Nursing Outlook
Volume 54, Issue 1 , Pages 3-4, January 2006

President’s message November 2005

Article Outline

 

I assumed the role of Academy president at the close of our business meeting in Scottsdale, Arizona and am sharing my remarks with you, hoping to generate discussion and recommendations. As we embark on our 33rd year, I offer the following reflection and recommendations for the fellowship:

The Academy is on a continuous journey to transform healthcare policy and practice through the generation, synthesis and dissemination of nursing knowledge. We carry out our mission through our major functional units and special initiatives projects — the Expert Panels, Workforce Commission, Council on the Advancement of Nursing Science, Coordinating Center for the Hartford Geriatric Nursing Initiative and Building Academic Geriatric Nursing Capacity, Scholars program, Task Forces and standing committees of the organization. The products of the Academy over the last 3 decades, (including policy papers, standards and models for the care of vulnerable populations, creation of a model for recognizing excellence in practice, dissemination of position statements, white papers and publications on nursing science, practice and health care policy) have contributed to our knowledge and understanding of health issues and the role of nurses in addressing those issues. I believe it is important for us to build on the Academy’s foundation and improve the production capacity of the Academy.

As an organization of educated, accomplished, privileged and noteworthy individuals, it is our duty as professionals to use our knowledge, skills, and will to be of use to society and the profession. The profession and society have a right to expect that a not-for-profit, public benefit organization comprised of scientists, clinicians, educators, executives, consultants, businessmen, artisans, writers, women and men from all walks of life would be productive in achieving its stated mission and objectives on behalf of the public. We are a public benefit organization as opposed to a mutual benefit organization. Mutual benefit organizations seek to support their members or investors for the collective benefit of its constituents through fame, recognition, remuneration or position. Public benefit organizations are organized around the principle of beneficence and are engaged in activities that are linked to the benefit of the larger society. I believe it is important for the Academy to engage in work that is linked to providing knowledge that contributes to our collective efforts to improve health, healthcare policy and nursing practice. I think it is essential that we align with strategic partners to help us achieve our goals and mission. To do so, I believe we should do the following:

• 1We should commit to imagining the possibilities and creating pathways to make our vision and mission a reality. We must engage a broader group of stakeholders committed to healthcare improvement across the lifespan and within the diverse communes of the United States and the world.

• 2We must build capacity through identifying and inducting into fellowship diverse nurse leaders and leaders supportive of our work (honorary fellows) reflective of the richness that is within the nursing and human caring community. We must welcome all who have the talent, knowledge and willingness to assist us in achieving our goals. We must be an organization of inclusiveness and openness, and the Fellow Selection process must be more transparent as we guide our members to compose credible, relevant and passionate new fellow applications. We are a part of a global community and must seek avenues to recognize colleagues outside the United States that can assist us on our journey to transform health policy and practice through knowledge.

• 3We must attract and support the enablers to the creation of products and services that are of use to the profession and the larger society. The Hartford Geriatric Nursing Initiative is a wonderful exemplar. Through funding by the Hartford Foundation, we are able to work in diverse settings to produce new scholars, improve geriatric nursing practice in long-term care, clinical and community settings, and generate new knowledge to help individuals thrive as they age. The support of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation has enabled the Academy to address the demand side of the persistent nursing shortage issue.

• 4We must be courageous, creative, innovative and productive. The Expert Panels, Commissions, Task Forces and working groups must simultaneously shine the light on critical health and societal issues and design and disseminate standards, education and practice models and policy recommendations for improvement. We must launch research and development programs aimed at generating and synthesizing information to guide policy decisions connected to education, practice, and science.

• 5We must be genuine, transparent and willing to hold the truth. We, as a collection of learned individuals, must move with a sense of urgency, precision, and evidence from knowing to doing. No one should wonder about the Academy — who we are, what we are about, our reason for continual existence or our contributions to the profession and society. We will use the communication vehicles of the organization to engage the fellowship in the discussion of our activities and to speak out to the larger society regarding issues that impede the health and well-being of the global community.

It is my hope that you will join with me in reaffirming the Academy’s mission and vision by engaging with your colleagues through the functional units of the Academy. We need your intellectual, financial, and physical support if we are to succeed. We are a public benefit organization, one that exists to help the larger society. I am confident that each of you will join the Academy’s circle and renew your commitment to human caring through scholarship, stewardship, and action. I look forward to working with you!

PII: S0029-6554(05)00265-4

doi:10.1016/j.outlook.2005.11.009

Nursing Outlook
Volume 54, Issue 1 , Pages 3-4, January 2006

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