The goal: Cutting edge

President Klopper

President Hester C. Klopper began today’s keynote address by directing audience attention to a conversation between Ethel Palmer—a nurse educator—and Marie Hippensteel—a nursing student. Four other nursing students—Edith Moore, Elizabeth Russell, Elizabeth McWilliams, and Dorothy Garrigus—were also a part of that conversation. On that October day more than 93 years ago, the focus was on questions they had been discussing for a couple of months: How will we celebrate excellence in nursing? How will we know when we see quality? Their answer was an association known today as the Honor Society of Nursing, Sigma Theta Tau International (STTI).

Today, as President Klopper looked back on her two-year term in that office and reflected on the state of the organization, she challenged the audience to join her in asking pointed questions of themselves and STTI. True, the organization has grown to 500 chapters in 98 countries with 135,000 members, she observed, but can we afford, she asked, to rest on our laurels. We need to ask ourselves: Are we as an organization on the edge, over the edge, or cutting edge? 

If we are on the edge, she observed, we exhibit strength, resilience, and endurance. Organizations that are over the edge have become their own worst enemies, because they have lost the innovation to drive the business forward. The ideal is to be cutting edge, a combination of being at the edge and on the edge. Noting that it’s the most important position to be at, she offered substantial evidence that STTI is fulfilling its vision to be the nursing organization of choice.

— James Mattson, editor, Reflections on Nursing Leadership (RNL)

Flag processional.

Exhibit Hall is officially open!

Getting older and, with STTI’s help,

getting better

By Amy Berman, senior program officer, The John A. Hartford Foundation, New York, New York, USA

Welcome to Las Vegas, amazing members of Sigma Theta Tau International! In case you didn’t notice, this state has one of the fastest-growing aging demographics. But no matter where you come from, chances are, the majority of people you care for are aging.

Aging is the single biggest trend in health care. STTI recognizes the need to prepare nurses to be leaders of change in health care delivery and knowledgeable about care of older adults. In 2006, in response to the growth of the aging demographic, STTI launched the Geriatric Nursing Leadership Academy with support from The John A. Hartford Foundation, The Retirement Research Foundation, Hill-Rom, and the Hearst Foundations.

Christie Robbins with
Amy Berman

I am proud to have helped launch the program but even more proud of past impactful participants such as Amy Cotton, Karen Reynolds, and Cathy Roscoe-Herbert, and current fellows such as Christie Robbins, who was just named Advanced Practice Nurse of the Year by the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners.

With Lisa Binns-Emerick
and her poster.

At Saturday afternoon’s poster session, I was beyond impressed with the work of the Geriatric Nurse Leadership Academy fellows. For example, Lisa Binns-Emerick of Detroit Medical Center’s Rosa Parks Senior Health Clinic is working to reduce opioid use in older adults with non-cancer pain.

Special thanks to outstanding mentors,
such as Tina Sandoval!

With the help of Sigma Theta Tau International, these fellows are developing capacity in their health care institutions and meeting the needs of our most clinically complex elders. They are also developing their leadership potential for greater impact.

And guess what? Applications are now open to apply for the Geriatric Nursing Leadership Academy. This is your chance to be the change! Click here for more information on STTI’s Geriatric Nursing Leadership Academy.

Speed Connect: Getting to know you!

By Tim Bristol, PhD, RN, CNE, ANEF, or “Nurse Tim,” as he is widely known, is a nurse educator, administrator, informatics specialist, educational consultant, and owner of Nurse Tim, Inc., a Web-based faculty-development site.

Tim Bristol

To start off the convention, nurses from around the world took part in an event called Speed Connect. Using some very effective tools—bingo cards and funny ribbons—each participant met more than 100 new people in less than an hour. It was a sight to behold!

The bingo cards, each of which described one participant, were packed full of professional and personal characteristics about him or her. In sequential spaces of three to five minutes, each person had to interview other players to connect the cards with the right people. Here are example clues:

• Nursing is a second career.
• Serves as a chapter president.
• Works in a clinical setting.
• Volunteers in his or her chapter.
• Recently inducted into STTI.
• Recently graduated from college.
• Has been in one job for more than 30 years.
• And the list goes on.

Bingo!

The interviews elicited much laughter and inquiry. There was an outbreak of “Happy Birthday” when it was discovered that one of the participants had just turned 25. There was an impromptu fashion show of all attendees who were sporting purple. (One even had a purple stethoscope.)

