President's message

I recently heard this comment by a clergyman quoting a Gallup poll: "More American parents favor their daughters marrying rescue workers than professional dot com types."

Since September lith, our exposure to and understanding of what rescue workers actually do has made us all believers in these "now" (not new) heroes and why we trust them. Furthermore, I believe nurses fit directly into the "rescue worker" category.

It is often only those who have had the benefit of our skills, knowledge, and kindness during an illness who can grasp what nurses actually do. It is the same type of awakening that the public is now experiencing with the 9-11 rescue workers.

As a profession, we're struggling to find ways for the public to understand, value, support and promote the profession of nursing. Actually, it's critical that this happen because virtually every community in America is facing nursing shortages, a situation that has the potential to collapse the country's health care system. These communities are where all of us, along with our parents, our children and grandchildren, and our friends receive health care. According to the American Association of Colleges of Nursing's (AACN) 2001 Nursing Shortage Fact Sheet, this situation is worsening and will require all of us to actively participate in some meaningful way to help build the future "rescue team" of professional nurses.

Actions Speak Loudest

AAACN's role in the nursing shortage: As your professional nursing association we are partnering with many other nursing organizations to present a plan covering 10 different domains of the shortage problem. This planned partnership is focused on agreed upon strategies that we will accomplish over the next 5 years. (For more information, see "Nursing Organizations Unite: Form Strategic Plan for the Profession's Future," Peg Mastal, Phl), RN, November/December 2001 Viewpoint, p, 13). The goal is to speak with a united voice, delivering a consistent message to the public about the nursing profession. We also need our fellow Americans to help solve some of the problems through other means: legislative, educational, and manufacturing to name a few.

We expect you to learn about this effort because you live in a community (and a country) that needs to hear from you. As you educate others about nurses and their contributions, you do your part to help your community thrive.

AAA CN Board of Directors' role: We have spent time this year trying to improve communication with AAACN members. We have reached out frequently and regularly in Viewpoint, via broadcast e-mails, and in selected survey studies. In addition, leadership development for AAACN's future has been ongoing. I've been impressed with the Membership Committee and the hard work of several AAACN Special Interest Groups (SIGs) who are trying new methods for improving communication and work flow. Most recently, the Board is contacting a random selection of members to gain feedback from you about what you think we need to do as an organization.

We request that you take the time and give us feedback - positive or negative - and to continue your membership in AAACN.

The professional nurse's role: We all know that when a friend recommends something to us, we're likely to listen. I believe that we need to speak about "the good" of our profession. And there is much good about nursing! Of course, there are things that are very difficult and sometimes downright ugly, but there are many more right things about being a nurse. When illness occurs and a person is vulnerable, nurses are vital partners in the "rescue team."

So, what can you do? Offer to have potential students shadow you in your workplace. Offer to help with career day at your child's school. Encourage and mentor your own replacement in this nursing world, right there in your community! Talk about the need for nurses to be bright, articulate, focused, passionate, and kind.

Going back to the Gallup Poll, in 1999 and 2000 the American people rated nurses as the most trusted professionals in the country. In 2001, nurses were replaced by rescue workers. In my opinion, however, we're actually included in that group; the public just doesn't realize it. I expect that by working together through all avenues possible it's only a matter of time this message is delivered. And nurses are the best people to deliver it.

Operations Update

Heart Health: AAACN participated in the Invitational Conference on Cardiovascular Health for Women in December. Nancy Albert, RN, CCNS, CCRN, CNA, was our representative. You'll be hearing more about this important national educational imitative in the near future.

Legislative Information: Regina Phillips, AAACN board member, recently sent out a broadcast e-mail about several Web sites that provide news on health care and health care legislation. In case you missed this e-mail, we are reprinting it on page 10 of this issue (see "Useful Web Sites.")

AAACN Annual Conference: Please join us at the AAACN 27th Annual Conference, March 7-11, 2002 in New Orleans, LA. We've increased the number of contact hours you can earn for the 3-day conference to 18.8. You can also earn 1.2 additional contact hours for the poster sessions; 6.0 additional hours for the pre-conference workshop, Ambulatory Accreditation: A Practical Approach to Continual Survey Readiness; and 8.8 additional hours for the post-conference offering, Ambulatory Care Nursing Certification Review Course.