AMSN continues to work tirelessly to bring value to our members and customers. As you’ve likely seen, we’ve rolled out podcasts, videos and new webinars. We’re building new online learning courses in behavioral health for medical-surgical nurses, significantly increased our advocacy and legislative activities and continue to explore ways we can support you as you navigate the increasingly complex and rapidly-changing work environment.

June has had a long history of celebrations with weddings and graduations; of freedom with the celebration of Juneteenth; and of personal and social rights with the celebration of Pride month. Unfortunately, nursing hasn’t always celebrated the differences that make us stronger as a profession. We have, on occasion, denied our colleagues the freedom to be themselves in the practice setting and failed to acknowledge the personal and social rights of the members of our profession.

Robin Hertel, AMSN President, spoke of community in her ‘Robin’s Nest’ message in this newsletter. Community likely means something slightly different to all of us, but one thing community will have in common for all of us is that it invokes a sense of belonging. Whether geographical, spiritual, familial or professional, community is where we find expertise, wisdom and support from people that we identify with. As we saw with Senator Walsh’s uncalled for comments, the nursing community immediately came together and rallied as one.

It’s been a tough couple of months for nursing. In February, a nurse at Vanderbilt was arrested and charged with reckless homicide after a medication error resulted in the death of a patient. Just last month, nurses were in an uproar over Washington Senator Maureen Walsh’s uninformed comments about what nurses do. Incidents like these, and those that happen on a daily basis can bring nurses closer together to offer support and build a sense of community.

I’m excited to return to Chicago for this year’s AMSN National Convention, the site of my first convention. I was inspired from the time of the opening ceremony until the close of the convention by the high-level sessions, networking opportunities, and wonderful posters.

I meet wonderfully talented nurses at convention and make friendships that continue despite time and distance. Each year, convention allows me to catch up with colleagues; sharing news and laughter, enjoying discussions of hot topics in nursing and the sessions we’ve attended.

Title 8 nurse workforce development programs are threatened by significant budget cuts, and AMSN and its members are taking action. In its 2020 budget, the Administration recommended cutting Title 8 by two-thirds.

Continuing education is a passion of mine. No, really. I work for a professional nursing society where we promote professional development and encourage continuing education. We know that in today’s volatile, uncertain, complex and ambiguous (VUCA) health care environment, continuing education and professional development are critical to navigating our workplaces. That’s why the board of directors and the AMSN staff are focused on providing you with the education and tools you need to be successful at work.

PREPARED STATEMENT OF DR. LINDA YODER, PhD, MBA, RN, AOCN, FAAN ACADEMY OF MEDICAL-SURGICAL NURSES IMMEDIATE PAST PRESIDENT BEFORE THE NATIONAL ACADEMIES OF SCIENCE, ENGINEERING AND MEDICINE FUTURE OF NURSING 2020-2030 INAUGURAL PUBLIC PANEL WASHINGTON, DC ====

Co-chair Doctors Wakefield and Williams, members of the panel, colleagues:

I am Dr. Linda Yoder, immediate past president of the Academy of Medical-Surgical Nurses. Thank you for the opportunity to present on behalf of our AMSN President Robin Hertel and our members.

When we take time to care for ourselves, everyone wins: Our patients, our fellow nurses, and our families. More often than not, we spend much of our waking hours giving to others, leaving very few moments to devote to what drives our passions. I believe it is truly vital for nurses to cultivate professional fulfillment through self-care and self-improvement. When we do this, we can shine brighter, feel stronger, and show our best selves to the world around us.

As individuals in the nursing community, we are fundamentally wired to always be listening, always be considering the needs of those around us. We assess, we plan, we implement, and we evaluate. The nursing process is the cornerstone of nursing practice. At AMSN, we work hard – month in and month out – to embody the same process when we interact with our members. The things that matter to each and every one of you, also matter to us.