If you are like me, colleagues, you have an email inbox that drives you to distraction. Aside from ads from my favorite shops, there are pleas from worthy organizations, as well as charities and causes that tug at my heart. The deluge will only increase as the days get shorter and as we approach the holiday season. And for sure, it will be a torrent as we approach Giving Tuesday on December 3, the Tuesday after Thanksgiving, the global day of charitable giving. As this is my last Member Update before Thanksgiving, let me tell you about why the NLN Foundation for Nursing Education is worthy of your support on Giving Tuesday, why giving to the foundation is so meaningful, and how much your support is needed and appreciated.
NLN Giving Tuesday
Let me be direct. For 2019, the NLN Foundation aims to raise $50,000 from #NLNGivingTuesday and end-of-year fundraising efforts to achieve our annual fundraising goal of $270,000. The funds we raise will be distributed in scholarship aid to support seasoned and/or ethnically diverse nurses who are committed to careers in academic nursing education. This past September, at the NLN Education Summit 2019, we were able to support eight nurses in their pursuit of advanced degrees – future faculty at schools of nursing, with an additional seven scholarships to promote geriatric education in nursing programs in collaboration with Home Instead Senior Care.
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The NLN Foundation is also unique in its support for nursing education research, with very few organizations committed to providing funds in this area. At the Summit we presented eight research grants, including awards in association with the Eastern Nursing Research Society, the Southern Nursing Research Society, and the Sigma Foundation for Nursing Research. With these grants in support of nursing education research, we demonstrate our commitment to discipline-specific pedagogy as the vital link to a future nursing workforce that will transform patient care and advance national and global health. The Call for Proposals for Summit 2020 is online now, with proposals due February 6.
Colleagues, members of the NLN share a vision for the promotion of excellence in nursing education. We believe in a vital nursing workforce with core values of caring, diversity, integrity, and excellence. And we understand the obstacles brought about by a shortage of faculty and a lack of diversity. We at the NLN take pride in providing the best tools and resources to help graduate the next generation of nurses, but we cannot do it alone. Join us and work together with the NLN in making a difference in the transformation of nursing education.
| | | I recommend spending some time on the NLN Foundation website when thinking about your giving. You will learn about the Advisory Council, those donors who pledge $10,000 per year to the Foundation, as well as the various named endowment funds and our Preserving the Past, Building the Future Campaign. Then make a gift online, mail a check, or donate an #UnSelfie on your preferred social media channel using the hashtag #NLNGivingtuesday. And if this is your moment to consider joining the Isabel Hampton Robb Society with a legacy gift, contact Tatiana Nin, NLN Development Specialist – she will answer any questions you may have. | | | I think I’ve covered the major areas important to Giving Tuesday, but there is more I want to share with you.
Certification Sentinel As I reflect on our members and all you bring to the NLN, I can’t help but think of the more than 7,000 of you who are CNEs – Certified Nurse Educators. Unlike the handsome red bags given to CNEs at our Summits, this message is not exclusively for you. I want every member to know that we have redesigned the Certification Sentinel, and it is posted online for all to read. CNEs – you will want to read the latest news. Future CNEs and those clinical educators interested in the CNEcl program – you will want to read the Message from the Chair, Dr. Rita D’Aoust, “Getting Involved in the Certification for Nurse Educators Program,” as well as an article by CNE Commissioner Dr. Terry Valiga, with the intriguing title, “What If All Deans Were CNEs?” | | | NAM Report Now let me switch gears and tell you about a new report from the National Academy of Medicine Action Collaborative on Clinician Well-being and Resilience, released on October 23. Taking Action Against Clinician Burnout: A Systems Approach to Professional Well-Being examines the scientific evidence regarding causes of clinician burnout as well as the consequences for clinicians and patients. Of special interest is the report’s emphasis on burnout during training for the health professions and the period just after licensure. A number of recommendations are offered for educational institutions and affiliated clinical training sites to improve the learning environment and support the well-being of students. The final report will be available after December 1 but you can download a summary of the recommendations now. Coalition Opportunities The Nurses on Boards Coalition, which represents national nursing and other organizations working to establish nurses’ presence and engagement on corporate, health-related, and other boards, panels, and commissions, wants to hear from you. Established in 2014 with the goal of ensuring that at least 10,000 nurses are on boards by 2020, the coalition has a fascinating website with a number of resources that will help you on your journey as a leader. All boards benefit from the unique perspective nurses bring to the table achieving the goals of improved individual and population health as well as efficient and effective health care systems at the local, state, national, and international levels. There are numerous opportunities to serve and the coalition website will help you find a way.
In Memoriam
Colleagues, I am very sad to report on a sad loss for the NLN family. Dr. Joyce P. Murray, NLN president 2003-2005, died last week. Joyce was professor of nursing at Emory University, retiring in 2012, and served as the director of the Ethiopian Public Health Training Initiative for the Carter Center. For many years Joyce led workshops for schools of higher education in the United States, Ethiopia, Europe, Asia, and the Middle East. A giant in nursing education, she served as a valued mentor to many nurses and educators throughout the world. Her family has asked that donations be made in her memory to the Alzheimer’s Association. We will miss Joyce and her many contributions to nursing and nursing education, both locally and globally.
As we approach Thanksgiving, let me just say – I am thankful for you, our members. Wishing you and your families a healthy and happy Thanksgiving. | | | | |
