Portal de Periódicos da CAPES

Perianesthesia nurse diversity: Touch the world that touches you

2005; Elsevier BV; Volume: 20; Issue: 2 Linguagem: Inglês

10.1016/j.jopan.2005.02.009

1532-8473

Meg Beturne,

Nursing Education, Practice, and Leadership

AS ASPAN PREPARES to celebrate a quarter century of accomplishments as an advocate for and recognized leader of perianesthesia nursing, our core ideology is at the forefront of our thoughts, our words, and our actions. In order for ASPAN’s image, reputation, and known identity of excellence to become that of eminent influence, we must continue to embrace and demonstrate the core values of truthfulness, pride, respect, stewardship, mentoring, and passion. In all areas of influence and practice, and in all present and future relationships, we will be fair and ethical. Family and community will be our focus as we touch them with our care and concern. The importance of diversity as it relates to both opportunities and challenges will be evident in all strategic initiatives. The understanding and celebration of diversity will guide ASPAN into our envisioned future. ASPAN’s core purpose is to advance the unique specialty of perianesthesia nursing. The new diversity strategic work team will encompass activities in clinical practice and education, as well as in internal operations. As your incoming President, it is my pleasure to present the major elements of my strategic plan and request your participation and support in its implementation. Plans to add a nurse educator at headquarters will greatly aid in the rapid response for educational advice and timely dissemination of materials. Work will continue on the development of technology programs to enhance the existing resources available through JoPAN, workshops, and seminars. Membership in specialty practice groups will be encouraged as a mechanism to learn from and network with colleagues practicing in similar settings and with similar patient populations. Diverse educational offerings at conference will attract nurses practicing in remote sites. National Conference topics will address membership needs, from the novice to the expert practitioner. The Leadership Development Institute will serve as a reflection on positive strategies and outcomes used throughout ASPAN’s powerful history. A current evaluation of our educational offerings will enable us to make needed changes to increase member satisfaction. New avenues for learning will occur as Components develop websites and link into ASPAN. Greater interest in learning about advancement will happen with the development of a specific leadership training program. More opportunities for movement through the committee and leadership structure will occur with the appointment of advisors. A strengthened collaboration with ABPANC will produce an increased number of CPANs and CAPAs. Clinical practice touches all of us and is at the heart of our existence. ASPAN’s clinical practice network has been a phenomenal resource since its inception. Plans to standardize answers to commonly-asked questions are underway and will increase the group’s effectiveness. Increasing diversity of thought will set ASPAN apart as the premier advocate of quality patient care. The possibility of showcasing the best practices of nurses in diverse settings through poster presentations will be investigated. Articles highlighting these practices will raise awareness to the important contributions being made throughout our specialty. The initiation of clinical practice forums and roundtable discussions with colleagues that share in our patients’ surgical or procedural experience will unify our patient safety efforts. Research touches all of us and extends from the intellectual, curiosity-driven part of our existence. ASPAN’s lead in the development of a conceptual model of evidence-based practice (EBP) and a pilot study design are commendable. The data elements team will continue to standardize our practices into a dictionary that will accurately define what we do as perianesthesia nurses. Diverse areas and topics for outcome-based research will lend credibility to our specialty and insure that whatever ASPAN does will be guided by evidence to support scientific theory. New prospects for collaborative research will follow. Encouragement and support for research at all levels of our organization will translate into increased funding and grants. The AdHoc on National Office Performance Assessment & Improvement (PAI) will touch the lives of our CEO and support personnel as that group continues to review and revise human resources policies and procedures. Diverse opportunities for personal growth and development will be offered; continuing education activities will be promoted. The ASPAN staff will be recognized for their superior customer service. The staff will help us accomplish our diverse strategies while acknowledging the successes of the entire ASPAN family. Building on the wisdom of past and present leaders, our sights are focused on ASPAN’s audacious goal of being recognized by the health care community worldwide as the leading organization for the perianesthesia specialty. Twenty four renowned presidents before me have paved the way for our future growth, involvement, and influence. They taught us to reach for excellence. They shared milestones that moved us into this new millennium and empowered us to transform dream and vision into reality. Guided by the principles of vision in action and motivated by the circles of influence, we now know our direction. As champions of caring, we are ready to create more visions for the