As I have been reading, listening, and thinking this summer, I keep coming back to three ideas that feel deeply connected: Curiosity, connection, and the power of “and then.”

I have also been thinking about the way people step into opportunity. I was recently exposed to an interesting TED Talk by Taylor Doe. Doe talks about how people often get “the good jobs” because someone along the way created an “and then” moment — the kind of moment that opens a door, makes an introduction, offers encouragement, or says, “and then here is what comes next.”

In nursing, we do that for one another all the time. We help each other take the next step, whether that means something tangible like a school or a job or a volunteer application, or something even bigger like imagining a future we might not have seen on our own.

I am especially grateful for the people who created those “and then” moments for me throughout my career. Kathleen Singleton and Summer Bryant were among my first “yes” supporters here at AMSN, and Wileena “Winnie” Algood was the first nurse to encourage me to go back to school to advance my associate’s degree to a bachelor’s degree. Their support mattered so very much to me. It shaped my path in ways I could not have predicted. Returning to school, and participating in AMSN, NCNA, and state and national CNS events, opened doors for me that changed not only my professional journey, but also the way I think about leadership, service, and the profession of nursing as a whole.

I often come back to another influential book called “Never Split the Difference,” by former FBI negotiator Chris Voss. This book was recommended to me by a colleague who was working on reducing catheter-associated urinary tract infections with me at the hospital. But guess what, she was a vendor! She worked for a product company. And after spending five years working in healthcare for a company that makes products, I think about that hard line we draw between those who make products and those who provide clinical care. And while I understand the legal restrictions and historical implications around those two worlds, I think about how that partnership led to better outcomes for patients overall. Teaming up between those worlds can make much better products that are better for patients and easier for clinicians. And for me, that colleague became a friend. Isn’t that the best when that happens?

Back to the book she recommended to me. Voss teaches that curiosity strengthens negotiation, and that resonates in nursing, where we negotiate every day — with patients, with families, with colleagues, and with ourselves. Leaning in to learn more about a person or a topic is an essential element of assessment, the basis of all-things nursing. And it’s often where we can find common ground with anyone else, even in difficult moments. Medical-surgical nurses understand that care is both clinical and relational. We practice skill, clinical judgment, and advocacy, but we also approach each interaction with curiosity and connection.

Connections and growth are essential to a long and fulfilling career. It happens because someone notices, encourages, and connects us to what comes next. It happens when someone recommends a book, a job, a volunteer opportunity. And those growth opportunities are one of the reasons I value the role of professional organizations so highly in our professions.

As we move through the summer, I hope each of you will find time to reflect on the people, experiences, and moments that have shaped your own path. I also hope we continue to create those moments for others. Sometimes the most meaningful thing we can do is help someone see the next step — and then help them take it.

And one last growth opportunity … I look forward to seeing you in Palm Springs, California, in September! Maybe extend the invite to someone who has not been to a convention before or someone who has been an “and then” moment for you! Register now to join us, Sept. 24–26.

Reach out at President@AMSN.org.