• 11/08/2022 7:10 PM | Deleted user

    How time flies when your having fun!!! It has been my pleasure to serve as President of FCNI for the last two years, actually a little longer, as I assumed the position a little early. Although there was a plan to accomplish more for FCNI, I believe that some foundational work needed to be accomplished. As I transition in the month of December out of this leadership position, there are many people I would like to thank.

    The President Elect, Mary Lynne Knighten has been a tremendous support to me in this work. All FCNI members can be comfortable as Mary Lynn takes leadership of the organization. She is an amazing critical thinker and will keeps everyone on their toes while providing continuous spiritual leadership for the organization. My hope is that the membership will support Mary Lynne in her leadership role by getting more involved in FCNI. Thank you MaryLynn for your support, critical thinking and dedication to FCNI!

    Teri Darnell has served two full terms as Treasurer and leaves FCNI in a very solvent position going forward. Teri has provided solid financial recommendations to the Executive Committee and Board of FCNI during her terms of office. Membership has remained steady with some growth. Most of all Teri provided the leadership to secure the 501C 3 status for FCNI. That has positioned the organization to secure donations and other external funding for projects and conference development. Thank you Teri for your hard work and service to FCNI!!

    Kathey Sanchez Nelson remains a strong anchor for FCNI through her meticulous minute taking. She provides an archival history of the internal work that has been done to put FCNI in a very solid position going forward. Both the Executive Committee and Board work have been made so much easier by Kathey’s diligence and accurate documentation of the work, both of the Executive Committee and the FCNI Board. Kathey will now be assuming both the Treasurer and Secretary positions for FCNI. Thank you!!

    Linda Garner (Education Committee), Eugenia Graves (Co Chair of Marketing Committee) and Donna Callaghan (Research Committee) as well as Esther Brown (Spiritual Resources Committee), and Katrina Goodrich (Technology Committee) have demonstrated long term service to FCNI that have provided a stability in leadership that allows for ongoing services to the membership. Please consider joining them in this work of advancing faith community nursing by joining a committee of the FCNI Board.

    I would also like to thank the newer members to the Board that have provided dedication and enrichment to the stabilization of FCNI: Mary Martin (Practice Committee), Paula Staab Polk (Fund Raising Committee) Bob Kentner ( Membership Committee) Debbie Duke (Co-Chair of the Marketing Committee, Karen May (Governance Committee) and Liz Sturgeon (Journal Committee). Each in their own way is bringing their expertise to FCNI making the organization a better resource for Faith Community Nurses. Your time, talent and dedication is appreciated.

    You can see that I am blessed in having all of these faith-filled dedicated nurses to work who believe in faith community nursing. It has been my joy to be part of a bigger effort and I am grateful for having had this opportunity.

  • 06/28/2022 3:15 PM | Deleted user

     On May 12, 2022 at 6:00 PM CT a virtual FCNI Town Hall Meeting was held. There was a small number of members that participated. The numbers participating, however, did not reflect the enthusiasm, engagement and involvement of those who attended. Topics such as a Nurses Honor Guard, new faith community nursing programming post COVID, the aging of Faith Community Nurses, and Faith Community Nurse “start-up” issues were among the few topics that were raised and discussed among those participating. On August 25, 2022 the second virtual Town Hall Meeting will be held at 6:00 PM CT. There is no set agenda for this meeting. At the beginning of the meeting, those that are in attendance are asked to suggest topics for discussion. The dialogue then begins! Please plan on joining myself and other FCNI members for some time connecting and discussing issues that are on the minds of Faith Community Nurses.

    The other successful point of engagement has been the Research Article Discussion Meetings. These virtual sessions sponsored by the FCNI Research Committee offer members the opportunity to connect over a chosen article. The articles are selected and the information on the article is shared as part of the sign up for the discussion. Participants can come to the session having read the article and discuss elements of the reading that offer opportunity for rich discussion, connection and new learning. The discussion is recorded and available for review following each session. The recording from the July 22, 2022 session is now available for review.

    Please take the time to mark your calendars for the FCNI Annual Meeting which will be held on Thursday November 10, 2022.  At 6:00 PM CT will be an educational program followed by the Annual meeting at 7:00 PM CT.

    Your involvement as a Board Member, Committee Member of FCNI is always welcomed. Please contact me if you have any questions regarding committed service to FCNI.

    Have a blessed summer, stay well and have fun! 


