Virginia Nurses Association: VNA Districts

District 8 comprises a wide area of Northern Virginia including the city of Alexandria and the counties of Arlington, Fairfax, Prince William, Stafford, Fauquier, Loudon, Spotsylvania and King George. Our District has the largest membership of any District in the Virginia Nurses Association. The purpose of District 8 is to foster high standards of nursing practice and to promote the professional and educational advancement of nurses.

From the time period of December 16 – December 31, 2009, District 8 is in the process of elections. We have been able to place the ballot on-line and the voting time period shall be from December 16^th – December 31, 2009.

Emails are being sent to District 8 members with the biographical summaries for each of the candidates as well as the link for the ballot.

If you have not received your email with voting directions or if you have questions please contact the VNA office at admin@virginianurses.com / 1-800-868-6877. Alternatively, you may also contact evelyngodwin@verizon.net / (703) 819-6611.

District 8 communicates with their members via an email newsletter. To request the newsletter, please send your email address to: vnadistrict8@hotmail.com. The newsletter is sent to the membership quarterly or more often as necessary, i.e. to update the membership about legislative issues during the Virginia General Assembly.

District 8 holds three general meetings three times throughout the year. One takes place on the fourth Wednesday eveing of March, one in May and the annual legislative meeting takes place on the fourth Wednesday in September. A light buffet is served and members, guests, nursing students and any interested persons are welcome to attend. For details please consult our email newsletter or email us at vnadistrict8@hotmail.com

District 8 holds four Board meetings a year. They are usually on the third Wednesday of February, April and June, and the first Saturday of October. All members, students and interested parties are invited to attend these business meetings. Because these meetings are subject to change in time and location, please email us for details.

President - Sally Bradford APRN, LCCNS

Vice President - Evelyn Godwin, RN, MS

Secretary - Mary Ann Friesen, RN, PhD, CPHQ

Treasurer - Michaela Carlini, RN, MSN

Director - Lori McLean, RN, MSN, APRN

Director at Large - Shokoofeh MacKinnon, RN, MSN

The Vice President oversees registration, education and cultural diversity. In addition, District 8 is comprised of Commissions, each of which has working committees. They carry out the business of the District under the leadership of the Board of Directors.

Commission Government Relations:
Commissioner: Natalie Pelland, RN, BS, MSN/Ed

Duties: Each year this Commission devises a program for action in dealing with national, state and local government to lobby for legislation that reflects VNA policies and positions and interacts with candidates for public office governing bodies to influence legislation affecting the profession of health care.

Commission on Professional Practice/Workplace Advocacy:
Commissioner: Courtney Farr, MSN, FNP, APRN-BC

Duties: This commission reviews and communicates the changing scope of nursing practice; reviews scientific and educational developments and trends in health care for nursing practice implications; encourages and stimulates research on the practice of nursing, devises methods of securing opinions of members and other consultants as needed; works toward the education of ethical, professional and legal standards of nursing practice.

Duties: Responsible for maintaining organizational operation and efficiency in providing the maximum service to members.