Illinois State Council ENA is the professional organization for emergency nurses dedicated to quality patient care, public safety, continuing education, nursing research and promotion of the nursing profession.
Each state council is chartered by the national Emergency Nurses Association to implement its philosophy, objectives and leadership, and to serve as the decision-making body at the state level.
Illinois State Council ENA is comprised of a membership of over 1,500 nurses, and serves its members through the following vision, mission and objectives.
Shaping the future of emergency nursing and emergency care through excellence in leadership, practice, research, education and advocacy.
To provide visionary leadership for emergency nursing and emergency care. This mission encompasses the following values:
All individuals have a right to quality emergency care delivered with compassion.
Respect for diversity of patients and colleagues is inherent to emergency nursing practice and emergency care.
Prevention of illness and injury and promotion of wellness are essential components of emergency nursing practice and emergency care.
Evidence based practice provides the foundation of emergency nursing.
Continuing education and professional development are fundamental to emergency nursing practice and emergency care.
Emergency nursing practice is both independent and collaborative.
Promote the specialty of emergency nursing in Illinois.
Work collaboratively with other health related organizations toward the improvement of emergency care within our state.
Serve as a resource for emergency nursing practice, education and research.
Educate and advocate for consumers of emergency care.
Provide a networking structure to address professional emergency nursing issues.
Promote standards of excellence for emergency nursing practice.
Identify, monitor and influence legislation that relates to health care and emergency nursing issues in Illinois.
Improve the professional environment of the emergency nurse through education and public awareness.
2023-2024 President
2023 Immediate Past President
2023 Secretary
2023 Treasurer
Treasurer-Elect, 2024
2023-2024 Director
2024-2025 Director
Recognizing individuals either by awards or nominations is critical for the continuation of a robust state council. The emergency department is a dynamic environment with many unsung heroes. It is the goal of this committee to share successes and stories of individuals who make a difference. The Illinois State Council Awards and Nomination Committee is responsible for the following two critical duties: Develop an awards recognition program that provides individuals an opportunity to recognize exemplary professionals. Solicit candidates for the ballot.
Email Committee ChairThe Communications Committee is involved in enhancing communication with Illinois ENA members. We work to support the mission, vision and goals of Illinois ENA. Information is shared within our Illinois membership via multiple different mechanisms, including the Illinois ENA website, our event/communication management system, social medial avenues (such as Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn) and postal mailings, among others.
Join our committee if you are interested in helping to identify mechanisms for keeping our membership current on Illinois ENA activities and key healthcare initiatives, sharing updates and member accomplishments/achievements, and identifying communication and marketing strategies. Our meetings are held quarterly via conference call.
The Education Committee serves as an educational resource and helps to address the educational needs and interests of the Illinois ENA membership and emergency nurses in general. This committee promotes emergency nursing and advances the profession through continuing education. In the past, we have coordinated the CEN Exam Review Course, CPEN Exam Review Course, emergency nursing basics, triage workshops, Emergency Severity Index (ESI) training, and trauma workshops, among others.
Join our committee if you have educational skills and are interested in coordinating and presenting at educational workshops. Our meetings are held quarterly.
The Evidence Based Practice (EBP) committee is dedicated to helping emergency nurses find research to either support or dismiss our most basic practice principles in emergency nursing. The committee supports evidence based research projects and projects that are innovative in EDs across the state. Each year the EBP Committee supports a contest for all EDs across the state to present an Evidence Based Project or new innovative idea in EDs at the annual Spring Symposium. The EBP committee supports this contest and evaluates submissions and awards monetary incentives to contest winners. Our meetings are held quarterly.
The Injury Prevention Institute / Government Affairs / Fundraising Committee mirrors the mission of the national ENA Injury Prevention Institute/EN CARE mission and goals, which are to reduce injury- and violence-related morbidity and mortality by developing, promoting, evaluating and disseminating injury and violence prevention programs for emergency health care professionals. We offer an injury prevention course Advancing Injury Prevention In Your Community, to prepare emergency nurses in the role of injury prevention specialist in their institution and community.
At this time, we have a campaign to recruit more injury prevention providers in Illinois while recruiting more ENA members at the same time. Our meetings are held quarterly.
The membership committee is responsible for increasing ENA membership and retaining current ENA members in our state. This provides an opportunity to recruit students, current emergency RNs, nurses who are thinking about working in the emergency department, and current ENA members through many fun and social arenas including exhibiting at conferences, speaking at schools of nursing, and visiting local hospital emergency departments.
New members with enthusiasm for ENA and a fun and creative mind are always welcome. Our meetings are held quarterly and typically conducted via the toll-free conference call line. You can commit to as little or as much as you want.
The Pediatric Committee is an advocate for pediatric emergency care and is primarily charged with overseeing Emergency Nursing Pediatric Course (ENPC) courses that are conducted in Illinois. We also oversee ENPC Instructors and sponsor the ENPC Instructor course. We are always looking for new pediatric projects to pursue as well as new members. Our meetings are held biannually.
Email Committee ChairPlanning for the Annual Spring Symposium begins over a year in advance. This committee is responsible for coordinating all components related to the symposium. We develop a program that provides current topics for emergency nurses and offers CNE that assists in maintaining certifications such as ECRN, TNS, and IDPH requirements for pediatric facility recognition hospitals. Participant evaluations from the prior year help give direction to this planning. The two-day symposium offers the Advanced Clinical Program (for APNs and experienced nurses), General Sessions, and an expansive exhibit hall.
The committee also plans the Board-sponsored networking dinner that is open to all emergency nurses during the Thursday evening. A Silent Auction is an annual event at this dinner and all proceeds from the auction go to the Emergency Nurses Association Foundation for scholarships. This social evening also includes the Annual Awards presentation, honoring Illinois ENA members recognized for outstanding service and contribution to emergency nursing. Our meetings are held monthly. It is a labor-intensive committee, but we have lots of fun!
The Trauma Committee oversees TNCC courses in Illinois and is instrumental in mentoring new TNCC instructors and Course Directors. We oversee TNCC Provider and TNCC instructor courses around the state and are very active in providing lectures and assisting with the interpretation of administrative procedures. This group works as a team and would enjoy any new RNs, TNCC instructors, or Course Directors. Our meetings are held quarterly.
Email Committee ChairThe EMSC SIG serves as the Illinois ENA State Council representative on the Illinois Emergency Medical Services for Children (EMSC) Advisory Board. The board meets on a quarterly basis and provides guidance to EMSC activities. In this role, the EMSC SIG serves as a conduit for sharing information with Illinois ENA members regarding statewide EMSC activities and ensures that the State Council has a voice on the State EMSC Advisory Board.
Email Committee Chair