As the social highlight of Emergency Nursing 2025, the Night Shift Masquerade welcome reception tapped into New Orleans vibes, with attendees showing up in all manner of ornate masks, sequins and feathers, as well as purple, gold and green Mardi Gras colors.
Emergency Nursing 2025 attendees donned their elegant, ornate masks for the Night Shift Masquerade welcome reception.
“It’s so great to go to those first sessions and then let loose,” said Nathan White, RN, CEN, TCRN, NRP, ATCN, who was sporting not only a mask but a Mardi Gras-patterned bow tie for his beard. “The theme is always so spot on.”
Those who wanted more sparkle upon arrival lined up for glitter face paint, before heading to the photo stations, including the popular 360-degree photo booth to commemorate their night between sipping drinks and sampling Voodoo nachos.
The evening began with New Orleans-based jazz band Robin Barnes and the Fiya Birds. It ramped up with a surprise performance from the Black Magic Drum Line. DJ Ronnie Roux, who is also a nurse and wore his scrubs on stage, turned it up a bit more and kept the crowd dancing until the lights turned back on.
Jesse Rinderle, RN, CPN, CPEN, attended Emergency Nursing 2024 as a nonmember and was hooked. She returned this year as an ENA member, grateful for an event that she described as “invigorating.”
“This community, there is so much support,” she said.
The nearly 200 people who purchased a Party with a Purpose ticket were able to join in the fun an hour early, plus enjoy VIP seating, two additional beverage tickets and upgraded New Orleans-inspired appetizers. Each ticket supported the ENA Foundation, which kicked off a new text-to-give campaign during the first day of General Assembly, with a goal of raising $25,000 during the week. Before the party began, collections had far surpassed the halfway mark.
Marie Yabut, MN, RN, CEN, attended the Party with a Purpose to support the Foundation. “It’s about giving back,” she said. “You share your talent, time or treasure.”
Throughout the evening and the conference, support and gratitude for the Foundation and its work was evident. Some, like Christie Jandora, MSN, RN, wanted to attend the Party with a Purpose to pay it forward, having received ENA Foundation scholarships in the past.
“It’s a generous community that supports each other,” said ENA Foundation Director J.R. Magsaysay Stanley. “They are the walking embodiment of the mission, all 4,000 of them. That’s pretty humbling to me.”