Adiós

Alexander Graham Bell said, “When one door closes, another opens; but we often look so long and so regretfully upon the closed door that we do not see the one which has opened for us.”

The doors have closed on both the 22nd International Nursing Research Congress and the 2nd World Academy of Nursing Science (WANS) conference, events that were more successful and engaging than I imagined. And in this tropical paradise, I expect there are those who regret that the Congress and conference are over. Not me, however, nor the people with me. We're excited about the 23rd International Nursing Research Congress to be held in Brisbane, Australia next summer, and the 3rd WANS conference to be held in Seoul, Korea in the fall of 2013.

The WANS closing ceremony featured Karen Morin, DSN, RN, ANEF, president of the Honor Society of Nursing, Sigma Theta Tau International (STTI); Hiroko Minami, DNSc, MPH, RN, president of the World Academy of Nursing Science; and Myoung-Ae Choe, PhD, RN, president of the Korean Academy of Nursing Science.

At the WANS closing ceremony: Iris Meyenburg-Altwarg, Hiroko
Minami, Myoung-Ae Choe and Karen Morin.

As we say goodbye to a wonderful week of learning and networking with our colleagues from around the globe, we also close the door of the conference center at The Moon Palace in Cancun for the last time, with hugs and promises to greet each other again soon, either at the STTI Biennial Convention in Grapevine, Texas this fall, or at the STTI International Nursing Research Congress in Brisbane, Australia next year, or both. And I close the door on this blog, with best wishes to you all.

Moon Palace front grounds.

The beach at Moon Palace.

Nighttime view of Moon Palace from my balcony.

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.

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.

Nine pictures, worth nine thousand words

It’s hard to know what to write about. Do I tell you about the fabulous sessions today, or the people frolicking in the ocean? The great networking lunch with a room full of different “table groups” focused on various topics, or the excellent dinner with amazingly accomplished colleagues and friends? Shopping at the STTI Marketplace or playing in the pool? Perhaps pictures and captions tell the story best:

On the pathway to the Universal Expo (conference) Center this a.m.

Past president May Wykle, PhD, RN, FAAN, FGSA, chats with past
president and current CEO of STTI, Pat Thompson, EdD, RN, FAAN.

Flags flying at hotel are reminiscent of nurses from 33 countries at
the 22nd International Nursing Research Congress.

Leigh Small, PhD, RN, CPNP, and STTI President Karen Morin, DSN,
RN, ANEF, were session presenters.

A coatimundi playing on the hotel grounds.

One of the many sessions offered.

The view from the beach. Note the kayak and sailboard.

Some of the mechandise at the STTI Marketplace.

Enjoying dinner (from left): 2011 STTI Nurse Researcher Hall of Fame
inductee Wipada Kunaviktikul, DSN, RN; Joanne McGlown, RN, PhD,
FACHE; and Gwen Sherwood, PhD, RN, FAAN.

Tomorrow the 22nd International Nursing Research Congress will culminate with the induction of fifteen leaders from around the world into the Sigma Theta Tau International Nurse Researcher Hall of Fame. I can't wait to tell you about it.

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.