Collecting allies

Originally published by ENA Connection, the magazine of Emergency Nurses Association

Collaboration Written Into DNA of Emergency Nurses, ENA

By Shelly Strom ENA Connection Contributor

Joanne Fadale, BSN, RN, FAEN, was introduced to ENA in 1970 during a job interview with her would-be boss and the association’s co-founder, Anita Dorr, who reportedly told Fadale: "There’s only one thing that would prevent you from not working in my department and that would be that you would not give me the $2 to belong to my organization."

Of course, there was more to the conversation than the seemingly coercive one-liner, and after Dorr explained the goals she had for a society devoted to emergency nurses and their specialty, Fadale gladly handed over the $2, got the job and began her career in emergency nursing.

The anecdote offers a glimpse into Dorr’s formidable spirit and dedication to bringing forces together to establish and grow the nation’s first professional organization dedicated to emergency nursing. See the article on ENA's site. For the complete text, please contact me.