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Attending the OADN Convention?

What a significant investment!

 

Dear OADN Members,

Greetings and happy fall!  Having served in associate degree nursing education for nearly 30 years, I remember how hectic this time of the year is for educating the next generation of nurses.  I hope your fall term is off to a wonderful start!

As my tenure on the OADN Board of Directors ends this fall, I have been thinking back to when my journey started.  After decades of attending nursing education conferences and conventions, a colleague encouraged me to attend the OADN convention 2018 in Philadelphia.  Another colleague suggested we submit an abstract for a break-out session, which was accepted, and so off I went.  I expected the convention to be like all the others I had attended over the years, but at the first blush of the opening keynote, I realized this was going to be an extraordinary event.  I know I’m preaching to the choir when I say the challenges and joys in associate degree nursing are unique.  I have always been completely humbled by the hurdles our exceptional students face to get to our programs, let alone complete them.  When I started my career in ADN education, I was told to be prepared for the “non-traditional” students.  At the time, I’m pretty sure I didn’t know what that meant, but I quickly learned that our students are single parents, employed, often full-time, have few resources, and have climbed an uphill, seemingly insurmountable mountain to get to our program.  Their stories inspired me to be my best as an educator.  At that first convention in Philadelphia, I quickly realized my students were your students; my challenges were your challenges, and my joys were your joys.  I had, quite simply, found my people.

By 2019, I was elected to the OADN Board of Directors, and now, five years later, my service on the Board is complete.  I’ve become a bit of an ambassador for the OADN Convention.  While there are always excuses not to go to convention, the return on investment will be so great that you will realize the obstacles of getting there were minor compared to the gain.  Our carefully selected keynote speakers and breakout sessions are all geared toward the specific needs of the associate degree nursing educator, leader, and student.  From that first time in 2018, I vowed never to attend alone again as I always wanted to ensure we had plenty of ears on the ground soaking in all the outstanding content we would then take back to our program.  Our return travel was always filled with conversations about our favorite takeaways and what we would attempt to operationalize when we returned home.

This year’s convention in Tampa, Florida, will be exceptional.  Not only do we have a lineup of outstanding speakers, opportunities for networking, and a beautiful venue, but we are also celebrating OADN’s 40^th year!  We have so much to celebrate.  My passion for nursing and the associate degree pathway runs deep.  Seeing our incredible students cross the stage at each pinning ceremony solidifies the “why” of our work.  I urge you to consider attending the convention in Tampa.  May it be a time for you to find “your” people.  For more information and to register, please go to https://oadn2024.eventscribe.net/.  Dates this year are October 31-Nov 2.  I promise you will be so glad you attended!

Sincerely,

Karen LaMartina, Ph.D., RN
OADN President

 

OADN Elects Members to the Board of Directors & Nominating Committee

Many thanks to each of you who voted in the 2024 OADN Elections. Your votes represent a strong demonstration of your commitment to OADN and associate degree nursing education.

Based on your votes, we have the pleasure of announcing our newly elected OADN leaders. However, before doing so, we want to acknowledge the individuals who served on this year’s Nominating Committee: Chair Jennifer Smith, Ruby Alvarez, Constance Powers, Sara Stokke, Shea Walker, and committee advisor Katharine Elliott. These individuals worked diligently throughout the year to recruit and vet the many talented candidates on this year’s ballot. We are grateful to all the exceptional candidates who ran for office this year.

Please join us in congratulating this year’s election winners!

At-Large Director	Director Northeast Region	Director Southwest Region	Director Western Region	Nominating Committee
Jennifer Eccles PhD, MSN, Med, FAADN, RN Executive Director Center for Nursing Equity and Excellence University of Minnesota School of Nursing Minneapolis, MN	Elizabeth Mizerek PhD, RN, FN-CSA, CEN, CPEN, CNE, FAEN Director of Nursing Education Mercer County Community College West Windsor, NJ	Daniel Flores DNP, MSN/Ed, BSN, RN Associate Professor San Antonio College San Antonio, TX	Enna Trevathen RN, MSN, DNP, MBA, CNL Associate Dean of Nursing and Allied Health Gavilan College Gilroy, CA	Amber Ortega MSN, RN, CNE, CMSRN Professor of Nursing Arizona Western College Yuma, Arizona

 

Celebrating of 40 Years of Excellence

Dear OADN Members,

I hope this letter finds you well and you’ve had a memorable summer. As we embark on the busy fall ahead, it is a time of transition. We have nursing students who have been accepted officially into their programs of study, ready to learn and join our amazing profession. In addition, we have first-time faculty who are experts in nursing practice and will now share their knowledge with our future nurses. The Organization for Associate Degree Nursing (OADN) is here to support everyone along the way through the value of membership. This year, we celebrate the 40^th anniversary of OADN, which is a testament to our ongoing commitment and collective achievements in advancing the Associate Degree Nursing (ADN) pathway as an entry point into the registered nursing profession.

