alphasigma theta tau international chi honor newssociety of nursing spring 2009 celebrating diversity message from the president spring 2009 | vol. 31 no. 2 in this issue would like to begin this newsletter with a wish of health and happiness for you and your 4 advancing the knowledge of men’s health Danny Willis I family in 2009. Enjoy this newsletter and be sure to check the 2008–2009 calendar of events on the back cover. 6 our diverse society Catherine Read As 2009 begins, I feel compelled to share a recent exchange I had with a student nurse as we 7 connell school diversity advisory board were discussing the nursing profession. I asked her if she planned on joining Sigma Theta Tau International (STTI). She replied “Why should I join Sigma? What will Sigma offer me? 8 perspectives on men in nursing Timothy Hughes Will they take my money and beg me to join a committee? Why should I join Sigma instead 10 chapter news of joining a professional organization that is specified to my nursing interest?” These are all valid questions that any nursing student might have as he or she makes the transition from 12 member news his or her academic training to a professional role. Initially, I was surprised by her response. Then, I realized that this was an opportunity for me to educate her on the benefits of mem- 16 calendar bership in STTI. I related the founding of STTI—the history of six nurses wanting to form an honor society for nursing based on honor, knowledge, truth, scholarship and service. I shared with her that STTI is a group of nurses from all over the world—nurses with differ- ent backgrounds and areas of practice, different values and beliefs, who come together and share a common bond of best practices in the profession. I shared how STTI grants awards for research, education, and clinical practice areas of expertise. STTI recognizes and rewards nurses from over 86 countries for the important and excellent job that they do. Nurses meet letter from the editors and discuss our common global issues such as evidence-based nursing, research, world hunger, disease, and global warming. We help people, we care for the sick, we educate, we do research, and we make the world a better place. Dear Alpha Chi chapter members: I am excited about what I think STTI offers: a global perspective and the opportunity to better As you may have noticed, this is the second issue in which we have made significant the world. However, I remain concerned about the nursing student’s questions. I thought, “If changes to the format of our Alpha Chi Chapter newsletter. It has been exciting for us she has no idea of what STTI does, and she is a new nurse, how can we expect others outside to work with Josh Jensen and Kirsten Erwin from the marketing department within the nursing to know what we are about?” This thought led me to one of my personal challenges Connell School of Nursing to transform the shape of our trusted mode of disseminat- for 2009–2010: to publicly share the work of STTI and make all nurses aware of the benefits ing news and information about the chapter, as well as the valuable work in which our of membership and service with STTI. I hope that you will take on this challenge as well. members are involved. We have embraced the new design and layout of our newslet- Finally, at a previous STTI convention, our Region 15 members met to discuss doing some- ter, but we would appreciate your feedback as well. Please send us your thoughts and thing as a STTI group. One idea was to organize a health fair in the four regions of Massa- opinions about the new format of the Alpha Chi newsletter, as well as your suggestions chusetts. In spite of a great deal of positive response to this idea, this event has yet to happen. for topics you would like discussed in the coming issues. So, I will put a request out to Alpha Chi Members—over the next 2 years, I would like to We are looking forward to some exciting chapter events this spring, the highlight of lead us in coming together as a chapter or a region to do something for the public as STTI which will be the Induction Brunch on Sunday April 5th beginning at 11:00 a.m. We Members. I welcome your feedback on this idea, and urge you to contact me with any other hope you enjoy this issue of the newsletter, which we have dedicated to the many thoughts or suggestions you may have. Feel free to contact me at [email protected]. forms, issues, and faces of diversity within our profession. Happy Spring! Sincerely, Sincerely, louisa dichard, president stacy garrity & katherine gregory, co-editors february 2009 [email protected] [email protected] 2 alpha chi news spring 2009 3 for an international nursing science conference held in health, orthopedics, forensics, emergency, critical care, Boston in October 2008. I have been invited, along with etc. I think providing high quality male role models and men in nursing Dr. Grace, to serve as co-editor of an upcoming issue of mentors are very important to the recruitment and reten- Nursing Philosophy focused on the conference theme tion of men in nursing as well as the ongoing professional focus on advancing the “Nursing Science: Knowledge Development for the Good development of men in nursing. I believe that media of Persons and Society” (http://www3.interscience.wiley. portrayals of nursing have a significant influence on the com/cgi-bin/fulltext/121574698/PDFSTART), for which public and believe that these portrayals should aim to knowledge of men’s health ‘healing and integrity,’ and ‘cultural and global health en- promote diversity by including positive images of diverse vironments’ are included as examples of possible topics. I men as caring competent nurses making a difference in danny g. willis, dns, pmhcns-bc, assistant professor am currently serving in the second year of an elected term people’s lives. as Secretary and Chair of the Communications Commit- tee for the only national organization devoted specifically to men in nursing and men’ s health, the American As- media portrayals of sembly for Men in Nursing (AAMN). AAMN encourages nursing should include ‘men of all ages to become nurses and join together with positive images of diverse all nurses in strengthening and humanizing health care’ men as caring, competent as well as advocating for scholarship about men’s health approach that addresses the physical, mental, emotional, love being a nurse who specializes in psychiatric and men in nursing (http://aamn.org/). My leadership nurses making a difference social, and spiritual life experiences and health needs of I mental health, with a unique scholarly focus on men’s role in AAMN has provided me with opportunities for in people’s lives. men throughout their lifespan” (Porche & Willis, 2004, p. mental health. My current interest in men’s health was national networking, promoting research related to men’s 254). According to statistics from the Centers for Disease piqued during my doctoral study in nursing science and health, engagement in organizational strategic planning, Control and Prevention and information reported on the as I encountered countless men across the lifespan in and efforts to promote the positive image and visibility of We have made great strides over the past several years website of the national non-profit organization Men’s inpatient and outpatient settings with a history of various diverse men in nursing as well as recognition of schools to increase diversity throughout the nursing profession. Health Network, men die about six years earlier than types of interpersonal abuse. These men were struggling and workplaces successful at attracting men in nurs- However, we still have miles to go to before we become women. They have higher rates of death from the 6 lead- with mind-body-spirit distress, but remained interested in ing. Some of the recruitment strategies identified at the a group that is representative of the highly diverse and ing causes than for women: heart disease, cancer, injuries, recovery and healing. My goal as a nurse has always been national level that have successfully recruited and retained multicultural patient population that we serve. I aim to stroke, HIV/AIDS, and suicide (http://www.menshealthnet- to utilize a nursing lens on holistic health and humans’ men into nursing and into health care workplaces are: continue fighting to eliminate health disparities, create work.org/library/menshealthfacts.pdf). Thus, the need for inherent wholeness to promote wellness. In line with this role modeling; educating young men about nursing as an an even stronger nursing presence in interdisciplinary more research on men’s health is evident. professional goal, I have recently proposed, with Drs. Pam excellent career option which offers flexibility, outstand- research forums, and recruit more diversity into nurs- Grace and Callista Roy, a central unifying focus for the ing job satisfaction and job security; and showcasing the ing to serve the health and healing needs of society. I am discipline in a special issue of Advances in Nursing Sci- healing for men who’ve science and knowledge-based competence of various types inspired to be a nurse and hope that my work continues to ence: Facilitating humanization, meaning, choice, quality of nursing such as hematology-oncology, psych mental shape the future of this wonderful healing art and science. of life, and healing in living and dying (Willis, Grace, & been abused and socialized Roy, 2008, p.