Massachusetts Association of Registered Nurses

Massachusetts Association of Registered Nurses

Massachusetts Association of Registered Nurses

Massachusetts Association of Registered Nurses

Committee Charters 2013 – 2016

MARN Mission Statement: Massachusetts Association of Registered Nurses (MARN) is committed to the advancement of the profession of nursing and of quality patient care across the Commonwealth.
Date of Charter Development: July 2013
Awards and Living Legends Committee
Committee Chair(s): Maura Fitzgerald
Committee Meeting Schedule:The Awards and Living Legends Committees meet in person in June and by teleconference 2-3 other times each year.
Statement of Congruence between the Committee to the Mission Statement:
The Awards and Living Legends Committees are committed to the advancement of the profession of nursing by annually honoring the accomplishments & contributions of our colleagues at the MARN Awards dinner. The Awards committee also advances the profession by presenting the Davis and Fitzgerald Scholarships each year at the Awards dinner. These scholarships allow the recipients to advance their education or career by attending school or a nursing conference, or working on a humanitarian aid project.
Goal(s) of the Committee for 2013 - 2016:
1)To have at least two nominations for each award and scholarship
2)To present 1-2 Living Legend Awards each year.
3)To develop one new scholarship & or award
4)To solicit applications for annual MARN awards and scholarships, review applications, and select the most deserving awardees as agreed upon the committee that reflects the awards and scholarship criteria and mission of MARN.
5)To host the annual MARN Awards dinner
ByLaws Committee
Committee Chair(s): Mary McKenzie
Committee Meeting Schedule: as needed
Statement of Congruence between the Committee to the Mission Statement
none
Goal(s) of the Committee for 2013 - 2016:
Present bylaw changes and review policies annually
Conference Planning Committee
Committee Chair(s): Cynthia LaSala
Committee Meeting Schedule: As needed, usually monthly.
Statement of Congruence between the Committee to the Mission Statement
Inherent in the commitment to advancing the profession of nursing and of promotingquality patient care is the notion of life-long learning related to professional issues across all nursing roles and settings. The Committee provides this resource to nurses in the commonwealth.
Goal(s) of the Committee for 2013 - 2016:
  1. Provide relevant continuing education programs that address the educational needs of professional nurses and nursing students across Massachusetts at a reasonable cost.
  2. To increase attendance at each educational offering in order to increase MARN’s visibility and membership.
  3. To explore alternative methods of providing nursing continuing education.
  4. Establish procedures and guidelines for committee activities that can be followed by succeeding committees e.g. selection of topics and speakers, timelines, exhibitor contacts and forms, poster submissions, etc.
  5. Recruit additional Committee members to enable the Committee to not only maintain its current activities but explore other innovative educational programming alternatives while maintaining communication, cohesion and support.

Continuing Education Committee/Accredited Approver Unit
Nurse Peer Review Leader: Judy L. Sheehan, MSN, RN
Committee Meeting Schedule:
Monthly meetings are held, usually face-to-face but may be via conference call on the first Wednesday of the month. Recently, the dates have been fluid for the sake of convenience. Meetings have recently been divided alternately: Full meetings for the entire group and Executive Meetings of the Nurse Peer Review Leader and Senior Nurse Peer Reviewers only in an effort to be sensitive to the ability of nurse peer reviewers competing employment time schedule.
Statement of Congruence between the Committee to the Mission Statement
The Approver Unit supports the vision and values of MARN by insuring that nurses throughout the Commonwealth and beyond have available to them, the highest standards of continuing nursing education through ANCC accreditation. Life-long learning is the responsibility of all professional nurses in order to insure the nurse’s ability to respond to the ever changing health care environment and the health care needs of the population.
Annual Goals 2013
1.To implement the 2013 ANCC criteria including certification of all nurse peer reviewers and distribution of all new forms and applications to providers.
2.To move the function of the committee to an electronic rather than paper milieu; to make agenda, minutes and other documents available for committee members to review on line in a CEC web site developed and monitored by the NPRL.
3.To continue to work on moving toward an electronic activity application process.
4.To reevaluate the work flow of the committee; to utilize support systems as appropriate.
5.To continue to provider an educational provider symposium in both the Eastern and Western sections of MA.
6.To continue to focus on recruitment and retention of peer reviewers on the Accredited Approver Unit and to adjust meeting times and agendas to better meet the needs of peer reviewers; to reassess the orientation process via a sub-committee
7.To investigate new sources of revenue for the CEC e.g. consultation.
8.To continue to remain up to date with ANCC information via such activities as monitoring the ANCC web site and attendance at ANCC educational workshops or webinars.
9.To continue to monitor the CEC/Approver Unit Outcomes/Evaluation Plan on an ongoing and as needed basis.
10.To maintain a relationship with the MARN Board of Directors to facilitate the work of the CEC via working closely with the liaison and attending the quarterly BOD Chair meetings.
11.To utilize the forum of the MARN Newsletter to communicate with actual and potential providers.
Goal(s) of the Committee for 2013 - 2016:
  1. Change in operations to achieve strategic goals by moving the Approver Unit from dependence on volunteers to a sustainable business model
  2. Operational improvements
  3. Introduce an electronic version of the Individual Activity application