For four decades, OADN has served as the premier organization for associate degree nursing. We have been at the forefront of nursing education, advocating for the importance and viability of ADN educated nurses. OADN has been instrumental in opening doors for hundreds of thousands of nurses across the United States to ensure the nursing workforce is sound. We hope you will join us at our 2024 convention in Tampa, Florida, October 31 – November 2 to help us celebrate the extraordinary work of OADN. Registration is now open for the convention.

OADN’S Accomplishments Since 1984

As an organization, we reflect on the past 40 years and our many accomplishments to impact the nursing landscape:

1. Membership Growth: OADN began with a small group of dedicated individuals and has now grown to include nearly ten thousand members across the United States. The growth speaks to the critical role that associate degree nursing programs play in providing nurses for our communities. OADN has also established the only ADN honor society for nursing students, Alpha Delta Nu, which recognizes academic excellence and fosters a culture of leadership and service amongst new graduate nurses.
2. Educational Innovations: OADN has led the way with educational innovations through the promotion of evidence-based teaching practices and the integration of technology to promote learning. Our innovative actions have significantly enhanced nursing education quality and help prepare nursing students for an ever-changing healthcare environment, including during the pandemic.
3. Advocacy & Policy Impact: OADN has become a key contributor to nursing policy through advocacy efforts. We have successfully influenced legislation and regulatory policies to ensure all healthcare stakeholders are well-informed of the need for associate degree nurses. As a result of OADN’s efforts, federal agencies such as the Health Resources & Services Administration (HRSA) now regularly seek stakeholder input from leaders in ADN education.
4. Research and Publications: OADN has contributed to the body of nursing knowledge through research and publications. Our members have conducted and disseminated research that informs of best practices and improves patient outcomes. We are proud to provide members with the Teaching and Learning in Nursing publication, the official peer-reviewed journal of OADN, focusing on ADN research found nowhere else.
5. Partnerships and Collaborations: OADN has established strong partnerships with other national nursing organizations, educational institutions, and healthcare providers. The collaborations have enhanced the voice of OADN members and impacted the nursing profession and healthcare.

As we reflect on and celebrate our 40^th anniversary, we know we have an incredible history and a bright future.  We hope you will consider being involved with OADN for the next decades to come. Being a member of OADN means being part of a dynamic, supportive community dedicated to nursing education and practice. Together we will continue to make forward strides in shaping the nursing profession and healthcare. Our communities deserve to have caring and compassionate nurses.

Thank you for supporting OADN and the nursing profession as we celebrate this milestone!

Sincerely,
Lisa Hawthorne, PhD, ADN, PHN, CNE
Secretary, OADN Board of Directors

CALL FOR STUDENT POSTERS

Deadline: October 9, 2024

In celebration of OADN’s 40th Anniversary, the Organization for Associate Degree Nursing (OADN) invites Associate Degree Nursing (ADN) students to submit poster abstracts for the OADN Annual Convention, October 31 – November 2, 2024, at the Marriott Water Street in Tampa, Florida.

 

Theme: Bridging the Past to Build the Future

OADN’s 40th Anniversary Convention theme recognizes the historic role of the associate degree pathway in our nation’s healthcare workforce and patients in every community. Nursing students have unique perspectives, spotlighting key areas that ADN programs are now addressing to better prepare new graduate nurses and build for a brighter future.

Poster presentations provide students with the opportunity to present original research, hone their evidence-based practice competencies, and develop their skills as public speakers. Top consideration will be given to poster abstracts that present well-designed research or demonstration projects, particularly those that are evidence-based and include data.

Poster Topics may include:

• Identifying existing barriers and proposing strategies to promote diversity, equity, and inclusion in nursing education
• Quality and safety interventions to improve patient outcomes
• Fostering healthy working environments and nurse well-being
• Identifying innovative approaches to clinical learning experiences
• Simulation and virtual simulation
• Discussing strategies to build inclusive learning communities
• Developing clinical judgment
• Transition to practice initiatives
• Expanding access to education through creative academic progression and other strategies
• Promoting strategies to generate and support the development of nurses as leaders
• Leveraging the social mission of nursing education to achieve learning outcomes and advance health equity

 

OADN is pleased to acknowledge the generous support from Post University for sponsoring the student poster awards. Thanks to their generous support, the top three student posters will be awarded:

• First Prize: $750
• Second Prize: $500
• Third Prize: $250

 

Poster Session Information:

• Location: JW Marriott Tampa – 4^th Floor – Tampa Bay Ballroom Foyer
• Setup:   Thursday, Oct. 31, 12 pm – 7 pm Eastern Time
• Present:   Friday, Nov. 1, 2:20 pm – 4 pm ET
• Take down:  Friday, Nov. 1, 4 pm – 5 pm ET

Submissions do NOT include designed posters or graphics. Students who are informed of their poster’s acceptance and accept the opportunity to present at the OADN Convention should move forward with designing and producing a poster that fits within these dimensions. If your poster is accepted, please refer to this presentation for additional guidance on poster design and content.

