April 17, 2019 | NLN CEO Update on the NLN Education Summit & NLN Awards

Did you know, colleagues, that a 29-year-old computer scientist named Katie Bauman helped make it possible to photograph a black hole for the very first time? As a graduate student at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Dr. Bauman was part of the team that developed the algorithm that made the impossible possible. The world was stunned last week to see the outcome of her work — but after all, it was simply a brilliant woman's work.

Fortunately for us, the North Star is readily visible, even when the atmosphere is cloudy. Humanity has always looked to the North Star, Polaris, the brightest star in the constellation Ursa Minor, for guidance and direction. Fittingly, the NLN North Star: Purpose, Power, & Passion is the theme for our upcoming NLN Education Summit 2019, where you will have the opportunity to learn how our exceptional past serves as the foundation for our innovative present and points the way toward a transformative future for nursing education.

Are you intrigued, colleagues? Join with us as we look forward to three days filled with opportunities for collaboration, professional development, innovation, scholarship, and service in an amazing venue on the shores of the Potomac — The Gaylord National Resort and Convention Center. Book your room and register for the Summit now as time has a way of slipping by and you will not want to miss the advantages of early bird registration; the last day is May 31.

Did you know that schools of nursing that send multiple faculty to the Summit are eligible for discounted rates? That doctoral students are also eligible for a discounted rate? And that membership in the NLN has numerous advantages when it comes to Summit registration — with, of course, other advantages to membership all year long? But let's get back to the Summit. If you have colleagues from nonmember schools, by all means encourage them to attend this Summit as members. They will love it and will not want to turn away from the North Star — ever.

If the Summit experience is new to you, take a look online at the titles of the concurrent sessions, color coded as they fit into categories: Interprofessional Education, Transition to Practice, Teaching Excellence, Leadership, Active Learning, Technology, Simulation, and Global Initiatives. Then click on the Summit at a Glance and see how comprehensive the program is. But don't worry — we build in plenty of time for networking, connection, and visiting the Exhibit Hall.

As you scan the program you will see that Saturday evening is the NLN Honors Convocation, Center of Excellence Ceremony, and NLN Academy for Nursing Education Induction. It is also when we recognize three individuals for their outstanding accomplishments. You can have an important part in this ceremony by nominating a colleague for a prestigious NLN Award. This year we are calling for nominations for the NLN Mary Adelaide Nutting Award for Outstanding Teaching or Leadership in Nursing Education, the NLN Isabel Hampton Robb Award for Outstanding Leadership in Clinical Practice, and the Lillian Wald Humanitarian Award. Surely you have a colleague worthy of recognition! Take part in the awards nomination process, which is open now through May 23.

And there is something else special about this year’s Summit and all other odd-year Summits, for that is when we install the new NLN president and president-elect. We know who our new president will be — the wonderful Dr. Patricia Yoder-Wise. But who our president-elect will be is still undetermined and up to you. This is my way of reminding you that NLN elections are open now, through June 3, and we need your participation. You should have received an email with login information for the election website, sent out by Survey & Ballot Systems (SBS) to all NLN members eligible to vote.

If you did not receive your election passcode, please enter your email address here or contact support@directvote.net. In addition to president-elect, NLN secretary, and governor-at-large, we vote this year for members of the NLN Certification Committee and members of the Nominations Committee. It is thanks to the members of the Nominations Committee that we have an outstanding slate of candidates.

That brings me to a word about our current president, Dr. Rumay Alexander. I am delighted to report that Rumay has been recognized for her contributions to the elimination of health disparities and the achievement of health equity by the College of Pharmacy at Xavier University of Louisiana. She was presented with the Champion Award at the college's 12^th Health Disparities Conference. Congratulations on this well-deserved recognition, Rumay!

Before I close, let me wish you all a wonderful holiday. Easter and Passover are celebrated together this weekend — it is truly spring. Unfortunately, some of our colleagues have been impacted by extreme weather, but the cherry blossoms in DC have gloriously made their extraordinary appearance, reminding us of our relationship with the people of Japan, who generously made a gift of the cherry blossoms to our country's capitol more than a century ago. My hopes are burning bright that our country will live up to the lovely blossoms of springtime with evidence of caring, integrity, diversity/inclusion, and excellence. Let's each one of us commit to living a life filled with the hope and the reality of spring.

NLN Leadership Institute Announces 2019 Cohorts, Read More. NLN to Offer Extra Support to English Learners Sitting for NLN Pre-Admission Exam (PAX), Read More.

What is a Nurse, Exactly? Read More. Observe how Blue Ridge Community College and Wingate University conduct their joint medical simulation program, Learn More. ‘Predatory’ Scientific Publisher Is Hit With a $50 Million Judgment, Read More.

Next Issue of the NLN Member Update: Wednesday, May 1, 2019. View previous issues of NLN Member Update »