It was an exciting time, filled with anticipation of wonderful things to come. The NLN was embarking on a new chapter in its organizational history after spending 120 years in New York City. Change was in the air.
Since that time, our focus has been consistently on our members. With our members we have accomplished many things, and our professional development and recognition programs have flourished. Keeping our mission and core values in the forefront, NLN staff work tirelessly to provide the tools needed to support nurse faculty and nursing education programs in building a strong and diverse workforce and advancing the health of our nation and the global community.
It is clear that member engagement in the NLN is key to promoting excellence in nursing education. Regional constituent leagues, NLN ambassadors, educators who hold the Certified Nurse Educator (CNE) credential, faculty in NLN Center of Excellence schools of nursing, and fellows in the NLN Academy of Nursing Education are exemplars of active membership involvement. These committed members help us serve as the voice for nursing education.
Like many of you, I was very involved in my state constituent league and held several offices throughout the years, including the presidency of the Alabama League for Nursing. Being part of the Alabama league, I believe, provided me with the knowledge, insight, and confidence to move forward with my involvement at the national level. Having had the good fortune to participate in most NLN programs, I guess you could say that I have lived the NLN life.
The move to DC enabled the NLN to redesign its organizational structure while aligning with the 2011 Institute of Medicine Future of Nursing report recommendations. The NLN Home for Transformative Excellence was created, housing seven centers that address academic and clinical transitions, assessment and evaluation, diversity and global initiatives, vulnerable populations, simulation and technology, transformative leadership, and the advancement of the science of nursing education. Partnerships are built through these centers, and leaders are made.
Another development has been the formation of strategic action groups, from within and outside the membership, to address critical issues affecting nursing education and nursing research. The work of these groups has led to the publication of a series of living documents that provide a platform for further exploration and discussion. Each NLN Vision statement provides background literature along with discussion of practice trends and recommendations for faculty, department chairs, deans, and directors, and for the NLN itself. During the past two years, the work of these action groups has led to the publication of five contributions to the NLN Vision Series on issues including doctoral preparation for the nurse educator, recognition of the role of the LPN/LVN, simulation and the importance of debriefing, and preparing faculty for the connected world of health care. Others in the series are in development.
I have barely touched the surface of the many ways that members can and do engage with the NLN. I invite you to visit our website (http://www.nln.org) to learn how you can be supported in your faculty role through the NLN's numerous teaching resources and continuing education opportunities. And I hope you will take part in your local constituent league (http://www.nln.org/membership/constituent-leagues) or perhaps serve your school as an NLN ambassador (http://www.nln.org/membership/ambassadors). There are many routes to engagement in the NLN.
Before I close, I want to extend my thanks to NLN CEO Dr. Beverly Malone for her leadership. Beverly does a phenomenal job, keeping this organization on track and achieving constantly greater heights. We are fortunate that she shares her gifts of leadership, management, and mentorship with us every day. The NLN staff, as well, deserves our thanks. Their knowledge and dedication are evident in everything they do. It is clear they live our core values of caring, integrity, diversity, and excellence. And a final thank you to the members of the NLN Board of Governors who contribute so much of their time, energy, and expertise to make this organization a success. I thank all BOG members for their support.
This is a pivotal time for the nursing profession and for nursing education. It is imperative that our voice is heard. As the voice for nursing education, the NLN represents all types of nursing education programs: 40,000 members, 1200 institutions, and growing. Thank you for allowing me to serve as the president of the NLN. It has been a dream come true.