Chapter Leaders Get Practical Advice at
Workshop
Daylong
NTI Preconference Builds on 'Bold Voices'
Theme
Although the times are often trying and the
message can get muddled, AACN chapter
leaders should never doubt their value to
the association, AACN Past President Denise
Thornby, RN, MS, told attendees at the
Chapter Leadership Development Workshop
conducted at NTI 2003 in San Antonio, Texas.
Chapter
leaders provide some organization of the
many resources available through AACN to
members. They also bring information back to
the association, and AACN prides itself on
its ability to listen to members and respond
to feedback, Thornby said.
Thornby
said her own chapter experiences remind her
that chapter leadership is not always easy,
because there is no full-time staff, and
chapter duties must fit in with an already
hectic schedule.
Maintaining Focus
To help
chapter presidents who are constantly
wondering when members are going to show up
or why they don't do what they say they
will, Thornby offered advice on ways to make
this difficult job manageable.
Trying
to do too many things will result in nothing
getting done, she advised. Each chapter must
focus on the capability, direction and
talent of the members to determine what
projects and topics are most important and
worthy of time.
Chapter
leaders should also remember that motivation
is key to eliciting members' best work. When
trying to find a person to take on an
assignment, it is often not worth the effort
to convince someone who is initially
unwilling, because if problems arise, a
person who is not personally committed to
the project will be the first to quit, she
said.
Developing Chapter Leadership
Outgoing AACN President Connie Barden RN,
MSN, CCNS, CCRN, commended chapter leaders
for embracing and carrying out the theme of
Bold Voices the last year and encouraged
them to carry that theme with them into the
future.
"It is
time for us all to use our voices
differently, louder and more forcefully, and
incorporate them into everything we do,"
Barden said. "This is a powerful method that
moves nursing forward, moves critical care
forward and moves healthcare forward."
Incoming AACN President Dorrie Fontaine, RN,
DNSc, FAAN, vowed that the message of bold
voices would carry forward into the coming
year.
"This
is a great time to be a nurse, but there are
thorny issues like staffing shortages,
ensuring healthy work environments and
end-of-life care," Fontaine said.
In the
coming year, nurses must step back and
analyze these topics to solve these old
problems with new solutions.
Thought Partners
Following that theme, AACN Chief Executive
Officer Wanda L. Johanson, RN, MN, said that
the association has always depended on the
partnerships that the association develops.
The network of like-minded nurses who want
to drive nursing forward gathers strength
through the chapters, regions and the
national body, she said. In addition, many
companies and organizations serve as
physical and financial partners for the
betterment of the association.
"Now is
the time to identify thought partners,"
Johanson said. "Who can we partner with now.
Who has new
perspectives?"
Mentoring for Leadership
Past
AACN board member Lori Hendrickx, RN, EdD,
CCRN, also addressed the participants,
emphasizing the importance of mentoring in
developing leaders.
In
addition, Hendrickx said, mentoring over the
Internet is becoming more common where
geography and time constraints hinder
traditional means.
Chapter Gifts Support AACN Programs
Major chapter gifts to
AACN were recognized during the annual
Chapter Presidents Luncheon, sponsored by
Nellcor/Tyco Healthcare at NTI 2003 in San
Antonio, Texas. Outgoing AACN President
Connie Barden accepted gifts from (from
left, above) Sarah Martin of the Northwest
Chicago Area Chapter, Michael NozDrovicky of
the New York City Chapter, Kathleen Klein
Peavy of the Atlanta Area Chapter and
Barbara Pope of the Southeastern
Pennsylvania Chapter.
Barden
also recognized the
Dallas County Chapter,
represented by Damon
Cottrell (at left) for its $2,500
grant to support visits by
middle and high school
students ath the 2003 and
2004 NTIs.
What's on Tap
Region 3 (Delaware, New Jersey,
Pennsylvania)
The
AACN Region 3 meeting for critical care
nurses in Delaware, New Jersey and
Pennsylvania will be Sept. 13 in Pompton
Plains, N.J. For more information, contact
Janice Wojcik at (800) 394-5995, ext. 8803;
e-mail,
janice.wojcik2@verizon. net.
California
The
Santa Barbara County Chapter will present a
program titled "Nurturing the Nurse Retreat"
on July 25 and 26 in Cambria. For more
information, contact Celeste Richards, RN,
MS, CCRN, at (805) 682-7111, ext. 3518;
e-mail,
crichard@sbch.org.
Florida
The
Coast to Coast Chapters will present the
"Waves of Wisdom" program titled "The Magic
and Wisdom of Nursing" on July 25 and 26 in
Orlando, Fla. For more information,
contact
Kim Martin at (386) 334-5371; e-mail,
coast2coast@aacnchapters.com.
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