Different generations need to behave in this manner to learn and grow from one another . There ’ s no wrong here .
What do you see for the future of PSNA under your presidency ?
In my dissertation , I studied the organizational , structural changes that the ANA went through from 1999 to 2005 as they struggled to be both a labor organization and a professional society ; so I have not only my own personal history and engagement , but also through my dissertation even beyond that time period . And so , the evolution that we have gone through , I provide a perspective of that , being that — an evolution . We ’ ve had opportunities , we ’ ve had challenges , and I think we ’ re moving forward in a very nice way . I understand things that happened in different states , what happened in Massachusetts or California is different than what happened in Pennsylvania . So understanding that history , we need to — and we ’ ve done such a great job of it since that time , sustainability remains an issue .
We are a membership organization ; we remain a membership organization . Therefore , we serve members and are member driven . So , we need members . We ’ ve had a great increase in membership just recently , which is fantastic . The momentum we currently have , we have to maintain . Part of that momentum is the Young Nurse Professionals group , and what a fabulous thought and idea and putting in place — incredibly successful . I understand it ’ s being asked : how can you help other states to do that , how did you do that , what can we do , etc . Mentor some young , academic , ambitious people — it ’ s a wonderful opportunity .
Looking at structures to help that . How can we better support and work together with the Student Nurses Association ? My history with the organization , I understand how it works , I understand its significance and importance , in maintaining it as a separate organization . And again , it ’ s just another specialty nursing organization , if you will . How do we support each other and build relationships that way ?
We ’ ve got to continue to monitor legislation , watch the changes and what impacts that has on nurses , nursing professions , and our patients . We need to monitor labor legislation , education legislation , practice legislation , and any legislation that ’ s going to impact nursing . Health insurance , hospital / health systems … all of that needs to be monitored . I remember as a lobbyist , it can be a bit daunting because we are such a diverse group , so there ’ s a lot to keep monitoring . We ’ ve got to engage in that process . We ’ ve got to educate about that process — how do we get people more involved in that process — and get the voice of nursing out there .
We have an opportunity- younger generations are more into “ ground up ” or “ grassroots up .” Older generations are more into “ top down .” You can see from our own national political systems — ground up , it works . We as an organization need to be up on that , as well . We ’ ve talked for probably , at least a decade , if not more , about the different generations and coming together . So let ’ s stop talking and start doing some action .
How do you plan to support the continued growth of the YNP group ?
The biggest thing is understanding . The starting point is education and understanding and creating opportunities for that to happen , and not in a formal way . We need to create opportunities for that to happen in an informal way . Mentorships are a good way to do that , and even that ’ s sometimes too formal . Different generations need to behave in this manner to learn and grow from one another . There ’ s no wrong here . Again , I always love this saying : “ I only know what I know , and I don ’ t know what I don ’ t know .” And I think that ’ s the mentality that we have to have with that .
From a programmatic standpoint , let ’ s look at other opportunities , such as the development of the Young Professionals group . Creatively brainstorming things that could greatly impact our sustainability . One of our challenges with that , and I know it remains , since I graduated — when you graduate , as a nurse generalist , novice — you ’ re focused on your first job and career , and you should be , there ’ s no question about that . And we ’ re still here . The question is : when is the best time for the new graduate , the new nurse to then be engaged , to grab them ? We don ’ t want to overwhelm them , but we also don ’ t want to be lost in that process either . Can we partner better with our providers ? We ’ ve got to find ways to be in this together and not be so “ silo-ed .” And that ’ s not a new challenge for nursing and the profession , it ’ s time to just take action , just like the Young Nurse Professional creation does .
Tell something you would want people to know about you- for fun !
I identify first as a nurse , second as a nurse educator , and third as a psychiatric mental health nurse generalist .
For something fun … I have a cat for the first time . And this cat is huge . I ’ ve never had a cat before because I ’ ve always had dogs because I always believed that cats were aloof . This cat is a rescue cat who was found in a Buick that was about to be crushed . So , he and his three siblings were all named after Buicks . But I didn ’ t keep that name because he mews a lot . He doesn ’ t meow , he mews . So he ’ s Mew . But he ’ s huge . He ’ s also part Maine coon . So I have a cat dog . And I love this because he follows me everywhere and I ’ m just so impressed that a cat does this . I ’ ll call “ Mew ,” and there ’ s Mew !