News

A member recently wrote:

"CAANN Board,

Ladies - thank you so much for what you do. I know all the tedious details it takes to do a program.

What I truly want to thank you for is for the programs. I always love them. Nurses teaching nurses. The passion of the speakers is evident. Besides new information they also make us think - I had planned to quit thinking years ago!" 

The items that CAANN collected at the May 4, 2010, meeting at Central DuPage Hospital were donated to the Family Shelter Service, 605 East Roosevelt Rd., Wheaton, IL 60187. CAANN also purchased pillows, alarm clocks, and batteries with the money that you so generously donated. If you would like more information on the shelter, please visit their website, www.familyshelterservice.org.

 

Congratulations to Barbara Hering, RNC-NIC, MSN

Winner of NANN 2009 Robyn Main Award for Clinical Excellence

 

As we have done in the past, CAANN is supporting our active members that are participating in the March of Dimes March for Babies. Once you have registered for the March and created your web page, please email your page address to treasurer@caann.org and we will make a $10 contribution to your account. We look forward to supporting you and hope to see many of you at the various March locations!

For a limited time, NANN is offering a $35 discount on your annual membership dues for first-time NANN members. This offer expires on April 15, 2010, and most likely will not be extended. Annual dues are normally $99. Information about NANN can be found at their website, www.nann.org. The discount is only being given if you join by telephone by calling Member Services at  800-451-3795. 

Also, if you mention that you are a member of the Chicago Chapter, you will receive an additional $5 discount. That brings your total discount to $40!

If you are interested, please hurry so that you don't miss this exciting offer!

Congratulations to Melissa White, APN/NNP-BC

Winner of NANN 2008 Special Interest Group Leadership Award

Melissa White was described by her nominator as being, "a real triple threat - Her clinical skills, both technical procedures and fund-of-knowledge are superb. Her parent interactions are a model for her colleagues, both NNPs and MDs. And her academic achievements are superb."  Melissa is a neonatal nurse practitioner at the University of Chicago's Comer Children's Hospital where she is also Manager of the NNP Program in the Level III Neonatal Intensive Care Unit.  Melissa is a leader and role model for nursing and has an extraordinary record of service to her profession.

Congratulations to Lisa Festle, RNC, MSN, CCNS

Winner of NANN 2008 Robyn Main Award for Clinical Excellence

Lisa Festle, MSN RNC-NIC CCNS has been a neonatal nurse for over 20 years and currently works at Loyola University Medical Center's Level III neonatal intensive care unit in Maywood, IL. In addition to her responsibilities in the NICU, she serves as the Co-Coordinator of the NICU Education Council and also the NICU Magnet Committee.

Those who nominated her describe her as "paying exquisite attention to every detail when providing care."

Lisa is Master's prepared and certified as a Clinical Nurse Specialist, and uses this knowledge to care for the sickest of patients.  She has chosen to remain at the bedside sharing her compassion with her patients and their families.

CAANN would like to thank those of you who participated in the 2009 March of Dimes March for Babies.  Nine members responded to CAANN's challenge to participate and each received a donation of $10 into their banks from CAANN. 

Despite the best efforts of all those that participated, the March of Dimes March for Babies is $3 million short of its fundraising goal!  Several million dollars in research grants funded by the March of Dimes have already been cut and that looks to be just the beginning if additional funds aren't raised.  The March of Dimes says that if every participant donated an additional $20, the goal would be met.  If you were a participant or if you know someone that was, please consider making an additional donation of $20 to help the March of Dimes meet its fundraising goal so that they can continue to support research and programs that help moms have full-term pregnancies and babies begin healthy lives.  If you would like to donate, the link to the March of Dimes March for Babies site on our home page is still active. 

Eighty members and guests attended CAANN's Neonatal Infection Update on February 3, 2009, in the Stritch School of Medicine at Loyola University Medical Center.  Our speakers included Kenneth Alexander, MD, PhD, Associate Professor of Pediatrics at the University of Chicago, and Terri Russell, DNP, APN/NNP-BC, Coordinator of the NNP Program at Rush University College of Nursing and NNP at the University of Chicago Comer Children's Hospital.  Topics included "Sorting Out Antibiotics: A Systematic Approach to Antibiotic Selection," "Problem Infections in the NICU," and "Nosocomial Infections: Killing the Bugs or Improving the Procedures?" 

Our next meeting will be Tuesday, May 19, 2009, at Loyola University Medical Center.  We will be discussing Ethics in the NICU.