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The Philippine Nurses Association of Michigan (PNAM) ventured in a fantastic voyage to Alaska.
To admire the grandiose and beauteous feat that Alaska offers, the best way is to go on a cruise ship. It is interesting to note that Alaska was purchased byAmerica from Russia on March 29, 1867 for a price of $7.2 million. Twice the size of Texas, it was an excellent acquisition inaddition to its resources and strategic relevance to US interests. The natural and incomparable beauty, vast expanse andmountainous vegetation, waterfalls, experiencing the Klondike, panning for gold, and to actually land or see a glacier, enjoy freshly grilled salmon or capture a live one with a photograph, shopping at every port of call (favorite for most), enjoy the sight of bald eagles freely diving, are just some of the many interesting activities on land.
In Juneau, there is a Filipino Community Center and a marker to commemorate the pioneer Filipinos who worked in Alaska when cables were built to connect the State of Washington and Alaska. Some Filipinos also used to work in Salmon Cannery factories. A bust of Dr. Jose Rizal, the Philippine’s greatest national hero adorns the Manila Square marker.
Aboard the gigantic Norwegian Star of the Norwegian Cruise Lines, seventy-five (75)members, families, and friends of the PNAM savored the freestyle cruising with stop-over in Juneau, Skagway, Glacier Bay, Ketchikan, Alaska and Victoria, British Columbia, Canada before going back to Seattle, Washington. There were 2,600 international guests aboard and a crew of 1,100 where 500 plus of them are from the Philippines.
The highlight of this trip was the educational conference entitled “Quality Nursing Practice: Leading, Sharing, and Caring” approved for 8.0 contact hours by the Michigan Nurses Association. Nurses in attendance can use the contact hours for RN license renewal. The first speaker was Annie Vista, Ph.D., RN, President and CEO of Global Home Care with a topic “ Leadership: Paving the Way to Excellence.” The next speaker was Franklin Hazard, MS, BS, Nursing Home Administrator with a topic “Leadership Lessons for the Professional Nurse.”
The third speaker, Sr. Virginia Skurski, Ph.D, RN, a retired professor from Eastern Michigan University talked about “Caring and Healing, in Nursing Practice”. The last speaker was Remy Solarte, MSN, RN, NP, a retired professor of Nursing from Oakland Community College talked about “Managing Conflict in Work Related settings.”
Food on the ship is available 24-hours a day, and perhaps most of us gained a few pounds after one week. The PNA America has an innovative “Healthy PNAA Project” with the object of losing the extra pounds. Thirteen PNAM members joined.
The ecstatic voyage must come to an end. A week’s off away from work, from daily home chores gives us a better perspective as professional nurses working together for PNAM with a goal for Visibility, Viability, and Vitality. All members, friends and families who joined enjoyed the trip. Most expressed their wish to go again next year. Where to? It remains to be seen.
© 2008 PNAM