People Come into Our Lives for a Reason Jane Marie Kirschling PhD, RN, FAAN PII: DOI: Reference:
S8755-7223(14)00072-6 doi: 10.1016/j.profnurs.2014.04.004 YJPNU 830
To appear in:
Journal of Professional Nursing
Please cite this article as: Kirschling, J.M., People Come into Our Lives for a Reason, Journal of Professional Nursing (2014), doi: 10.1016/j.profnurs.2014.04.004
This is a PDF file of an unedited manuscript that has been accepted for publication. As a service to our customers we are providing this early version of the manuscript. The manuscript will undergo copyediting, typesetting, and review of the resulting proof before it is published in its final form. Please note that during the production process errors may be discovered which could affect the content, and all legal disclaimers that apply to the journal pertain.
ACCEPTED MANUSCRIPT People Come into Our Lives for a Reason
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“I’ve heard it said That people come into our lives for a reason Bringing something we must learn And we are led To those who help us most to grow If we let them And we help them in return” (Lyrics from “For Good,” musical Wicked, composer Stephen Schwartz)
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Jane Marie Kirschling, PhD, RN, FAAN* (footnote) *Immediate Past-President, American Association of Colleges of Nursing; Dean and Professor of Nursing, University of Maryland School of Nursing
One Nurse Leader’s Journey
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Dr. Geraldine “Polly” Bednash entered the profession of nursing in 1965 just four years earlier than the formation of the American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN). Having completed her Bachelor of Science in Nursing and Psychology from Texas Women’s University, she joined the United States Army Nurse Corps. Her military service included serving at DeWitt Army Hospital, the 36th Evacuation Hospital in Vung Tau, Vietnam, and Valley Forge General Hospital. When she returned to civilian life in 1967, Dr. Bednash worked as a staff nurse on an intensive and coronary care unit at Binghamton General Hospital. Within a year she accepted her first faculty position with the Hospital’s School of Nursing, providing clinical instruction to the next generation of nurses. Having completed a Master’s of Science in Nursing degree from the Catholic University of America in 1977, she accepted a nursing faculty position at Northern Virginia Community College and in 1978 she joined the nursing faculty at George Mason University as an assistant professor. Not one to shy away from change, in 1981 Dr. Bednash was selected as a Robert Wood Johnson Nurse Faculty Fellow in Primary Care at the University of Maryland. The fellowship set the stage for her to expand her influence in the delivery of health care and she accepted a position as a nurse practitioner and consultant to the family practice residency program at the DeWitt Army Hospital. In 1986, Dr. Bednash joined the staff at AACN as the Director of Governmental Relations. In 1989 she assumed the role as the Executive Director/Chief Executive Officer (CEO), the position she held until June, 2014 when she retired. AACN’s fifth Executive Director, Dr. Bednash completed her PhD in Higher Education Policy and Law from the University of Maryland in 1989. One Nurse Leader’s Impact Dr. Bednash’s career illustrates how one nurse can truly make a difference through her commitment to continuing to learn and to helping others to grow. As AACN’s CEO, Dr. Bednash had the opportunity to shape baccalaureate and higher degree nursing in the United Status with the goal of advancing nursing education, practice, and research. She transformed the headquarters office from 7 dedicated professionals to a thriving organization with more than 50 staff. Dr. Bednash’s journey as CEO included working with 14 AACN Presidents - Geraldene Felton (1988-1990), Rita Carty (1990-1992), Janet Rodgers (1992-1994), Rachel Booth (1994-1996), Carol Anderson (1996-1998), Andrea Lindell (1998-2000), Carolyn Williams (2000-2002), Kathleen Ann Long (20022004), Jean Bartels (2004-2006), Jeanette Lancaster (2006-2008), C. Fay Raines (2008-2010), Kathleen Potempa (2010-2012), and Eileen Breslin (2014-2016). Having the honor of serving as President from 2012-2014, I can state unequivocally that I grew as a leader because I had the opportunity to work alongside Dr. Bednash. In relation to her leadership in AACN, Dr. Bednash is nationally recognized in the nursing, health care, and higher education communities, as a strong and tireless advocate for advancing the education of the 1
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nursing workforce, including nurses who are entering the workforce as registered nurses, advanced practice nurses, and nurse scientists; assuring that all health professions students have the requisite knowledge and skills to engage in team-based care; advancing quality and safety in health care; and advancing a diversified health professions workforce. She has worked tirelessly during her 27 years at the helm of AACN to raise standards in nursing education programs with the overarching goal of improving patient care.
