Together Everyone Achieves More

Thank you for the opportunity to serve as your AAACN President for the coming year. I look forward to working with our Board of Directors, our management firm, and each of you - our volunteer leaders.

Rarely have I read a popular book that has more relevance to AAACN and ambulatory care nursing than Malcolm Gladwell's The Tipping Point, a compelling book about how trends begin and why they succeed. Reading this book made me see ambulatory care nursing and AAACN's message and membership in a new, different, and fascinating way. Gladwell talks about the emergence of trends and the phenomenon of word of mouth in terms of an epidemic (for example, spreading AAACN's message and the value of membership and products is similar to the spreading of viruses). He talks about the characteristics of epidemics in action: contagious behavior, little changes have big effects, and change happens in a hurry. Gladwell reveals that all epidemics have a tipping point, "a place where the unexpected becomes expected, where radical change is more than a possibility. It is - contrary to all our expectations - a certainty" (Cladwell, 2000, 13-14).

I became a member of AAACN in 1990 after accepting my first role in ambulatory care as Director of the Admission Evaluation Center, a position that had been vacant for more than 6 months. During my final interview with Dr. Marg Sovie, the chief nursing officer, she jumped up from her chair, went behind her desk, and retrieved an AAACN brochure. She told me that as Director, I would join immediately, and I did. During my 8-week maternity leave in early 1991, she called me to tell me that I would be submitting an abstract for the 1992 AAACN Annual Conference. I replied, "I will?" She said, "Yes, you should be receiving a copy of the Call for Abstracts at your home shortly." As an AAACN member, I already had the Call for Abstracts and had no intention of submitting an abstract! My abstract was accepted, and I attended and presented at my first AAACN conference in 1992 in San Antonio, Texas. When I returned, Marg asked, "Who did you meet, what committee did you volunteer for?" I told her I met a few people, and that I volunteered for no committee. She directed me to call the people I met within the next 3 months (e-mail did not exist at the time) and to complete a Willingness to Serve form which I did. Marg was a mentor to me, I just did not recognize it back then! If any of you knew Dr. Sovie, she was "contagious" and change happened in a hurry, whether you wanted it to or not.

The Three Rules for Epidemics

My first experience with AAACN is consistent with Cladwell's belief that word of mouth epidemics are a function of the people who transmit the information. He talks about the "Three Rules for Epidemics":

1. The Law of the Few.

2. The Stickiness Factor.

3. Power of Context.

Rule 1

Gladwell describes that epidemics are driven by the "Law of the Few" - a handful of exceptional people who are energetic, knowledgeable, and influential among their colleagues. He calls them "connectors," "mavens," and "salesmen." Connectors are people with a special gift for bringing the world together; they know a lot of people, and they cultivate acquaintances. Mavens accumulate knowledge and have information about a lot of different things; they know the inside scoop. Salesmen are persuaders; they persuade us when we are unconvinced. Starting an epidemic about ambulatory care nursing and AAACN requires communicating a message, not via e-mail or fax, but through human contact - through volunteer leaders who are connectors, mavens, and salesmen.

How many of you know E. Mary Johnson? She carries the AAACN message everywhere she goes - the voice for ambulatory care nurses - real nurses, real issues, real solutions. She has no personal agenda other than a concern for ambulatory care. Epidemics are heavily dependent on the involvement of people like E. Mary Johnson with a particular and rare set of social gifts. She is just one example of a connector. Are you an AAACN connector?

How many of you know Catherine Futch? I envision Catherine as a maven. When I was elected to the Board of Directors, Catherine was assigned to be my mentor. I often rocked the boat and Catherine nicknamed me the "X-er" for generation X. Catherine's motivation was pure, to educate me and help me; she was not a persuader, but her expert opinion made me sit up and listen. Mavens have the knowledge, skills, and power to spark a word of mouth epidemic. Are you an AAACN maven?

Hopefully, many of you have gotten to know Pat Reichart, AAACN's Association Services Manager. I view Pat as the ultimate salesperson - enthusiastic, charming, energetic - she often persuades in a subtle and sometimes unspoken manner. Are you an AAACN salesperson? AAACN is fortunate to have exceptional members - people capable of starting an epidemic.

Rule 2

Gladwell's second rule is called "The Stickiness Factor." The premise here is that there is a simple way to package information that under the right circumstances, can make it irresistible. AAACN has worked hard over the last year to develop a new structure and format for our materials - a verbal message depicted visually in our new membership brochures, posters, and quick screen. There are more in development for you to use in your organizations and work places to spread the word and create a "stickiness" about AAACN. Please contact the National Office if you would like copies of AAACN's new brochure and poster.