Colleagues:

Please accept my greetings on behalf of the entire Coordinating Team and staff here at the Nursing Organizations Alliance (NOA). As all of you are aware, there is no script for facing the challenging crisis that we see ourselves in, so it is difficult for me to find the exact words to convey the sentiments I wish to express to each of you.

I do however, want to begin by thanking all the nurses who are on the frontlines of delivering healthcare during this pandemic. It seems fitting that 2020, the international “year of the nurse,” is the year that we, as nurses, get to demonstrate the integral role we play in the delivery of healthcare. While the majority of society is being asked to stay at home in an effort to protect themselves and their loved ones from this virus, nurses and other healthcare workers are heading to the very places where the danger is highest to selflessly carry out the duties we have been called to do.  

But I also want to recognize the work that our professional associations are doing to support us on the frontlines. From advocacy to ensuring we have the knowledge and resources to do our jobs, your support is invaluable. Crisis like this truly “takes a village” and our professional associations are part of that village.  

We at NOA applaud all our members for the part they are playing in this crisis. One way we would like to support our members is to organize a “town hall” meeting where our members can join together and talk about how they are responding to the crisis.  What ideas have you implemented to support your members? How are you handing social distancing and working remotely? What are the financial impacts on your associations and what creative ideas have you come up with to minimize those impacts? We will be announcing the details of this town hall meeting in the coming days, watch the NOA community and your emails for further details.

So that we can support each other during this critical time I encourage you to utilize the NOA Member Connect community to share sample communications, stories and questions and learn from each other as we all experience this pandemic.

Finally, be safe! Take care of yourself including your mental health during these challenging times. Find ways to safely connect with those you love. Take time to take care of yourself while you take care of others.

 

Sincerely, 

Jeff Solheim, NOA Lead Coordinator, on behalf of the entire Coordinating Team and staff of NOA