Volunteer Opportunity + New Board Member Announcement

Our Voice, Our Strength. The time has come for the Southern Arizona Chapter of the American Association of Critical Care Nurses to find new voices to represent our chapter and our community!  

I urge you to read this announcement in its entirety. Please consider yourself or someone you may know as you read.  

Board members play an integral role in:

• Providing networking opportunities with local critical care nurses and specialists
• Building relationships with interdisciplinary team members and vendors
• Assisting in the planning of events to support our community
• Sharing fresh ideas to allow our chapter to use Our Voice as Our Strength
• Keeping competent as a staff nurse, leader, clinical nurse specialist, or nurse educator
• Supporting oneself, unit, and peers to guide best practice
• Mentoring other RNs

My experience as a board member has been very fulfilling. For those of you who do not know, I became the president of the SAC-AACN with no prior experience in the AACN Community. I was supported by my hospital’s Clinical Nurse Specialist to pursue the position. I was unsure if I would be able to manage the role at first, however, I am grateful that she encouraged me and that I took the opportunity. Since starting with the chapter I have received my CCRN, seen several of my peers strive for certification, gone to multiple conferences (including my first NTI) in which I have learned a great deal, worked with other nurses and physicians from area hospitals and learned the many different ways our local hospitals thrive and show compassion for our delicate population, and I have made invaluable relationships with members of our National AACN Board. I assure you, this position has given me more than I ever thought possible.

The board meets on the 3rd Wednesday of every month following the chapter hosted educational lecture. The lectures begin at 1700 and typically take place at Tucson Medical Center. The board meetings take place from around 1800-1900.

Current open positions include:

President, Communications Director, Membership Chair, Members at Large (unlimited amount), and Community Outreach Chair

Elizabeth Rorke (TMC) will serve as our new Chapter Treasurer. Jeanine Maine (Pima CC + BUMC) will serve as our new Chapter Secretary. Jenny Sinclair (VA) served as our 2016-2017 President and is currently our Chapter Advisor aka “CAT”. Jenna Carbone (TMC) has served as President from 2017 to present will serve on the board as Past President and Public Relations Representative.

To apply for a Board position, please contact us at aacn.sac@gmail.com or by phone at 520-73-5734.

Thank you so much for your time! We look forward to growing our chapter!

A special thanks to Gerri Kaye of the Greater Chicago Area Chapter for helping us draft this letter!