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Dr. Bednash is credited with establishing AACN as the national voice for baccalaureate and graduate nursing education. Membership in the organization almost doubled under her leadership from 411 member schools in 1989 to 742 schools today. Enrollments in baccalaureate and graduate degree programs are at an all-time high – with 174,644 students enrolled in generic Baccalaureate programs, 102,302 students in RN to Baccalaureate programs, 101,616 Master’s students, 5,110 PhD students, and 11,575 Doctor of Nursing Practice in 2012-2013.
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Over Dr. Bednash’s 28-year tenure, AACN has transformed as well from what was formally considered the “deans’ club” to an organization that serves all members of the academic nursing enterprise, including deans, faculty, administrative staff, and students. For example, vibrant faculty initiatives include AACN’s free faculty Webinar series that has drawn over 10,000 registrations from 650 (90%) AACN member schools. AACN, in partnership with the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, has continued to offer faculty development in quality and safety. The Quality and Safety Education for Nurses (QSEN) is internationally recognized for its “train the trainer” model to prepare both undergraduate and graduate nursing faculty to design curricula that are grounded in quality and safety competencies. In addition, in 2012 AACN launched the Graduate Nursing Student Academy to provide high value programs, services, and resources to nursing students enrolled in master’s and doctoral programs.
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For nearly three decades, Dr. Bednash has been the driving force behind expanding AACN’s reach and influence in all healthcare and higher education circles as well as on Capitol Hill. She has effectively mobilized support for all of AACN’s signature initiatives over the past 20 years, including the creation and revision of the Essentials documents that guide nursing curricula, the establishment of the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education, the development of the Clinical Nurse Leader role and the Commission on Nurse Certification, advancement of advanced practice registered nurse education to the doctor of nursing practice, and dozens of grant-funded initiatives, including the End-of-Life Nursing Consortium and the New Careers in Nursing Program. Dr. Bednash also played a crucial role in the publication of a Joint Statement on Academic Progression for Nursing Students and Graduates. This consensus statement was developed in collaboration with the American Association of Community Colleges, Association of Community Colleges Trustees, National League for Nursing, and the National Organization for Associate Degree Nursing. This historic agreement represents the first time leaders from the major national organizations representing community college presidents, boards, and program administrators joined with representatives from nursing education associations to promote academic progress in nursing. With the goal of preparing a well-educated, diverse nursing workforce, this statement represents the shared view that nursing students and practicing nurses should be supported in their efforts to pursue higher levels of education. Under her stewardship, AACN has formed dozens of strategic alliances in support of our mission. For example, along with colleagues from the American Association of Colleges of Osteopathic Medicine, American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy, American Dental Education Association, Association of American Medical Colleges, and Association of Schools of Public Health, Dr. Bednash envisioned the need to develop core competencies for interprofessional collaborative practice which were released in 2011. In order to actualize the competencies, the associations joined together in 2012 and formed a new 2
ACCEPTED MANUSCRIPT organization, the Interprofessional Education Collaborative (IPEC) which is actively engaged in faculty development. Dr. Bednash served as the founding President for IPEC. With Heartfelt Appreciation…
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The discipline of nursing is fortunate that Dr. Geraldine “Polly” Bednash choose nursing as her place to make a difference in the world. While we will miss her passion, her humor, and her brilliant mind at AACN, we know that these closing words from “For Good” say it all.
