who made available the services of his company Quality Interiors to get our souvenir program, flier, andbrochure printed,and daughter Kathryn who designed the Luau flier, Secretary Gert McCray, Treasurer Eleanore Wilson, her husband Brent Wilson, our Accounting Consultant, Board Members:Daisy Blythe, her husband Billy, Chuchie Esteleydes, her husband Eric, Nora Sackett, our Founding President Emma Tolentino, Advisory Council who were all past presidents themselves, Josie Jimenez, Manelita Bong Dayon, and Lena De Jesus,and our members whopresent as well: Sylvia Andres, Mallie Abadilla-Favila, Cora Frogozo, Leah & Willie Chua, Cecille & Gil Jayo, our newest member, Catherine Derosas, Puring Delas Alas, Lesley Felicitas & Ray Angcao, Terri Ferrera, the face of PNA-IN you see in our newly redesigned brochure with her parents from Chicago, Hannibal & Myrna, Van & Shelley Gaviola, Nenet & Troy Good, Florence Pulsifer, Myrna & Vic Romero, Vicki Swinarski, Rita & Jun Jumawan, and last but not least Brenda Wheeler.
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It is but fitting to mention all of the above for without their collaboration, partnership and invaluable support of PNA-IN through the years our organization would not be as vibrant and strong as it is today.
At the luau, Awards of $500.00 each were presented to six deserving nursing students in memory of Mila Woodings, a former PNA-IN member who lost her battle from colon cancer. A list of these scholars with their brief bio is published separately in the PNA-IN website.PNA-IN presented a $500.00 BSN Scholarship grant as well to Catherine Derosas. Awards of Appreciation were also presented to Mayor & Mrs. Greg Ballard, Bessie Schirocky, Erlinda Gonzalez & Elena De Jesus for their support of the mission and values of PNA-IN.
PNA-IN continues to actively provide wellness screenings in the community and lifelong learning opportunities for free to its members twice a year. It also collaborates with other professional organizations such as Indiana League for Nursing, Indiana Chapter by serving as a panel on Global Healthcare at its June 2015 meeting, Indiana Wesleyan University, by joining their focus group on Latinos, etc.
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PNA-IN continues to actively provide wellness screenings in the community and lifelong learning opportunities for free to its members twice a year. It also collaborates with other professional organizations such as Indiana League for Nursing, Indiana Chapter by serving as a panel on Global Healthcare at its June 2015 meeting, Indiana Wesleyan University, by joining their focus group on Latinos, etc.
PNA-IN advocates for internationally educated nurses in Indiana by successfully petitioning the Indiana State Board of Nursing to eliminate the CGFNS exam requirement as a pre-requisite to RN licensure in the state of Indiana. However, because of the moratorium on rule change in 2008 and 2012, the rule change has not yet been passed.
A global initiative to promote excellence in nursing education and practice has been initiated by PNA-IN in collaboration with St. Paul University Iloilo (SPUI) College of Nursing, Iloilo City, Philippines with support from the Jes-Amoreans, SPUI alumni class of 1965. The objective is for SPUI to eventually obtain NLN accreditation. To start the process, SPUI thru its Dean Sr. Carol Agravante, SPC, MSN, PhD, RN sent three of their nursing faculty: Sr. Marvelyn, Aquino, SPC, MAN, RN, Ma. Lalaine Nolasco, MAN, RN, and Dulce Ma. Tilos, MAN, RN to observe nursing education and practice at the University of Indianapolis (UINDY) School of Nursing and IU Health. The foregoing nurses have been at UIndy since Sept. 11. UIndy’s Dean Anne Thomas, Dr. Denise Ferrell and other UIndy nursing faculty have scheduled very enriching experiences for them and have exposed them to various educational curricula, practices, simulation labs, conferences, etc that they will bring back to SPUI to assist them in obtaining their goal of international accreditation.
They will also have an opportunity to observe central nursing staff orientation classes with Angela Green at IU Health, Simulation Lab with Jennifer Dwyer at Fairbanks and a public tour at Riley Hospital for ChildrenOR, & Pre Post Care Unit with yours truly in the next two weeks.Thanks to Dr. Linda Everett, retired CNE, Sr. VP at IU Health, Michelle Janney, current CNE, Sr. VP and Liz Cerbie, IU Health Director of Education for facilitating these. The last week will be spent with Dr. Cora Munoz in Columbus, Ohio. Then, on October 30th they will return to SPUI, Iloilo City, Philippines truly enriched and full of enthusiasm to forge ahead to fulfill their mission with full support from PNA-IN.
PNA-IN is truly blessed to have the Executive Board and members who are the pillars of the organization with the invaluable support of the aforementioned relationships!
Thank you all so very much!
Mattie Upano