Our greatest weakness lies in giving up. The most certain way to succeed is always to try just one more time. - Thomas Edison, Inventor
In this first message as president of the ASPSN, I want to say what probably every other president of the ASPSN has said. Serving as the ASPSN President is a responsibility not taken lightly; I will devote my very best efforts to fulfill the trust that you have placed in me. At our fall meeting in Baltimore, I related the momentary sense of what can only be described as "panic" when I first saw president written by my name. That feeling quickly disappeared when I figured out that if I needed help with anything, all I'd have to do is contact our immediate past president, or any of our other board members, or our superb management firm at the national office. This list could go on and on until every single member of the ASPSN was contacted because we are all dedicated to providing excellent care for plastic surgery patients. We all share the common bond of our love for plastic surgical nursing.
Several months ago in December when I arrived at a friend's house, they told me that one of the headlights on my car was burned out. I'm thinking: "Great, that's just what I need this time of year, especially when it's so cold and everyone is so busy." I procrastinated with calling my car dealership until I couldn't get the threat of being stopped by the local police for driving with a faulty headlight out of my mind. The service area at the car dealership assured me that I wouldn't even need an appointment to get the headlight fixed; it was something that I could just stop in with over the lunch hour.
As I'm driving to the car dealer the next day during lunch, I'm thinking that this plan will never work. Much to my surprise and delight, the headlight replacement worked just as promised. My time spent at the car dealer was only 8 minutes and the cost was surprisingly inexpensive. The drive to and from the car dealer took longer than my time in the service area. I drove back to work feeling like I'd really accomplished a chore and even had a good sense of satisfaction from how smoothly this onerous task was completed.
I'm sure you're asking what could possibly be the point of what you've just read. My point is that maybe you've put off doing something because you think it's a nuisance, just one more thing to do, or you just can't get started. This could apply to a new project at work or at home or a promise you've made. Is there a new office policy that you've promised to write? Is there a home improvement project that just keeps waiting? We won't even talk about the procrastination that some of us use with becoming more physically fit.
We could also apply all of this to some of you who have perhaps been reluctant to become very involved with the ASPSN because you don't know where to start. My first "involved" experience, other than being an ASPSN member, was to be a member of the scholarship and awards committee. That involvement led to other avenues of serving the ASPSN, and every volunteer experience with this organization has been so rewarding. Quite often the biggest step in accomplishing anything is getting started with even a tiny little step, but the rewards can be tremendous when you get something done.
We hope you'll decide this year to become more involved as an ASPSN member. Just let us know that you'd like to become more involved and we'll help you get started with something that you'd like to do!!
Claudette J. Heddens, ARNP, CPSN
ASPSN President 2008