Spring is just around the corner – and this month’s updates are putting us in a “budding” mindset! Read about a chapter that grew a volunteer garden in their community, the Leadership Development Workshop before NTI this year, and more.

Rooted in Strength,

Your AACN Chapter Community Partners

Looking Ahead

• March 31 – NTI Early-Bird Deadline (for both in-person and virtual formats)
• May 15 – FY2022, Quarter 3 Financial Report (Jan-Mar) is due

Chapter Support

Need help with chapter reporting? Reach out to us at the home office – we love to help! Remember, it’s OK if your chapter isn’t meeting due to the pandemic, but the IRS requires us to submit financial reports. For clarification, going on “pause” means no chapter or board meetings.

COVID Exposure at a Chapter Meeting or Event

The health and safety of the AACN community and patients is our top priority. We’re excited that some chapters have resumed in-person meetings and events, and confident those decisions are based on what’s happening in your area, including the meeting recommendations from local and state agencies, as well as CDC guidelines. We understand that even with the highest attention to following health and safety protocols, virus transmission can still happen. If your chapter finds out that someone at your event has tested positive for COVID-19, we’re here to partner with you as you navigate the next steps. Please reach out so we can assist with notifying other event attendees and with anything else you may need. There’s no question too big or too small. We’re here to help.

Celebrating Certified Nurses Day

March 19 will be here soon. If you’re looking for ways to recognize your fellow certified nurses, here are some ideas:

• Explore and share your favorite resources from the Certified Nurses Day celebration portal on AACN’s webpage.
• Raise awareness by commenting on and sharing our official Certified Nurses Day post on AACN’s Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.
• Inspire certified nurses to reflect on and honor their patient care achievements. This day serves as a valuable reminder of their positive impact on patients, families and fellow nurses.
• Have a conversation with nurse managers and administrators about plans for Certified Nurses Day.

AACN Program Approval Updates

Our friends in Program Approval have let us know some changes are coming in July. Your Program Planning Committee and Nurse Planner will want to check out this quick overview of the planned updates. More information will be coming soon.

Job Posting Guidelines

Friendly reminder: If you have a job posting you would like to share, please refrain from sharing via your chapter’s social media account or chapter website, so that AACN can comply with 501(c)3 regulations regarding job posts. Thank you!

Chapter Spotlight: Growing Through the Pandemic

AACN’s Southern Colorado Chapter has produced a beautiful garden in Colorado Springs. “We had considered doing this when we were a more active group, before the pandemic,” said Tara Gray, chapter president-elect. “Last year I suggested we try it out as a way to ‘regrow’ our chapter. We planted our garden with a program called Springs in Bloom, which has created volunteer gardens around the city. Our location is between the two main hospitals here. Our sign went up when the rototilling and planting began, and we not only brought together our chapter, we attracted several new members! We will take over our garden again this May when planting season begins.”

Kudos to this chapter for using a pandemic-safe group activity to beautify their community. You inspire us!

Chapter Recognition

On Feb. 1, the Northeastern Wisconsin Chapter celebrated 48 years of chapter volunteerism, leadership and partnership with AACN.

The New York City Chapter was inadvertently left out of chapter recognition in last month’s newsletter. They celebrated their 50th anniversary on Jan. 1!

Congratulations! Thank you so much for all you do for your fellow nurses and AACN.

Registration Open for Chapter Leadership Development Workshop

The Chapter Leadership Development Workshop is back! This annual, pre-NTI workshop is for current and future chapter leaders. This year’s event will be a half-day instead of a full day, and the registration fee has been reduced to $60 for each person.

Each chapter that sends at least one person to the workshop will receive a one-time stipend of $455 to help with the expense of attending. (For chapters that send more than one person, the $455 can be divided among attendees.)

This is an inspiring event that attendees often return to year after year. More details:

• Workshop registration link
• Date: Sunday, May 15
• Lunch is served at 12:30 p.m.
• The workshop runs from 1:30-5 p.m.
• The workshop will only be offered in-person.
• If you’ve already registered for NTI and want to add the workshop, please call our friends in Customer Care at 800-899-2226 to amend your NTI registration.
• For other questions, please contact chapters@aacn.org

The AACN home office and your chapter advisory team (CAT) are available to serve you. Please contact us anytime you need additional information or support to help you or your chapter.

• For general inquiries – chapters@aacn.org
• Karen Certalic – karen.certalic@aacn.org
• Mitzi Inman – mitzi.inman@aacn.org
• Regine Monfette – regine.monfette@aacn.org
• Wayne Goebel – wayne.goebel@aacn.org

You can also find us online at the chapter portal under the Find a Chapter Advisor menu option. Thank you for your partnership, leadership, volunteerism and continued commitment to AACN. Together, we are Rooted in Strength!