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OADN Voices: January Leadership Message

Realize Your Potential in the New Year with OADN: 

Setting Intentions and Embracing Opportunities 

 

Dear OADN Members,

The New Year is not just a change in the calendar but a moment of transition, a perfect chance to reset, renew, and rediscover the possibilities. We will use this transition period to set intentions for the coming year. Consider how OADN can help you achieve your 2024 goals….

You may intend to complete more professional development. Prioritize your ongoing learning and skill development with OADN’s continuing education series. Additionally, mark your calendar for the OADN Convention scheduled for October 31st – November 3rd in the picturesque city of Tampa. The OADN Convention is the only national conference exclusively dedicated to the needs of pre-licensure registered nursing education programs and the associate degree pathway.  It is a prime opportunity to network with peers, attend informative education sessions, and gain insights that can propel your professional growth.

If staying informed about cutting-edge research in nursing education is one of your objectives for the coming year, consider making it a goal to read each issue of Teaching and Learning in Nursing Education issue. This quarterly publication is the official peer-reviewed journal of OADN and publishes research specific to our practice in ADN education.

Have you considered sharing your knowledge with others? You can accomplish this in many ways. For example, you could start working on a poster submission or podium abstract for the OADN Convention in the fall. Watch for the 2024 Call for Abstracts for more details and consider submitting an abstract. Are you still waiting to write a full-length journal article? You can submit an article to the newest section of Teaching and Learning in Nursing Education Tips of the Trade for ADN Nurse Educators. This section welcomes submissions of at most 250 words highlighting innovative and practical teaching tips.

Attending the OADN Leadership Institute can be a transformative experience for those aspiring to a leadership role in nursing education. The Institute is tailored to current and future nursing leaders, providing a platform to hone essential skills, exchange ideas, and cultivate a network of mentors and peers.

Recognizing the importance of diverse perspectives in nursing education research, OADN has opened a new avenue for individuals researching to recruit nursing education participants. If you are frustrated with research that does not consider the ADN perspective, why not take matters into your own hands and conduct your research? OADN allows researchers to reach OADN members for recruitment and participation in nursing education research studies. Researchers can apply to have their recruitment materials showcased on the OADN website and promoted in OADN communications. This initiative encourages voluntary participation from ADN faculty and program leadership, fostering a collaborative approach to research within the ADN community. To learn more, visit the OADN Member Research Survey Application

In conclusion, the new year is a blank slate awaiting your aspirations and intentions. Whether seeking professional development, staying abreast of research, sharing your knowledge, or aspiring to leadership, OADN stands ready to help you achieve your goals. May 2024 be a year of growth, fulfillment, and success in all your endeavors.

Elizabeth “Liz” Mizerek
PhD, RN, FN-CSA, CNE, CEN, CPEN, FAEN
Northeast Regional Director, OADN Board

Nursing Community Monthly Roundup – December 2023

OADN continues our federal advocacy on your behalf as a member of the Nursing Community Coalition, where we work to ensure that nurses are supported and that nursing education is funded.

NCC Looks Back on 2023 
View the full list of the Nursing Community Coalition’s (NCC) advocacy and engagement in 2023 by clicking here.

We look forward to our continued unified efforts in the New Year!

OADN Voices: December Leadership Message

Reflecting on a Year of Achievements:

Forging Connections & Looking Ahead to OADN’s 40th Anniversary

 

Dear OADN Members,

As I returned from San Diego to Washington, D.C., I took a moment to reflect on the exceptional experience of meeting numerous OADN members in person at this year’s OADN Convention. The event boasted a record-breaking attendance of 607, highlighting the significance of in-person connections and community-building.

The time spent together offered meaningful opportunities for spontaneous conversations during keynote addresses, workshops, and the various breakout sessions. It was heartening to see numerous members approaching me, sharing that this marked their first OADN Convention and expressing their appreciation for the event. The resonating spirit of this year’s theme, “Turning the Tide of Nursing Education,” contributed to a memorable atmosphere.

