Voice of the President | March 2022
As I write you today, many of us are feeling the impact of another COVID-19 surge related to the omicron variant. The articles are all centered on nursing in the community. The pandemic showed nursing’s strong role in the community as nurses provided tests and vaccinations outside of hospital walls, in addition to providing virtual care. As we have weathered this COVID storm, nurses have experienced some highs and lows. Initially the public gave an outpouring of support rallying around us, helping to lift our spirits. As the pandemic continued, it has taken a toll on everyone and support has decreased over time. Nonetheless, one constant has remained steady: nurses show up day after day to support our communities in need.
Inside this edition, you’ll find innovative strategies and progressive approaches nurse leaders spearheaded over the last two years. These stories demonstrate nurses’ commitment to delivering safe, effective and high-quality care despite the challenges we’re facing. Also included are articles that highlight the value of collaborating with our partners in academia, governance and research. Through combined efforts, the authors and their key collaborators were able to come up with solutions that were wins for themselves and their broader communities.
These examples are among many that we’ve seen across the nation and are a part of what inspire me every day. COVID-19 may be the catalyst for designing new ways of solving old problems, but at the core of these stories are nurse leaders stepping up, leveraging connections and being courageous enough to try something new. I’m reminded of one of my favorite Brene Brown quotes, “You can choose courage or you can choose comfort. You cannot have both.”
I was also struck by how these stories showcase the impact AONL members can have in advancing health. Each story is an illustration of how our members can work together to advance AONL’s mission to transform health care through expert and influential nursing leadership. In our refreshed 2022-2024 strategic plan, we have objectives focused on preparing and engaging a diverse workforce for emerging care models and optimizing the use of our teams. The strategic plan also pledges to showcase the important role nurses have in promoting health equity in the community. Strategic partnerships and innovation are woven through all aspects of our strategic priorities.
I’m proud that nurse leaders have seized the moment and have been at the forefront of many health care advances over the last two years. We never shied away from the challenges, rather we capitalized on the opportunities to implement new care models and leverage technologies to deliver care to as many patients as possible. Because of these actions, nurses have been recognized as instrumental in reshaping the future of health care.
I’m proud that nurse leaders have seized the moment and have been at the forefront of many health care advances over the last two years. We never shied away from the challenges, rather we capitalized on the opportunities . . .
I’ve certainly obtained some new ideas reading this month’s edition. It makes me even more excited for our annual meeting in San Antonio this April 11-14 where we’ll hear from many more nurse leaders on how they have navigated complex challenges and achieved success. After two years of virtual conferences I’m certainly looking forward to reconnecting and recharging!
I want to wrap up this column with a note of gratitude for all of you who donated to the AONL Foundation for Nursing Leadership Research and Education. Our 2021 honor roll is included in this month’s edition. Through generous donations from our members and corporate partners this past year, our foundation made some impressive contributions. It awarded more than $130,000 to support nursing leadership research, including funding of the AONL Nursing Leadership COVID Insight studies. The foundation also launched a Think Tank program and awarded financial aid for the 2021 AONL Nurse Director Fellowship program. We all have philanthropic priorities we consider each year; I hope this year you will consider adding the AONL Foundation to your portfolio. Its efforts are making an incredible impact on the future of nursing leadership!