Conference

WELCOME ADDRESS

As the founding President of the American Association of Indian Nurses of New Jersey– Chapter 2, I consider it my privilege to welcome you, to our very first educational seminar.

The AAIN- NJ2 is a nonprofit association, registered and

incorporated in the state of New Jersey. The formation of this

association was conceived at the corporate level of the

St. Barnabas Health Care System, to which we are extremely

grateful.

Our vision is to retain, recruit, encourage, support, promote, and

facilitate the growth of immigrant nurses, in America. In short be a voice for Indian Nurses in America with relation to health care issues and policies.

The mission of the association is to foster professional development of nurses of Indian origin or heritage through higher education, knowledge, and skills to become the best we can, as well as create opportunities to network with other professional organizations and institutions, and be actively involved in local and national events.

The theme for this seminar “Integrating Diversity – Creating Change” is apt, as it is estimated that one in three Americans is an ethnic minority. As Immigrant nurses we are faced with challenges ,be it providing culturally and linguistically competent health care services, or diversity issues among colleagues, patients and multidisciplinary interactions of all sorts, The incredibly shrinking planet, a reference made by Walt Disney and put to music “It is a small world after all” rightly showcases the interdependence and awareness of the fragility of the people and its environment in a global village , No matter how similar or different we are, one from the other, we are all in this together.

This seminar has been planned by staff nurses, nurse practitioners and educators of Indian origin from different hospital systems across the state of New Jersey. A sponsorship from- “The Johnson and Johnson Campaign for Nursings Future” has been a tremendous boost to our fledgling organization. To know that large companies are concerned about nursings ’ future in America and willing to partner with nursing fraternity at large ,is noteworthy,. Collaborating with foreign educated nurses on issues concerning migration, integration, and lifelong learning is a step in the right direction.

In a short span of three years we have received encouraging support from the SBHCS, UMDNJ, HUMC,RWJUH, PNAA and NJBNA. AAPI has invited us to collaborate with them in contributing towards better health care. We plan to participate in a research project titled “South Asian Total Health Initiative” that has emerged out of UMDNJ and the RWJUH.

While we have accomplished much, I am reminded of a famous oft repeated quote by the

first Prime Minister of our country India , Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru, “The woods are lovely, dark and deep, but I have promises to keep, and miles to go before I sleep and miles to go before I sleep/ This is no time to rest on our laurels. We have much to accomplish before we can hand the baton to the next generation. With this in mind I take the opportunity to urge nurses in the audience to be part of an association, while strengthening your personal and professional growth. ,Let your voices be heard and show the community we serve that we have been and will be making a difference in the lives of people in this country.

Finally this event would not have been possible without the support of well wishers friends and especially our husbands and children and senior Nursing leaders . I would like to thank Ms Theresa Rejrat, Vice President /CNO of UMDNJ for encouraging me and stimulating my thoughts during the planning phase of this event. My executive members you sailed with me during the rough storms and endured the weather, Truly you were a great team to work with Thank you. Welcome and thank you to our National President Dr Omana Simon for flying all the way from Houston Texas to be with us. I would also like to welcome MS Babar Chamberlain, President of NJSNA ,Ms Nancy Holecek Senior Vice President of SBHCS,Ms Lyn Kearney Senior VP/CNO RWJUH ,Dr Lorraine Steefel and MS Aleyamma Samuel.

We also welcome Ms Anju Bhargava, President of Indian association of Livingston who serves on President Obamas advisory council on faith based and neighbor partnership, focusing on economic recovery, community development and global social change.

As a famous song writer states: “It’s the common threads that bind us, and our work will never cease, till we stitch this world together piece by piece.” (John Mc Cutcheon)

Thank you for the overwhelming response.

God Bless you, God Bless America, God Bless the nations of this world.

Lydia Albuquerque RN, MSN, CCRN

After a warm welcome by President Lydia Albuquerque, Ms. Nancy Holecek was felicitated for her role in encouraging and supporting the formation of AAIN-NJ2. In her speech Ms. Holecek spoke of her delight at being able to attend the event and pledged to continue to support the organizations activities. She presented a generous check to the organization and was one of the main sponsors of the event.

In attendance were leaders from all leading hospitals in New Jersey and over a 100 registered nurses – not only of Indian decent but other minorities too who wished to take advantage of the seminar. The purpose of the day long seminar was to equip foreign educated nurses with knowledge and skills necessary to face challenges of migration, integration and life-long learning. Speaking on this issue was Dr. Kem Louie, PhD, APN, FAAN, an Associate Professor and Director of Undergraduate studies at William Paterson University in Wayne NJ, the Past president Of AAPINA and the secretary of NCEMNA. This first time event was a huge success as it also provided contact hours to the nurses who participated.

A sponsorship from- “The Johnson and Johnson Campaign for Nurses Future” provided a tremendous boost to the fledgling organization and to display their strong commitment Mr. Anwar Feroz was present. In her address President Albuquerque said “to know that large companies are concerned about nurses’ future in America is noteworthy. Collaborating with foreign educated nurses on issues concerning migration, integration, and lifelong learning is a step in the right direction.”

In a short span of three years, AAIN NJ2 has received encouraging support from the SBHCS, UMDNJ, HUMC, RWJUH, PNAA and NJBNA. Dr. Hemant Patel Past President of American Association of Physicians of Indian origin presented an invitation to collaborate with them in contributing towards better health care. AAIN NJ 2 plans to participate in a research project titled “South Asian Total Health Initiative” that has emerged out of UMDNJ and the RWJUH.

Ms. …….of the St. Barnabas Hospital was also felicitated for her role in providing support and guidance to the foreign nurses while Dr. Leo Felix Jurado, National President of Filipino Nurses Association of America were present and promised continued encouragement, support and definite possibilities of working together to make the association grow in leaps and bounds.

With a vision to retain, recruit, encourage, support, promote, and facilitate the growth of immigrant nurses, in America, the Seminar’s theme was apt, as it is estimated that one in three Americans is an ethnic minority. The mission of the association is to foster professional development of nurses of Indian origin or heritage through higher education, knowledge, and skills to become the best we can, as well as create opportunities to network with other professional organizations and institutions, and be actively involved in local and national events.

In her closing remarks, President Lydia Albuquerque summed it all up by quoting Robert Frost “The woods are lovely, dark and deep, but I have promises to keep, and miles to go before I sleep and miles to go before I sleep.”

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AAINJ 2 hosts Educational Seminar

“Integrating Diversity – Creating Change”

Saturday, June 13th, 2009, Union, NJ: The American Association of Indian Nurses of New Jersey, Chapter 2 hosted a one day Educational seminar: Integrating Diversity - Creating Change at the Clinton Manor in New Jersey over the weekend. The seminar has been planned by staff nurses, nurse practitioners and educators of Indian origin from different hospital systems across the state of New Jersey.

The morning was inaugurated by a symbolic lamp lighting ceremony conducted by founding President Lydia Albuquerque, Ms Nancy Holecek, Senior Vice president St Barnabas Health Care system. Ms Theresa Rejrat, Vice President and Chief Nursing Officer University of Medicine and Dentistry (UMDNJ), Dr Omana Simon President of National Association of Indian Nurses of America, Barbara Chamberlain, President of New Jersey State Nurses Association, Dr Lorraine Steefel, Ms Lynn Kearney Vice president and Chief nursing officer, Robert wood Johnson University Hospital Rahway, Ms. Aleyamma Samuel, President AAINJ1 and Ms. Anju Bhargava, President of Livingston American Association of Indian in Livingston and a Member of President Obama’s Advisory Committee for Interfaith based groups.