As educators in Associate Degree Nursing, you have the ability to influence numerous lives. Those who have had the privilege of working with our exceptional students can attest to the transformative nature of the ADN pathway, often influencing generations to come. Keynote speakers Dr. Rebar and Dr. Heimgartner emphasized the dichotomy between preparing students for NCLEX and the practical realities of clinical practice.

This year’s convention provided ample networking opportunities, allowing me to personally connect with numerous OADN members. One standout member, Theodora from Instituto in Chicago, IL, was someone I had the pleasure of meeting during the virtual Coffee and Conversations with the CEO. Our connection deepened at this year’s Convention, where we sat together for lunch and had the opportunity to catch up. I facilitated an introduction between Theodora and a Chicago-based ADN colleague, paving the way for further collaboration.

We were fortunate to be hosted in San Diego, the home city of Donna Meyer. Donna played a crucial role in organizing a walk to the Unconditional Surrender statue near the hotel, providing a picturesque backdrop as the sun set behind us.

As we bid farewell to 2023 and embrace a new year, the anticipation of OADN’s 40th anniversary fills the air, promising celebrations. Expressing gratitude for this year’s achievements, we approach the future with optimism and determination. OADN remains steadfast in its commitment to leading the charge in fostering diversity, equity, and inclusion in nursing. Together, we continue to shape a nursing community that mirrors the richness of human experiences and backgrounds within and across our communities.

OADN is dedicated to fostering the next generation of nursing education leaders in 2024. As you explore your personal leadership journey, consider applying to the OADN Leadership Institute. Previous participants attest to the profound impact of this program, highlighting life changing experiences provided through mentorship and meaningful connections with national thought leaders. To learn more about this signature program visit our website for more information. Application deadline closes December 20, 2023.

I extend my deepest appreciation to each of you whose contributions have fueled our shared success. With confidence, I anticipate that the coming year will bring even greater accomplishments for OADN.

Thank you for your unwavering commitment to excellence in nursing education and practice. OADN wishes you continued health, prosperity, and success in the new year and beyond. May the holiday season be a time of rest and reflection, surrounded by family and loved ones!

 

 

 

 

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

Nursing Community Monthly Roundup – November 2023

OADN continues our federal advocacy on your behalf as a member of the Nursing Community Coalition, where we work to ensure that nurses are supported and that nursing education is funded.

NCC Sends Letter to Congressional Leadership Outlining Updated FY 2024 Funding Requests  
On November 13, all sixty-three members of the Nursing Community Coalition (NCC) sent a letter to Congressional Leadership, as well as to House and Senate Appropriations Committees, requesting at least $302.472 million for Title VIII Nursing Workforce Development Programs and at least $197.693 million for the National Institute of Nursing Research (NINR) in fiscal year (FY) 2024, as outlined in the Senate Appropriations Committee passed bill. The NCC further outlined that now is not the time to go backwards on funding. The NCC urged Congress to avoid a long-term continuing resolution (CR) and fully fund these critical programs.

NCC Sends Letter Welcoming the New NIH Director 
On November 30, the Nursing Community Coalition (NCC) sent a letter to Dr. Monica M. Bertagnolli welcoming her as the 17th Director of the National Institutes of Health and outlining our commitment in elevating nursing research and the work of our nurse scientists.

OADN Voices: November Leadership Message from Public Board Member Matthew Morris

Entering A Season of Fellowship and Gratitude

Dear OADN Members,

As we enter November, our thoughts naturally turn to the upcoming winter holiday season. It is a time when we gather together with our families, friends and colleagues to share gifts, meals, fellowship, and to express our appreciation for our good fortune. As nurses, educators and leaders, we also embrace the opportunity to provide service to others during this time. We lead our families, educate students, mentor faculty, offer guidance during challenging moments, and provide safe havens for those in need.  We do all of this because of our unwavering commitment to nursing and our caring nature.

