Dear ~INFORMAL~,
One of our constant dilemmas at the NLN is how to communicate most effectively what we know and what we do. Our staff is small, but committed and amazingly efficient. Thanks to our staff and our member volunteers, we are able to reach out and influence policy and practice in nursing education, both nationally and internationally.
Our not-so-secret weapon is, of course, the Internet. Our nursing students don’t remember life without the World Wide Web, but I’m sure many of you remember library catalogues, bulky encyclopedias, and long hours spent on hold while trying to get basic information.
While you can still call the NLN and get answers to your questions from very pleasant and knowledgeable people, we know that most of you turn first to www.nln.org. Our challenge is to make sure you find what you need when you need it — without wasting time, getting discouraged, or reaching for the phone. Good web communication is critical, and we are making every effort to do it right.
Today, when you go to our home page, you will notice two new features. First, many people contact us about all aspects of the nurse educator shortage: the latest research data, what Washington is doing or not doing, and legislation that the NLN supports. The relevant documents have been on our website all along, but may have been tricky to find. Now you can click on “Nursing Shortage Info from the NLN” and links to all relevant documents will magically appear. The facts will be at your fingertips, and you can be incredibly persuasive as you join us in making a case for nursing education!
The other new feature is the NLN Marketplace, your portal to NLN products and services. When you click on the Marketplace icon, you will be directed to testing products, publications, faculty development resources, NLN excellence initiatives, member services, certification, our speakers bureau, and even jewelry — among other areas. Just as I said — there is a lot going on at the NLN, and we are committed to sharing it with the world.
But it doesn’t stop there. In April, we are introducing our new and improved NLN
Testing Service webpages. Here, to the right, is a preview of the landing page.
New ideas and new initiatives seem to fly off the shelf at the NLN. But ideas without access won’t do a lot of good. I know that you will enjoy these new features on our website and continue to see the NLN as your partner and advocate in the important work that you do.
I am one day late, but I want to wish you a happy Easter. And if your school is on spring break, I hope you enjoy that as well. All the best to you and yours.