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“Because I knew you I have been changed For Good”
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S8755-7223(14)00072-6 doi: 10.1016/j.profnurs.2014.04.004 YJPNU 830
To appear in:
Journal of Professional Nursing
Please cite this article as: Kirschling, J.M., People Come into Our Lives for a Reason, Journal of Professional Nursing (2014), doi: 10.1016/j.profnurs.2014.04.004
This is a PDF file of an unedited manuscript that has been accepted for publication. As a service to our customers we are providing this early version of the manuscript. The manuscript will undergo copyediting, typesetting, and review of the resulting proof before it is published in its final form. Please note that during the production process errors may be discovered which could affect the content, and all legal disclaimers that apply to the journal pertain.
ACCEPTED MANUSCRIPT People Come into Our Lives for a Reason
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“I’ve heard it said That people come into our lives for a reason Bringing something we must learn And we are led To those who help us most to grow If we let them And we help them in return” (Lyrics from “For Good,” musical Wicked, composer Stephen Schwartz)
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Jane Marie Kirschling, PhD, RN, FAAN* (footnote) *Immediate Past-President, American Association of Colleges of Nursing; Dean and Professor of Nursing, University of Maryland School of Nursing
One Nurse Leader’s Journey
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Dr. Geraldine “Polly” Bednash entered the profession of nursing in 1965 just four years earlier than the formation of the American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN). Having completed her Bachelor of Science in Nursing and Psychology from Texas Women’s University, she joined the United States Army Nurse Corps. Her military service included serving at DeWitt Army Hospital, the 36th Evacuation Hospital in Vung Tau, Vietnam, and Valley Forge General Hospital. When she returned to civilian life in 1967, Dr. Bednash worked as a staff nurse on an intensive and coronary care unit at Binghamton General Hospital. Within a year she accepted her first faculty position with the Hospital’s School of Nursing, providing clinical instruction to the next generation of nurses. Having completed a Master’s of Science in Nursing degree from the Catholic University of America in 1977, she accepted a nursing faculty position at Northern Virginia Community College and in 1978 she joined the nursing faculty at George Mason University as an assistant professor. Not one to shy away from change, in 1981 Dr. Bednash was selected as a Robert Wood Johnson Nurse Faculty Fellow in Primary Care at the University of Maryland. The fellowship set the stage for her to expand her influence in the delivery of health care and she accepted a position as a nurse practitioner and consultant to the family practice residency program at the DeWitt Army Hospital. In 1986, Dr. Bednash joined the staff at AACN as the Director of Governmental Relations. In 1989 she assumed the role as the Executive Director/Chief Executive Officer (CEO), the position she held until June, 2014 when she retired. AACN’s fifth Executive Director, Dr. Bednash completed her PhD in Higher Education Policy and Law from the University of Maryland in 1989. One Nurse Leader’s Impact Dr. Bednash’s career illustrates how one nurse can truly make a difference through her commitment to continuing to learn and to helping others to grow. As AACN’s CEO, Dr. Bednash had the opportunity to shape baccalaureate and higher degree nursing in the United Status with the goal of advancing nursing education, practice, and research. She transformed the headquarters office from 7 dedicated professionals to a thriving organization with more than 50 staff. Dr. Bednash’s journey as CEO included working with 14 AACN Presidents - Geraldene Felton (1988-1990), Rita Carty (1990-1992), Janet Rodgers (1992-1994), Rachel Booth (1994-1996), Carol Anderson (1996-1998), Andrea Lindell (1998-2000), Carolyn Williams (2000-2002), Kathleen Ann Long (20022004), Jean Bartels (2004-2006), Jeanette Lancaster (2006-2008), C. Fay Raines (2008-2010), Kathleen Potempa (2010-2012), and Eileen Breslin (2014-2016). Having the honor of serving as President from 2012-2014, I can state unequivocally that I grew as a leader because I had the opportunity to work alongside Dr. Bednash. In relation to her leadership in AACN, Dr. Bednash is nationally recognized in the nursing, health care, and higher education communities, as a strong and tireless advocate for advancing the education of the 1
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nursing workforce, including nurses who are entering the workforce as registered nurses, advanced practice nurses, and nurse scientists; assuring that all health professions students have the requisite knowledge and skills to engage in team-based care; advancing quality and safety in health care; and advancing a diversified health professions workforce. She has worked tirelessly during her 27 years at the helm of AACN to raise standards in nursing education programs with the overarching goal of improving patient care.
