Nurse Educators in New York State Organize New York League for Nursing

Growing Network of NLN-Affiliated Constituent Leagues Now Totals 25

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
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New York, NY — March 26, 2012 — Nurse educators from New York, upstate and downstate, east to west, representing all types of nursing programs, from diploma and associate through doctoral, have come together to form the newest addition to the National League for Nursing Constituent League family: the New York League for Nursing (NYLN).

The impetus for its launch came during the 2011 NLN Education Summit, said Karin Pantel, MSN, RN, CNE, founding NYLN president and a member of the faculty at Sullivan County Community College. A core group then met in Syracuse in January for an initial planning session with Tish Hess, MS, RN, director of membership and recognition programs at the NLN whose portfolio includes the constituent leagues.

As strategic planning for the NYLN gets underway, members have already expressed opinions about what issues are of particular concern to nurse educators in the state that can serve as immediate goals. Among them, according to Ms. Pantel, is the need to make more nurse educators aware of the content and implications of the groundbreaking report published in 2010 by the Institute of Medicine, "The Future of Nursing: Leading Change, Advancing Health." Said Ms. Pantel, "We would like to explore and meet with the many vital organizations and commissions formed or forming in New York State, to eliminate duplication, as nurse educators articulate a cohesive educational strategy to achieve the changes advised by the IOM."

NYLN board member Lauren E. OHare, EdD, RN, an associate professor of nursing at the Evelyn Spiro School of Nursing at Wagner College in New York City, commented, "I believe that the New York league will give us all an opportunity to have a clearer understanding of the IOM report and its applicability to the many types and ways we educate nursing students. As strategic planning continues, we are excited to enhance and promote educational excellence. I am honored to be a part of the NLN family and help effectuate change and collaboration among nurse educators."

"Committed to the mission of the NLN and the IOM guidelines for the future of nursing and nursing education, the NYLN is impassioned in its endeavor to succeed as a meaningful voice for the League in New York State," noted NLN CEO Beverly Malone, PhD, RN, FAAN. Added Judith A. Halstead, PhD, RN, FAAN, ANEF: "We welcome the positive energy, experience, and enthusiasm this community of nurse educators from New York State brings to the NLN family of constituent leagues."

Two other pressing issues on the NYLN radar are: 1) the potential passage by the New York State Legislature of an amendment to require registered nurses to earn a bachelors degree within 10 years of licensure; and 2) the status of simulation in nursing education. Currently, New York State approves only 10 percent of a semesters clinical hours spent in simulation. However, as clinical facilities are downsizing, thus reducing on-site educational opportunities for nursing students, simulation is now widely viewed as a necessary and desirable curricular alternative. But for it to become more fully incorporated into the educational experience will require greater collaboration among nurse educators to develop common simulation outcomes; expand the science of simulation education; and share personal and professional experience with different approaches to simulation.

Constituent leagues operate under the umbrella of the NLN's Constituent League Leadership Committee, promoting excellence in nursing education to create a strong and diverse nursing workforce through statewide, regional, and local conferences, advocacy, and other professional activities that address issues of particular interest to nurse educators in their respective geographic locales.

Nurse educators: If there is no constituent league in your area and you have an interested group of nurse educators, please contact Tish Hess, director of membership and recognition programs, at 212-812-0374 or thess@nln.org.

Editors and reporters: Please contact NLN chief communications officer, Karen R. Klestzick at 212-812-0376 or kklestzick@nln.org.

Dedicated to excellence in nursing, the National League for Nursing is the premier organization for nurse faculty and leaders in nursing education. The NLN offers professional development, networking opportunities, testing services, nursing research grants, and public policy initiatives to its 35,000 individual and 1,200 institutional members. NLN members represent nursing education programs across the spectrum of higher education and health care organizations and agencies.