About

California ENA

About ENA

1. To promote and implement the philosophy and objectives of the National Association on the State level;
2. To provide leadership by identifying and addressing issues affecting emergency care and emergency nursing practice on the State level;
3. To maintain liaison with State professional organizations and agencies including but not limited to:
* California Chapter American College of Emergency Physicians (Cal ACEP);
* California Emergency Medical Service Authority (EMSA);
* California Board of registered Nursing (BRN);
* California Nursing Coalition.
4. State legislative issues affecting emergency care, emergency nursing practice, and public healthcare issues;
5. To develop, maintain and monitor a statewide emergency nursing network structure to address professional issues;
6. To provide continuing education opportunities on the State level;
7. To promote Injury Prevention activities through the Emergency Nurses CARE (ENCARE) Institute;
8. To implement all Bylaws and Standard Procedures on the State Level; and
9. To serve as a resource for Chapters within the State in accordance with Bylaws and Standard Procedures.

California Five-Year Strategic Plans

California ENA

1. To promote and implement the philosophy and objectives of the National Association on the State level;
2. To provide leadership by identifying and addressing issues affecting emergency care and emergency nursing practice on the State level;
3. To maintain liaison with State professional organizations and agencies including but not limited to:
* California Chapter American College of Emergency Physicians (Cal ACEP);
* California Emergency Medical Service Authority (EMSA);
* California Board of registered Nursing (BRN);
* California Nursing Coalition.
4. State legislative issues affecting emergency care, emergency nursing practice, and public healthcare issues;
5. To develop, maintain and monitor a statewide emergency nursing network structure to address professional issues;
6. To provide continuing education opportunities on the State level;
7. To promote Injury Prevention activities through the Emergency Nurses CARE (ENCARE) Institute;
8. To implement all Bylaws and Standard Procedures on the State Level; and
9. To serve as a resource for Chapters within the State in accordance with Bylaws and Standard Procedures.

Emergency Nurses Association Vision

  • ENA leads the way in knowledge, resources, and responsiveness for emergency nurses, their patients and families.

Emergency Nurses Association Mission Statement

  • The California ENA’s mission is to advance excellence in emergency nursing and to be the premier organization for the emergency nursing community in California through leadership, research education, and advocacy.

Emergency Nurses Association Values

Derived from the vision of ENA’s co-founders, Judith Kelleher and Anita Dorr, ENA’s priorities are guided by these values and beliefs. California ENA believes in…

  • Inclusion and contributions of nursing, in collaboration with healthcare partners, to explore innovative solutions to the challenges facing emergency care delivery.
  • Compassion as an essential element of the emergency nursing profession.
  • Diversity, equity, and inclusion.
  • Excellence in emergency care.
  • Lifelong learning and a culture of inquiry for integrating evidence-based research into emergency nursing practice.
  • Honesty and integrity.
  • The spirit of philanthropy.

We place the highest value on our members for their contributions to the care of patients and their families, the emergency nursing profession, and our organization.

Cal ENA History

Updated edition of the early History of ENA – “In The Beginning, We Were Roadrunners

Past Officers of California ENA

Archives & History

Some California ENA records are deposited with the UCSF Library Archives. They are not accepting collections from new organizations, as they do not have the staff or the space. We are very lucky to be able to deposit our records.

The Museum of Medical History in Sacramento at 5380 Elvas Ave. is the depository for all equipment of ages past. It is a wonderful place to see some of the instruments and equipment used in the past. I even remember using some of it. My reason for being there was the celebration of the 100th anniversary of the Children’s Hospital Nurse’s Alumnae Association of San Francisco. The Alumnae Association learned about the UC Archives when it first opened; that is how Cal ENA now has a deposit of records there.

The Cadet Nurse Corps

Liz Taylor, Cal ENA Historian – My Background:

In 1945 after I had just entered nursing school the war ended so I did not have a military assignment. My entire nursing school education was paid for. We also received $5/mo. during our “probie” period, $10 /mo. the next 2 years and then $15 /mo. the last 6 mo. Uniforms, books and all equipment was paid for besides. What a deal that was.

CADET NURSE PLEDGE
“At this moment of my induction into the United States Cadet Nurse Corps of the United States Public Health Service, I am solemnly aware of the obligations:
I assume toward my country and toward my chosen profession;
I will follow faithfully the teachings of my instructors and the guidance of the physicians with whom I work;
I will hold in trust the finest traditions of nursing and the spirit of the Corps;
I will keep my body strong, my mind alert, and my heart steadfast;
I will be kind tolerant, and understanding;
Above all, I will dedicate myself now and forever
to the triumph of life over death;
As a Cadet Nurse, I pledge to my country my service
in essential nursing for the duration of the war.”

History Timeline

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April 1942
Ten thousand nurses were in the Army and Navy. An additional 10,000 were needed by July 1942.
77th Congress appropriated funds for the training of nurses by refresher courses; post-graduate education in special fields; and increased student enrollment in basic nursing schools through the Labor Federal Security Agency Appropriation Act of 1942.
1943
Army issued a call for a total corps of 35,000 nurses.
March 20, 1943
Representative Frances Payne Bolton (R-Ohio) introduced a bill to “provide for the training of nurses for the armed forces, governmental and civilian hospitals, health agencies, and war industries through grants to institutions providing for training and for other purposes.”
July 1, 1943
The Nurse Training Act became Public Law 74.
June 23, 1943
The Public Health Service’s (PHS) division of Nursing was established and Lucile Petry was appointed the director of the Division of Nurse Education and head of the Cadet Nurse Corps.
1944
12,000 students became senior cadets.
First assignees were to the Navy, Indian Health Services, Veterans Administration, Marine Hospital, Public Health Service and 700 women were assigned to Army Hospitals.
May 14, 1944
Nationwide 96,000 Cadet Nurses pledged themselves to “essential nursing services.
1945
85% of nursing students in the country were cadet nurses. 25,000 cadets were ready for assignment.
April 9 1945
HR 2277, bill to draft nurses, passed the House and was brought to the floor of the Senate but was passed over. A month later the Germans surrendered.
October 15, 1945
President Truman directed surgeon General Parran to discontinue admission to the Cadet Nurse Corps effective “upon the date of termination of hostilities.”