At OADN, we remain dedicated to our mission, serving as the national voice and a pivotal resource for community college nursing education programs and especially supporting you, the educators and leaders in academia.

In celebration of you, we will gather in San Diego this month to kick off a season of fellowship. We look forward to connecting with you, collectively exchanging the gifts of education, breaking bread, and embracing the convention theme, “Turning the Tide of Nursing Education,” together.

In a quintessentially American tradition, we will return home to celebrate Thanksgiving.  I am curious how many of us will be thankful for academic challenges, curriculum development, test question validation, an ever-changing academic culture, and a new, complex tech landscape in healthcare and education. I hope that many of you will be thankful, and that you gain new insights at the convention to help tackle these ongoing challenges.

In the spirit of the Thanksgiving season, allow me to take a moment to express my own story of gratitude. I am thankful that a young man from a poor, inner-city upbringing was accepted into an Associate Degree Nursing program. I am thankful that he was educated, coached and mentored by a collective of astute, caring and committed educators who generously gave their time and effort to support his dreams. I am thankful that whenever that young man had questions, there was always a faculty member ready to provide guidance and support. I am thankful that the team of educators witnessed that young man’s graduation, successful completion of board exams, and the beginning of his nursing career. They changed his life, and for that, I am profoundly thankful.

I am also grateful for the stories that have yet to be written of future caregivers searching for you, our trusted educators. Today, they may be frustrated employees wondering why they didn’t follow their dream of caring for others, single moms struggling to make ends meet, or high school students feeling lost in this world. They are looking for their story. They are searching for their own unique path. Their future will involve preserving the trust of the public, providing care in customary and novel settings, and improving the health of the current and next generation. They are hopeful to find you, to help change their lives, and they will be thankful for your guidance too. They will be thankful for how you’ve improved their families’ lives.

During this season of fellowship and gratitude, in the midst of the difficult and challenging work of another semester, please remember the extraordinary impact you have on me, your colleagues, your students, and those lives you will touch in the future. We are all thankful for you!

With appreciation for the educators that changed my life,

Matthew Morris, DNP, MS, RN, NEA-BC, CENP
Public Director, OADN Board

OADN Virtual Town Hall & Annual Business Meeting – Tuesday, December 5, 2023 at 3pm Eastern

Dear OADN Members,

Please join us for the 2023 Virtual OADN Town Hall & Annual Business Meeting on Tuesday, December 5th from 3:00 – 4:00 p.m. Eastern to hear the latest news on important member initiatives and events directly from your OADN Board of Directors. We will also celebrate this year’s Academy of Associate Degree Nursing Fellows and OADN Foundation Award, Scholarship & Grant recipients. Stay informed and have your voice heard to help shape the future of our OADN STRONG community!

Per OADN bylaws, members may review the 2022 Town Hall minutes in advance. Please register for the OADN Virtual Town Hall here. Any questions, contact Amy.Owens@oadn.org .

Nursing Community Monthly Roundup – October 2023

OADN continues our federal advocacy on your behalf as a member of the Nursing Community Coalition, where we work to ensure that nurses are supported and that nursing education is funded.

NCC Thanks Senators for Introducing the I CAN Act
On October 10, sixty-one members of the Nursing Community Coalition (NCC) sent a letter thanking Senate Nursing Caucus Co-Chair, Senator Jeff Merkley, and Senator Cynthia Lummis, for introducing the Improving Care and Access to Nurses (I CAN) Act (S.2418).

NCC Thanks Members of Congress for Introducing the Nurse Corps Tax Parity Act in the House of Representatives
On October 16, fifty-seven members of the Nursing Community Coalition (NCC) sent a letter thanking Representatives Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA-01), Brian Higgins (D-NY-26), Jen Kiggans (R-VA-02), and Mike Thompson (D-CA-04) for introducing the bipartisan Nurse Corps Tax Parity Act of 2023 (H.R.5080).

