My name is Aimee Ponomarenko. I am a mother of a fabulous 5 year old little boy, and a California State University of Fresno nursing student. Nursing is my passion. I enjoy serving my fellow nurses and community. When I was 24 my grandmother became very sick and was diagnosed with ovarian cancer. Her surgery and treatment was extensive. Unfortunately, the nurse at the hospital at which she stayed did not provide her with adequate nursing care. She developed a pressure ulcer on her coccyx and it quickly progressed to a stage 3. She was so incredibly weak and fragile.  The infection soon became systemic. She passed away a couple weeks later. My grandmother should have never gotten any bed sores. This is what inspired me to be a nurse. I wanted to provide stellar nursing care that was thorough and efficient, preventing harm and infection to those who are  incredibly vulnerable. My grandmother’s death inspired me to make a difference in others’ lives by providing compassionate and competent care  to all.

When I began my nursing career at CSUF I thought, as many of you did, do the work and get the degree. Then, I fell in love with my nursing class and then the entire cohort. I did as much as I could to give back to a program that has given so much to me. This affinity to serve my fellow nurses, help them in any way, promote their success and excellence gave me a cause- a cause to serve. I will continue my dedication to my program and now to each of my fellow constituencies of CNSA. I look forward in working with each chapter promoting community health and service activities state wide and encourage other regional CNSA students to get involved with their community health and service.  Together we CAN and we WILL do great things to improve our communities and serve its constituents! 

Community Health Award deadline soon! Chapter Submission is due and must be received at NSNA Headquarters by March 16th.
http://www.nsna.org/Publications/AwardsHonors.aspx then click on the 2011-2012 awards and honors booklet at the bottom and go down to page 6-7. Good Luck California!!!  Please go online and apply today. The chapter who wins this reward will also receive a certificate and $100. 
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Community Health Fundraiser!! Save your $ Change and let it help Change OUR World! This is your chapters time to begin saving for the Penny
Wars!! Each state convention we put out glass jars that your local chapter can place change and dollar bills in. The proceeds from the games are split between the winning school and the disaster recipient.

This is how it works:
Penny wars: collect all change and mostly pennies--all pennies and bills are positive and silver coins are negative.  So, if you have 20 pennies and someone adds a nickel you are +15. The object is for the school to be the most positive to win. Your chapter wants to be positive so you put pennies in your school’s jar and those who see the positive amounts, add silver coins to the opposing schools, hence the "penny wars".  So, you can collect both to come to convention "armed" to win for your school. Dollars are good too but usually save those to the end. 
 
My suggestion to begin saving for the Penny Wars is to pass around a jar in class let’s say every Thursday and have your cohorts toss in their spare change. It may be easier to have a designated person from your CNSA chapter hold onto the change and then bring it with you to the convention to win!! If your local chapter has any original or great ideas on how your school or others are saving for the Penny Wars please email me at cnsacommunityhealthdirector@gmail.com

The goal that we want to raise is $1500 for International or nationally assistance recipient by October 2012.

Visit the Community Health Forum.-Have your voice heard! Comment in the forum and tell me what you and your school are doing within you community. Please ask me any questions about how to get your chapter involved. Together we can make a difference!