Having just finished the election process in the Association, I believe it is time to talk about how important it is for our voice to be heard. When I think of our world, our nation, our states, and our organization, I realize it is the voice of one that can make mountains move.
Traveling across the United States and being involved in committees and task forces that drive policy has made me more acutely aware of how one voice can drive change. Very frequently ENA is asked to be involved in work that influences what our emergency departments will be like in the future and how our practice will be affected. It was not so long ago that others drove our practice to what it has become. Having the opportunity to voice what is important to nurses is an honor I have been given. Although I have only one voice, I have the ability to make a difference for all nurses in our chosen profession.
In speaking with many emergency nurses across our great nation, I often hear you say, “What difference can one person make?” I answer, “A powerful difference!” It was through grassroots efforts led by one nurse that motorcycle helmet and automatic external defibrillator legislation was enacted or re-enacted. It was the voice of one nurse that led to the demand for changes in regulations such as medication reconciliation in your workplace. If we sit back and assume that we are too small or insignificant to make a difference, then we predict our future. It is emergency nurses on the move to drive change that transforms our workplace for the better.
We…you, must be the catalyst for change. How often have you stated to a co-worker or a manager that a certain policy is not appropriate or good for patient care? Your one voice may be the pinnacle that makes a change. Without your voice, you are saying policy regulation is not important, when in actuality, it is very important to the work you do. How important is boarding in your facility? How important is workplace violence? How important is crowding and the lack of surge capacity in our emergency departments? How important is wearing seat belts or having laws to protect people when they will not or cannot protect themselves? How important are staffing issues and the nursing shortage? If I were to try to answer these questions for you, I would say they are very important to each and every one of you. We have a responsibility as a profession to make our voice heard and to tell people who are driving policy why and how these issues are important.
Recently I was at a technical advisory committee on ED core measures and public reporting measures. In this group some very prestigious people were setting the policy for ED public reporting and core measures for payment. We were the only nursing representation there. Had nursing not been there, boarding and crowding issues would not have been addressed. I am only one voice, but I made my voice heard, and these very important issues that affect our practice now are being considered. I hope my voice can make a difference for each emergency nurse in the United States. It is only one voice, but the effects can be enormous.
You, too, have that one voice. When you get legislative action alerts or hear of important legislation going on in your state or board of nursing, you have a significant voice. Our policy makers need to hear from us, who are experts in the field, so we can help them make important decisions. We need to be the answer to the question when inquiries arise. Our EN-411 program will meet that need. A phone call, an E-mail message, or a fax often is the 5 minutes of work that can make a decision change. You often are that person who makes the pivotal conversion.
We must keep our eyes on our goals. We know what “best practice” is because we are out there creating best practices each day for our patients. Henry Ford once said that obstacles are those frightful things you see when you take your eyes off the goal. We have to keep our eyes on the goals that govern our practice. You are the voice of one who can move those mountains.
So, what is your challenge? First is commitment for a better practice. Second is giving a few minutes of your time to answer a question or speak to a regulator or legislator. Third is being an active part of change. It is important for our patients, our families, our communities, and most of all, for each other.
It only takes one voice.
FULL TEXT