  • 04/25/2022 2:43 PM | Deleted user

    Come One! Come All!! Please mark your calendars for a “FCNI Members Only Virtual Town Hall Meeting”. As President of FCNI, I am looking forward to hosting this opportunity to connect with you as members, as Faith Community Nurses and care givers who are working to remain positive amid very trying times. This is a new way for connecting within the FCNI organization. There is no set agenda. Those who come to the meeting will set the agenda. You may have to bear with me as this new format of connecting is piloted, but I am looking forward to this opportunity to listen and learn.

    Connection to something bigger than ourselves and our work is important. No one is looking for any more work, but at a time where we have been often been disengaged from each other, connection is something that is most important for personal well-being. Hopefully, amidst our discussions there will be some laughter, reminiscing, discussion, support and maybe even some problem solving. Who knows?? Please mark your calendars! Sit back with a cup of tea and let’s engage personally and see how the spirit moves!!   

    Looking forward to seeing you on May 12th from 6:00 – 7:00 PM CT!

    ~P. Ann Solari-Twadell RN, PhD, MPA, FAAN

  • 02/28/2022 8:14 AM | Deleted user

      At this time my hope is peace for all, but particularly our brothers and sisters in the Ukraine. Perhaps this prayer is one that represents my thoughts:

    A Prayer for Peace 

    How do we pray for peace from half a world away? 

    How can words salve and soothe real wounds, 

    Assuage real fears, Wipe tears from real eyes? 

    God of endless compassion, transform our prayers 

    From words into bridges, that span the distances 

    Between us, uniting our hearts in yours. 

    Every time we turn our keys in a lock, 

    May we remember all who are losing their homes. 

    Every time we step into our cars, 

    May we remember all who are having to flee. 

    Every time we embrace our children, 

    May we remember all who are trying to shield theirs from war. 

    May our besieged sisters and brothers 

    Be drawn into the arms of the suffering Christ, 

    And may our cry be heard as one voice, 

    Ringing out from every corner of the earth: 

    God of endless mercy, grant us peace. 

    Amen.

    P.A. Solari-Twadell RN, PhD, MPA, FAAN

    Source for this prayer.


  • 01/18/2022 1:56 PM | Deleted user

    As the pandemic continues to have its way with the lives of people from around the world, we can tend to get weary. The continual sense of threat to well-being, the disruption created in personal lives, relationships and work patterns create a low-level fatigue. Hope for a return to some level of what was considered “normal” fades. With all of this going on about us, it is easy for our resilience to be dismantled.

    Another concept that is consistent with resilience is “inner Strength”. Inner Strength is defined as “an internal developmental capacity that supports positive movement through challenging life events” (Roux & Dingley, 2011) as well as “a personal resource that promotes well-being to overcome adversities” (Lundman et al., 2010). For many “inner strength” is otherwise synonymous with their spiritual well-being. Resilience, inner strength and spirituality are very tightly related concepts for many.

    If you jive with that understanding, then how can we in these challenging times continue to be active in tending to our spiritual health or spirituality, inner strength and ultimately our resilience? The response is not rocket science, yet often a difficult discipline to sustain. Praying regularly, worshipping with other in services that consist of uplifting song, music and scripture, maintaining a connection with others of like mind who provide meaning and purpose in one’s life, someone to share, pray and laugh with no matter what is going on in the world. Being disciplined in spending “quiet time” each day to read scripture, soul fulfilling literature, and listening carefully “to that still small voice” which may provide direction in one’s “call” is also important in tending to the soul. Also, not to be discounted, diet, sleep and exercise patterns are very significant to creating energy for sustaining a healthy “soul” life.

    If you took the time to read this short entry, you could all probably add additional suggestions for how to feed your soul, renew your inner strength and exhibit resilience in life. I welcome any comments, suggestions or thoughts related to this topic as it is essential to our well-being as Faith Community Nurses.

    References   

    Roux, G., Dingley, C. (2011) Promoting inner strength. In: Lester, J., Schmitt, P. (eds) Cancer rehabilitation and survivorship. Transdisciplinary approaches to personalized care, Pittsburgh, PA: Oncology Nursing Society, pp. 295–304.

    Lundman, B., Alex, L., Jonsen, E., Norberg, A., Nygren, B., Fischer, R. S., & Strandberg, G. (2010). Inner strength A theoretical analysis of salutogenic concepts. International Journal of Nursing Studies47, 251–260. doi:10.1016/j.ijnurstu.2009.05.020.

    Submitted by P. Ann Solari-Twadell RN, PhD, MPA, FAAN, President of FCNI



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