Battle of the ribbons.

And then there were the ribbon battles. Some participants are trying to grow the longest chain of ribbons off their conference badges. For safety’s sake, we cautioned them to stay away from power tools and paper shredders.

Collaborative IQ—learning and sharing in community about how others approach their work, their chapters, and even life situations—was also part of the mix. Speed Connect participants heard many new ideas in this fast paced, fun environment. From a nursing student in southern Minnesota to a nurse in Connecticut to a nursing professor from Swaziland—they all brought something to the table and gave ideas on how others can take their ventures to the next level.

Smartphone collaboration!

An interesting aside related to Collaborative IQ: Many participants left saying, “I need to do this with my team.” We know that collaborating with peers can benefit not only ourselves, as nurses, but also the clients we serve on a day-by-day basis. We know that if we watch other people develop their critical thinking skills, our critical thinking skills will be enhanced as well. We know that considering the views, ideas, and contributions of others improves patient outcomes. We know that others are more likely to pursue excellence, if we convey worth to them through a spirit of motivational inquiry.

Consider infusing Collaborative IQ into your next event. Whether it is a staff meeting at the hospital, a lecture on mental health nursing, or a chapter meeting, is there a way for you to role model the benefit of learning about others? Maybe a Speed Connect is the way to go!

Convention an amazing experience!

By Temeaka Gray, PsyD, MBA, MSN, CNP, RN, University of Toledo College of
Nursing, president, Zeta Theta Chapter at Large, Toledo, Ohio, USA

This has been an amazing experience filled with warmth. The knowledge and recognition that is a part of this event has definitely made me feel a part of the bigger collective (STTI). With so many locations, it is understandable that we think that the questions each chapter has only belong to the chapter. This convention has shown me that is not the case and that the organization is more than interested in addressing chapter concerns. I have met so many people and made some truly amazing connections. This is definitely an event that all Sigma Theta Tau members should experience at least once in a lifetime!


What is ENFLA?

Carol Huston

In a special session, Carol L. Huston, DPA, MSN, RN, FAAN, presented an overview of the Experienced Nurse Faculty Leadership Academy, a 12-month program offered by the Sigma Theta Tau International/Chamberlain College of Nursing Center for Excellence in Nursing Education.

The academy, designed for faculty with at least seven years of experience, launched in October 2014 with a pilot cohort of nine leadership scholars, nine mentors, and eight faculty members. Online learning activities and discussion forums, personal reflection assessments, and face-to-face workshops assisted scholars in planning and implementing comprehensive leadership projects.

During this session, scholars shared experiences and insights gained in achieving their leadership goals. They will also be presenting project outcomes through poster presentations. Applications for the 2016-17 cohort will open 1 April 2016.

Welcome to the 43rd Biennial Convention!

Members of the Honor Society of Nursing, Sigma Theta Tau International (STTI) are gathering in Las Vegas, Nevada, USA, for the organization’s 43rd Biennial Convention. As I observe them waiting their turns to check in at the lobby of Aria Resort and Casino, I am reminded of what President John F. Kennedy told Nobel laureates at a dinner held in their honor: “I want to tell you how welcome you are to the White House,” he told them. “I think this is the most extraordinary collection of talent, of human knowledge, that has ever been gathered together at the White House, with the possible exception of when Thomas Jefferson dined alone.”

In welcoming attendees to this convention, I have no witty statement that can match the supreme compliment Kennedy paid to his Nobel Prize-winning guests, but think of it: Nearly 2,500 nurse-leader colleagues from around the world coming together for more than five days of networking and more than 1,000 oral, symposia, presentation, and poster presentations that detail the latest advancements in clinical innovation, critical research, and leadership—now, that’s impressive! Florence Nightingale would be proud.

Convention attendees begin gathering at Aria Resort.

In coming days, “Convention Connection” will be your RNL link to this exciting gathering, the theme of which is “Serve Locally, Transform Regionally, Lead Globally.” New to this year’s convention coverage will be contributions from selected attendees who offer their unique perspectives of the convention, things they find particularly interesting and want to share with fellow members.

— James Mattson, editor, Reflections on Nursing Leadership (RNL)

Top 5 things I’m betting on in Vegas

By Janice Hawkins, MSN, RN, chief academic advisor, Master Advisor Certified, Old Dominion University School of Nursing, Norfolk, Virginia, USA

I’m not much of a gambler. When visiting Las Vegas, I enjoy walking through the casinos and watching spinning roulette wheels and poker-faced card players. But, other than occasionally trying my luck with some spare change in the slot machines, I’m not very tempted to join in the fun. I much prefer calculated, safe bets.