NCC Sends Letter Welcoming the New Chief Nurse Officer at the U.S. Public Health Service Commissioned Corps
On October 31, the Nursing Community Coalition (NCC) sent a letter to RDML Jennifer Moon, welcoming her as the new Chief Nurse Officer at the U.S. Public Health Service Commissioned Corps.

Nursing Community Monthly Roundup – September 2023

OADN continues our federal advocacy on your behalf as a member of the Nursing Community Coalition, where we work to ensure that nurses are supported and that nursing education is funded.

NCC Statement for the Record to the House Veterans’ Affairs Subcommittee on Health
On September 18, forty-seven members of the Nursing Community Coalition (NCC) sent a statement for record for the House Veterans’ Affairs Subcommittee on Health hearing on, “VA’s Federal Supremacy Initiative: Putting Veterans First?” The NCC urged support for removing barriers to practice and allowing for Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists (CRNAs) to practice to the full extent of their education and abilities within the VA.

Kaplan Continues Novice Nurse Educator Webinar Series for OADN Members in Fall 2023

OADN is excited to announce new learning opportunities for novice faculty in Fall 2023. Kaplan, a renowned leader in educational resources and support, is continuing its exclusive webinar series tailored specifically for new nurse educators!

We understand that transitioning into the role of a nurse educator can be both rewarding and challenging. This new webinar series aims to equip you with the necessary knowledge, skills, and tools to succeed in your teaching journey and positively impact the next generation of nurses.

The 2023 Novice Nurse Educator Webinar Series will provide:

  • Comprehensive Content: The webinar series covers a wide range of topics essential for new nurse educators, including innovative teaching strategies, curriculum development, classroom management, assessment techniques, fostering critical thinking, and much more.
  • Expert Presenters: You will have the opportunity to learn from distinguished nursing education experts with extensive experience in academia. They will share best practices, insights, and practical tips to empower you in your role as an educator.
  • Interactive Sessions: These webinars are designed to be engaging and interactive, allowing you to actively participate, ask questions, and connect with other nurse educators facing similar challenges and opportunities.
  • Flexibility: Kaplan understands the demands of your busy schedules. The webinars will be recorded, so if you are unable to attend a live session, you can access the content at your convenience.
  • Ongoing Support: Beyond the webinar series, Kaplan is committed to providing ongoing support to all participants, including access to valuable resources, follow-up materials, and networking opportunities.

How to Participate:

Participating in the webinars is free of charge. OADN members are encouraged to register for each webinar that meets your faculty development needs.

Novice Nurse Educator Webinar Series*

Date  Topic Registration Link
October  12 Test Security and Best Practices for the Testing Environment
Presented by: Dr. Agnes DiStasi DNP, RN, CNE		 Register
November 9 Test Item Analysis
Presented by: Dr. Agnes DiStasi DNP, RN, CNE		 Register
December 7 NCLEX: What is it and How does it Evaluate Test-Takers?
Presented by: Julie Hamilton MSN, RN		 Register
January 11, 2024 Understanding Test Blueprinting
Presented by: Karen Haidemenos MSN, RN		 Register

*There is no cost to attend webinars. For more details about speakers, subtopics, links to join the webinars, and recordings of webinars, please use the button below. We look forward to seeing you!

Recordings from the Novice Nurse Educator Webinar Series

Date  Topic Recording/Registration
June 13 Elements of the Curriculum Recording
June 27 Academic Integrity Recording
July 11 Class Prep Recording
July 25 Classroom Management Recording
Aug 8 Active Learning for Student Engagement and Clinical Judgment Development Recording
Aug 22 Clinical Teaching and Evaluation Recording

Kaplan and OADN believe that investing in your professional development as a nurse educator is an investment in the future of nursing education. By joining this webinar series, you will be empowered to shape the next generation of nurses and contribute to the continuous improvement of nursing education. We extend our gratitude to Kaplan for offering this exceptional opportunity and supporting our mission to advance nursing education and the associate degree pathway.

