Greetings SPN Members!

UPDATED MISSION AND VISION

In early 2022 as the Board of Directors prepared for our strategic planning session, we reflected on our current mission and vision. As a Board, we agreed that while our mission and vision have not changed, we felt we could better articulate the guiding statements of our organization. On behalf of the Board, I am happy to share with you our refreshed mission and vision:

SPN’s Mission

The mission of the Society of Pediatric Nurses is to advocate for the specialty of pediatric nursing by advancing excellence in education, research, and evidence-based practice.

SPN’s Vision

The Society of Pediatric Nurses will be the premier professional nursing organization that establishes and promotes nursing standards of excellence for the care of children and their families.

2023-2025 STRATEGIC PLAN

In the November newsletter article, I introduced SPN’s 2023-2025 Strategic Plan goals. I would like to share the strategic plan elements that will enable SPN to achieve these goals over the next 3 years. Our 2023 budget prioritizes resources to accomplish our objectives.

Strategic Goal 1

Drive and elevate career growth of the pediatric nurse

• Create a structured mentoring program for SPN Members
• Launch ongoing micro-learning content on pediatric hot topics
• Develop a curriculum-based Pediatric Nursing Leadership Skills Development Program

Strategic Goal 2

Generate visibility for SPN within the pediatric nursing specialty

• Develop and launch a Pediatric Nurse Department Excellence Program
• Establish SPN as a key influencer to pediatric nursing research and practice through thought leadership and organizational relationship development

Strategic Goal 3

Increase the number of practicing pediatric nurses

• Create a Pediatric Nurse Ambassador Program (high school and college level)
• Conduct a research project to determine if and why pediatric bedside nurses are leaving pediatrics

I am excited to begin the work to launch these initiatives and am looking to our committees and membership for engagement and involvement. Please share your knowledge and expertise, and help SPN achieve these strategic initiatives by engaging in the volunteer opportunities SPN has available. Be on the lookout for the Willingness to Serve survey opening in January 2023 and consider all the ways to become more involved in SPN!

ELECTION RESULTS

Please join me in congratulating our incoming Board of Directors and Nominating Committee members! Terms for our newly elected leaders will begin at the close of the 2023 Annual Conference in Pittsburgh next April.

NURSING SERVICES ORGANIZATION ANNUAL SUMMIT 

This past month I had the pleasure of representing SPN at the Nursing Services Organization (NSO) Annual Summit in San Diego. NSO, SPN’s preferred professional liability carrier, invited representatives from other nursing organizations, state boards of nursing, and team members from NSO and their affiliates. The topics were timely and relevant, addressing the path forward for nursing given the current staffing demands, gap in nursing experience and patient complexity, government regulation on nursing practice, and impact of environmental and social trends influencing healthcare.

Like the struggle faced by many pediatric nurses who had to care for overflow of adult patients in the peak of COVID-19, conference attendees identified current challenges with adult medical/surgical and intensive care nurses tasked in caring for pediatric patients due to overflow into adult areas because of the nationwide respiratory syncytial (RSV) surge. To address this current surge, SPN is aggregating RSV resources to make them readily available on our website.

SEASON’S GREETINGS

As we near the end of 2022, I wish you a safe and joyful holiday season. I reflect on the many people and experiences this past year for which I am grateful. May the new year bring a renewed sense of faith, hope and courage as we continue our work in the care and service of others.

Kathy Van Allen, MSN, RN, CPN