Don't you love looking for a definition and finding that the definition you come upon basically says what the word already says? Such is the case of seamlessness, well, actually, seamless. Seamlessness says the state or quality of being seamless, and seamless says having no seams (https://www.thefreedictionary.com/). We often object when learners use the word itself to define a word, yet, here we are.
Because we - the two of us - are of like minds, we say that seamlessness is continuity. Just as a piece of fabric continues on, so too does the leadership of our organization. This message from the National League for Nursing (NLN) Chair is really a message from the Chairs - the outgoing and the incoming. We are of one mind in terms of our role: Our task as Chair of the NLN is to further the NLN mission - to promote "excellence in nursing education to build a strong and diverse nursing workforce to advance the health of our nation and the global community."
As individuals, we do not set individual goals. We want to achieve our task to determine what we can do during our term to promote excellence so that the workforce is strong and diverse. We do this through our core values of diversity, integrity, caring, and excellence. These four words guide our actions, and each contributes to our personal mission of acting on the organizational mission.
When the leadership of the organization changes, the members of the new Board of Governors are asked to affirm our commitment (see the highlighted words). These words hold a special obligation for the Chair, who represents the entire NLN and speaks as the elected official of the organization. That is why we must be seamless in the transition of office and in the commitment to our mission.
Numerous opportunities are before us. Some are internal - those that our staff created through grants and the establishment and ongoing implementation of programs such as the NLN Certification Program (http://www.nln.org/Certification-for-Nurse-Educators) and the NLN Commission for Nursing Education Accreditation (https://cnea.nln.org/), recently recognized as an official accrediting agency of the US Department of Education. Others are external, such as those inherent in the Future of Nursing 2020-2030 report and other emerging directions for the profession (National Academy of Medicine, 2021). The NLN stands ready to address these diverse demands on the profession and the challenges to nursing education.
We believe in all the goals of the NLN strategic plan. However, Goal 1 is core to us: the leader in nursing education. Specifically, our first goal is to "enhance the NLN's national and international impact as the recognized leader in nursing education."
As we briefly reflect over the past two (complex, uncertain, and ambiguous) years, we are proud that the NLN has taken an active lead in advancing nursing excellence in education. We advocated for ways to help students complete educational programs and demonstrate competencies appropriate for graduation. We provided educational opportunities for faculty to develop or hone educational skill sets to teach with creative and daring ingenuity in response to challenges brought on by the pandemic. We provided guidelines to address inclusivity of quality education in the transition to online experiences to continue to build a strong and diverse nursing workforce. We promoted leveraging our academic resources in collaboration with health care partners (including our public health partners) to address the intense learning needs that emerged during this crisis to advance the health of our nation and the global community.
With the November/December issue, a new face will appear on this page as Chair of the NLN. New words will be said - but the underlying message, the values, and the commitment will remain the same.
We hereby pledge our time and talent in support of the Mission and Goals of the National League for Nursing. In so doing, we will represent the best interests of the organization, and will not allow any personal or professional conflicts to interfere with our commitment to the welfare of the NLN.
REFERENCE