The Communications Committee is involved in enhancing communication among ENA members. Information is shared within our Illinois membership via different mechanisms, including the Illinois ENA website, the Illinois ENA CounterShock newsletter, our event/communication management system and postal mailings, among others.

Join our committee if you are interested in helping us get information out to our members, writing articles of interest that can be placed in our CounterShock newsletter, sharing current updates and member accomplishments/achievements or identifying other communication strategies. Our meetings are held quarterly.

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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 advancing the profession through continuing education. In the past we have coordinated the CEN Review course, Emergency Nursing Basics, Triage workshops, Emergency Severity Index trainings, 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.

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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.

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Planning for the Fall Symposium begins well in advance of the actual event. This committee is responsible for coordinating all components related to the Fall Symposium. The committee develops topic ideas based on National ENA Initiatives, current ED nursing issues, and upcoming changes to healthcare. We offer participants continuing education credits and introduce them to vendors who have up to date products. When possible, TNCC and ENPC instructor courses are offered based on interest and need. Participant evaluations from the previous year assists the committee in planning future events. If you are interested in planning large-scale educational events, please consider joining our team!

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The Finance Committee, in conjunction with the Board of Directors, develops fiscal policies to support the mission, vision, and goals of Illinois ENA. Working closely with the Treasurer and other Board members, the Finance Committee develops guidelines and recommendations to ensure fiduciary responsibility to our members while planning or the future of Illinois ENA and emergency nurses throughout the State.

Our committee meets bimonthly for 2010 as we get the committee off the ground and will meet quarterly thereafter. Illinois ENA members interested in joining the Finance Committee or individuals with specific financial questions or concerns should contact Elisabeth Weber.

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The Injury Prevention Institute/Government Affairs 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.

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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 department 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.

Planning for the Quad Cities Symposium begins well in advance of the actual event. This committee is responsible for coordinating all components related to this educational event. The committee develops a central theme such as Pediatric Emergencies along with topic ideas based on National ENA initiatives, current ED nursing issues, and upcoming changes to healthcare. Continuing education credits are offered to nurses and pre-hospital providers. Participant evaluations from the previous year symposium assists the committee in planning future events. If you are interested in planning large-scale educational events, please consider joining our team!

Planning for the Annual Spring conference 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 CECH 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 TNCC, ENPC and Injury Prevention pre-sessions, as well as an advanced practice track.

The committee also plans the board sponsored networking dinner that is open to all emergency nurses the evening before the symposium. 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 is also traditionally when awards are presented to Illinois emergency nurses who have achieved special recognition for activities conducted during the previous year. Our meetings are held monthly. It is a labor intensive committee, but we have lots of fun!

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The Trauma Committee oversees TNCC and CATN II courses in Illinois; and as such, is instrumental in mentoring new TNCC Instructors and Course Directors. We sponsor TNCC-P, TNCC-I, and CATN II courses around the state and are very active in providing lectures and assisting with administrative procedures. This group works as a team and would enjoy any new RNs who love trauma. Our meetings are held quarterly.

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