As the Preventive Cardiovascular Nurses Association enters its 13th year, we have steadily grown to our current membership of over 1800 healthcare professionals, with members across the United States as well as Canada, South America, Africa, Asia, and Europe. As incoming president, I am honored to represent the PCNA and also humbled to follow the distinguished nursing leaders who have served in this role.
The 11th Annual PCNA Symposium, entitled "Cardiovascular Risk Reduction [horizontal ellipsis] and all that jazz" was recently held in New Orleans, March 31 to April 2, 2005, at the Sheraton New Orleans Hotel. Approximately 500 people and 45 exhibitors attended.
The global view of cardiovascular risk reduction was the focus of the meeting and included lectures on women's health and ethnic disparities, obesity, hypertension, smoking cessation, diabetes, peripheral arterial disease, depression, and heart failure, as well as acute coronary syndromes. A new category was added on the topic of writing for publication and was well attended. We were, again, fortunate to have renowned physician and nurse speakers from around the country. A preconference workshop was offered for basic clinical assessment and treatment of dyslipidemia, hypertension, and diabetes for those clinicians who are entering the cardiovascular field. In addition, we were honored to have two nationally known speakers: LeAnn Thieman, author of Chicken Soup for the Caregiver's Soul, and Suzanne Gordon, author of From Silence to Voice: What Nurses Know and Must Communicate to the Public. Thieman spoke at the leadership luncheon on the subject "Balancing Your Life, Living Your Priorities," where select members who have dedicated their time to support PCNA were honored. Suzanne Gordon closed the meeting with an inspirational talk on the subject "From Silence to Voice: Placing Nursing Center Stage."
PCNA is dedicated to promoting nursing leadership through education and research and I am delighted to report that this year we received a record-breaking 32 abstracts and posters that were presented relating to patient education and management.
We would like to acknowledge the generous support of our sponsors. These contributions have not only supported the annual meeting but also allowed for various membership benefits and assistance with scholarships, which reduce the cost of the meeting for some members. We sincerely thank the following sponsors: American Diabetes Association; American Dietetic Association; American Heart Association Councils on Cardiovascular Nursing; Nutrition, Physical Activity and Metabolism; and Epidemiology and Prevention; AstraZeneca Pharmaceuticals; Atherotech; A&D Medical; Bayer; Cholestech; General Mills, Inc, Cheerios; Johnson & Johnson; Kos Pharmaceuticals, Inc; Merck/Schering-Plough Pharmaceuticals; Pfizer, Inc; and Quaker Oats. We would also like to acknowledge our Corporate Sponsors. Please see below for a listing of our Platinum, Gold, Silver, and Bronze Level Sponsors.
In closing, I would like to thank our members for their continued support. They are men and women, many of whom have families and lead busy professional lives, who find the time to support PCNA. We could not exist without the dedication of our members. Cardiovascular disease prevention and treatment is an ongoing process of education as well as medical treatment and could not be accomplished without the valued contribution that all of you make. We will continue as an organization to support that education with new programs and tools. I look forward to representing PCNA and working with you in the coming year.
Sincerely,
Janet B. Long
Section Description
The Journal of Cardiovascular Nursing is the official journal of the Preventive Cardiovascular Nurses Association. PCNA is the leading nursing organization dedicated to preventing cardiovascular disease through assessing risk, facilitating lifestyle changes, and guiding individuals to achieve treatment goals.