INSGNA NEWSLETTER DECEMBER 2008
IN The Scope of Things Volume 3 Issue 1
President’s Message: Dianna Burns RN BS CGRN
What a great year it has been! As our committees diligently continue to restructure we have grown by leaps and bounds. The PROGRAM COMMITTEE has provided us with two awesome courses this year thanks to our generous hosts in Fort Wayne and Evansville. The committee continues to seek GI-specific content for those participants re-certifying. Mark your calendars in 2009 for our INSGNA courses: March 21, 2009 in Indianapolis and September 19, 2009 in Valparaiso. The festivities for celebration of GI Nurses and Associates Day/Week are already in the works for the March course. Plan to attend! The EDUCATION/SCHOLARSHIP COMMITTEES have been busy raising money for scholarships for our INSGNA members. Please visit the website,
It has been a busy year and we hope it continues into next year. We would love to hear your thoughts as to what your expectations of our organization are and what direction you would like to see us moving in the next few years. Have GREAT holidays! See everyone in March.
Acknowledgements: Dianna Burns RN BS CGRN
I would like to take this opportunity to thank all of our INSGNA members that are currently serving on SGNA committees:
Michelle Tyring RN BSN CGRN, Continuing Education Peer Review Group Chair
Donita Scott BSN RN CGRN, Continuing Education Peer Review Group Member
LeaRae Herron-Rice MSN RN CGRN, Practice Committee Chair
Michelle Symms MSN RN CGRN, Practice Committee Member
If I have forgotten anyone please accept my apology-and let me know!
Those serving on the ABCGN Board are: Suzanne Buchanan BSN RN CGRN, Director
Dianna Burns BS RN CGRN, President-Elect
2008 Award Winner
Marsha L. Cirgin Ellett DNS RN CGRN, Excellence in Clinical Practice Writer’s Award Outstanding Research Article Award
2002 Award Winner
Nancy Shoop BSN RN CGRN, Distinguished Service Award
Quiz Bowl
I would like to extend a special thank you to Donita Scott and Christine Milne on behalf of the INSGNA Board and INSGNA membership for their participation in the SGNA Quiz Bowl at the annual course in Salt Lake City, Utah. They did a GREAT job representing Indiana! We hope to have continued participation annually in this event. Thanks again ladies!
Thank you to all for our commitment and dedication in making our endoscopy specialty safe and effective by:
Advancing the science and practice of gastroenterology and endoscopy nursing through education, research, advocacy and collaboration AND Promoting the professional development of its members in an atmosphere of mutual support
Treasurer’s Report: Lea Anne Myers
Currently we have $15,330.89 in our checking account which is our general operating account.
We have $3,919.74 in our savings account, which is our fund for educational scholarships. We also have a CD valued at $11,092.56. This is our emergency fund to be used if we were forced to cancel a conference due to an emergency such as a disaster, etc.
Program Committee News: Ann Minnicus
The INSGNA Spring Conference will be at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Hotel and Conference Center in Indianapolis, on March 21, 2009. LeaRae Herron-Rice of the IU Medical Center will host the spring conference.
GI Nurses and Associates Day is March 25, 2009. Please send any pictures of events, activities, and/or celebrations you have had to recognize GI Nurses and Associates to Lea Rae at:
LeaRae Herron- Rice
3229 Autumn Ash Drive
Zionsville, IN 46077
Mark your calendars for the Fall INSGNA Conference to be held in Valparaiso on September 19, 2009.
In 2010, we will be celebrating the 25th anniversary of the INSGNA. We are looking for a host for this momentous occasion. Please contact me if interested at:
Ann Minnicus, Program Chair
4774 North State Road 25
Delphi, IN 46923
765-714-8524
Historian News: Suzanne Buchanan RN BSN CGRN
INSGNA will be having its 25th anniversary of first chartering to the SGNA in the year 2010. I would like to make a slide show of any and all pictures that you may have going back through the years. You can send them electronically or by mail. E-mail to
Suzanne Buchanan
2201 West Ridge Drive
Mt. Vernon, IN 47620
Multi-Regional Conference: Suzanne Buchanan RN BSN CGRN
The 16th Annual SGNA Multi-Regional Conference was held in Peoria, Illinois. Registrants had the opportunity to earn 9.25 contact hours for the conference. Topics were Bariatric Surgery and Issues, Barrett’s Esophagus, Crohn’s disease, Infection in the Endoscopy suite, ERCP, Vitamins and Supplements, and Livin’, Laughin’ and Learnin’. Three additional contact hours could be earned from optional courses provided by Olympus who also brought their on-site mobile showroom. Another contact hour was available from a crossword puzzle.
For those of you who do not know what the Multi-Regional is, it is made up of 7 regions:
Indiana, Kentucky, Ohio, Central Illinois, Chicago, Wisconsin, and Michigan. Two representatives from each region meet early in the year to plan the conference that usually falls on the third weekend in October. The conference was designed to mimic the national annual course to give GI nurses in our region the opportunity to attend an educational event with well known speakers and to earn GI specific contact hours without having to travel long distances. The conference hosting responsibility is rotated among the states and it will be held in Ohio next year.
The certification exam is usually offered on the Sunday of the conference. This gives those wanting to sit for the exam the chance to earn some contact hours at the same time.
Please watch for the information that will be mailed out next year for the conference. You can also find information on the website
2008 SGNA Regional Leadership Conference: Donita Scott
In October, I had the opportunity to attend the SGNA 12th Annual Society Leadership Conference in Chicago. The theme of the conference was let SGNA Light the Way to Your Vision, Knowledge, and Potential! This conference offered valued information and net-working opportunities. I was not only fortunate to spend time with our own regional society leaders-President Dianna Burns BS RN CGRN and President-elect Lea Anne Myers BSN RN CGRN, but with some of our leaders at the national level- President Lisa Heard BSN RN CGRN; President-elect Theresa Vos MS RN CGRN, and Director of Education Deb Huber MSN ARNP N CGRN. It was both exciting and enlightening to see the building of our organization, its growth and its future. I count it a privilege to be a part of such a strong and responsible organization.
Scholarship Committee: Donita Scott BSN RN CGRN
The Scholarship Committee continues to serve you with available funding. Funds are available not only to attend spring, fall, Multi-Regional, and Annual Courses but for certification and re-certification reimbursement as well. Criteria for eligibility shall be limited to INSGNA/SGNA members in good standing for a minimum of one year. Applications will be available through me or the website. Our 50/50 raffle continues to serve as a success. The committee is looking forward to having a new and exciting fundraiser for the fall conference. We are open to any suggestions, questions, or volunteers willing to work as a committee member.
Scholarship applications will be completed and forwarded to me prior to the deadline.
Scholarship Deadlines:
December 1st-certification and re-certification reimbursement after successfully passing the exam
February 1st- SGNA Annual Education Course
February 15th- Spring INSGNA Education Course
August 15th- Fall and Multi-Regional Course
Please send to:
Donita Scott
438 N. Bosart Ave
Indianapolis, IN 46201
H 317-359-1340
W 317-274-0984
Fax 317-278-3178
Membership Committee: Betty Wright
The membership committee is considering sending out postcards to non-members who have attended our conferences to encourage them to join INSGNA. The membership committee has three new members: Jane Scott, Deb Nesbitt, and Nancy Bright. We will be meeting in the coming months to call non-members concerning joining INSGNA. Our membership numbers remain at 188.
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