2020 Fall GAPNA Newsletter Volume 39 Issue 3

Triad Chapter Zooms through Covid-19 Pandemic

By Rhonda Lucas

These past few months during the COVID-19 pandemic have been trying, but the Triad Chapter of the GAPNA-North Carolina has adapted. When having an in-person leadership retreat was not feasible, 13 members of chapter leadership attended a virtual retreat on March 28, 2020 in which much vision sharing and planning was done and the participants felt more united. In fact, it was unanimously decided that the leadership retreat be an annual event for our chapter.

On May 12, 2020, the Triad Chapter held its first virtual Annual Spring Meeting with 29 in attendance. Elections were held, business was discussed, and we were fortunate to have Rev. Patricia Wright, Lead Chaplain from Annie Penn Hospital, present an educational offering “Pandora's Box: When the Lid Comes Off.” This CE presentation was centered around how the advanced nursing clinician may find ways to cope during a crisis while caring for the older adult.

Our chapter’s goal is to provide education, scholarships, and networking among our members as well as to serve our community. These changing times surrounding COVID-19 provide challenges, but the Triad Chapter is determined to see our vision through, even if the way we do it has to change. The leadership of the Triad Chapter sees this time as an opportunity to grow, both in number and in strength.

Rhonda Lucas, MSN, AGNP-C
Chapter President
rhonda_w_lucas@optum.com