A Plan Forward.
Set the Foundation.
In any new role I have taken on, I have spent time listening and observing and this role would be no different.
In order to represent and lead the membership, it’s essential to take their voices into account. To accomplish this, I would work with the board to ensure that there are forums set up so that nurses can easily engage in dialogue with our organization. I would also work with the TNA staff to increase our presence on social media platforms. In order to have a vibrant, engaged association, we must ensure there is value in what we do, and that the membership are actively involved in our progression.
Recovery.
As a leader within a hospital, I have had a first-hand view on the toll this pandemic has taken on our front line staff. It has been my priority to care for my teams as we have worked to not only care for our patients, but live with our own fears and concerns. This has had a significant impact on nursing’s physical, emotional and mental well-being.
I believe that to solve issues like these, we must focus on a multi-prong approach. Building on our relationships with associations such as the Texas Medical Association, the Texas Hospital Association and approaching our healthcare crisis as a team can assist us in creating solutions that are impactful and long-lasting.
We must focus on creating both short-term and long-term solutions to “stop the bleed” and ensure that actions are taken to bring relief to nurses across the state. TNA’s legislative agenda for the 88th session is primed to do this, with a focus on workplace violence prevention, just culture, removal of barriers for APRNs, the nursing shortage and advancement of school nursing.
Community Health.
I have spent my career in women’s health advocating for more accessible, equitable care in both the inpatient and outpatient setting.
During the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, I worked with my team to create telehealth programs for prenatal and gynecological care, ensuring that safe care could be provided to this patient population. Creating patient-centered care programs that directly tackle social determinants of health, such as transportation, childcare and access to resources helped to increase appointment compliance and better the health of those who came to us for care.
With these experiences, I hope to advocate for more nurse-led programs within communities and help spur initiatives through the Texas Action Coalition. The Future of Nursing 2020-2030 report is committed to advancing nurses in this direction and I believe that the pandemic has shown our profession that community health nursing is key to tackling many of our public health issues.
Innovation.
As we work to help nurses recover, we must also help set the stage for a culture of innovation, realizing this will take time and trial and error to achieve.
Human-centered design thinking teaches us to approach problems from an agile mindset. We are not only constantly creating, but we take risks and fail often.
Establishing spaces where nurses are given permission to take these risks and get in touch with their creative side is paramount to our success. It’s why I would propose further collaboration with thought leaders to create maker spaces and host nursing hackathons throughout the state. Participants could then serve as ambassadors in their own communities, assisting in bringing this mindset forward. I believe this is key to building a more progressive profession.
I am excited about the opportunities that lie before us to create a stronger, healthier, innovative profession. There are few obstacles that can withstand the voices of thousands of nurses advocating for change. It would be an honor and privilege to help lead this next chapter of our association.
— Amy McCarthy, DNP, RNC-MNN, NE-BC