Live from Baltimore

At first, it was kind of eerie. Then, it was over the top funny, pertinent, just right. The video that opened the Welcome, Award, Presentation and Keynote Address today was pre-taped at a real emergency department from the vantage point of the patient (ostensibly, ENA President William T. Briggs), whose face you never see, suffering a heart attack. During the video, the patient codes three times and is brought back to life while the nurse’s words feature the theme of the conference: STAT—Strengthen, Transform and Transcend. Finally, a syringe containing the lifesaving annual conference is used to revive the patient. The video ends, and the lights dim. A spotlight shines on another part of the stage, this time on the real patient lying on a stretcher. Briggs sits up and says, “That’s just what I needed.”

A great entrance begot a fast-paced general session that showcased introductions to the association’s leadership, the 2009 Annual Conference Committee headed by Kathleen Emde, the board of the Board of Certification for Emergency Nursing and the Exhibitor Advisory Council. ENA Foundation Chair Patricia Kunz Howard presented an update on the foundation while the 2009 scholarships and research grants scrolled down on the screens, followed by the presentation of the national awards.

Briggs commented on Strengthen (part of the conference theme) when he said, “Our strength comes from reaching out to each other. We are stronger together than we are separately, and, together, we have engaged in a long-term strategy to strengthen ENA leaders at the national, state and local levels, to expand our influence on emergency nursing, shaping the future of the profession and advancing our advocacy interests for safe patient care.”

Keynote speaker Juliet Funt roused the audience with her presentation “Overcommitted, Overwhelmed and Over It!  Attendees shared many aha moments and bouts of laughter, a joyful way to end this always-packed session.

J.L.