future. Making the connection through teaching, technology, and touch will be our blueprint from which new ideas will spring. We acknowledge that attaining new heights of excellence will mean ongoing change and transition. We affirm that our growth will occur through the knowledge and professional fitness afforded to all members. Above all, we are proud of our past and look forward to a bright future as we continue to play out our rich legacy. As I approach the office of ASPAN President, I would like to share with you my focus, diversity, “to touch the world that touches us!” I believe that diversity is essential to goal attainment and can be realized through creativity, critical thinking, and risk-taking strategies. First lady Eleanor Roosevelt’s touch was felt around the world as she battled to better life for many. Well-known for saying, “No one can make you feel inferior without your consent,”1The Princeton Language Institute21st Century Dictionary of Quotations. The Philip Lief Group, Inc, New York, NY1992Google Scholar she took a proactive stand on issues and gave voice to her concerns which resulted in positive outcomes for underserved populations. Likewise, ASPAN needs to become more involved in the political arena. Our issues today are no less significant and the consequences are even more far reaching. ASPAN needs to build bridges which will ensure us a seat at the public policy tables with National Nurses’ League, American Nurses’ Association, and others. We have to walk the talk of our convictions and raise opposition to bills that hinder, rather than help, patient safety and the delivery of quality care. We have made inroads in this area through our governmental affairs network and safety strategic work team but the climate is prime for ASPAN to have an increased impact. Great humanitarian and missionary Mother Teresa literally touched the untouchable diseased persons in her world .Her message was a simple one; all nurses can touch people around the world by instilling hope and practicing tolerance. A great opportunity exists for ASPAN as we extend our geographic borders and build relationships and friendships with our culturally diverse practitioners around the globe. This goal has already begun to be achieved. Perianesthesia practitioners from Canada, New Zealand, and the United Kingdom, and military nurses from around the world have attended our conferences. ASPAN leaders have lectured and shared clinical expertise with the British specialty nurses. Connections were made with New Zealand, Australian, and Swedish nurses. An ASPAN ambassador attended the conference for the National Association of Hispanic Nurses in Puerto Rico. With the increase of clinical practice questions, educational assistance requests, and research inquiries received from such faraway lands as China and Russia, ASPAN needs to be poised and ready to respond with expert information, advice, and goodwill. Vital materials such as standards, guidelines, journals, best practices, and research initiatives are only a link away. Recruitment of diverse members will include a campaign designed to touch more male nurses; more persons who have chosen perianesthesia nursing as a second career; and nurses practicing in obstetrical units, radiology departments, Phase 3 settings, and office- based practices. Recruitment of minority nurses will be aided through an invitation to the leaders of these organizations to attend an ASPAN conference for the purpose of networking and collaboration. All efforts will be directed toward creating a place where it is safe to be different, as recommended by nursing leader Beverly Malone (personal communication, February 13, 1996). Further, the retention of our members will be enhanced by identifying the individual skills that are present at the grassroots level and offering a meaningful mentoring environment to build on these strengths. The formation of a new strategic work team focusing on an environmental and marketing partnership with ABPANC will be the vehicle which ultimately impacts our recruitment efforts. As your President for 2005–2006, I challenge you to think and act in different ways this year as you contribute to ASPAN’s rich traditions. I want you to reach out and touch the heart and soul of the world around you by taking pride in your profession and your practice. I want you to appreciate and celebrate the unique talents that everyone brings to the clinical practice setting, the classroom, the lab, and the boardroom. I want you to understand that diverse opportunities to partner with colleagues inside and outside of ASPAN will make us stronger as individuals and as an organization. I want you to actively contribute to the diverse clinical practice initiatives, educational programs or research studies at your hospital, in your component, and on the national level. I want you to enjoy perianesthesia nursing for the diverse opportunities of growth and development that it offers you. I want you to recognize the impact your care has on the diverse patient populations that you serve. Most of all, I challenge each and every one of you to say out loud, “Why not diversity?” Then clarify your vision and develop your plans to move the diversity initiatives forward. Practice with the core values uppermost in your mind. Be forever committed to the advancement of ASPAN’s image, reputation, and identity for excellence! I look forward to working with all of you as we move perianesthesia diversity forward for another twenty five years and beyond! Meg Beturne, BSN, RN, CPAN, CAPA is PACU Co-ordinator for Maple Surgery Center in Springfield, MA.