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Nephrology Nursing: A Call to “Break the Silence”
by ANNA President Suzann VanBuskirk
As
I write this last President’s Message of my term, I sit in my home
office, Valentine’s Day has passed, but my Christmas decorations are
still in place and last fall’s leaves remain on my lawn. I look forward
to passing the gavel and traditional Vision Crystal to President-Elect
JoAnne Gilmore during Nashville’s Nephrology Nurses’ Recognition
luncheon, returning home to a slower pace, and being able to wash
windows and give my house a thorough cleaning.
While
anticipating the future, I also look back over a year of achievement by
ANNA volunteer members. I’ve just completed the traditional Annual
State of the Association Report for the ANNA Update, and am amazed at
the work our association has completed. Elected and appointed
volunteers at every level within the association have contributed
thousands of hours to further the mission and goals of ANNA to advance
nephrology nursing practice.
A Call to Nephrology Nurses: “Break the Silence”
This
year, I will celebrate 25 years as an ANNA volunteer and I realize how
important the experience has been to my professional and personal
growth. My final words that I want to leave to those who read this
column focus on a call to nephrology nurses to “break the silence.”
Many are asking themselves, “What does she mean by that?” Let me
explain.
Among the “gifts” I have received during my Presidency was time in
airports and on airplanes, which allowed me to read not only ANNA
publications, but other nursing journals, nursing news alerts, and
books written by and about nurses. One of the books that ANNA Executive
Director, Mike Cunningham, purchased for the Association’s library was
From Silence to Voice, by Bernice Buresh and Suzanne Gordon (2001). The
authors are two journalists who have a passion for the value of nurses
and their work. In the first section of the book, the authors examine
the complex culture of nursing and its relationship to the public,
legislators, and other health care professionals (in particular
physicians). While recent opinion polls show that nurses have earned
public trust, the public is not often clear on what a nurse does. The
nurse is often described as caring, but the unique body of knowledge
that nurses have and is used to assess patients, and plan and implement
care, is often not understood. And many nurses convey the fact that
what they do is nothing special. So frequently we hear of business
people who make decisions about replacing the nurse with other health
care workers despite evidence that nursing intervention does make a
measurable difference in patient outcomes. The remainder of the book
describes how nurses can, in many ways, effectively communicate to
others the important work that we do.
By now I’m sure you are saying to yourself, “Yes, but there is no time
to read this book, let alone develop a communication plan. With the
nursing shortage, the increased acuity and complexity of patients, the
lack of appropriate reimbursement, the productivity expectations,
demands from my family, etc., I have no energy or time left.” My
response is that if you seek out time to read this book, it could make
a difference in areas affecting the quality of your professional and
personal life. This book suggests means, motivation, and opportunities
for nurses, irrespective of education, work environment, family or
personal obligations that could positively affect us as individuals and
our influence on the future of nursing. It’s up to you.
I don’t mean to imply that there aren’t nephrology nurses who don’t
speak, write, and act with confidence in their roles as nephrology
nurses, because there are many. I admire and applaud your efforts and
look to you as mentors and models who possess the ability to clearly
and effectively communicate the value and contributions of our
profession. I am simply raising the awareness of the need for more to
engage in this activity.
A Parting Message to ANNA Members!
Aside
from Buresh’s and Gordon’s book, ANNA has also made available to our
members a sleek one-page document entitled, The Elements and Principles
of a Healthful Work/Practice Environment for Nurses (Nursing
Organization Alliance, 2004). This document was developed by a Nursing
Organization Alliance work group endorsed by the ANNA Board of
Directors, and was posted July 14, 2005 on our ANNA Web site
(www.annanurse.org) under the link found on the homepage. If you don’t
have time to read From Silence to Voice, then take time to read and
embrace this one-page publication.
Once again, let’s take the time to demonstrate how ANNA volunteers and
nephrology nurses make a difference in the lives of those we care for
and with whom we work! Let’s incorporate the sound practices promoted
by these two publications, and this in effect, will be our lasting gift
to our patients and colleagues!
Suzann VanBuskirk, BSN, RN, CNN
ANNA President
Member, Baltimore Chapter
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