For logistical and space reasons, a maximum of four student presenters will be considered with your poster abstract submission. All student presenters must register and pay a reduced Student Registration Attendee Rate ($165) for the OADN Convention. To register, please call the OADN office at 1-800-809-6260

Submissions due October 9, 2024.

Resources:

• Best Practices for Poster Presentations
• Poster dimensions

The 2024 call for faculty podium and poster abstracts has closed.

 

Accreditation, Regulation, and Advocacy: An Essential Intersection for All Nursing Programs

 

Dear OADN Members:

Recently, a North Dakota nursing program has been facing an unprecedented crisis that is impacting the whole university. The program’s entire full-time nursing faculty has resigned, citing untenable workloads and potential accreditation issues, leaving the institution without any full-time nursing faculty just weeks before the fall semester begins. While denying claims of accreditation risk, the administration is actively seeking solutions to address the faculty shortage in collaboration with the university system.  Complicating these challenges, the university’s president has unexpectedly resigned, citing the state board of nursing’s refusal to approve his new staffing plan as the cause for his departure, something that the board of nursing refutes.

Conversations with OADN program member schools and faculty members frequently provide valuable insights. During one such discussion with a program member from the Pacific Northwest, the dual role of nurse faculty was highlighted: producing competent and qualified nurse graduates and ensuring that nursing programs comply with educational requirements to maintain public safety and welfare.

Each commonwealth, jurisdiction, state, or territory must align the education of nurses with the governing Nurse Practice Act (NPA). While not all NPAs address education, most outline specific requirements for nurse educators. The National Council of State Boards of Nursing (NCSBN) in their Model Act (2021) cites that within the registered nurse scope of practice related to education, nurses may:

1. Design and implement teaching plans based on patient needs or patient populations.
2. Teach the theory and practice of nursing.
3. Educate others as appropriate.

Nursing education standards are evidence-based criteria used to ensure the quality of nursing programs. Faculty and nurse administrators play a crucial role in monitoring these standards and intervening when necessary. Early intervention allows programs to make improvements before warning signs emerge and sanctions become necessary. These standards aim to ensure that graduates of nursing programs are prepared for safe and effective nursing practice.

Section 5 of NCSBN’s Model Act (2021) underscores the importance of the governing institution’s approval and ongoing support for the nursing program and the chief nurse administrative officer (program director, coordinator, dean, associate dean, etc.).

The Accreditation Commission on Education in Nursing’s (ACEN) Standards of Accreditation (2023), Standard 1, emphasize the importance of the administrative capacity and resources of the program. The mission and philosophy of the nursing program must align with the mission, goals, and values of the governing organization. Both the governing organization and the nursing program must have the capacity and resources to support effective program delivery. This ensures the achievement of end-of-program student learning outcomes and program outcomes for each nursing program type. Faculty freedom requires aligning evidence-based best regulatory practices with the ACEN’s Standards of Accreditation.

Faculty and program administrators’ advocacy for students, programs, and end-of-program outcomes is crucial. Much like OADN’s advocacy at the national level supports and advances evidence-based practices within the associate degree pathway and our OADN program members, this advocacy ensures that students receive a quality education that prepares them for successful nursing careers.

OADN members must lead advocacy efforts locally, regionally, and at the state level to advance the education and graduation of a nurse workforce ready to meet today’s practice demands and the complexity of care required by patients entrusted to their care. Local advocacy allows members to address specific community needs and adapt educational programs to local healthcare environments. Regional efforts foster collaboration between different institutions and help standardize best practices across broader areas. State-level advocacy is critical for influencing policy changes, securing funding, and ensuring that nursing education standards are maintained and improved. By taking a proactive stance in these advocacy efforts, OADN members can ensure that the nursing workforce is well-equipped to handle the dynamic challenges of modern healthcare, thereby safeguarding public health and enhancing the overall quality of care delivery.

 

 

 

 

Rick García, Ph.D., RN, CCM, FAAOHN, FAADN
Chief Executive Officer
OADN and OADN Foundation

 

 

References

Model Act, (2021), National Council State Boards of Nursing (NCSBN). https://www.ncsbn.org/public-files/21_Model_Act.pdf

Standards of Accreditation, (2023), The Accreditation Commission on Education in Nursing (ACEN). https://resources.acenursing.org/space/SAC/1824227333/2023+Standards+and+Criteria