One Voice. . ..

Donna Mason isNurse Manager, V

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P R E S I D E N T ’ S M E S S A G E

June 2007 33:3

Donna Mason, RN, MS, CEN, Nashville, Tenn

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 orga-

nization, 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

inf luences 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 impor-

tant to nurses is an honor I have been given. Although I

have only one voice, I have the ability to make a dif-

ference 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

President of the Emergency Nurses Association andanderbilt Emergency Services, Nashville, Tenn.

ce, write: Donna Mason, Vanderbilt EmergencyVUH, 1211 Medical Center Dr, Nashville, TNail: donna.mason@Vanderbilt.Edu.

07;33:193-4.

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7 by the Emergency Nurses Association.

.2007.04.008

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

JOURNAL OF EMERGENCY NURSING 193

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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.

194 JOURNAL OF EMERGENCY NURSING 33:3 June 2007