A few months ago, my pastor gave a sermon on vision, which subsequently conjured up many questions, thoughts, and ponders regarding the concept and promotion of a vision. In addition, the STN 2014-2015 board will meet in October to discuss the strategic plan for the Society of Trauma Nurses (STN) for the next 3 to 5 years. The vision, mission, and goals will be reviewed as a part of this meeting.
WHAT IS THE DEFINITION OF A VISION?
According to the Merriam-Webster Online dictionary,1 a vision is something that you imagine or something that you see or dream. It could be a thought, concept, or object formed by the imagination; a manifestation to the senses of something immaterial or someone's idea or hope of how something should be done, or how it will be in the future.
The concept of vision, from an organizational perspective, always includes a focus on the future. A vision implies the ability to think about and plan for the future, using intelligence and imagination to construct (http://www.macmillandictionary.com/search/british/direct/?q=imagination) a general statement of what an organization aims or hopes to achieve in the future.2
WHAT IS THE MEANING OF A VISION?
There are hundreds of articles written on vision that is not the issue. The issue is finding the definition that fits your organization. Jim Collins, the author of Good to Great: Why Some Companies Make the Leap... and Others Don't, defined vision as a composite of 3 things: purpose, core values, and mission.3 Let's look at how the STN organization embodies these items.
Your Purpose: Why you exist.
The vision of STN is: To be the premiere global nursing organization across the trauma continuum.
Your Core Values: The beliefs that will drive your behavior.
The STN core values are collaboration, education, innovation, leadership, mentoring, and prevention.
Your Mission: A big goal that you plan to achieve in 5 to 7 years.
The STN is a professional nonprofit organization whose mission is to ensure optimal trauma care to all people locally, regionally, nationally, and globally through initiatives focused on trauma nurses related to prevention, education, and collaboration with other health care disciplines. The STN advocates for the highest level of quality trauma care across the continuum. We accomplish this through an environment that fosters visionary leadership, mentoring, innovation, and interdisciplinary collaboration in the delivery of trauma care.
In closing, I ask that you revisit the vision and mission of STN. Do you have ideas, edits, or concerns? Will you help us create the future strategic plan? I would like to use your input so as to make our vision, mission, and core values stronger and more relevant to our organization.
Please send any comments to me at: mailto:[email protected].
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