December 12, 2018 | NLN CEO Update on NLN A Year in Review and a Glimpse of the Achievements on the Horizon

What a year this has been, colleagues. The NLN turned 125, and we celebrated at our Summit in Chicago, our birthplace. As we looked back — and looked forward — at this anniversary Summit, we honored our founders and wondered at their wisdom, courage, and perseverance. A little bit of the Summit returned with us to Washington, DC. The next time you visit our offices at the Watergate, walk around and read the marvelous posters that tell our story. And take some time later to visit our website, in particular, the History of the NLN. That page takes you to a historical timeline; a video (with script) of the Opening Ceremony; and a pdf of the book given to all attendees: Inspiring Words: Selected NLN Addresses 1893 - Present. There is also a link to the NLN Archives Collection at the Barbara Bates Center for the History of Nursing at the University of Pennsylvania, now in its early stages but already worth perusing.

Planning for this Summit began well before 2018 and involved numerous members and staff. But that’s not all that we did in 2018. Let me share with you some of the accomplishments of this busy year and tell you some of what to expect in 2019. The NLN story is just beginning.

• We released the Nursing Leaders in the Military Serving as Faculty Toolkit and updated the Healthful Work Environment Toolkit, originally published in 2005.
• We published two new documents for the NLN Vision Series: Creating Community to Build a Civil and Healthy Academic Work Environment and Doctoral Faculty Collaboration in Nursing Education.
• In connection with the Doctoral Faculty Collaboration in Nursing Education Vision Statement, we published a special issue of Nursing Education Perspectives on research collaboration among doctoral prepared educators (Vol. 39, No. 5).
• We published two important books: NLN Core Competencies for Nurse Educators: A Decade of Influence, edited by Dr. Judith A. Halstead, and Clinical Nurse Educator Competencies: Creating an Evidence-Based Practice for Academic Clinical Nurse Educators, edited by NLN Board Secretary Dr. Teresa Shellenbarger. 
• We now offer certification for academic clinical nurse educators as our new CNE®cl was launched during late summer.  Fifty-eight (58) academic nurse educators obtained their CNE®cl certification during the first few weeks of piloting the exam.  This is in addition to the 6,600+ academic nurse educators who have obtained their CNE® certification.  
• With grant funding from the National Institute of Nursing Research and the National Institute on Minority Health & Health Disparities, we hosted a conference for historically black colleges and universities (HBCUs) on increasing diversity and strengthening HBCU nursing programs.
• With Sigma Theta Tau International, we hosted the 3rd biennial (and sold-out) Nursing Education Research Conference in April. Then in May, we co-sponsored the 4th Biennial NLN/Boise State University Simulation Conference. 
• We embarked on a three-year program to begin the transformation of nursing education in China through leadership training and faculty development in the use of simulation in teaching and learning.
• We inducted 20 distinguished nurse educators into the prestigious Academy of Nursing Education, and we named 16 nursing programs Centers of Excellence in Nursing Education.
• The NLN Foundation for Nursing Education awarded the highest number of scholarships ever and in 2018, joined with Home Instead Senior Care to foster and promote geriatric nursing education through a scholarship fund for undergraduate nursing students.
• All 12 participants at the June 2018 Scholarly Writing Retreat have had their papers published or accepted for publication.

So, what is on the horizon for 2019?

• Applications are now being accepted for the June 2019 Scholarly Writing Retreat, to be led once again by Dr. Marilyn Oermann.
• The NLN North Star: Purpose, Power, and Passion is the theme for Summit 2019, which takes place at National Harbor in Maryland, September 26-28. Hurry if you want to submit an abstract. They're due today, December 12.
• With the University of Central Florida, we are hosting the conference From Simulation to Innovation and Beyond, March 7-8 in Orlando.
• The NLN CNEA continues to expand its presence as a national nursing accrediting agency, making excellent progress towards achieving U.S. Department of Education recognition.
• We formed a Strategic Action Group to develop a 2019 vision statement on the Social Determinants of Health (SDoH): Integration into National Nursing Curricula.
• We have two new books coming out: Scope of Practice of Certified Nurse Educators and Clinical Nurse Educators, edited by Drs. Linda Christensen and Larry Simmons, and the Clinical Nurse Educator Review Book, edited by Dr. Teresa Shellenbarger. In addition, Dr. Linda Caputi is updating her valuable NLN’s Certified Nurse Educator Review.
• Nursing Education Perspectives has a special issue scheduled for September/October 2019 on global nursing education, with guest editors Drs. Angie McNelis and Tamara McKinnon. Submissions are accepted through February 15.
• February 15 is also the date applications are due for the Academy of Nursing Education. Let 2019 be the year you are inducted as a fellow.
• February 4 is the closing date for research grant applications, while the application period for scholarships will open in mid-February.
• Finally, please don’t forget there’s still one day left to submit your nomination for the 2019 NLN Elections (President-elect, Secretary, Governor at Large, NLN Nominations Committee Member & NLN CNE Commission Member).

What we do at the NLN would not be possible without your support and your generous contributions to the NLN Foundation for Nursing Education. Let me remind you to browse the Foundation website and the Ways to Give page. As always, if you have questions about how your contribution can have the most impact, Tatiana Nin will be happy to speak with you — contact her at tnin@nln.org.

In addition, I want you to join me in congratulating our colleague, Dr. Cole Edmonson. You may know him as the Chair of the NLN Foundation for Nursing Education, and now, he is also the new Chief Clinical Officer for AMN Healthcare Services. This new role is so deserving as Dr. Edmonson has three decades of experience as a nurse leader in hospital administration, health policy development and service to the community.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has granted $2.6 million to The Texas Department of State Health Services to combat the #Opioid epidemic, Read More. Nurse practitioner plans worry doctors, Learn More. The uphill battles facing Asia's education technology startups, Read More. Virtual reality experience puts doctors in a dying man's shoes, Learn More.

Next Issue of the NLN Member Update: Wednesday, January 9, 2019. View previous issues of NLN Member Update »