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About
The History of
RNO
In 1977, Deaconess Medical Center, Spokane, Washington,
was receiving requests for assistance from rural hospitals in
the four state service area. These requests included the need
for help with educational classes to be brought to the facilities;
clinical experiences at Deaconess, policies and procedures,
etc. An advisory committee of department directors was formed
to develop a program to help meet the needs as requested by
the rural hospitals. In 1978 the "Outreach Program: Sharing
Knowledge" became a reality. Administration appointed Anna Mae
Ericksen director of the program.
Grants were next received to assist Deaconess
to administrate the project and to make it cost effective for
the rural hospitals. Sixteen rural directors of nursing service
and educators were asked to serve on a nursing advisory committee
and work with the Deaconess directors and to meet monthly at
Deaconess. Educational classes requested by the individual hospitals
were designed by Deaconess specialists in consortium with the
requesting facility to meet each hospital's need. Deaconess
specialists were the presenters and scheduling was done by both
parties. In 1984 the nursing advisory committee voted to plan
a 1985 conference for rural nurses by rural nurses. 285 RNs
and LPNs attended the first conference. Plans were made to annually
present a conference with the nursing advisory committee serving
as the conference planning committee. A logo for the conference
was designed depicting a rural theme. At the 1987 conference,
Anna Mae Ericksen was presented with a medallion designed with
the logo. At the 1988 conference, Anna Mae spoke to the registrants
about her vision for a rural nurse organization. The idea was
enthusiastically received and plans made to move ahead with
forming the organization. Seed money was received from the registrants
to assist with costs. A steering committee of 25 nurses from
three states and one Canadian province met to develop the purpose
and definition of the organization as well as define the term
"rural". Goals and objectives were established. Committees were
formed and requested to have reports ready for the 1989 conference.
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