LAC’s accomplishments during 2020 include:

 

• Nurse Leader Institute 27 participants

• Nurse Leader Mentorship Cohort 5 completed with 8 Fellows

• Culture of Health Summit

  • 544 Registrations

  • Sponsorships valued at $14,000

  • 11 Speakers

  • 199 nurses received CEs

  • 19 social workers received CEs

• Nurses on Boards

• McNeese Donation

• Hired New Director

 

 

The sixth offering of the LAC Nurse Leader Institute (NLI)
Since 2015, this LAC program has helped prepare nearly 150 Louisiana nurses for the next steps in their professional journeys. This year, the NLI had 27 registrants and 8 who completed the mentorship program and will receive designation as fellows.  The success of this program continues to develop future leaders and will once again continue into 2021.

 

Summaries of all mentees’ projects can be found on the LAC website. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the 2021 NLI plans to launch in the last quarter of 2021. 

 

The fourth LAC Culture of Health Summit, held Virtually

“Celebrating the International Year of the Nurse by Cultivating a Culture of Health and Resilience Through Collaborative Partnerships in the Midst of a Pandemic” was held virtually on October 27 & 28. The registration fee for the Summit was able to be waived because of the wonderful support of our sponsorships. We had over 500 registered to attend the virtual event with approximately 300 attending each day despite a hurricane hitting the Louisiana cost on October 28th.

 

Health care professionals, leaders, and various community stakeholders from across the state came together virtually to listen to and engage with speakers and panels to discuss the field of nursing and healthcare during the international COVID-19 pandemic. The LAC was able to provide continuing education credits, not only to nurses, but to social workers as well.

 

The fifth LAC Culture of Health Summit will once again be held in 2021. However, due to uncertainties with the pandemic, a date and location has not been chosen. Regardless of the event being held in-person or not, the committee has stressed their interest in continuing to provide a virtual component.

 

McNeese College of Nursing Donation

Following the devastation of back to back hurricanes in Lake Charles, LA, fundraising efforts were held for the McNeese State University College of Nursing. To fulfil the LAC’s goals of preparing the future nursing workforce, and fulfil the critical need for nurses, the LAC felt it necessary to help nursing students enrolled at McNeese. Following the successful sponsorship initiate of the Culture of Health Summit, the LAC decided to make a financial contribution. The LAC sent a $1500 donation to the College of Nursing to assist their students continue their education without further interruption.

 

LAC Looks into Sustainability by Hiring a New Director

The LAC is fully dedicated to building and maintaining a sustainable organization. To help the sustainability of the organization for the future, the LAC has hired a new director to oversee day-to-day operations as well as facilitate coalition meetings and events. The LAC hired Kelsi Guidry to serve as the Director of the LAC  as an independent contractor. Kelsi started his role of Director on September 1, 2020.

 

Kelsi is an entrepreneur and marketer with a Bachelor's degree concentration in Health and Wellness from Nicholls State University.

 

Nurses on Boards Coalition

The LAC is proud of Nurses on Boards being born from our initiatives and we follow their efforts closely. In 2020, the LAC dedicated $1500 to Nurses on Boards.

The following are some of their major 2020 contributions to getting nurses on boards.

• Submitted 3 candidates to the LA governor for LSBN and LBPNE

• Offered candidate search assistance to LA Infant Mortality Governmental Board

• Streamlining vetting and nominations for governmental boards and commissions

• Convened committee for the NOB initiatives with a focus on educating potential board members

• Created nurses being board members promotional materials (referred to documents sent before meeting)