“There is nothing that people bear more impatiently, or forgive less, than contempt; and an injury is much sooner forgotten than an insult.” — Lord Chesterfield

TOASTS

THE TENNESSEE Nursing Association has approved Hospice of Chattanooga’s End of Life Nurse Education Consortium program for Continuing Nursing Education units, according to Hospice spokeswoman Connie Havis.

“This continuing education activity allows for 10.5 contact hours with national approval by the American Nurses Credentialing Center’s Commission on Accreditation,” Ms. Havis said.

The End of Life Nurse Education Consortium is an education program for nurses who care for patients at the end of life, Ms. Havis said.

The program includes pain management, ethical issues, cultural considerations, loss, grief, bereavement, symptom management, communication and preparation for and care at the time of death, she said.

“Hospice of Chattanooga has been offering the course to nurses for three years. We open the class to nurses from partner facilities as well,” Ms. Havis said.

Last year, the program was expanded to include other Hospice of Chattanooga disciplines such as chaplains and social workers, she said.

“This year, the program was adapted to a one-day course for continuing nurses education,” she said.

Hospice of Chattanooga offers two-day training classes for nurses at no cost. For more information, call Phyllis Long at 892-4289, ext. 606.

EAR TO THE GROUND

PLANS ARE underway for First Things First’s 11th annual Fall Banquet on Sept. 18 at the Chattanooga Convention Center. This year’s celebration is chaired by Earl and Cindy Cornette. Committee members are Todd Crawford, Bettye Taylor, Beth Warren, Ann Caldwell, Mildred Bethea, Karlene Claridy, Mindy Clark, Kathy Sanders and Monique Lea.

“This year’s featured speaker is Chief Justice Leah Ward Sears of the Supreme Court of Georgia,” said Brandon Strickland, First Things First marketing manager. Mr. Strickland said the judge is an advocate for families.

“While Sears acknowledges the burden that crime places on our courts, she wonders why no one seems to have noticed that superior courts devote more time to domestic relations cases than they do to all felony and criminal cases combined,” he said. “Thousands of Georgia’s children find themselves in juvenile court settings, and Sears doesn’t believe they would have been there if their homes had been stable.”

The banquet is presented by Covenant Transport Group.

“The organization’s financial goal for the event is $175,000. Funding from the event will be used in part to fund initiatives that strengthen families through education, collaboration and mobilization,” Mr. Strickland said.

“For the fiscal year ending June 30, 2008, Hamilton County courthouse data confirms there has been a 30.4 percent reduction in divorce filings since 1997,” he said.

Tickets to the event are $75 per couple. For more information, call 267-5383 or visit www.firstthings.org.

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