EMERGENCY NURSES ASSOCIATION
Maine State Council
A Summer Message to Our Maine ENA Members
Dear Maine ENA Members,
As we move through the summer, I would like to take this opportunity, on behalf of the Maine ENA State Council, to express my sincere appreciation for your continued commitment to emergency nursing and to our professional organization.
I am especially pleased to congratulate our members for helping Maine ENA become one of the winning State Councils in this year's EN Strong campaign. Your generosity and support of the ENA Foundation directly contribute to opportunities for emergency nurses, including educational scholarships and professional development. Supporting the Foundation is an investment in the future of our profession, and I am grateful to everyone who helped Maine achieve this recognition.
Advocacy for Maine's Emergency Nurses
The healthcare environment in Maine continues to present significant challenges. Workforce shortages, emergency department crowding and boarding, workplace violence, behavioral health needs, access to care, and the changing healthcare landscape affect emergency nurses and the communities we serve every day.
Advocacy remains an important part of the work of both Maine ENA and our national organization. Our Government Affairs Committee continues to follow issues affecting emergency nursing and to provide opportunities for our members to become informed and engaged.
Our next Government Affairs Committee meeting will be September 12. Meeting information will be posted on Maine ENA's social media channels and ENA Connect. All interested members are welcome and encouraged to participate.
General Assembly
In the coming weeks, Maine ENA delegates will join emergency nurses from across the country at ENA General Assembly.
General Assembly provides an important forum for delegates to consider resolutions and issues affecting emergency nursing and to help guide the future direction of our national association. Maine's delegates have the privilege of representing the experiences, concerns, and priorities of emergency nurses throughout our state.
We are proud of our delegation and look forward to bringing Maine's voice to this important national conversation.
Maine ENA Education Day
We are also looking forward to our upcoming Maine ENA Education Day at the Franco Center in Lewiston.on Friday October 16th
This year's program offers an outstanding educational agenda addressing a broad range of topics relevant to emergency nursing practice, including pediatrics, forensic nursing, trauma, legal considerations, and more.
In addition to high-quality continuing education, Education Day provides an opportunity for emergency nurses from across Maine to meet, exchange ideas, strengthen professional relationships, and learn from one another. We hope you will join us. You can find the registration link on social media
Connecting Through ENA Connect
I also encourage our members to take advantage of ENA Connect.
ENA Connect allows emergency nurses to communicate and collaborate with colleagues not only within Maine, but throughout the country. It provides an excellent forum for sharing clinical resources, discussing practice questions, exchanging ideas, and building professional relationships with nurses who understand the unique challenges of emergency care.
Maine ENA will continue to use our Connect community, along with our social media platforms, to share information about meetings, educational opportunities, advocacy efforts, and State Council activities.
Opportunities to Become Involved
Maine ENA is currently working toward the development of a Forensic Committee, and we will soon be seeking members who are interested in contributing to this important area of emergency nursing practice.
We also have several existing committees that welcome greater member participation. Committee involvement is an excellent way to contribute your expertise, develop professionally, build leadership skills, and help shape the work of Maine ENA. We are also looking for instructors to help bring TNCC/ENPC to all who need it.
Whether you have been an ENA member for many years or have only recently joined, there is a place for you within our State Council, and we welcome your involvement.
Maine ENA meets the 2nd Wednesday of the month at 7pm virtually. The link for that meeting, and any of the other committee meetings will be posted to our social media and ENA connect page.
Most importantly, I want to thank each of you for the work you do every day.
Emergency nursing continues to require extraordinary clinical skill, resilience, compassion, adaptability, and leadership. Across our state, Maine's emergency nurses continue to care for patients and families during some of their most difficult moments while supporting colleagues and advocating for safer, stronger emergency care.
It is a privilege to serve as your Maine ENA President and to represent such an exceptional community of emergency nursing professionals.
Thank you for your commitment to your patients, your colleagues, our profession, and the communities of Maine. I look forward to all that we will accomplish together during the remainder of 2026.
Warm regards,
Kelly J. Collins, MSN, RN, CEN, CPEN
President
Maine Emergency Nurses Association
Maine ENA State Council
Advancing excellence in emergency nursing through education, advocacy, leadership, and connection.