"There are leaders and there are those who lead." - Simon Sinek
This is my last message to you as the President of the Society of Trauma Nurses. It is hard to believe how quickly this year has gone by, and I want to take a moment to reflect upon the accomplishments that we have made together.
Simon Sinek1 beautifully describes how great leaders inspire everyone to take action in the book, "Start With Why." By focusing on their purpose-their driving motivation for action, great leaders are able to change the world for the better and inspire others to do the same.
Speaking of positive change, the past year has witnessed much progress in our organization. I want to thank each of my Board colleagues for their dedication and commitment to ensuring that STN starts with why, stays true to its mission, and achieves its objectives in a way that is ever mindful of the fact that this is an organization that is by, for, and dedicated to serve trauma nurses.
My colleagues on the Board of Directors helped me understand my "why." On a daily basis, they provided insight, guidance, and support as we challenged ourselves with aggressive agendas. Each day they found ways to say "yes" to ideas more than "no." We found encouragement and support in each other, and we learned to depend on one another for completion of plans and projects. I would also like to recognize our staff and executive director, Stephanie Czuhajewski, for supporting our why with the "how" and the "what" that will help us achieve our mission.
STN is a volunteer-led organization and our volunteers have served valiantly. Whether it is STN conference planning, preparation for attendance and collaboration at EAST, development of the Leadership Institute, managing our finances, developing marketing strategies and membership recruitment/retention strategies, mentoring, resource development, and educational course design and implementation, our leaders have served with integrity, commitment, and passion. We continue to push our efforts with policy in injury prevention and trauma system protection and development. There is nothing that together, we cannot accomplish.
To our partners at ACS COT, ATS, EAST, BCEN, TCAA, PTS, and JTN...thank you for an incredible year. It has been productive and we look forward to our continued collaboration and success as we assist one another with staying focused on our why.
It is our hope that you will continue to find your why at the 17th Annual Conference in New Orleans, "Bring it to the Bayou: Big Ideas, Big Trauma in the Big Easy." The Chair of the STN Conference Planning Committee, Liz Atkins, and the entire conference planning committee have worked diligently to develop an innovative program that will engage and inspire each and every participant. We are certain that we will provide you with tools to enhance your practice and reinvigorate your passion for trauma nursing. You will be riveted by Brian Boyle's presentation and inspired by our Distinguished Lecturer, Pat Manion, who has been inspiring us for years...in fact Pat has spent the better part of her career "starting with why" while helping others identify their purpose and passion.
Serving all of you as President has been a real privilege. Each of you takes our profession seriously and each of you understands our why-we are dedicated to optimizing trauma care for every patient, in every community, at every point on the continuum of care.
As a professional society representing trauma nurses worldwide, STN must continue to start with why so that we can continue to make positive and substantive change. Please continue the journey with our future leaders of STN and consider taking the plunge yourself and getting into a position of leadership within the organization. My best wishes to Kathi Ayers and the Board of Directors for 2014.
In gratitude for your support and dedication
Karen E. Doyle, MBA, MS, RN, NEA-BC
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