FUTURE COLLEAGUES: Nekisha Balfour (left) and Nathalie Guzman, nursing students at the school of nursing at the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey, share a moment of camaraderie at the 57th annual New Jersey State Nursing Association meeting in February in Atlantic City. courtesy Nancy Malaga

Since 1999, when "To Err is Human" was made public, more than 30 states have adopted statutes to prevent medical errors. While some address education and training of healthcare personnel, others require physician disclosure and allow withholding of insurance payments if a medical error occurs.

Nahomie Eloy, a nursing student at the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey, Newark, NJ, said her professors discuss medical errors and prevention every week.

"It's an issue we are made aware of," said Nathalie Guzman, also a student nurse at UMDNJ. "All nurses have to be patient advocates. We need to educate the patients, as well. Not enough has been done."

Dean & Directors Luncheon

In addition to Gibson's presentation and more than 50 breakout sessions, Sylvia Rayfield, MN, RN, CNS, spoke at the deans and directors' annual luncheon held in the Rain Forest dining room on the second floor of the Trump Taj Majal.

Rayfield is an entrepreneur and chair of the board of Sylvia Rayfield & Associates Inc., president of Pathways Inc., and executive director/principal of ICAN Publishing Inc. The topic she discussed, reenergizing nursing education, was of interest to Melissa Salort, MA, BSN, RN, and Margaret Hayes, MSN, RN, CNE, both assistant professors of nursing at Bergen Community College, Paramus, NJ.

NURSE LEADERS: Marjorie Smith, MS, RN-BC, (left), and Marti Kaelin, MA, RN, (center), faculty members at the Mountainside Hospital School of Nursing, Mountainside, NJ, dine at the Trump Taj Majal, Atlantic City, NJ, with Barbara Chamberlain, DNSc, APN-C, CCRN, WCC, corporate director of clinical education and research at Kennedy Health System, Cherry Hill, NJ, during the 57th annual New Jersey Nursing Students Association. photo by Nancy Malaga

"This is an interesting approach I am going to consider adopting," Salort said.

New Officers

New officers were elected at the convention. They are:

·        President: Regina Adams of Capital Health System School of Nursing, Trenton;

·        First vice president: Marie Mupada, RN, of Monmouth University, Long Branch;

·        Second vice president: Grant Shea of Ocean County College, Toms River;

·        Secretary: Sharon James of Helene Fuld School of Nursing, Blackwood;

·        Treasurer: Jannara Crawford of Middlesex County College, Edison;

·        Community health director: Adam Ramadan of Felician College, Lodi;

·        Public relations director/Pulsebeat editor: Danielle Lauda of Capital Health System School of Nursing;

·        Membership/nominations director: Denise Abbruzzese of Charles E. Gregory School of Nursing, Old Bridge;

·        Fundraising director: Nana Y. Yeboah of Capital Health System School of Nursing;

·        Legislative director: Amy Collazo of Charles E. Gregory School of Nursing;

·        Parliamentarian: Barbara Chamberlain, PhD, APRN; and

·        NJSNA consultant: Sandra Kearns, MSN, RN, CNE.

Nancy Malaga is regional editor at ADVANCE.