President's message

Dear Colleagues:

At the June 2002 AAACN Board of Directors meeting, we started our strategic thinking session with a discussion of leading during turbulent times. My personal imagery for dealing with "turbulence" is paddling a canoe through rapids. In addition to wearing a life vest, the important actions in canoeing are to keep the canoe pointed in the right direction, avoid immovable objects (like rocks and trees), synchronize with your partner, and keep paddling. I think this image works for describing the leadership in the Board's strategic thinking process.

For direction, we have reviewed our core ideology and AAACN's mission, vision, and values. These will be held in the forefront as the Board does its current work of setting strategies and priorities.

Are there immovable objects in AAACN's path? During the Board meeting, we examined data drawn from the membership and identified what we believe are the "mega" issues for AAACN. Please see the cover story on this topic by Catherine Futch and Regina Phillips and provide us feedback by e-mailing the National Office at aaacn@ajj.com. In your e-- mail, please answer this question: Are these the primary assumptions with which we should concern ourselves in the next 5 to 10 years?

Who else is in the canoe partnering with AAACN as we paddle, and how best can we work with them? Certainly, AAACN has many partners in other organizations, including those in the Nursing Organizations Alliance (formerly NOLF and NFSNO). We are also seeking new ways to partner with corporate members and sponsors. Additionally and most importantly, AAACN is fortunate to have leadership not only on the Board, but also throughout the organization. These individuals propel us with their creativity, dedication, and problem-solving skills.

The Board will meet again in September to do more strategic thinking. At that time, we will consider your feedback, set priorities, and put plans into action.

Operations Update

As described in the last issue, we now have four goals in our business plan. This is the status of the current activities for each of these goals:

Goal 1. Be the Voice of Ambulatory Care Nursing:

E. Mary Johnson and Linda Brixey represented AAACN at the Nursing Leadership Academy for End of Life Care conference on August 25-30, 2002. In addition, I attended the Forum on Health Care Leadership August 17-20, 2002. At that meeting, I held an exhibit space to promote AAACN and our mission. Both of these conferences were excellent opportunities for AAACN spokespersons to network and familiarize other nursing leaders with our work.

Goal 2. Promote Professional Practice

In partnership with Contemporary Forums, the AAACN Telehealth Nursing Practice Core Course (TNPCC) was offered as a pre-conference at the Contemporary Forums conference on September 15 in New Orleans, LA. The pre-conference will be repeated at their October 13, 2002 conference in Las Vegas, NV.

Goal 3. Strengthen AAACN Resource Base

The Board finalized a budget for Fiscal Year 2003. AAACN has been and continues to be hit hard by the economy. We were able to project some modest revenue enhancements, and some cost reductions to balance the budget. The Board worked hard to find cost-effective ways to maintain member services, including the use of new technology.

Goal 4. Develop AAACN Leadership Ability and Capacity

Please note the excellent candidates for AAACN office highlighted in this issue (see pages 15-18). Given the caliber of these leaders, the only bad vote is the one not cast. Please vote when you receive your ballot in the mail in November.

"Vision without action is a daydream. Action without vision is a nightmare."

Japanese Proverb

Candia Baker Laughlin, MS, RN, C

AAACN President

candial@umich.edu

Copyright American Academy of Ambulatory Care Nursing Sep/Oct 2002
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