Empowering Nurses Everywhere

I want to start this off by recalling how amazing the AMSN Convention was this year! It was a perfect venue and the sessions had fabulous speakers. I know I learned a lot and I hope you did as well. Please share your new insights and ideas with others! It was also great to connect with colleagues and make new friends over a perfect weekend.

During the Convention, we were also pleased to host our second CMSNR Certificant Reception. This was an event to not only celebrate certificants, but to also celebrate certification milestones for those that have held the credential for 5, 10, 15, and 20 years. I have to say it was especially touching to recognize those that have held the credential since its inception twenty years ago! We will continue to celebrate with you every day and at the convention again next year.

I also had the privilege to present the Kathleen Singleton Organizational Award with AMSN president, Marisa Streelman, to UC Davis Sacramento. UC Davis has earned an impressive 14 PRISM awards, and we are sure more will be awarded in the future. The staff are committed to excellence in medical-surgical nursing, and it shows in everything that they do. Congratulations to everyone at UC Davis Sacramento!

While I am on the topic, I have also had the privilege to notify several nursing units across the country that they are the latest recipients of the AMSN PRISM award. The application for this award can be intimidating as it focuses on the areas of leadership, recruitment and retention, evidence-based practice, patient outcomes, healthy practice environment, and lifelong learning within the nursing unit and the organization, but the recognition and showcasing of the hard work each unit does feels worth it.

Reflecting on the week, I think it’s important to remember that we are all nurse leaders. Our patients, families, colleagues, and collaborators are looking to us for our knowledge and guidance through this weird world of health care delivery. I know the workplace is in a state of flux still as we rebound from the pandemic, but we are seeing more stability and that is creating better patient outcomes and a healthier practice environment. I would highly recommend that if there are issues within the workplace, please do have frank and honest discussions with your leaders. Talk with the temporary work staff and talk up the key points for becoming staff at your facility. Continue your pursuits to learn and grow as nursing and healthcare learns and grows as a part of life. What am I getting at with all of this? That we need to celebrate and be proud of what we do as nurses. We need to change the phrase “I am just a nurse” to “I am a nurse, and I am proud of what I do”. Let us be loud and proud and share our accomplishments with others. We can make great changes in the industry when we recognize all we do for our patients and ourselves. So, thank you for the excellence in nursing that you demonstrate every day.

Don’t forget that Med – Surg Nurses’ Week is November 1 – 7. Please take the week to celebrate everything that you do and continue to do every day. You are all amazing and you deserve the very best!

Finally, I do want to let you know that MSNCB is on track with the Certified Acute Virtual Registered Nurse (CAVRN) credential. We are currently looking for subject matter experts to work with our test development partner. If you are interested in this unique opportunity, please submit your information here.

Please do enjoy this glorious fall weather. Be safe and be proud. Take care of yourself and each other.