As 2026 got underway, the South Carolina Nurses Association began the year with a deep sense of gratitude, purpose, and responsibility. The early months reflected not only momentum, but also a renewed commitment to serving nurses across South Carolina with intention, transparency, and collaboration. From global conversations to local engagement, SCNA entered the year focused on listening, learning, and leading alongside the nurses we are honored to represent.
In early January, I had the privilege of representing SCNA at the Ghana Diaspora Nursing Alliance Conference in Accra, Ghana. On January 3, 2026, I participated in a panel discussion on policy and nursing advocacy before an inspiring audience of more than 400 nurses and healthcare professionals. The dialogue was thoughtful, energetic, and affirming. The many questions and exchanges that followed reinforced a powerful truth: regardless of geography, nurses share common challenges, hopes, and a collective desire to shape systems that better serve patients and communities. I returned home deeply encouraged by the global strength of our profession and the value of shared learning.
Just days later, on January 11, 2026, SCNA’s Board of Directors and Chapter Officers gathered for a day-long orientation focused on governance, operations, strategic planning, and goal setting. It was energizing to witness leaders coming together with openness, curiosity, and a shared commitment to stewarding the Association well. A highlight of the day was the board orientation presentation by Matt Troiani, Senior Deputy General Counsel for the American Nurses Enterprise. His thoughtful and comprehensive presentation helped ground our leadership in best practices and reinforced our alignment with the broader American Nurses Enterprise, strengthening our foundation for the work ahead.
SCNA also continued to grow through meaningful partnerships. Early in the year, we engaged new partners such as Healing Politics and Johnson & Johnson. These relationships expanded our capacity to advocate more effectively, offer relevant programming, and explore innovative ways to support nurses across the state. We are grateful for partners who recognize the value of investing in nurses and nursing leadership.
At the same time, our team and volunteers were already hard at work preparing for a full calendar of events and initiatives. Planning was underway for 2026 Nurses Week, the SCNA Annual 5K on May 30, 2026, and the 6th Annual Psychiatric Nursing Symposium on May 15, 2026. In response to the needs voiced by our members, SCNA launched a Psych Mental Health Support Group for psychiatric nurses and celebrated the Acute Care Chapter’s first Meet & Greet in January. We additionally soft-launched our APRN Entrepreneur Chapter on February 11, 2026, with a goal of connecting APRN entrepreneurs to mentorship, capacity expanding opportunities and more. We are planning to expand this chapter to our RN and LPN communities as well. These efforts reflect our ongoing commitment to connection, well-being, and professional community. We were also excited to prepare for the inaugural Acute Care Symposium, held on May 8, 2026.
Advocacy remained a cornerstone of our work. Plans moved forward for Legislative Day on February 26, followed by the Healing Politics Campaign School on February 27, 2026. Both offerings were designed to equip nurses with the knowledge and confidence to engage in the policy process and lend their voices to decisions that impact care delivery and the profession.
We also continue to encourage members and partners to visit www.scnurses.org to nominate deserving colleagues for the SCNA DAISY Awards, the Judith C. Thompson Nurse Accomplice Award, and the Dr. Stephanie Burgess Nurse Advocacy Award. These honors provide an opportunity to celebrate excellence, allyship, and courageous advocacy within our nursing community.
Looking ahead, we committed to spending more time in direct conversation with nurses across South Carolina. Plans are being set in motion for a statewide road show, including visits to schools of nursing and hospitals, to better understand the needs, aspirations, and challenges facing nurses in different practice settings. We continue to expand our efforts to support the events and initiatives of other nursing-focused organizations, recognizing that our collective strength is greatest when we work together.
As the first quarter of 2026 unfolded, the message remained clear to me: SCNA’s role is to serve, amplify, and advocate. By harnessing The Power of Nurses™, we are positioning the Association for thoughtful, future-focused growth, while uplifting voices, strengthening advocacy, and remaining steadfast in our commitment to nurses across South Carolina. I am grateful for the trust placed in this organization and look forward to all we will accomplish together.
It is my honor and privilege to serve as your Executive Director, a role that I do not take lightly. My pledge to you is simple: To show up, do the work, fight for our profession, and to continue to find avenues to elevate the profession of nursing.
