Association of Women's Health, Obstetric, and Neonatal Nursing
1969: Originally established as the Nurses’ Association of the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (NAACOG) in Chicago, Illinois. By 1970, Districts, Sections, and Chapters were in place with elected or appointed officer.
1993: The organization became an independent, nonprofit association, known as the Association of Women's Health, Obstetric, and Neonatal Nursing (AWHONN).
AWHONN's mission is to promote excellence in nursing practice to improve the health of women and newborns, focusing on four aspects of nursing -- education, research, practice and advocacy. VA AHWHONN is a statewide organization with approximately 700 members. There are currently seven geographical chapters. VA AWHONN holds an annual Section Meeting which rotates around the Commonwealth. The last several years and locations include:
- 1996: Lighting the Way for Professional Practice, Tidewater Chapter
- 1997: Crossroads to Caring, Richmond Chapter
- 1998: Inspired by Our Past, Creating for the Future, Blue Ridge Chapter
- 1999: Woman to Woman: Dawn of a New Age, Northern Virginia Chapter
- 2000: Sponsored by the South Central Chapter
Virginia AWHONN publishes a newsletter, the Virginia Viewpoint, twice a year in the spring and fall. Originally, the name of the newsletter was The Scope. National AWHONN publishes a journal and a magazine, the Journal of Obstetric, Gynecologic and Neonatal Nursing, and Lifelines, which all memebrs receive when they join the Association.
Awards
- Judith Collins: Robert Wood Johnson Health Policy Fellowship 1982 to 1983
- NAACOG Distinguished Professional Service Award 1986
- Stephanie L. Ferguson: White House Fellow 1997
- Judith A. Lewis: AWHONN Distinguished Professional Service Award 1995