The crucible of the global pandemic, racial injustice, and a crippling nursing shortage has sparked increasing calls for nursing to address its own problems from inequity to structural racism. In response, authors Susan B. Hassmiller and Gaea A. Daniel enlisted nearly 70 national and international nursing leaders to tackle the most pressing issues confronting the profession.
Taking Action: Top 10 Priorities to Promote Health Equity and Well-Being in Nursing spotlights 10 critical themes through data, essays, discussion points, and action items, equipping readers to move beyond conversation to action.
Issues or themes include:
- Health equity
- Education reform
- Diversity and mentorship
- Care delivery: quality, safety, access
- Multi-sector collaboration
- Preparing for disasters and public health emergencies
- Innovation and entrepreneurship
- Nurse well-being: compassion for self and others
- Global stewardship
- Nursing's voice in leading change
Similar to the second edition of The Power of Ten, the authors chose senior leaders well-versed in their chosen topics to contribute their expertise. With attention to diversity at all levels, including race, geography, gender, age, and sexual orientation, we asked the senior leaders to work with a mentee when possible to gain the perspective of up-and-coming leaders. Some of the essays were authored solely by up-and-coming diverse leaders, some of whom have never before published. To provide perspectives for all of nursing, we wanted all of nursing to be represented, or as much as we could for this small book. To gain such a diverse array of perspectives (66 essays in all), we limited each author to around 1,000 words. We have also supplemented the essays with notable quotes from experienced and novice leaders, in addition to the poetry and illustrations of Lucinda Canty and the song lyrics of Tad Worku.
Daniel, Gaea A.: - Gaea A. Daniel, PhD, RN, is Assistant Professor at the Nell Hodgson Woodruff School of Nursing at Emory University. Daniel is a nurse scientist whose pro- gram of research focuses on understanding the sociocultural and environmental influences that affect sexual health behaviors and outcomes. She is particularly interested in sexual health outcomes of Black women that present as race-based disparities, from intravaginal practices to sexually transmitted infections. Daniel is a two-time Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Scholar, selected for both the New Careers in Nursing and Future of Nursing Scholars programs. She is also a Gile- ad Sciences Research Scholar and an Emory Building Interdisciplinary Research Careers in Women's Health (BIRCWH) Scholar. Daniel devotes her time to diversity-related initiatives in research and the nursing profession as the Diversity Committee co-chair of the Georgia Nursing Leadership Coalition and the co-founder of the High School to Higher Education Program, which seeks to increase the representation of Black men in nursing. She also enjoys volunteering in the community with the Atlanta Black Nurses, where she serves as the National Institutes of Health's All of Us Research Program Champion. Additionally, she works with SisterLove, Inc., to promote sexual health and positivity in minoritized and underserved communities.Daniel received her PhD in nursing from Emory University, a master of science in nursing from Augusta University, and a bachelor's degree from Mercer University. She lives in Atlanta, Georgia, with her husband, and enjoys traveling and spending time with loved ones.
Hassmiller, Susan B.: - Susan B. Hassmiller, PhD, RN, FAAN, is Senior Advisor for Nursing Emerita at the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF). She is the founder and Principal of Sulu Coaching and Consulting (www.sulucoaching.com), with a practice focused on healthcare leaders, and a Hudson/ICF-certified Executive/Leadership Coach. Hassmiller is a national leader in nursing, health equity, and leadership development. She has devoted her career to strengthening the nursing profession, improving population health, and advancing health equity. During her 25 years at RWJF, she served as the Senior Advisor for Nursing and the Senior Scholar-in-Residence/Senior Advisor to the President at the National Academy of Medicine (NAM). She helped to lead the landmark reports at NAM on the future of nursing-The Future of Nursing: Leading Change, Advancing Health (2010) and The Future of Nursing, 2020-2030: Charting a Path to Achieve Health Equity (2021). She also established and served as the Director of The Future of Nursing: Campaign for Action, a nationwide initiative led by AARP, the AARP Foundation, and RWJF, to transform health and healthcare through nursing to build a healthier America.Hassmiller has held leadership positions in some of the nation's most prominent healthcare organizations. She served on the Board of Governors of the American Red Cross, is an elected member of NAM, and is a Fellow in the American Academy of Nursing, where she holds Living Legend status. She sits on other advisory committees and boards, including Hackensack Meridian Health System, UnitedHealth Group, Carrier Clinic, the Nurses on Boards Coalition, and the University of North Carolina School of Nursing. She has received many awards and four honorary doctorates, including the Florence Nightingale Medal, the highest international honor given to a nurse by the International Committee of the Red Cross. She lives in Cary, North Carolina, with her husband and close to her extraordinary grandchildren.