This is my third biennial STTI convention. Based on my previous experiences, I feel pretty confident about betting on a few things. I am sure I will:

1) Learn something.

I used the personal scheduler to map out sessions I plan to attend. The convention gives me an opportunity to keep up with current trends in nursing. I specifically look for sessions that apply to my job as a nurse educator. I plan to attend the presentations on RN-BSN transition because this is a big part of my role at work.

2) Share something.

With a colleague, I submitted an abstract to present at the convention, and we were selected for a poster presentation. With those who stop by, I look forward to exchanging ideas and lessons learned in “Promoting Interprofessional Collaboration, Global Health Awareness and Leadership Skills through International Service-Learning.”

3) Meet someone fascinating (or inspiring, or motivating).

Nurses do amazing things all over the world. When 2,000 of them are together in one place, including our profession’s top leaders, odds are high that I will run into someone who fascinates me, inspires me, or motivates me.

4) Renew my energy.

Without a doubt, what happens in Vegas will continue beyond Vegas. I will go home with ideas and enthusiasm to serve locally, transform regionally, and lead globally. When I hear of the contributions that that we’ve made and our goals for the future, I will reaffirm that I’m proud to be a nurse.

With Las Vegas in the background,
Janice Hawkins hikes Red Rock Canyon.

5) See Elvis.

The convention is a great time for professional development and connecting with colleagues. It’s also a great time to get out of the office and do something fun. While in Vegas, I plan to get out of the hotel to take a hike, see a show and have a great meal somewhere. A break from the daily routine is a chance to refuel, and I hope it will lead to greater productivity when I return home next week.

Without wagering a single dollar, I’ll hit the jackpot at the convention. I look forward to the payout.


Pre-conference a great beginning!

By Cynthia “Cindy” Clark, PhD, RN, ANEF, FAAN, a psychiatric nurse/therapist and expert on fostering civility and healthy workplaces, is a consultant for ATI Nursing Education, the founder of Civility Matters, and author of Creating & Sustaining Civility in Nursing Education.

Cindy Clark presenting.

— Cashman Productions

The Center for Excellence in Nursing Education (CENE) Pre-Conference, sponsored by Sigma Theta Tau International and Chamberlain College of Nursing, kicked off the 43rd Biennial Convention in grand style. Well attended, this inaugural event began with a delicious luncheon and plenary that featured Patricia Hooper Kyriakidis, PhD, MSN, RN, who wooed the crowd with her innovative methods and interactive pedagogical strategies to engage learners as active participants in their own learning. She focused on the need to develop critical thinking, clinical inquiry, and clinical reasoning skills to foster deep learning and encourage learners to think and act like a nurse.

Following the plenary, participants had a choice of two tracks. In Track 1, Mary Lou Bond, PhD, RN, CNE, ANEF, FAAN, and Mark Haykowsky, PhD, provided an amazing three-part series on grant writing that highlighted the Faculty Professional Role Development Program (FPRDP) and offered numerous tips and strategies for grant writers, both novice and experienced. In Track 2, Mary Wheeler, MEd, BN, RN, PCC, and Janice Waddell, PhD, RN, enthusiastically engaged participants in a rousing discussion on positive mentoring, emphasizing the special role that both millenials and baby boomers play in the process. Using a variety of active learning strategies, the facilitators created a positive experience for participants and shared various mentoring models to support faculty- and practice-based nurses.

I love conversing one-on-one
with session participants

Building upon her engaging plenary session, Kyriakidis extended the conversation on active learning strategies by focusing on situated coaching and challenging attendees to engage in problem-solving as a strong pedagogical strategy. She demonstrated how to fulfill the role of the situated coach and create active communities of learning.

In the final session of Track 2, Yours Truly sought to create a lively and interactive venue for participants to discuss evidence-based strategies for establishing and sustaining a culture of civility in nursing education and practice. In doing so, I offered several ready-to-use strategies to foster healthy workplaces powered by civility, collegiality, and teamwork.

A day of active learning!

The day wrapped up with a lovely reception where participants, presenters, and STTI staff members gathered for conversation, dialogue, and friendship. What a great way to end a truly remarkable day! If the Pre-Conference is any indication of what’s to come during next five days, we are in for an amazing treat. Bring it on!