Each New Year, many of us resolve to make positive changes in our lives, some frivolous, others more life-changing. This year, NAON is involved in many activities that will create exciting changes in both NAON and nursing as a whole. Some of these activities, such as Nurses for a Healthier Tomorrow, we've discussed previously. Others are just beginning to evolve.
NAON is participating in the Call to the Nursing Profession, sponsored by the American Nurses Association. At this time, all participating organizations are developing action steps around the 10 domains identified by attendees at their September 2001 meeting. NAON is developing action steps in the areas of Public Relations/ Communications; Work Environment; Nursing/Professional Culture; Legislation/Regulation/Policy; and Leadership and Planning.
Many of the actions steps incorporate programs NAON already has in process. Some of them are new activities that correspond to our strategic plan. Our proposed action steps will be compiled with those of all other participating nursing organizations into one major work. This will serve as a basis for both a document to be entitled "Nursing's Agenda for the Future," and for fundraising to support the proposed activities. As these events unfold, we will keep you posted on their progress.
Another exciting opportunity is presenting itself to NAON. By the time this message is published, I will have had the privilege of speaking at the AAOS's Council on Health Policy and Legislation. I plan to share with the Academy recommendations on how they can help NAON in a variety of activities including, but not limited to, strategies to address the nursing shortage, support for legislation important to orthopaedic nurses, and other topics of mutual interest.
Along the same collaborative lines, the Practice Management Council of the Academy has requested information on the nursing shortage and how nurses can enhance a physician's practice. Rita Knight, SIG facilitator for Advanced Practice, is working with this AAOS Council to develop these articles. Both of these opportunities with the Academy were spearheaded by Dr. William Tipton, Executive Vice President of the Academy and an honorary NAON member, and facilitated by NAON's Academy liaison, Immediate Past President Anita Meehan.
By the time this journal arrives, we hope you will have voted for your new NAON officers and Nominating Committee members. But don't forget about this important process as soon as your ballot is in the mail. NAON is absolutely dependent on the volunteer member who is open to the challenge of serving in some capacity for NAON. There are numerous positions to be filled on an ongoing basis. In addition to the Executive Board and the Nominating Committee, there are many slots on task forces and ad hoc committees. There are special projects. The NAON Foundation and ONCB are always searching for people to do the business of their respective groups.
Take the time to evaluate your strengths and skills and see where you fit in as a NAON volunteer. Complete a "willingness to serve" form that you can either download from the NAON Web site or obtain from the national office. You don't need to wait until Congress to complete this form. Do it now!! NAON is depending on you. It's not too early to plan your future with NAON. Any member of the Executive Board, the Nominating Committee, or the mentoring task force will be more than happy to help you.
Healthy People 2010 is another emerging program to which NAON plans to contribute. This coalition has identified a myriad of overarching objectives impacting on health. Several of these objectives mirror those of NAON. We hope to contribute our expertise to these endeavors. Past President Melinda Mock will be chairing a task force to explore how NAON can best participate in this program.
This year will be exciting for NAON. Share it with us.