In December of 2020, I introduced myself to you as the new President of OADN. Today, as I prepare to complete my term, I was reflecting on the last two years. At that time, I shared with you how I was not sure what challenges we would encounter on the horizon. While there were some unexpected challenges, the Board of Directors and Operations Team have accomplished a great deal together.

We started with a yearlong project of developing our strategic priorities. Now we are working on the implementation of activities for these priorities that will move OADN forward through the next 3-5 years. A Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) Task Force was formed and wrote the OADN Racial and Social Equity Position Paper which was approved by the Board of Directors in June 2021. In 2022 we saw the launch of the OADN Leadership Institute, a program specifically designed for ADN Deans, Directors, and Faculty. Four cohorts completed the program, and all expressed the incredible benefit the content provided for their leadership journey as ADN educators. We continue to be the only national voice for community college nursing education and the associate degree pathway which is a valuable benefit for our membership. Advocacy on behalf of ADN education is crucial to ensure the ADN voice is included in nursing policy and practice decisions. Lastly, we continue to offer the only national convention exclusively dedicated to the needs of pre-licensure registered nursing education programs. Please come join us in New Orleans for our annual convention from November 18 -20. Our theme this year is Owning Your Influence and will not disappoint.

Looking toward the future, I will follow my passion of academic progression. I believe it is vital for all nurses to have the opportunity to advance their education. Academic progression provides the knowledge, clinical expertise, and confidence to reach dreams that might seem unattainable. Advancing our education helps us develop the wisdom we need to work with our patients, their families and support systems, our students, and coworkers. Reflecting on my journey I have been fortunate to serve in local, state, and national leadership positions, taught ADN students, and advocate for not only students and patients, but for YOU, our OADN membership.

During the convention in New Orleans, I will turn over the gavel to the new President, Karen LaMartina. I know Karen will do an excellent job and be a great resource to our new CEO. In closing, I want to thank the wonderful OADN Operations team for their unfailing service and the extremely supportive Board of Directors. I want to thank YOU, our membership, for trusting me to represent you as your President. And a final note of gratitude to Donna Meyer, who has done an outstanding job leading OADN through the years. She will be greatly missed.

 

 

Laura A Schmidt DNP FNP-BC
President
laura.schmidt@oadn.org