Spotlight on The National Association of Bariatric Nurses

by Laurie D. McGinley, DNP, MSN, APRN, CNS-BC, CBN

Ms. McGinley is Program Coordinator, Western Bariatric Institute, Reno, Nevada.

FUNDING: No funding was provided.
DISCLOSURES: The author reports no conflicts of interest relevant to the content of this article.

Bariatric Times. 2014;11(3):30–31.

Welcome to the National Association of Bariatric Nurses
The National Association of Bariatric Nurses (NABN) was founded in 2004 out of a recognized need for improving the life and nursing care of those suffering from obesity.  The organization’s primary mission is to advance the health and quality of life of individuals and families experiencing obesity. NABN continues to dedicate resources with the goal of increased knowledge and research focused at promoting quality healthcare of this underserved population.

The NABN has a rich history. Our headquarters is located at East Carolina University (ECU). Mary Ann Rose, EdD, the founding President of NABN and Emeritus Board Member, is based at ECU and chairs the Department of Graduate Nursing Science. Dr. Rose has a passion for nursing and for bariatric patient care. She remains involved in leading nursing research groups as well as the Bariatric Nursing Consortium.
Laurie McGinley has been a member of the NABN since 2006. She served on the Board of Directors and then transitioned to Vice President to President-Elect to President in 2008. She has seen the association grow throughout the years and said that she likes that it has retained its small, intimate feel. NABN are made up of mostly bariatric nurses, but invite other disciplines to join. McGinley said the NABN is valuable in that it offers networking opportunities and education.

Kim Joyner, the current President of NABN, has been a member of the Board of Directors since its inception in 2004. Ms. Joyner has a passion for the bariatric population and works tirelessly as NABN president as well as Bariatric Coordinator at New Hanover Regional Medical Center, Wilmington, NC, which his her full-time job. Ms. Joyner has been busy planning the NABN’s May 2014 conference “The Many Faces of Bariatric Nursing,” which will be held at the The Hilton Greenville hotel in Greenville, North Carolina.

The meeting will start the evening of May 1, 2014 with a reception. Friday, May 2, 2014 will be a full day of courses.

The meeting, which used to take place annually, is being held after a nearly two-year hiatus. Past meetings have included the following speakers of interest: Dr. Robin Blackstone, American Society American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery (ASMBS) Past Presidents, Joe Nadglowski of the Obesity Action Coalition and ASMBS Foundation, Jacqueline Jacques, Vice President of Research and Development at Thorne Research (pictured with and McGinley in Figure 1); and Robert Clegg (pictured with and McGinley in Figure 2). The NABN is now focusing efforts on gaining more support to sustain the association and annual meeting in hopes to re-energize current and potential members.

NABN Conference 2014: Agenda and Highlights
“The Many Faces of Bariatric Nursing” offers attendees a unique continuing educational opportunity, a day packed full of current obesity related health topics, and a chance to network with colleagues.

The agenda for May 2, 2014 is as follows:

•    8:00–8:45AM—Registration and Breakfast

•    8:45–9:00AM—Welcome

•    9:00–10:00AM—Compassionate Care of the Child Affected by Obesity: How Health Care Providers can Improve Professional Practice and Use Data to Drive Change
by Rosie Miller, RN, CCRC, and Beverly Haynes, RN, MSN

•    10:00–10:45: Exercise and Obesity: What’s the Relationship?
by Dr. Joe Houmard

•    10:45–11:00AM—Break

•    11:00–11:45AM Obesity and Continence
by Dr. Christine Bradway

•    11:45AM–12:45PM— Lunch and Special Presentation
by Cammie Hackney

•    12:45–1:45PM—Bariatric Surgery and the Couple Relationship
by Dr. Mary Lisa Pories and Dr. Kristen Barbee

•    1:45–2:45PM—The Morbidly Obese Patient Moving from Hospital to Home or Nursing Home: What are the Problems?
by Dr. Christine Bradway and Panel
•    2:45–3:00PM—Break

•    3:00–3:30PM—Abstract Presentations

•    3:30–4:15PM—Malnutrition Following Bariatric Surgery
by Dr. Walter Pories

•    4:15–4:30PM—Closing Remarks

The NABN partners with the OAC, and is proud to be affiliated with “Your Weight Matters,” a vital national campaign focused on our country’s health. The organization also partners with Mary Ann Liebert, Inc., the publishers of Bariatric Surgical Practice and Patient Care, and an online subscription to this peer-reviewed journal is included in cost of membership.

For more information on how you can join NABN, and for more information of the 2014 conference, visit http://www.bariatricnurses.org/

Tags: bariatric nurse

Category: Past Articles, Society News