In 1996, I joined the Society of Trauma Nurses (STN) as a new trauma coordinator. I was hungry to learn everything I could about managing a trauma program and, of course, preparing for an American College of Surgeons (ACS) visit. I found my networking efforts with other members opened new doors. I then found mentors too numerous to list within the membership and STN leadership. I followed the path of regional chair to board of directors, secretary, and then president elect. With each new level of involvement in STN came new challenges. It is now 11 years later and I am at the threshold of my year as president. It is a great honor to serve the members of the STN as your incoming president.
The STN Board of Directors and I are focused on the moving the organization forward. Marla Vanore has led us through some huge accomplishments as we hired a new management firm and signed a contract with Lippincott Williams & Wilkins to manage our journal. Although the STN has experienced tremendous growth in the last several years, it has not come without new challenges. I would like to review some of the key goals for 2008:
* continue membership growth and services
* maintain financial responsibility and stability
* leadership growth with succession planning
* development of new initiatives
* development of collaborative relationships
MEMBERSHIP SERVICES
As our membership grows, so do the needs. In the last several years, our membership profile has changed to include research nurses, injury prevention coordinators, more international trauma nurses, and those in military services. Our members now span the continuum of trauma nursing leaders, and through special interest groups and various committees we continue to address the needs of these diverse groups. With diversity comes opportunity-the opportunity of members to get involved with their specialty area or to develop a new area of interest. Currently the various activities seeking volunteers are communicated through the list serve and the e-mail newsletter. Soon the members' only section of the Web page will increase communication for upcoming events and volunteer opportunities. In 2008, we will continue to address these challenges and look to ways to encourage members who are not involved yet to take that next step.
FINANCIAL STRATEGIES
Financial responsibility and stability remain a dominant part of our board activities and strategic planning. The STN board does not take their fiduciary responsibilities lightly. The Finance & Audit Committee has put into place a reserve policy with a timeline for further financial security. With nonprofit organizations, there is a balance that must be achieved between allocation of funds for new projects/programs and maintaining a solid bottom line that reflects financial protection for the organization. We continue to pay due diligence and implement ways to be more efficient and cost-effective while moving the organization forward.
LEADERSHIP GROWTH
STN has an outstanding group of board members, regional, state, committee, and special interest group chairs, and it is exciting to work with this caliber of talent. There is a great deal of activity and communication that goes on between the various leaders daily. In volume 1 of the Journal of Trauma Nursing, Marla Vanore listed in her President's Message various committees, special interest groups, and projects that could provide members involvement opportunities. All these activities take leadership and energy: e-mailing notices, organizing conference calls, and conducting face-to-face meetings at the annual spring conference. As a board, we have focused on trying to work smarter, not harder. One avenue to avoid the burnout that often occurs in volunteer organizations is to have strategies in place for succession planning. Our 2007 by-law changes included term limits on board and chair positions as another step to develop new leadership at every level of the organization.
NEW INITIATIVES
Because of the diversity of our membership, there are many directions for program and project development to occur. Currently ATCN, TOPIC, Journal of Trauma Nursing, and the electronic library serve as our main resources for members. The Injury Prevention SIG and the Education Committee are currently collaborating on an injury prevention program for seniors. One of the goals of the organization is to provide the necessary tools/resources for trauma nurse leaders to utilize in their center development. These resources take motivated and experienced members to develop and implement, along with the necessary funding, and in 2008 we will focus on exploring other funding sources including grants.
FURTHER DEVELOPMENT OF COLLABORATIVE RELATIONSHIPS
In the last couple of years, the STN has developed collaborative relationships with the ACS, the Eastern Association for the Surgery of Trauma, Emergency Nurses Association, American Trauma Society, Emergency Medical Services for Children, and the Alliance of Nursing Associations. In the Notes and News section, our new collaborative efforts with the American Association for the Surgery of Trauma are highlighted. Through these collaborations, STN continues to grow as a recognized leader in trauma care and trauma nursing. We need to position ourselves further in legislative and policy-making activities. Strengthening our legislative presence is critical to influence the necessary changes in trauma care.
I look forward to serving you as your President in 2008. I would like to summarize the 5 goals by highlighting some of the STN activities that any STN member can get involved in.
Take the time to write an article for the Journal of Trauma Nursing about a best practice initiative or clinical case study
Attend the 2008 STN Annual Conference in New Orleans and network with other members
Join and get involved with an STN committee or Special Interest Group
Become an Advance Trauma Care for Nurses (ATCN) provider or instructor
Host a Trauma Outcomes and Performance Improvement Course (TOPIC) in your facility or state
Take the Business Aspects of Trauma System Leadership for Nurses (at the annual conference)
Take the Disaster Management and Emergency Preparedness Course (at the annual conference)
If you have not yet taken the initiative to become more involved in the organization, then ask yourself, why not? STN is rich with resources and networking. I have yet to find another STN member who was not willing to help me throughout the years. Take the next step, get involved. I am actively recruiting you to become tomorrow's leaders to take the STN to the next level.