The Infusion Nurses Society (INS) values all who volunteer their time and talent to the organization. It's the commitment and passion to the organization's mission that contribute to INS's growth and success. The Merriam-Webster dictionary defines volunteer as "A person who voluntarily undertakes or expresses willingness to undertake a service." Our members provide valuable information about practice and trends that influence patient care. We use that information to develop programs, products, and services that enable our members to do their work.
INS has several volunteer opportunities, such as serving at the national level on the INS Board of Directors. Members of the board have critical roles in guiding the direction of INS and contribute in many ways, such as authoring the State of the Society, the Presidential Address, and the INS Financial Report. Our board continues to evolve, and in May we welcomed 2 new members, Inez Nichols and Pamela McIntyre, for 2022-2023. Max Holder is the president with Sue Weaver, Joan Couden, and Nancy Bowles continuing to serve. As we look to the future, our Nominations Committee, led by Angie Sims, has begun its work to create a slate of candidates for 2023-2024.
We also offer the opportunity to participate in various committees and task forces, and we encourage our members to consider participating. The National Council on Education is a team of infusion experts who provide educational programs that will improve the delivery of health care and the practice of infusion nursing. Their mission is to disseminate knowledge by providing educational opportunities for infusion nurse specialists and members of allied health care specialties and professions to exchange information and clinical practice expertise and explore collaborative practice. The Standards of Practice Committee reviews and revises INS's most recognizable publication, the Infusion Therapy Standards of Practice, to ensure it reflects the best available evidence and current research for clinical application worldwide. Led by Barb Nickel and Lisa Gorski, work has begun on the 9th edition of the Standards. The Awards and Recognition Committee develops awards to recognize significant contributions in leadership, education, mentoring, innovation, and certification in infusion nursing. We are pleased to continue the work the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) Task Force. With an increasingly vital role, the DEI Task Force helps us plan and execute meaningful actions as we ensure that DEI is supported and promoted within the infusion community. The Journal of Infusion Nursing (JIN) Editorial Review Board, our newest committee, also draws on the talent of our members. We are pleased to welcome Lynn Brown, Gail Dammert, Theresa Gillespie, and Angie Malone. Their knowledge, expertise, and experience will help guide the vision and strategic direction of JIN. Check out the May/June 2022 issue of INSider to learn more about their backgrounds and contributions to infusion nursing.
We also encourage our members to continue volunteering to support the nursing profession outside of INS. We applaud the work of our board members and individuals who have held board and committee appointments on the Nurses on Boards Coalition (NOBC), the Nursing Organizations Alliance (NOA), and American Board of Nursing Specialties (ABNS), to name a few. Whether you are participating in familiar activities or going outside your comfort zone to learn something new, your volunteer efforts are valued. You're part of a community-generating meaningful connections and making a difference for INS, the infusion community, and our patients.
Mary Alexander