HJNO Jul/Aug 2025

62 JUL / AUG 2025 I  HEALTHCARE JOURNAL OF NEW ORLEANS NURSING COLUMN NURSING Kelly began by clarifying the term “sub- stance use disorder” and reminded partic- ipants that the term includes both alcohol use disorders and drug use disorders. He also spoke about the expression of in- volvement (experimental use, regular use, etc.) and impairment. Is substance use disorder a choice, an illness, a disease, a brain disease, a chronically relapsing brain disease, or a biopsychosocial spiritual dis- ease? Kelly then went on to the interplay of factors for these complex illnesses. Genet- ics is involved, as well as the interaction of WELCOME to Louisiana State Board of Nursing’s 121st year providing for nurs- ing regulatory excellence in professional nursing. I am excited to begin my 12th year leading an organization that is committed to working for the citizens of Louisiana to fulfill our essential mission to protect the public by ensuring that persons practicing as registered nurses and advanced practice registered nurses are competent and safe. This mission is further supported by the LSBN vision set by the board in our 2024-2026 strategic planning retreat: to be a nationally recognized leader and trendsetter in regulatory excellence that advances nursing education, practice, and workforce. LSBN has already begun our work through collaborative efforts with the Louisiana State Board of Medical Ex- aminers, Louisiana Hospital Association, Louisiana Department of Health, Louisi- ana State Nurses Association, Louisiana Association of Nurse Practitioners, Louisi- ana Organization for Nursing Leadership, and Louisiana Council of Administrators of Nursing Education. Recently, Monique Calmes, DNP, FNP, chief credentialing officer, and I were ac- companied by board members Teresita McNabb, MHA, RN, and Deborah Spann, MSN, RN, CEN, FAEN, to the 2025 midyear meeting of the National Council of State Boards of Nursing (NCSBN). The midyear meeting includes the business of NCSBN, leadership, and education programs. Members gather to discuss and decide NCSBN’s future initiatives regarding licen- sure, regulation, and other issues facing nursing. One of the most significant presenta- tions for LSBN’s work was a two-part pro- gram by John Kelly, PhD, professor of psy- chiatry in addiction medicine at Harvard Medical School. The theme of Kelly’s pre- sentations was “Going Beyond Addiction Treatment.” The first session focused on a broad overview of addiction, and the sec- ond identified what we are learning about the clinical course of addiction and what we can do to accelerate time to remission. NCSBN Midyear Meeting Tackles Addiction, Innovation: LSBN’s Takeaway