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March 24, 2021 | XXV, Issue Number 6
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Colleagues, let me begin with a few words to affirm the NLN core value of diversity and express my deep concern for our members and fellow citizens in the Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) community. Even before the shootings at three Atlanta spas earlier this month, the organization Stop AAPI Hate reported nearly 3,000 racist encounters against Asian Americans last year that included physical assaults and verbal harassment. This is cruel and foolish, exacerbated by some who scapegoat this population because of our collective failure to properly mitigate the effects of COVID-19. Earlier this week, the NLN issued a statement condemning racism, xenophobia, misogyny, and violence to the APPI community.
As commentators have pointed out, what is happening today is part of a long history of discrimination and violence against Asian Americans. We cannot say it too often: The NLN core value of diversity affirms “the uniqueness of and differences among persons, ideas, values, and ethnicities.” It reminds us that “by acknowledging the legitimacy of us all, we move beyond tolerance to celebrating the richness that differences bring forth.” Let us make sure that in our schools of nursing, there is no room for intolerance – rather, let’s celebrate inclusivity and diversity as we educate nurses, remembering that “differences affect innovation, so we must work to understand both ourselves and one another.”
A second mass shooting in less than a week – this one in Boulder, Colorado – with, as of this writing, an unknown motivation, reminds us of the multifaceted problems we face with regard to violence and gun ownership. Once again, with too many once agains, my heart goes out to the families of those affected, the community, and our country, which allows this sad stain of blood to continue, reflecting our gun culture and our lack of essential mental health services.
In 2019, the NLN joined with 166 national, state, and local medical, public health, and research organizations in asking Congress to provide funding for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to conduct public health research into firearm morbidity and mortality prevention. We emphasized that the use of firearms is a public health issue and must be addressed as such, noting that with rigorous research, it is possible to "accurately quantify and describe the facets of an issue and identify opportunities for reducing its related morbidity and mortality." We reiterate that call on Congress for funding to study these issues.
We also must move to action, urging Congress to at least allow background checks before providing access to firearms. That is the minimal caution our country uses in granting a driver’s license. These are essential steps forward – acknowledging research and study and, at the same time, requiring action to make a difference. |
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Social Determinants of Health
Now let me tell you something exciting and very positive. In 2019, the NLN issued a Living Document titled “A Vision for Integrating the Social Determinants of Health into Nursing Education Curricula.” This document, the work of an NLN Strategic Action Committee, acknowledges that the social determinants of health (SDH) are not well integrated into nursing education, even at the graduate level, and the emerging nursing workforce may not be prepared “to assess SDH, assist patients, families, and communities to make the choices that lead to good health, and fully appreciate the impact of SDH on health, social justice, and health equity.” |
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The statement links to the Pediatric Adversity and Early Brain Development Toolkit, funded by the Hearst Foundations and written by faculty at George Washington University School of Nursing as an integral part of ACE.P (Pediatrics) within the superb NLN Advancing Care Excellence (ACE) series.
The Vision Statement calls on the NLN to provide professional development programs to prepare faculty to integrate SDH content and learning experiences across the curriculum, to develop faculty resources and model curricula, to support research to identify best practices and evidence-based strategies to foster and sustain the SDH in academic environments, and to work with policy makers and leading organizations to foster a greater understanding of SDH and their significant impact on health outcomes, health equity, and social justice. That is a tall order, but I am thrilled to tell you that we are on our way. Let me tell you how.
A brand new partnership with Walden University has allowed us to launch the Institute for Social Determinants of Health and Social Change, which will be housed in the NLN Center for Transformational Leadership under the direction of Dr. Janice Brewington. The Institute represents a five-year commitment to support professional development for nurse educators and interprofessional colleagues so they can become leaders and catalysts of social change; cultivate competencies to integrate social change into their programs; incorporate SDH into their practice programs and/or curricula across undergraduate and graduate studies; and engage in research and other scholarly activities related to the SDH and social change with a view toward broad dissemination.
Health professionals will be competitively selected for the new institute and will participate in a yearlong Interprofessional Leadership Academy for Social Change. The program will consist of numerous focused activities that include webinars, live interactive group calls, an intensive leadership retreat, individual leadership projects, and the annual NLN Education Summit. The five-year timeline will culminate in a two-day Interprofessional Conference on Social Determinants of Health and Social Change.
I hope that I have whet your appetite but at this point it is too early to apply. In the meantime, I want to thank Walden University for its vision and generosity. Let me quote Dr. Andrea Lindell, vice provost and dean of the Walden College of Nursing, who describes the opportunities that lie ahead: “Our social change mission and excellence in nursing education combined with the National League for Nursing’s expert leadership and advocacy, will create a groundbreaking institute for nurses, nurse educators, and other health professionals to profoundly change health education and healthcare for vulnerable populations.” I can’t wait to get to get started and see what emerges from this exciting new endeavor. |
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Professional Development Opportunities
What you can do now is take advantage of our excellent programming, including the Lippincott® Nursing Education Speaker Series webinars led by experienced leaders in nursing education. We are co-sponsors of this series on important issues in nursing education. The next in the series will be “The Fair Testing Imperative in Nursing Education: Overview and 2020 Updates” on April 2. Others take place April 8 (“Today Won’t Work Tomorrow”) and April 15 (“Covid-19: Transforming Nursing Education and Practice”). |
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In addition, if you have completed a research project – perhaps your dissertation – and find it challenging to write for publication, this may be your time to be part of the Scholarly Writing Retreat. This summer’s retreat, July 24-25, will be led by Dr. Marilyn Oermann, with applications due on April 19. Since its inception in 2008, our retreats have been consistently successful in helping faculty craft manuscripts and manage the often onerous peer review process.
Another deadline looms in April, specifically, April 20 is the deadline to nominate an individual or organization for one the following NLN Awards: The NLN Mary Adelaide Nutting Award for Outstanding Teaching or Leadership in Nursing Education, The NLN Isabel Hampton Robb Award for Outstanding Leadership in Clinical Practice, and the NLN Lillian Wald Humanitarian Award. Colleagues, there are many nurse educators doing extraordinary work in these areas, and we want to hear from a broad segment of our membership. Let us hear from you.
And finally, let me close with a reminder that the dangers of COVID-19 are not over. One year has passed and many have not learned the lessons we know so well: we must not drop public health guidelines prematurely. Even if you live in an area where masks are not mandated, please do the right thing and role model appropriate behaviors. Nurses and other clinicians are still on the frontline, caring for far too many COVID-19 patients. Let's all remember to maintain social distancing, wear masks, wash our hands frequently, get vaccinated when we can, and educate the public, including our family and friends, about the importance of vaccination.
Wishing you all a happy Easter and a happy Passover. |
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