A day of hellos and goodbyes

Congress ended today—Thursday—with the induction of 15 nurse leaders into STTI’s International Nurse Researcher Hall of Fame, 12 of whom were able to join us for the ceremony. After their induction, they provided a moderated panel presentation talking about how they were able to translate their research into practice, how their interest in research—and their specific areas of expertise—began and the advice they would give to others interested in launching a research career. They also shared fun stories about things that happened while conducting various studies. It was so much fun to hear these icons in nursing research talk about staying up until the middle of the night to submit proposals on time, needing to be drawn back on target for their research focus, having a lifelong sense of curiosity and wonderful mentors along the way.

Photo of inductees, left to right: Jacqueline Campbell, PhD, RN, FAAN; Chung-Hey Chen, PhD, MSN, BSN; Inge Corless, PhD, RN, FAAN; Julie Fairman, PhD, RN, FAAN; Fannie Gaston-Johansson, PhD, RN, FAAN; Wipada Kunaviktikul, DSN, RN; Moderator, Suzanne Prevost, RN, PhD, COI; Bernadette Melnyk, PhD, RN, CPNP/PMHNP, FNAP, FAAN; Merle Mishel, PhD, RN, FAAN; Ida (Ki) Moore, DNSc, RN, FAAN; Debra Moser, DNSc, RN, FAAN; Mary Nies, PhD, RN, FAAN, FAAHB; May Wykle, PhD, RN, FAAN, FGSA.

International Nurse Researcher Hall of Fame award

In closing the 22nd International Nursing Research Congress, we were invited by the Honor Society of Nursing, Sigma Theta Tau International and the Royal College of Nursing, Australia, to attend the 23rd International Nursing Research Congress, which will be held next July in Brisbane, Australia. Time to start planning a summer vacation next year “down under”!   

Come on down!

The opening ceremony of the World Academy of Nursing Science (WANS) started mid-afternoon with the presidential address from Hiroko Minami, DNSc, MPH, RN, past president of the International Council of Nurses. The WANS opening plenary was presented by Iris Meyenburg-Altwarg, managing director of nursing and director of OTA School, Medizinische Hochschule, Hanover, Germany, who discussed various aspects of collaboration between nursing science and nursing leadership.

Hiroko Minami, president, WANS

Iris Meyenburg-Altwarg, WANS plenary speaker

The day ended with viewing posters from our WANS colleagues.  The WANS conference is a day and a half, so will close late tomorrow afternoon. But, between now and then, there will be some great sessions, and some great weather to enjoy here in Cancún.

Cynthia Vlasich, MBA, BSN, RN

Director, Education and Leadership

For Reflections on Nursing Leadership (RNL), published by the Honor Society of Nursing, Sigma Theta Tau International.