SC
Dr. Bednash is credited with establishing AACN as the national voice for baccalaureate and graduate nursing education. Membership in the organization almost doubled under her leadership from 411 member schools in 1989 to 742 schools today. Enrollments in baccalaureate and graduate degree programs are at an all-time high – with 174,644 students enrolled in generic Baccalaureate programs, 102,302 students in RN to Baccalaureate programs, 101,616 Master’s students, 5,110 PhD students, and 11,575 Doctor of Nursing Practice in 2012-2013.
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Over Dr. Bednash’s 28-year tenure, AACN has transformed as well from what was formally considered the “deans’ club” to an organization that serves all members of the academic nursing enterprise, including deans, faculty, administrative staff, and students. For example, vibrant faculty initiatives include AACN’s free faculty Webinar series that has drawn over 10,000 registrations from 650 (90%) AACN member schools. AACN, in partnership with the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, has continued to offer faculty development in quality and safety. The Quality and Safety Education for Nurses (QSEN) is internationally recognized for its “train the trainer” model to prepare both undergraduate and graduate nursing faculty to design curricula that are grounded in quality and safety competencies. In addition, in 2012 AACN launched the Graduate Nursing Student Academy to provide high value programs, services, and resources to nursing students enrolled in master’s and doctoral programs.
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For nearly three decades, Dr. Bednash has been the driving force behind expanding AACN’s reach and influence in all healthcare and higher education circles as well as on Capitol Hill. She has effectively mobilized support for all of AACN’s signature initiatives over the past 20 years, including the creation and revision of the Essentials documents that guide nursing curricula, the establishment of the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education, the development of the Clinical Nurse Leader role and the Commission on Nurse Certification, advancement of advanced practice registered nurse education to the doctor of nursing practice, and dozens of grant-funded initiatives, including the End-of-Life Nursing Consortium and the New Careers in Nursing Program. Dr. Bednash also played a crucial role in the publication of a Joint Statement on Academic Progression for Nursing Students and Graduates. This consensus statement was developed in collaboration with the American Association of Community Colleges, Association of Community Colleges Trustees, National League for Nursing, and the National Organization for Associate Degree Nursing. This historic agreement represents the first time leaders from the major national organizations representing community college presidents, boards, and program administrators joined with representatives from nursing education associations to promote academic progress in nursing. With the goal of preparing a well-educated, diverse nursing workforce, this statement represents the shared view that nursing students and practicing nurses should be supported in their efforts to pursue higher levels of education. Under her stewardship, AACN has formed dozens of strategic alliances in support of our mission. For example, along with colleagues from the American Association of Colleges of Osteopathic Medicine, American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy, American Dental Education Association, Association of American Medical Colleges, and Association of Schools of Public Health, Dr. Bednash envisioned the need to develop core competencies for interprofessional collaborative practice which were released in 2011. In order to actualize the competencies, the associations joined together in 2012 and formed a new 2
ACCEPTED MANUSCRIPT organization, the Interprofessional Education Collaborative (IPEC) which is actively engaged in faculty development. Dr. Bednash served as the founding President for IPEC. With Heartfelt Appreciation…
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The discipline of nursing is fortunate that Dr. Geraldine “Polly” Bednash choose nursing as her place to make a difference in the world. While we will miss her passion, her humor, and her brilliant mind at AACN, we know that these closing words from “For Good” say it all.
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“Because I knew you I have been changed For Good”
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