MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT

Dear Colleagues:

I am honored to serve as the 10th President of the National Black Nurses Association, Inc. Thank you for the opportunity to work with you as we create passionate leadership while setting a clear direction for our association.

I look forward to working with all of our members, community and corporate partners, friends and future members as we improve the opportunities, education, stature and impact for Black nurses across the nation. The strength of NBNA will sustain us into the future. We pay tribute to our founding members, past presidents and chapter leaders. We are building upon our legacy for the next generations of Black nurses to have a greater chance at succeeding in the nursing profession.

Strengthening the Capacity of the Association
Current NBNA bylaws and policies/procedures are being reviewed and analyzed to ensure transparency and operational efficiency. These documents continue to give us the necessary guidance and direction to operate NBNA.

The Commission on the Electoral Process comprised of board and general members was appointed and tasked with making recommendations to the Board of Directors for an improved election process for the future. We welcome your input in this governing process.

I want to improve the internal infrastructure of NBNA; making sure that NBNA has enhanced Information Technology capability that will serve us well into the future. Exploration of new avenues to speed up the time to get current information to the membership and all NBNA partners is essential.

Chapters are our greatest asset! We will implement the NBNA Chapter Capacity Building Grant to assist with building infrastructure among chapters. This grant, the first of its kind, will award chapters’ financial support to assist with capacity building activities to strengthen and sustain our chapters. Chapter development is key to what we are and important to our survival.

Our financial stability is paramount to our future and discovering new ways to build our own wealth is always a priority. NBNA has created a Corporate Roundtable which will be launched in 2008. I am excited that we will be partnering with corporations who have missions and goals similar to our own and that we will have the opportunity to collaborate on our mutual interests. Our corporate partners also have an interest in the success of the members of NBNA and it is my vision that our members be placed on corporate boards.

Expanding Leadership Opportunities
Our students are our future! They are the next generation of Black nursing leaders and will carry our legacy for years to come. Creativity in our retention efforts to keep students involved in the association is a priority. Ongoing dialogue will continue with the deans of HBCU schools of nursing and deans at majority schools to establish mutually beneficial partnerships with the development of the NBNA Dean’s Honor Roll. Created this year is the Ad Hoc Committee of Faculty Members tasked to accomplish two things; identify issues critical to our faculty members that impact the nursing faculty shortage and assist with the development of our student leaders.

Let’s take every opportunity that we can to show our students that we care about their professional and self development. This year, I am serving as mentor to our student representative Board Member and we have begun our plans for a great year! Committee chairs and officers are being asked to mentor a student, engage them in committee work, co-author an article for the NBNA Newsletter and co-present or prepare a poster presentation at the NBNA Conference. This is the only way we can truly say we are cultivating the next generation of Black nursing leaders.

This is a Presidential year and we are gearing up for the candidates. There is a diverse group of Presidential candidates running for office. What do you know about them? Health care is a major issue on all the candidates’ agenda and they all take a different twist. Do you know the candidates stand on issues that are important to you, your family and community? NBNA’s health policy committee is preparing a high powered policy agenda to get us ready to ask the right questions so we can make informed decisions. We are developing a database of our members who have political appointments or elected positions. If you are not already registered to vote, please do so. Make your voice count!

As Black nurses, part of our challenge has been working harder to reach the same goals that often come easier to others. Lack of promotional opportunities in the work place, and the marginalization Black nurses experience on a daily basis presents challenges to one’s ability to prosper in a health care setting. As a recent speaker at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas’ Multicultural Conference, I was able to advocate for and be the voice for Black nurses on issues related to marginalization, discrimination and exploitation. We will empower ourselves with information, skills and the tools necessary to take a stance for what is important. This allows us to be heard, respected and will improve the quality of life for each of us.

Increase Member Input & Participation
You are the core of the National Black Nurses Association. Members like you are vital to the success of our great association! The most talented, savvy, renowned, well educated, skilled, resourceful and powerful nurses in the country are members of the NATIONAL BLACK NURSES ASSOCIATION. We can’t ask for better than that. Our members are clinicians, educators, researchers, lawyers, administrators, entrepreneurs, policy makers, high ranking officers in the military and politicians. All the expertise needed to move to the next level we have within our reach. We have confidence that you will be supportive of NBNA and provide the needed input and participation in our programs and activities to make all we do successful.

Our national committees have been expanded to include more non-board members, giving those the opportunity to serve the organization that have not yet had the chance to contribute on the national level. We want to engage all members in the success of NBNA. Several ad hoc committees have been developed including global health, faculty and military nurses.

Critical to our long term success is recruitment of new members along with a strong emphasis on retention strategies. Innovative recruitment methods will be utilized and new partnerships established. Increasing our membership in all of our chapters, starting new chapters, and recruiting younger members to ensure our legacy continues is a priority. Our association has a cadre of retired members. We will reach out to them and craft programs to keep them engaged because retirement means staying active doing something new and fresh.

Communication is of utmost importance at all levels. Exploration of new ways to communicate with you is ongoing to ensure we are providing information to all of our members.

Regular communication with chapter Presidents will be established. It is important to me to learn of the chapter Presidents’ rewards and challenges. Equally important is that chapter Presidents have input into the decisions of our association. It is vital that we talk President to President.

The leadership of NBNA wants to hear your views of the association and will be sending you a survey to get your perception of how the association is doing. We appreciate all the comments we receive at Members Speak at the annual conference because your remarks are integral to improving the association.

Networking opportunities abound for NBNA members. We have so many power players and brokers in NBNA who can be a significant resource for getting things done. Meeting new colleagues at NBNA events and other health related activities provides a forum for career development, funding for research, scholarships and internships; advisory appointments, speaking engagements and publishing in prestigious journals.

Build Professional Visibility and Community
We will bring national spotlight on our activities, our collaborative relationships with community and corporate partners. I encourage you to publish your activities in the NBNA national newsletter. Use your local media outlets; nursing magazines, public affairs offices of schools of nursing and hospitals; television and radio; and banners at major events. We want everyone to know who we are, so toot your own horn! The Journal of the NBNA and the NBNA National Newsletter are excellent sources to build professional visibility. Use them as marketing tools.

I suggest you bring attention to your local chapter activities. For the past six years, the Southern Nevada BNA hosted a Men’s Health Symposium, where male health care providers talked with men about their health care concerns. Highlights of the events were published in the local newspapers and more local men’s groups have participated in successive forums.

Get involved with your city and state health initiatives. For example, serve on the health advisory committees for your elected and appointed officials. I am the chairperson of the Office of Minority Health for the State of Nevada. In that capacity, I serve as an advisor to the Governor on minority health issues. And, as a board member of the State Board of Health, I assist with formulating health policy. As a Robert Wood Johnson Executive Nurse Fellow, I network with power brokers from across the country developing collaborative relationships.

In closing, let’s take our place and be the nursing organization that Black nurses want to join first because we bring value to their lives. NBNA members must take a stand for themselves as nurses. Our power is in our numbers. The whole is what counts. The power is in coming together in one collective, powerful voice. Maintaining our strong organization enables us to advocate for and represent the interests of those we serve. We have power and we must band together to implement positive change and make our mark on the world. We will work in harmony as one powerful force and provide our communities with successful solutions. Our members embody commitment, determination and drive. It is these qualities that will propel us closer to accomplishing the mission and goals we have set for ourselves as the National Black Nurses Association.

Thank you for the opportunity to serve.

Debra A. Toney, PhD, RN
President