Sarla Ferrer-Duller,
RN, MN, CCRN, APRN (BC)

Keeping up the Spirit

“Of course we in PNASC are always on the look out for better and bigger things...we owe our members that much, the reason for our being”.

‘Tis the season of giving thanks: for the abundant opportunities to serve in church ministries; to care for an elderly parent; to help a child read; to make the last few days of an agonizing cancer patient a bit bearable; to comfort and reassure a spouse of a post liver transplant patient, to serve in the PNASC Board. And we also thank God for giving us the capability and tenacity to do all these and the potential to do much more individually and collectively as nurses belonging to a unique organization locally, nationally and globally.

Personally, this year, has been rough. And I am thankful for having transcended two major challenging events which consequently gave me a better grip at life’s realities: a death of an only brother and shortly after, an illness of a parent that required ICU care. Thank God, our training, exposure to and experience on death, dying and everything in between positioned me better to comfort and care for everyone else.

Collectively, our cup runneth over. PNASC is soo blessed and has so much to thank God for! Our Membership Committee has exceeded the recruitment goal by 270% compared to last year and not only that, membership involvement has increased phenomenally! Last Spring, for example, we won with the most delegates (20 delegates) to the PNAA Western Regional Conference in Las Vegas, Nevada. Indeed, Our Education Committee has gone a long way from what used to be a “social” gathering by offering classes with free CEU and reviews have been astounding! Our Ways and Means have funneled in an additional $5.5K to our treasury under the excellent management of our Finance Committee; Programs and Awards added perks by extending the Excellence Awards to our indispensable community partners. And this is in addition to the annual Nurse Excellence Awards that we have been holding for the last eight years! Our By laws and Legislative Committee keeps us abreast of all nurse-related issues in the State Capitol. Our Community Outreach has been sought for by Church groups, Art Festivals and Community Health Fairs from as close as to ones backyard to as far as all the way home in RP doing what they do best: health education.

And what are we gonna do without our PNASC Auxiliary? Now four years old (ahh how time flies!), this group, adds another dimension to our being by taking care of our Youth through annual Youth Enrichment Program among other things!

Nationally, we take pride in considering our PNASC as the Leadership training ground. Some of our illustrious members: Clarita Miraflor, PNAA founding president; Mila Velasquez, current PNAA president, Linda Ascio, Western Regional Liaison Officer (2003-2004); Josie Villanueva, PNAA Board Member, Maria Gonzales, PNAA secretary.

We give thanks for our PNASC Newsletter. We deliver professionalism, relevance, inspiration, diversity and education to our members. And for those who try to imitate our model, we are absolutely flattered!

And of course for the spirit of Team work and volunteerism among us officers, the wind beneath the PNASC wings! We made it happened!

Indeed, keeping up the PNASC spirit we must. We are joyful and always on the lookout for better and bigger things for the sake of our members. We owe them that much, after all our members are the reason for our being PNASC! Our challenge is to keep up the spirit! Merry Christmas and a Happy and Healthy 2006!