NCNA Highlights the Value of Nurses at 2024 Annual Convention
For Immediate Release
September 24, 2024
RALEIGH, NC – As the nursing profession faces increasing challenges, more than 500 nurses from across North Carolina gathered last week in Concord to recognize important achievements, network, and develop strategies to lead Nursing Forward® at the North Carolina Nurses Association’s (NCNA) 117th Annual Convention. The theme of this year’s convention was “The Value of Nursing,” with multiple sessions focused on ways that nurses, health systems, and policymakers can better define, utilize, and respect the nursing profession.
"We can all do better – everyone involved in healthcare – at valuing nurses. The profession is in a precarious place right now, even though most of the general public might think things are ‘normal’ post-pandemic,” said NCNA President Trish Richardson, MSN, BSBA, RN, NE-BC, CMSRN. “The great thing is that we have specific, achievable ways of improving the outlook, and I could not be more proud to celebrate the myriad ways our members have answered the call.”
The Convention agenda kicked off with an opening keynote from John M. Welton, PHD, RN, entitled Pricing the Nursing Product: Finding the Economic Value of Nurses, that got to the heart of the issue for many attendees. The annual Statewide Membership Forum, which gives attendees the unique opportunity to help shape NCNA’s future strategies, was dedicated to The Value of Nursing – Defining Professional Value to Move Nursing Forward®. Other highlights included an Awards Ceremony, the graduation of the 12th cohort of NCNA’s Leadership Academy, recognition of the first Diversity in Nursing Leadership Fellows, and a legislative round-table featuring all four NCNA members serving in the North Carolina General Assembly.
Awards
Practice Nurse of the Year - Ben Valente* of Durham
Mentorship in Nursing Award – Lisa Foster* of Charlotte
Outstanding Service Award – Caitlin Lofton* of Midland
Outstanding Service Award – Cathleen Wheatley* of Winston-Salem
Outstanding Service Award – Thompson Forbes* of Greenville
Certificate of Commendation – North Carolina Institute of Medicine
Certificate of Commendation – Phoebe Pollitt* of Boone
Legislator of the Year – Sen. Jim Burgin of Angier
Legislator of the Year – Rep. Carla Cunningham* of Charlotte
Best Practice Award, “Caring for Others” – CarolinaEast, Early Identification of Postpartum Depression program
Best Practice Award, “Caring for Each Other” – North Carolina’s Local Health Department Directors of Nursing, Meaningful Mentorship Program
Best Practice Award, “Caring for Ourselves” – Ijeoma Enweana* of Charlotte
Leadership Academy Graduates
Christy Swinson* of Fayetteville
Heather Whisnant* of Hendersonville
Ijeoma Enweana* of Charlotte
Julie Henderson* of Matthews
Julie Mitchell* of Concord
Julie Shaw* of Kannapolis
Leticia Acevedo* of Rocky Mount
Linda Bolin* of Greenville
Michelle Bae* of Cary
Misty Brown* of Washington
Christine Detwiler* of Charlotte
Trisha Garner* of Denton
Aimee Finnie of Belmont
Vadim Korogoda of High Point
Christine Sisk of Belmont
Dana Pederson of Charlotte
Andrea Underwood* of Hamptonville
Amanda Fox-Duncan of Cornelius
Diversity in Nursing Leadership Fellows
Liza Abison of Cary
Leticia Acevedo* of Rocky Mount
Chrissy Bass* of Charlotte
Ralph Brown* of Rolesville
Fe Caballero* of Winston-Salem
Jessica Chadwick* of Winterville
LaTonia Chalmers* of Durham
Felita Chandler of Summerville, SC
Taminesha Cherry* of Fayetteville
Nakiyha Dumas* of Winston-Salem
Irfat Habib* of High Point
Sonia Hart* of Indian Trail
Maria Henderson of Lexington, SC
Katrice Hester* of Haw River
Cascelia Howard* of Huntersville
Melanie Johnson of West Columbia, SC
Christina Jordan of Carrollton, GA
Elizabeth Knox* of Holly Springs
Sahrron Knox* of East Spencer
Krystal Lott* of Charlotte
Julia Martin* of Fuquay Varina
Tiffany Mitchell* of Ahoskie
Tamara Neely* of Mint Hill
Ashley Owen* of Clover, SC
Veronica Parks* of Durham
Glenda Sims of Spartanburg, SC
Kristin Surgeon* of Ellerbe
Dasheka Tate-Aragon* of Indian Trail
Munashe Terrell* of Wake Forest
Ben Valente* of Durham
Bianca Washington* of Shelby
Tammy Woods* of Salisbury
Karen Worthy of Columbia, SC
Scholarship Recipients
Mary Lewis Wyche Fellowship
Latesha Harris* of Chapel Hill
Nicole Brady* of Cary
Rosemary Parkinson* of Raleigh
Madeline McQuay* of Raleigh
Kimberly Lusk of Greensboro
Ahlea Small* of New Bern
Anna Woody* of Tarboro
Eunice M. Smith Scholarship
Lori Elks* of Lawndale
Katie Fulbright* of Hickory
Christopher "Jason" Harris* of Raleigh
Lindsey Jones of Greenville
Megan Scott* of Knightdale
Julie Shaw* of Concord
Sherry Young of Wilmington
NCNA Triad Region Scholarship
Okiesha Baldwin* of High Point
Irfat Habib* of High Point
NCNA Southwest Region Scholarship
Sarah Kibbee* of Charlotte
* NCNA Members
MEDIA CONTACT
Chris Cowperthwaite, APR
Director of Communications & Outreach
(919) 821-4250 or chriscowperthwaite@ncnurses.org
ABOUT NCNA
As the leading professional organization for North Carolina’s registered nurses, we equip nurses at all stages to thrive in an ever-changing healthcare environment. NCNA helps keep North Carolina nurses on the cutting edge of nursing practice, policy, education, and more. Join us as we work to advance nursing and ensure high-quality healthcare for everyone.
Established in 1902, NCNA provides continuing education, networking and legislative advocacy for registered nurses throughout North Carolina. For more information, please visit www.ncnurses.org.
MISSION STATEMENT
The North Carolina Nurses Association serves the changing needs of its members, addresses nursing issues, and advocates for the health and well-being of all people.
RALEIGH, NC – As the nursing profession faces increasing challenges, more than 500 nurses from across North Carolina gathered last week in Concord to recognize important achievements, network, and develop strategies to lead Nursing Forward® at the North Carolina Nurses Association’s (NCNA) 117th Annual Convention. The theme of this year’s convention was “The Value of Nursing,” with multiple sessions focused on ways that nurses, health systems, and policymakers can better define, utilize, and respect the nursing profession.
