Hello MORNA Members!!!
Spring Summer President Message
In my last message to MORNA members in January of this year, there was a sense of excitement and anticipation for all that 2020 was “supposed” to bring us all. Remember, 2020 was supposed to be “The Year of the Nurse”!!! What a year to be a nurse!!!! Like so many, I would never have anticipated nor imagined what 2020 was about to bring us and how we all have been living and working during the Covid19 pandemic.
Due to sheer planning and a little luck, MORNA executive were successful in hosting our Spring Workshop without issue on March 7, 2020. Although attendance was down this year, 53 attendees were provided with a quality educational event with a wide array of presentations and dynamic speakers. Thanks to Stacey and MORNA executive for their exceptional planning and coordinating to ensure this wonderful educational opportunity was made possible.
We were not as fortunate with our remaining MORNA business and education meetings and our spring annual general meeting (AGM), as COVID 19 challenged all organizations to move to virtual meetings. This was done in order to meet Manitoba Health physical distancing public health guidelines and our corporate obligations. With the guidance and support of the Association of Regulated Nurses of Manitoba (ARNM), MORNA executive quickly began planning our very first virtual AGM. On June 18, 18 MORNA members came together via ZOOM and as a result of a lot of hard work and planning, our AGM was a virtual success. Mary Smith, Executive Director and Lisa McFarland, Communications Advisor at the ARNM were key individuals who truly went above and beyond to support the MORNA virtual AGM. In fact our entire year, we have received endless commitment and support by ARNM and for that, we are so grateful. We hope that our MORNA members see the benefits of membership with both the ARNM and MORNA, as we have promoted perioperative nursing in ways that would not have been possible. Thank you again to Mary and Lisa for your dedication, expertise, knowledge, and professionalism. We are so proud to be partnering with you.
With many changes at the ORNAC board level, virtual strategic planning sessions have been conducted for the board and its directors, to create a progressive plan with an “all hands on deck” approach. As your MB Director, I can assure you that much work is being done by the ORNAC board to look at membership engagement, by increasing the awareness and value of ORNAC membership. In pulling the provincial directors together with ORNAC executive, we are striving to create momentum with a strong, united board that is committed to moving ORNAC forward and being the voice of perioperative nursing in Canada. As MORNA president and MB Director, I will endeavor to work with all of you to find ways to take our member base back over 100, as we currently sit at 70 as I write this letter.
In closing as your MORNA president and MB Director, I want you to know that I recognize and celebrate each and every one of you in EVERY operating room in Manitoba. As we pause and recognize the incredible perseverance and effort of our perioperative nursing community during the COVID19 pandemic, I encourage you to never forget this time in history. We have been in the most dynamic state our practice has ever experienced. Your ability and agility to move forward, with all the changes, while keeping your patients and your team safe, is to be celebrated and never forgotten. We really have been through so much together, while apart. And as we are challenged to get back to “normal”, and try to make up for lost time in our ORs, I hope you have some time this summer to spend with your family and friends to refresh and safely restore all the energy and vitality that 2020 was “supposed” to bring us. Keep well, keep safe, and enjoy this beautiful summer in Manitoba.
Yours in perioperative nursing,
Dawn Affleck RN MN CPN(C)
MORNA President and MB Director
