As we move toward the close of another remarkable year, this season invites us to pause, reflect, and celebrate how far we’ve come together as a community of medical-surgical nurses. One focus that has guided much of our work this year was on partnerships. AMSN leadership agrees that when we partner with other nursing specialty organizations, we amplify our voice and expand our impact. This year, AMSN has been fortunate to engage in meaningful and innovative partnerships that have advanced our mission in exciting ways.  

One highlight was our joint panel with the American Association of Critical-Care Nurses (AACN) at the AMSN Convention earlier this year. The session brought together experts from both specialty areas to discuss how collaboration enhances patient care. The response from attendees was incredibly positive, it reinforced how much we can achieve when we come together to tackle shared challenges. Building on that momentum, another panel is already in the works for the AACN National Teaching Institute conference next year. I was excited to connect with AACN leaders including President Rebekah Marsh, BSN, RN, CCRN, and President-Elect Tonka Williams, MHA, MSN, RN, CMSRN — who is a previous winner of the AMSN 2024 CMSRN of Distinction Award — at this year’s Nursing Organization Alliance Meeting about how our specialties intersect, strengthen one another, and other ways to collaborate in 2026!

AMSN is also proud to deepen partnerships with the Infusion Nurses Society and the American Society for Pain Management Nursing. Just like in the clinical setting, each collaboration is built on the recognition that while our specialties have unique focuses, we share a core commitment to patient safety, evidence-based care, and professional excellence. Stronger really is better, and whenever we agree as a nursing community, we move healthcare forward!

2025 Wrap!

As we wrap up 2025, I want to take a moment to celebrate some of the incredible accomplishments AMSN has achieved this year — milestones that reflect the hard work, creativity, and dedication of our members, staff, and volunteers:

• A wildly successful annual convention in Austin, Texas, where more than 1,000 medical-surgical nurses came together for learning, networking, and inspiration.  
• The launch of The Huddle, our members-only online community that’s quickly become a vital space for connection, support, and shared learning.  
• The release of the Recommendations for Safe, Effective Medical-Surgical Nurse Staffing, offering a strong framework for advocacy and improved patient outcomes, with additional resources planned for 2026.  
• The debut of Advancing Medical-Surgical Nursing, our new professional journal that highlights innovative practice, leadership, and research in our field.

Whew! That’s a big year! Each of these achievements represents teamwork and partnerships at their best.

As I conclude the first year of my two-year term as your president, I feel deeply honored and grateful for the opportunity to meet and learn from so many talented nurses across the country — and even beyond our borders. Your stories, your dedication, and your resilience are inspiring. Together, we’ve made tremendous strides, and with 2026 on the horizon, there’s so much to look forward to.  

Thank you for being part of this incredible community.

Cheers to a fun and celebratory end of the year and looking forward to an exciting 2026 together!