To our members:

A lot has changed since my message to you last month about the COVID-19 pandemic and its impact on all of us personally and professionally. Amid the shelter-in-place orders, evolving clinical guidelines and startling statistics, what has remained a constant is your steadfast commitment to patient care in the face of unprecedented challenges.

This is what emergency nurses do – we stand tallest when times are darkest. I cannot thank you enough for all of you have done, and continue to do, to serve your communities during a public health crisis of this magnitude.

You inspire and motivate ENA to do its very best to support our members and all emergency nurses. Today, I want to update you on some of the ways we’ve got your back:

• The recent passage of the ENA-supported CARES Act marked a positive step on the road to ensuring there is enough personal protective equipment available to meet the crushing demand for it caused by COVID-19. After speaking strongly for that important legislation, ENA continues in that effort to protect you by partnering in the #GetUsPPE campaign and donating $5,000 to help with the collection and distribution of PPE to the front lines of the COVID-19 crisis.
   
• ENA recognizes the time crunch you’re under these days and how that makes it hard to stay updated on all the latest COVID-19 information. While you can always turn to our resource page for a comprehensive guide, ENA has launched visual abstracts and COVID Bytes micro-learning videos to give you relevant content in a quick, convenient format.
   
• Supporting the work of ED nurses is a priority, but ENA wants you to know how appreciated you are. Visit ENA’s virtual card filled to get a glimpse of the outpouring of well wishes from people across the country.
   
• Finally, it’s important we all stay connected. Mark your calendar for April 10 when we present “#ENATogether with President Mike Hastings: A Virtual Town Hall” event. It will be a chance for me to engage with you about the issues and concerns that matter most.

With so much happening so quickly, I encourage you to keep an eye on ENA’s Facebook page and other social media platforms for clinical news and other updates every day.

As we know, the World Health Organization designated 2020 as the Year of the Nurse and Midwife and, of course, this is ENA’s 50th Anniversary. We knew this year was going to be big one for highlighting the amazing work of the nursing community, including emergency nurses – but no one knew our year would start like this.

Just as ED nurses do every day, we will get through this challenge. Please stay strong knowing we will have a lot to celebrate when this is all over.

Sincerely,

Mike Hastings, MSN, RN, CEN
2020 ENA President
 

See my latest video message to members here.