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.