Health Policy Committee
Committee Chair(s): Maura Flynn
Committee Meeting Schedule:
The HPC will meet every other month on a weekday evening TBD by the committee. At least 4 meetings will be face-to-face and others will be via conference call or other meeting technology. Additional meetings will be added as needed depending on pertinent legislative activity.
Statement of Congruence between the Committee to the Mission Statement:
The Health Policy Committee will advocate for patients and the profession of nursing through policy and legislation consistent with the MARN mission and vision.
Goal(s) of the Committee for 2013 - 2016:
HPC will:
  1. Identify a legislative platform
  2. Educate and engage members on legislative and policy issues
  3. Establish a visible presence at the State House and educate legislators and policy-makers on nursing priorities.

Membership Committee
Committee Chair(s): Janet Ross
Committee Meeting Schedule:Monthly meetings until all goals have been achieved.
Statement of Congruence between the Committee to the Mission Statement:
The work of the Membership Committee supports the advancement of both professional nursing and quality patient care within the MARN organization.
Goal(s) of the Committee for 2013 - 2016:
  1. Develop a committee charter that clearly and concisely articulates the value of the committee, concise statement(s) of purpose, goals, and prescribed outcome measures of success or rationale for sunset and/or to repurpose itself into a contemporary task force centered on a selected/focused issue.
  2. Develop operating policies and procedures within the first 12-months of the approval of this organizational plan, to include at minimum term limits for committee members and chair, as well as the process for becoming the committee chair.
  3. Organize, publicize and hold at least two networking events which will encourage social and collegial interactions between MARN members across a wide range of nursing practice experience within the first 12-months of the approval of this organizational plan.
  4. Reach out to at least 15 current MARN members who might potentially want to join either the Membership or another MARN committee, focusing efforts on contacting 5 members each from three equally-sized groups: long-term, medium and shorter-term members.
  5. Achieve a core Membership Committee group of 6 to 8 nurses.
  6. Learn to use the technology (both in the form of equipment and support) as advised by a technology consultant to meet the committee’s approved strategic plan.
  7. Develop a committee participation mentoring program, by obtaining volunteers from each MARN committee who are willing to reach out to any member who is interested in joining their committee.
  8. Once goal 5 is achieved, re-populate ¼ of each committee per year with new members, in collaboration with the marketing/branding consultant’s recommendations, and the Board of Directors.
  9. Increase the attendance at the annual business meeting by 5% per year, in collaboration with the technology consultant’s recommendations, and the Board of Directors.

Newsletter Committee
Committee Chair(s): Myra Cacace
Committee Meeting Schedule:Face to face meeting at least annually and by email on a quarterly and as needed basis
Statement of Congruence between the Committee to the Mission Statement
TheMAssachusetts Report on Nursing reports on the organization’s leadership and advocacy efforts and provides education to enhance practice.
Goal(s) of the Committee for 2013 - 2016:
1. Increase timely article submission by new authors from various practice venues and by others with important information pertinent to the profession.
2. Timely distribution to maximize the ability to articulate the message of the organization
Nominations Committee
Committee Chair(s): Judy Beal
Committee Meeting Schedule:The Nominations Committee meets 3-4 times in late winter and early spring to recruit candidates and prepare a slate for elections and as necessary for any special elections.
Statement of Congruence between the Committee to the Mission Statement
MARN is committed to the advancement of the profession… The Nominations Committee’s work supports this mission by selecting candidates who are well qualified professionals who are dedicated to the profession of nursing.
The mission shall be unrestricted… The Nominations Committee’s work supports this mission by recruiting a diverse candidate pool for the slate.
Goal(s) of the Committee for 2013 - 2016:
  1. To establish leadership criteria for positions and a vetting process for candidates.
  2. To recruit and prepare a slate of candidates for the ANA Membership Assembly
  3. To recruit and prepare a slate of candidates for the annual election of officers

Technology Committee
Committee Chair(s): Susan Conrad, acting
Committee Meeting Schedule:Virtual meetings once a month, usually first Monday at 5PM.
Statement of Congruence between the Committee to the Mission Statement
The activities of the Technology Committeeare directed tobetter utilizing technology as a tool to accomplish the Association's mission, vision, and functions.
Goal(s) of the Committee for 2013 - 2016: Goals 2013 – 2014
1)Evaluate the upgraded MARN website, monitor the traffic, and make recommendations for improvements to increase traffic.
2) Provide education to board members and committee chairs on the upgraded website and/or SkyDrive.
3) Increase participation by professional nursing organizations in the Community Calendar
4) Investigate the role of technology and this committee in the marketing of MARN.

MARN is a constituent member of the American Nurses Association

PO Box 285 ~ Milton, MA02186 ~ 617-990-2856

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