November 2, 2016 | NLN Elections

The road to next week’s general election has been long and confusing, but the time has come, colleagues. If you live in a state that allows early voting, do it now. Otherwise, plan to be at the polls early on November 8. Voting is our privilege and responsibility as citizens, and the results of this election will have a great impact on health care for all Americans – to name just one issue that is important to us as nurses. This year all Congressional representatives are on the ballot along with many US Senators and state governors, and, of course, the candidates for president of the United States. Make sure to vote – and encourage your family members and your students and their families to do the same. There is way too much at stake to stay at home.

As you contemplate this election, colleagues, I hope you will also give some thought to governance at the NLN. I often speak and write about the essential partnership that exists between me, as NLN CEO, and our extraordinary president, Dr. Anne Bavier. It is Anne and the entire NLN Board of Governors, working with you, our committed members, who bring the NLN’s mission and core values to life with purpose, power, and passion.

Later this month, as we do each year, the NLN will issue a Call for Nominations for leadership positions that begin at the 2017 annual business meeting during the NLN Education Summit, September 14-16 in San Diego. Specifically, this year we are seeking strong candidates for key NLN leadership positions: president-elect, treasurer, and governor-at-large. We are also seeking nominations for two members of the NLN Nominations Committee and two commissioners for the NLN Certification Commission.

The deadline to submit nominations will be Friday, January 13, but please don’t wait. Start thinking now about how your professional accomplishments are congruent with the mission, vision, and core values of the NLN and how your accomplishments and experiences have prepared you to work with the extraordinary members who hold leadership positions today. Then you’ll be ready to go as soon as you receive our email that the call for nominations is open. Bring your skills, abilities, and leadership capacity. I know you want to be part of this remarkable team.

November 16, 2016 Webinar: Mentoring, Leadership, and Looking to Your Future November 18, 2016 SOLD OUT - CNEA Workshop: Preparing Your Program for NLN CNEA Accreditation: Beginning the Journey Deadline: November 30, 2016 NLN Education Summit 2017 - Extra Special Early Bird December 12, 2016 Center for Medical Simulation- NLN Gateway Debriefing Course: Learning to Use Debriefing with Good Judgment January 9, 2017 Teaching Care of Older Adults: An ACE.S Workshop Deadline: January 15, 2017 NEP Call for Manuscripts Special Issue: Preparing Nurses of the Future Deadline: February 9, 2017 NLN Nursing Education Research Grants Nailed It: Is Less Really More? #NLNTEQ Learn more Need Work? Columbus Regional plans to hire 61 nurses, For more information. #NLNGivingTuesday is 11/29! Here's how you can join this movement and support the past & present of #nursing education. Learn More. Eli Lilly and Co. is pledging $90 million over five years to improve access to treatment for diabetes, cancer and tuberculosis in developing countries. Read more.

As you know, we think a lot about leadership at the NLN and how we can meet the recommendation for nursing associations from the Institute of Medicine’s Future of Nursing: “to provide leadership development, mentoring programs, and opportunities to lead for all [our] members.” For example, on November 16 we will offer the webinar “Mentoring, Leadership, and Looking to Your Future”, by Dr. Lynn Englemann, a consultant to the NLN LEAD program.

We also support the far-reaching Nurses on Boards Coalition, a campaign supported by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation to ensure that another IOM Future of Nursing recommendation comes to pass: “Public, private, and government health care decision makers at every level should include representation from nursing on boards, on executive management teams, and in other key leadership positions.” The coalition’s goal is to improve the health of communities and the nation by ensuring that at least 10,000 nurses are on boards by 2020. Dr. Janice Brewington, NLN liaison to the coalition, has told me that as of this October, 2,260 nurses have entered 3,566 boards and 3,140 nurses want to serve but currently do not. Let’s increase participation on boards by our eminently qualified NLN members. Contact Janice for more information.

And a final few words about leadership. It was incredibly gratifying last month to attend the induction ceremony for five Living Legends of the American Academy of Nursing. They include staunch members of the NLN family Dr. Linda Burnes-Bolton, who served as vice chair of the IOM Commission on the Future of Nursing; Dr. Colleen Conway-Welsh, professor and dean of Vanderbilt University School of Nursing for 29 years, who served as chair of the search committee that selected me as CEO and was honored with the Outstanding Leadership in Nursing Education award by the NLN in 2008; and Dr. Joyce Fitzpatrick, professor and former dean at the Case Western Reserve Frances Payne Bolton School of Nursing and editor since 1998 of the NLN’s peer-reviewed research journal Nursing Education Perspectives. Dr. Ann Wolbert Burgess, who is recognized internationally for her contributions in the assessment and treatment of victims of trauma and abuse, and Dr. Martha Hill, professor of nursing, medicine, and public health and former dean at Johns Hopkins University School of Nursing, were honored as well. What a beautiful evening, and what an inspiration these leaders are to us all.

In closing, let me call your attention to an important upcoming conference: The Institute for Healthcare Improvement’s 28th Annual National Forum on Quality Improvement in Healthcare, December 4-7 in Orlando. This large interprofessional conference offers numerous means to learn, share, and solve problems. You will come home with actionable ideas for your organization, and I strongly recommend it. In fact, I will be there.

Again, colleagues, don't forget to vote.

Next Issue of the NLN Member Update: Wednesday, November 16, 2016. View previous issues of NLN Member Update »