Pennsylvania Nurse, Front Page 2017 Issue 1 | Page 4

Message from the President
Changes in leadership often bring other considerable changes. This occurs at
many levels, different places, and various times. If we consider change as a con-
stant, we must explore our individual, group, and social response to change.
President: Mark Crider, PhD, MSN, RN
Vice President: Kelly A. Kuhns, PhD, RN
Bridges (2016, p. 3) stated, “It isn’t the changes that do you [us] in, it’s the
transitions.” Thus, how we perceive, cope, and behave in response to change will
greatly contribute to its course of events.
Senge et al. (1994) noted that individuals and groups are generally faced with one
of two choices: (1) accept the change or (2) ignore it. Each option creates its own
path. However, ignoring a change will not impact the change — the event will
remain. In fact, we must work harder to ignore it. This leads to a path of denial,
blame, rationalization, resistance, and hiding.
The good news is that there is the other option: acknowledging and accepting the
change without judgement. In doing so, we can explore our individual, group,
and organizational roles in responding to change. Additionally, we can take own-
ership or personal accountability as we answer the question: What do I/we do to
create, promote, and allow responses to this change? This path leads to explora-
tion, planning, learning, and renewal.
Notice the two distinct outcomes resulting from a decision to ignore or acknowl-
edge a change event. Ponder your own previous and current opportunities