Members are "All in"

Christopher E. Otto, MSN, RN, CHFN, PCCN, CCRN

This is our Moment: All In

              Reflecting upon the American Association of Critical-care Nurses’ 2021 theme of “This is our Moment: All In,” I was challenged in deciding what topic/s I wanted to cover and what they meant to me as being “all in.” I certainly reflected on “this is our moment” and how nurses, among all health care professionals, were thrust into the national and local spotlight as a result of the worlds’ greatest public health crisis in 100 years. Nurses have provided testimony about experiences at the national and state level. Nurses have displayed significant acts of selflessness and service. Of course this is our time!

              Nurses have critical decisions to make about the way we continue to engage with the media, policymakers, and others. This where we must be all in. We must continue to tell our stories of struggle, sacrifice, compassion, resourcefulness, and expertise. These collective and organized stories illuminate the need for continued advocacy, policy development, and resource allocation. Nurses and healthcare professionals are not done fighting this pandemic and the public needs to know that. Even though the “healthcare heroes” signs have come done, nurses and healthcare professionals continue to fight the pandemic. Once we are “through” the pandemic, nurses and healthcare professionals will be dealing with post-traumatic stress that lasts much longer. Critical-care and high-acuity nurses among the hardest hit sector of the nursing workforce.

              There are many ways for critical-care and high-acuity nurses to be all in. They can be all in at their place of employment, participating in shared governance or other structures that facilitate their involvement in decision making affecting their practice. Nurses can be all in through a local, specialty nursing association, such as the Diamond State Chapter of AACN. Local chapters and associations facilitate inclusion, advocacy, professional development and networking at the state or regional level. They allow the individual nurse to network beyond their primary place of employment and facilitate foresight into issues affecting nurses more broadly. Additionally, each U.S. state and territory are represented with a state nursing association that represents and advocates on behalf of all nurses. There are numerous ways for nurses to be all in through these local, regional and state chapters and associations.

              Nurses seeking to elevate their advocacy, influence, knowledge, and networking can go all in at the national level. Special recognition to DSC-AACN President Dannette Mitchell who is currently serving at the national level on the conference planning committee for AACN and DSC-AACN Immediate Past President Ryan Miller serving on the chapter advisory team. I had the opportunity to join the communications committee of the American Association of Heart Failure Nurses. This opportunity allows me to collaborate with nurses from Tennessee, Nebraska, Alaska, and many other locations on issues affecting nurses. Going all in at the national level may be intimidating for some but this is a critical opportunity to connect with a mentor who has done it. They can help alleviate your fears and set you up for success. Delaware is certainly famous for sending Joe Biden to the White House, but we have dozens of nurses also serving at the national level that can help you be all in!

              My main take away is that there are many ways for nurses to be all in, so just do it. Be all in in any way that works for you. It is critical for the continued growth of our profession but also for the achievement of healthier individuals, communities, and populations.