• Develops nurse leaders;
• Promotes a professional practice environment that enhances quality and patient safety;
• Recognizes excellence;
• Serves as a “voice” for nursing issues;
• Promotes community partnerships; and
• Influences health policy.

Welcome to the Central San Joaquin Valley Nursing Leadership Coalition website!

APRIL 2012 PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE
April 4, 2012

Happy Spring! There is a refreshing rebirth in the air with green grass, wildflowers, and nature's bounty of baby animals as far as the eye can see. It is a time for reflection and focus on our calling and what is important to us. At NLC we value developing our nurse leaders and promoting a professional practice environment. We have been very fortunate that Fresno Heart and Surgical Hospital and our very own President Elect Cynthia Cervantes have hosted two lunch and learn sessions. In February I spoke about The Legal Aspects of Nursing, and in March Mary Contreras Community Medical Centers Chief Nursing Officer presented on the Future of Nursing and her work with the California Action Coalition in partnership with Stephanie Robinson. Both of these events were very well received by our members and they each received C.E's and a wonderful networking opportunity. In February Gloria Fitzgerald one of the past presidents of the NLC held a breakfast for all past presidents on President's Day to reminisce about the history of the NLC and nursing issues in the central valley past and present. The month of February was very busy as the Association of California Nurse Leaders held their annual conference in Rancho Mirage which I was very fortunate to attend. The hot topics in nursing were discussed and presented by experts in the field on health care reform, the future of nursing, and the magnet journey just to name a few.

We are so very fortunate in the central valley to be home for so many accomplished nurses and we take the time to honor and celebrate their work at our annual R.N of the Year Banquet held May 3 at Torninos Banquet Hall. NLC will also be awarding our annual nursing scholarships that evening as well to very deserving Bachelor's Master's and PHD candidates. It is an evening of recognition you won't want to miss. Please plan on joining us to honor and recognized your esteemed colleagues for a fun fiesta themed party! On April 4 Nancy Hollingswoth CEO of Saint Agnes Medical Center, past recipient of NLC Leadership R.N of the Year, Joyce Eden NLC Past President, and myself were invited to speak on the Channel 24 news segment with Alex Delgado to promote the R.N of the Year Event, NLC, and nursing within the central valley. On May 21 NLC will be hosting our annual End of the Year Meeting where we are proud to host our past president Gloria Fitzgerald who will be discussing the historical aspects of nursing and where our path has led us to today's journey. She will be sharing her words of wisdom and experience for us to pass on to the new nursing leaders of today. She will also be sharing a sneak peek into her nursing book she is writing on "How Nurses Should Not Eat Their Young!"

NLC welcomes any nursing leaders past, present, and future to join our events and welcome any feedback on how we may better serve you as your board. You can contact me at 559-324-4079 or vnunes@communitymedical.org.

Sincerely,
Vonnie Nunes
NLC President