5 minute read
Listen. Strategize. Go!
President’s Notes
Our Leadership Year in Review
By Joyce Batcheller DNP, RN, NEA-BC, FAONL, FAAN
The first President’s Message I wrote when I began my TNA presidency was about transitions, why I decided to run for office, and the three strengths I believed I would bring to TNA. The three top strengths I brought to TNA are the ability to influence and lead large system changes, an extensive network of colleagues, and the belief that nurses have the answers and need to engage in shaping the future of the nursing profession. TNA needed to build on and create a new strategic direction since we were finally coming out of the COVID pandemic. One of the roles of the president is to lead the strategic planning with the board, CEO and TNA staff.
While I may have been ready to start, I needed to pause when the former CEO Dr. Cindy Zolnierek decided to retire. Attention was focused on finding the next CEO to lead TNA. The phrase “slow down to go fast” was absolutely true at this time. A search committee was formed comprised of Gayle Dasher, Jim Allard, Shakryn Napier, Olusola Oyewuwo and Erin Perez. This group of diverse leaders was highly engaged in helping the board select Dr. Serena Bumpus as the new CEO. Staying in the “slower” mode, while difficult for me, was still needed as the onboarding and orientation for the CEO was completed. Additionally, key vacancies needed to be filled in order to speed up again.
Part of the onboarding process included “listening tours” where the CEO, select TNA staff and I traveled to different parts of Texas to hear from nurses in varied fields about the challenges they face and how TNA could help.
Two concerns we heard consistently related to staffing and workplace violence. These issues and others were used as input and validation that the strategic planning completed by the board and staff was relevant and aligned by TNA’s key stakeholders. Other themes we heard relate to new graduates requiring longer orientations, burden of documentation and overall high complexity of patients. Collaborating with colleagues in my network also provided an opportunity to see how nursing in Texas aligned with what was happening in other parts of the country. For example, the population growth that Texas is expecting is creating a demand for more hospital beds, yet other parts of the country are looking at consolidating and closing hospitals as services continue to move out into the community and home.
We made major changes, used the network I had and created new support networks to set a definitive direction for TNA and its influence on nursing in Texas.
You may be wondering: What differences have I helped make during my presidency? I welcome the question and I'm proud to share that Dr. Bumpus and her team have synthesized the brainstorming the board did into goals, metrics, and a dashboard with timelines for completion that have been approved by the board. Each of the board members serves as a liaison to a specified committee and the energy is high. We hold quarterly meetings with the district presidents where Dr. Bumpus shares what TNA is working on as a way to align and speed the kind of changes we desire to make. Nurse Day at the Capitol was a huge success along with many legislative wins that have been described in other publications. The annual conference has grown over the last two years with the addition of podium and poster presentations. An endowment fund has been created to honor Clair Jordan. I could go on about other accomplishments but I will stop here. I hope you can see how I used my strengths during these past two years. We made major changes, used the network I had and created new support networks to set a definitive direction for TNA and its influence on nursing in Texas. Each of you has this same opportunity. Consider what your strengths are, and how you could engage effectively with TNA and influence the future of nursing. I gained as much if not more than I gave. We are an incredible force and could make incredible differences in TNA’s goals.
I encourage all of you to engage in TNA and help to shape the future of the nursing profession. I feel privileged to have heard amazing stories where nurses are making a difference in spite of the challenges we face. I have been an RN for more than 45 years and I am proud to be a nurse and still love the profession. I hope all of you do too and will continue to support the incredible work TNA is leading. As I transition to the past president role, I want to congratulate and welcome Dr. Amy McCarthy in her role as TNA President.
Thank you.
