Thoughts of the spring bring with it spring cleaning, along with refreshing and revitalizing signs of new life. As the daffodils and tulips begin to bud, so do our ideas and energies about new goals for the months ahead. It often involves a look back, a reflection on what the last year was like. Did we achieve our goals? What new goals might we set at we purge and retool? Well, a look at 2017 is an encouraging one for the Association for Nursing Professional Development (ANPD). It was a record-breaking year in many ways, and 2018 is continuing along that path.
A few highlights come to mind right away as I reflect on 2017. Of course, we know that the American Nurses Association (ANA) declared 2017 as the Year of the Healthy Nurse. We were challenged to eat healthier, be more active, get better sleep, and have more joy (ANA, 2017). Perhaps you engaged in the ANAs Healthy Nurse, Healthy Nation Grand Challenge or took your own steps to create or maintain a healthy lifestyle. 2017 was certainly a year for attention to self and wellness, and even though the year has closed, we should make every effort to carry our health goals forward.
Last year, we saw nurses doing what nurses do best-caring for others-through so many different tragedies. From natural disasters, such as Hurricanes Harvey, Irma, and Maria, to mass shootings and other tragedies that resulted in unimaginable injuries and loss of life. Nurses responded in full force going to, receiving, and caring for those in need.
Caring for others is our nature. As nursing professional development (NPD) practitioners, we do this mostly by touching the lives of nurses through education, nurturing, and sharing. Our fulfillment and return on investment often comes by thinking about the countless lives that are touched and changed by those whom we helped develop, making our sphere of impact as NPD practitioners so far reaching. There is an interesting paradox, however, when we talk about caring for ourselves as nurses and caring for others in the same sentence. As nurses, we often leave a lot to be desired when it comes to being role models of caring for oneself. So as I reflect on this contrast, I go forward in 2018 wondering how we, as NPD practitioners, can do even better at helping to teach nurses care for themselves. We know that our patients, families, and all of those around us pay much more attention to our actions than our words. So one of my main takeaways from 2017 is that its time to pay more attention to caring for ourselves, because we know it's the only way we can be of any good in taking care of others.
Looking back on 2017, ANPD's work has provided so many opportunities for us to invest in and care for ourselves personally and professionally, individually and collectively. Some of those highlights that come to mind are as follows:
The Annual Convention
The Annual Convention in New Orleans brought with it a celebration of new highs! If you missed convention in 2017, you really missed an enriching experience. We all know that "The Big Easy" is one of the world's most amazing cities. It's alive with culture, food, and music, and in July, it came alive with over 1,274 NPD practitioners from across the country. The atmosphere and warm weather allowed convention attendees to network and enjoy each other and the beautiful city with all that is has to offer. One thousand two hundred seventy four attendees represents a new high in convention attendance, surpassing the record that was set in 2016. As for the Convention itself[horizontal ellipsis]well, it also outdid itself yet again. The lineup of keynote speakers was amazing! I could never do justice to the presenters and how they wowed us at the 2017 Convention in this brief summary. I can only suggest that you visit the ANPD Online Store to access the 2017 Convention Recordings. It's as good as you can get if you weren't able to actually be there!
Professional Development for the NPD Practitioner
Speaking of the ANPD Online Store, have you seen what's in the Professional Development Center lately? The resources there are sure to help you achieve your personal and professional NPD goals. Last year brought with it the release of the Core Curriculum for Nursing Professional Development (5th ed.). The core curriculum provides a foundation for fulfilling the roles and responsibilities of NPD practice as described in the scope and standards and can also be used for certification review.
Another exciting enrichment activity that unfolded in 2017 was the launch of the inaugural class of the ANPD Leadership Academy. This program kicked off at the 2017 Convention with a pilot group of 19 participants. The Leadership Academy will prepare NPD practitioners to assume leadership of an NPD department in a variety of settings. The Academy participants engaged in a face-to-face preconvention workshop, followed by live webinars throughout the year. Over the course of the 12-month mentored academy, each member will complete a work-based leadership project. Congratulations to these participants who are taking a big step by investing in themselves and their career, sharpening their saws so that they can be their very best!
New Task Forces
In 2017, ANPD welcomed two new task forces. ANPD's task forces and committees are integral to the success of the organization. They also provide a platform for purposeful member engagement and professional development as members volunteer their time and effort to helping ANPD achieve its goals.
The new Diversity Task Force will help ANPD fulfill its commitment to establishing and sustaining a diverse and inclusive environment. The goals of the Diversity Task Force are to (1) identify underrepresented audiences and enrich understanding of the perspectives of those members and (2) lead ANPD toward embracing cultural/racial/gender/generational diversity and develop supportive processes and practices.
The Transition to Practice Task Force will conduct a gap analysis to determine the state of transition to practice and transition in practice/fellowship programs for various patient care settings (e.g., home health, public health, long-term care).
Rising Membership
Awareness of the personal and professional benefits of ANPD membership is spreading. As the year ticked away, ANPD clocked in new highs in membership. With over 4,375 members by the end of last year, ANPD achieved its goal of surpassing the 4,000-member mark, and membership continues to grow steadily. As membership continues to grow, our ability to learn from each other, share best practices, and impact nursing through our roles is strengthened.
A Seat at the Table
I'll just share one last exemplar of care in action. In October, Mary Harper, PhD, RN-BC, ANPD Director of Nursing Professional Development, represented ANPD at the Helene Fuld Health Trust National Institute for Evidence-Based Practice in Nursing and Healthcare Evidence-Based Practice Expert Panel. For this panel, representatives from over 40 international organizations convened at the Ohio State University to discuss the current state of evidence-based practice and to make recommendations for moving forward. Mary's presence ensured ANPD and the voice of NPD practitioners were represented among the dynamic group of leaders. This group included Dorothy A Hogg, Major General, USAF, NC, MSN, MPA, WHNP-BC, who was recently nominated for Surgeon General of the U.S. Air Force. If confirmed, Ms. Hogg will become the first woman and the first nurse to serve in this role.
ANPD continues to advance the specialty practice of NPD for the enhancement of healthcare outcomes. This includes the care of others and the development and care of ourselves and those around us.
Look back on 2017 and find the positive message it has for you. It's there, you just have to uncover it. And when you do, put it right in front of you and don't stop chasing it. 2017 was a great year, 2018 is shaping up to be spectacular!
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