Academy of Nursing Education Recognizes Faculty Leaders
By Christina Orlovsky, senior writer
Nursing leaders often have many credentials attached to their name: RN, MSN, Ph.D. Now, exceptional nursing leaders will be given the opportunity to add a few more letters to their résumé: FANE, Fellow, Academy of Nursing Education.
The new academy, founded in March by the National League for Nursing (NLN), aims to recognize nurses for their contributions to nursing education. The goal is to also acknowledge those who “will continue to provide visionary leadership in nursing education.”
Faculty, as well as others who have worked for the benefit of nursing education, are eligible to apply for the fellowship. According to the NLN, applicants must “show evidence of contributions to nursing education in teaching/learning innovations, faculty development, research in nursing education, public policy related to nursing education and/or collaborative education/practice/community partnerships.” Applicants must also be NLN members.
NLN Chief Executive Officer Beverly Malone, Ph.D., RN, FAAN, explained that there is no time like the present for the establishment of the academy and the recognition of leaders in this crucial area of nursing.
“It’s been long overdue for the creation of an academy that recognizes the contributions of nursing faculty, especially in this time of a shortage,” Malone said. “Our nurse faculty numbers are dropping. We have to have many more incentives and much more of a way to acknowledge how wonderful the profession can be for nurse faculty.”
The application deadline for the first cycle of fellowship recipients is May 21, 2007. The organization is hopeful for a good amount of applicants.
“The response has been very positive in the nursing community,” Malone said. “We opened the door and we don’t know how many are going to rush in.”
Once the fellowships are awarded, Malone expects the group to excitedly work toward the betterment of the future of nursing and nursing education.
“There’s not enough focus in my mind on nursing education—that will be the main focus,” she said. “You can’t do that without recognizing where nursing education fits in with the world.”
Still, Malone concluded that it will be left to the expertise of the academy to decide the direction of the group’s endeavors.
“The fellows will be exciting people who will be used to getting things done,” she said. “There’s no already-devised plan. We’re just acknowledging outstanding, incredibly gifted, contributing individuals and we’ll follow their lead.”
For more information visit the National League for Nursing Web site.
© 2007. AMN Healthcare, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
