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ASPAN Vision: Shaping the future of perianesthesia nursing
through shared knowledge, innovation and passion
Think about this. In a rural town with no fulltime firefighters,
who mans the fire station and responds in a time of crisis? Who
sings in the choir or shows you to your seat in church? Who
enables Habitat for Humanity to fulfill its vision to build
decent and affordable housing for families in need? You are
correct, volunteers. Individuals with a passion for a vision and
the desire to influence the outcome of a mission are those who
take on a challenge and commit to selfless participation in any
number of activities. This participation provides the
opportunity to become influential. The breadth of influence may
vary dependent upon the degree of involvement but, consider this
fact, every effort effects the whole.
Each and every one of you has influence at the bedside and is a
leader in everything you do on a daily basis. Many of you are
the advocate for those patients being prepared for the
anesthesia experience. These patients look to you for
reassurance and guidance about what they need to know to
actively participate in and share responsibility for their care;
to affirm that they will come through the experience safely and
in good hands. Others of you advocate for those patients
recovering from anesthesia. These are the individuals who often
cannot speak for themselves and rely on your expertise and
caring to see them through the intrusion of anesthesia with
constant vigilance. You move them through Phase II and discharge
them with the tools needed for care at home. Your expertise and
caring remain just a phone call away. You are influencing care
at every level.
Along the perianesthesia care continuum, you make a significant
difference in many lives and influence the outcomes of care
delivery and patient satisfaction. Your influence expands beyond
boundaries you cannot define because of the ever-changing
atmosphere of healthcare today. You have the responsibility to
recognize the significance of your practice and your
participation in patient care. You have the responsibility to
recognize your individual ability to change, improve, advance,
direct, develop, expand, affect, and, yes, even revolutionize
perianesthesia care delivery. Who is better positioned to
volunteer and share the passion to drive ASPAN into the future?
ASPAN's Mission: The American Society of PeriAnesthesia
Nurses advances nursing practice through education, research and
standards.
Our
Mission is driven by the vision and the work is accomplished
through the dedicated efforts of our volunteers who serve on
committees, strategic work teams, and as elected leaders. I
encourage you to consider active participation in your component
and the society, and to begin spreading the word of the
importance and significance of organizational involvement.
Volunteers are critical to continue ASPAN's journey as the great
organization it has grown to be.
The
work of the organization cannot be done in isolation. Bringing
together all volunteers, committed to what it is that makes each
of you unique, will complete the product and advance toward
living our vision. Each of you has the ability to meet the
challenge and take advantage of this opportunity to grow,
network and make a difference for your colleagues. Members, just
like you, who are willing to take a risk, are finding they have
more to offer than they ever realized. Involvement forces you to
expand your circle of influence and comfort and to discover
things about yourself you never dreamed imaginable.1
I say go for it. Right now make up you mind to say yes
rather than how? and let your voice be heard and have your
influence be felt.2 Volunteers are critical to
continue ASPAN's journey toward defining the future of
perianesthesia nursing.
Expanding your circles of influence, creating ripples, and
effecting change are easily within your grasp. Think about your
feeling of pride and personal satisfaction as you become more
involved and recognize your own accomplishments. Your efforts
will benefit your practice, the work environment for your
colleagues and our specialty of perianesthesia nursing. You will
have a truly stronger influence by a commitment to ASPAN and
your component. Do not miss this chance to revitalize your
interest and commitment to component health and ASPAN's future.
Let's get going and make the most of this opportunity.
Volunteer!
References
1.
Barnes, S: Expanding Your Circle of Influence. J PeriAnesth Nurs
18(2):75-77, 2003
2.
Block, P: The Answer to How is Yes. San Francisco, CA, Berrett-Koehler
Publishers, Inc. 2002 |
