REPORT: October/November 2006

2007 Seminar at Sea

Making Health Care Healthy — The Environmental Perspective

Plan to combine business with pleasure at NYSNA’s 10th annual Seminar at Sea aboard the Royal Caribbean’s Brilliance of the Seas, Feb. 23 to March 5.

Vena Baker, a psychiatric nurse and a long-time Seminar at Sea participant, had this to say about her Seminar at Sea experiences: “The cruises are enlightening and rewarding. The instructors are excellent — they are the ones you wish you had while in nursing school. Personally, I think the objective of the seminar was to update, re-educate, network, and have fun. It seems to me the objectives were met.”

This year’s seminar will focus on environmental concerns. Interrelated workshop sessions will include a review of the ship’s environmental conservation efforts, a toxic-free cosmetics party, and an advocacy campaign exercise developed by participants.

Presenter Thomas J. Lowe is a registered nurse and health and safety representative in NYSNA’s Economic and General Welfare Program. Lowe is a certified occupational health nurse specialist and a certified occupational health and safety technician. He has taught state, regional, and national workshops on a variety of topics.

Participants can earn up to 23 contact hours for attending classes and up to an additional 12 contact hours for completing independent study activities. The American Nurses Credentialing Center’s Commission on Accreditation accredits NYSNA as a provider of continuing nursing education.

The Royal Caribbean’s Brilliance of the Seas will dock at Oranjestad, Aruba; the Panama Canal; Puerto Limon, Costa Rica; and at Georgetown, Grand Cayman, before returning to Miami on March 5.

Participants may use the ship’s solarium, rock-climbing wall, youth facilities, day spa, fitness center, indoor/outdoor country club with golf simulator, and basketball and volleyball courts. They will enjoy a number of gourmet restaurants on board including the Portofino Italian Restaurant, Chops Grill, Seaview Café, Latté-tudes coffee house, and several themed bars and lounges.

Call TripQuest at 888-459-8747 to register. For a cruise brochure, contact NYSNA’s Nursing Advocacy and Information Program at 518-782-9400, ext. 282 or e-mail education@nysna.org. Registration deadline is Dec. 5.