Stay tuned for further updates on more webinars in this series coming this fall! To learn more about how Kaplan can help support you and your students, please reach out to your regional representative or request more information on Kaplan’s website.

Thank you for your dedication to nursing education, and we look forward to seeing you at the upcoming webinars!

OADN Voices: October Leadership Message from Dr. Patricia Nabal, Midwest Regional Director

Embracing Change & Progress: Incorporating Diversity, Equity & Inclusion in Associate Degree Nursing Education

Dear OADN Members,

I hope this message finds each of you in good health and high spirits as we welcome the vibrant autumn season! Just as Mother Nature is undergoing her natural course, we too are witnessing a transformative shift in healthcare and, consequently, nursing education.

In the aftermath of a global pandemic, which we dare not claim to have fully overcome, combined with disconcerting shifts in legislation, and persistent social challenges such as police brutality, racial inequality, and health care disparities and the marginalization of LGBTQ individuals, it is evident that our communities are experiencing significant changes. Moreover, as the tapestry of our society is being redefined in terms of “race, ethnicity, gender identity, age, national origin, immigration status, religion, values, political identity, functional ability, sexuality, socioeconomic status, education, marital status, language, learning preferences, and career goals,” the necessity for nursing curricula that reflect this evolving reality could not be more apparent. The call for a nursing workforce distinguished by heightened empathy and cultural competence is now more urgent than ever before. Achieving this requires nursing curricula that truly acknowledges the lived experiences of the communities it serves.

Diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) have emerged as formidable responses to the call for change in nursing education. As the national voice for community college nursing education and associate degree nursing pathways, the Organization For Associate Degree Nursing (OADN) is committed to advancing the principles of DEI in nursing education. This commitment has led to the introduction of the OADN Toolkit.

I have the distinct privilege of serving as Co-Chair of the OADN DEI Committee. In response to the shifting demographics and evolving needs of our communities, the OADN Toolkit was developed by the committee as a proactive step towards integrating DEI strategies in nursing curricula and fostering a nursing workforce that better represents and understands the diverse makeup of our society. OADN recognizes that to deliver culturally competent care, our nursing workforce must mirror the diversity of our current communities. Hence, the toolkit aims to equip educators, students, and administrators with the tools necessary to evaluate and transform nursing curricula to meet the needs of a rapidly changing society.

The toolkit is a collection of resources, drawing from the insights of nursing experts, designed to guide you through the process of assessing and implementing DEI concepts into your nursing curriculum. I urge each of you to access the OADN Toolkit, not as a prescription plan but as a versatile framework to guide your efforts towards a more inclusive and equitable nursing education curriculum. Employ it to scrutinize your existing curriculum, identify potential gaps, and put into practice evidence-based DEI strategies. Also, I hope you will consider joining me for a special session on Incorporating Diversity, Equity & Inclusion in Associate Degree Nursing Education as I introduce the OADN Toolkit at 9AM PDT on Saturday, November 18th during the OADN Convention, Turning the Tide of Nursing Education, this November 15th – 18th at the Manchester Grand Hyatt in San Diego, California. 2023 OADN Convention Schedule

As we usher into a new season, the OADN Toolkit signifies a commitment to embracing change and progress in nursing education. Consider it a compass, guiding us toward a future where nursing education reflects the richness of our communities and equips our nursing workforce with the skills, knowledge, and compassion needed to provide exceptional care to all individuals, regardless of their background or circumstances. Together, we can shape the future of nursing education and make a lasting impact on the health and well-being of our society.

Patricia Nabal, DNP, FNP, RN-BC
OADN Midwest Regional Director
Associate Dean, Nursing (AAS)
City Colleges of Chicago School of Nursing, Malcom X College