DEARBORN, Mich., June 29, 2006 (PRIMEZONE) -- The American Arab Nurses Association has changed its name to the National American Arab Nurses Association, effective April 14, 2006, to reflect the expanding scope of the organization and the increased need for its services outside the state of Michigan.
NAANA was founded in 2003 as a non-profit, professional organization whose vision is to serve as a voice, a network and a resource for men and women in their pursuit of employment and advancement within the nursing profession.
NAANA focuses primarily on the Arab American nurse. At the same time, it is an inclusive nursing organization fostering knowledge of cultural diversity and sensitivity between members and the community in the area of transcultural health care.
The organization was instrumental in the state of Michigan's inclusion of the "Arab/Middle Eastern" designation in its nursing survey. Rose Khalifa, RN, founder and president of NAANA, said, "NAANA was successful in bringing about a necessary change in this very valuable instrument, which the state uses to anticipate the future need for nurses in the state as well as determine where nurses are concentrated. The inclusion of Arab American and other Middle Eastern nurses in the survey serves two purposes: 1) it shows and encourages Arab American participation in the nursing profession in the state and 2) it recognizes that Arab American nurses play an important role in delivering care to Michigan patients."
As a result of its inaugural conference in May 2005, which drew attendees from across the state of Michigan as well as other states, the board decided to reflect the national scope of the organization with its name change. The first NAANA conference will be held in April 2008, in Detroit, offering a wide spectrum of programs on transcultural nursing, recruitment and retention of nurses, nursing shortages, education of nurses, etc.
For more information about the organization, please visit www.n-aana.org or call 313-982-4070.
The National American Arab Nurses Association logo is available at http://www.primezone.com/newsroom/prs/?pkgid=1446