Dear OADN Members:

Over the last few weeks, I cannot tell you the number of times I heard, “Can you believe it is already July?”  I completely agree as the July 4^th holiday always seems to be a turning point for summer festivities and perhaps even a vacation.  The July 4^th fireworks bring a sense of celebration and this year there is an additional cause for celebration.  There is a definite glimmer of hope that life is slowly returning to some normalcy.  I am also in a celebratory mood as I look forward to seeing many of you at the OADN National Convention November 18 – 21 in Austin, Texas the “Live Music Capital of the World.” REGISTRATION IS NOW OPEN!

The all-day pre-conference workshop, “Your Leadership Journey: Invest in Yourself,” offers a stellar group of speakers that will provide you with additional skills to chart your unique leadership journey.  All of us possess qualities of great leadership, but this workshop will present an opportunity to further your leadership vision and capacity to lead with an authentic voice.  I encourage all of you to consider attending this workshop with nationally known speakers who will share their thoughts and enhance your ability to lead with confidence.

The convention will also offer a variety of half-day workshops offered on Friday morning.  Sessions will focus on accreditation, NextGen, clinical judgment, simulation, and more.  As we move into the opening ceremony, The DAISY Foundation co-founders Mark and Bonnie Barnes will share their emotional account of the formation of the Foundation which began in 1999 after their son, Patrick passed away at age 33.  Their reflections highlighting the unforgettable impact of compassionate nursing care and the critical role nurses played in their lives during this most challenging time are not to be missed.

Returning general session speakers sharing information on NextGen continue to be a highlight of the convention. NCBSN’s Dr. Phil Dickison will share the NextGen updates and as always will provide a very engaging session. Nurse Think’s Dr. Tim Bristol and Dr. Karin Sherill will provide another interactive session on “NextGen Learning that Lasts.”  Finally, there are two new outstanding general session speakers.  We are pleased to bring an inspiring story by Dr. Sharica Miller “From Foster Care to PhD: Why Faculty Should Always Root for the Under Dog.”  In addition, as simulation has been amplified across many programs this past year, Dr. Desiree Diaz will provide a timely and stimulating presentation on “Leveraging Simulation to Address Societal Needs and Elicit Change.”

As always, there are many excellent concurrent sessions to choose from, informative posters to view, the annual awards luncheon and an opportunity to engage with a variety of vendors in the exhibit hall.  Most importantly, the convention will provide much-needed time to come together and share the many experiences over the last year.

It’s time to make plans and celebrate in Austin!

Take care,

 

 

Donna Meyer, MSN, RN, ANEF, FAADN, FAAN
CEO, OADN