TE PUAWAI

Editorial

November 2006

Dr Jenny Carryer

This is not the usual editorial but rather a brief reflection as we near the end of 2006.  For all of us, workloads go on increasing and the challenge to maintain work/life balance becomes more and more difficult. It occurred to me that the lack of an editorial would not constitute a major crisis and that this edition of Te Puawai  would not suffer for its absence.

It is also timely to suggest that other College members might wish to use this space to write about the things about which they feel passionate.  Any person who wishes to contribute an editorial next year is very, very welcome. It is quite a privilege to have a page or two to express one's views on a range of professional concerns. Similarly we have rarely received letters which engage with the material presented and it would certainly enrich our professional dialogue if that occurred.

This edition of Te Puawai contains a copy of this year's Executive Director's report. We have not done this before but realise that this is an opportunity for members to come up to speed with the many and varied activities which are undertaken on behalf of members and the profession at large. We will continue to produce the report in this manner at the end of each year.

There is endless opportunity as a professional nursing organisation to make a range of contributions. We especially value delivering high quality workshops and facilitating professional forums which progress our thinking or increase understanding of any current challenges. We especially value the opportunity to put articulate nurses onto decision making forums to ensure that a nursing and, as much as possible, a consumer perspective are represented. I personally enjoy the opportunity to connect with nurses from such a range of practice locations and am constantly reminded of the rich resource of experience and wisdom residing within College membership.

The business of educating nurses and designing and deploying their service delivery seems to be an area of constant challenge. Indeed the health sector itself is an area of increasing challenge and as the largest health professional group we are caught in every aspect of those challenges. There is endless opportunity for the College to make a meaningful contribution and this is an area where, to some extent, size does matter. Whilst I believe we make an excellent contribution for such a small organisation I am always aware of how much more we could do if we were bigger and therefore had more resources at our disposal.

To this end I conclude this brief commentary with a suggestion. If each College member encouraged just one colleague to consider joining the College it would have a major impact on our strength and vitality. Personal approaches work well; there are still a great many nurses practising out there without indemnity insurance and without the enrichment of links to the activities and issues of their profession.

So before you take up that particular New Year's resolution (adding it of course to the usual ones about exercise and getting a life!!!), please do have a wonderfully peaceful and safe Christmas and I look forward to working with you all in 2007.