ED's Notes, The

Alabama Nurse,  Mar-May 2004  by Wilson, Helen

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In hopes of finding directions for 2004, I recently spent some time looking back at what ASNA had accomplished in 2003. I thought about the trends of last year and wondered what might the trends be for this year? Where did we succeed? Where did we fail?

This type of reflecting often causes a severe headache, but at the same time provides valuable lessons.

The most important trend here at the ASNA office for 2003 was planning. Planning that expanded our networking and collaborating with other state agencies. Planning to conserve resources. Planning to provide direction, visibility, and strength for this Association. I see planning continuing as a trend for 2004 because the ASNA House of Delegates directed us to accomplish many things before we convene again in September 2004.

The Restructuring Task Force has presented its findings and recommendations to the ASNA Board of Directors (BOD). The BOD passed the recommendation on to the Bylaws Committee. The Bylaws Committee has been working diligently to incorporate those recommendations into the bylaws in a timely manner. The Membership Committee is working tirelessly to restructure membership categories.

So planning is definitely going to be an important part of ASNA in 2004. Discussing the lessons learned from successes and failures of 2003 would take up way too much space, but I assure you there were lessons learned that will benefit us in 2004.

Planning is a must for ASNA, and I believe planning is a must for each of us in our personal, as well as professional, life.

So do you have a plan? What do you want personally in 2004? What do you want professionally in 2004? Are you as healthy and physically fit as you should/could be? Are you as politically active as you could be? Do you have a personal life away from your professional life?

Planning gives direction. Even though we may get side-tracked from the plan off and on, having a plan (in writing and programmed into our calendars) keeps us moving in the right direction.

Planning at ASNA is on-going and if you want to see it in action stop by and see us sometime.

by Helen Wilson, MSN, RN

Interim Executive Director

Copyright Alabama State Nurses' Association Mar-May 2004
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