President’s Message: Building Bridges to the Future
In October 2024, transcultural nurses from across the globe came together to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Transcultural Nursing Society in Salt Lake City, Utah at our conference entitled Envision the Future, Honor the Past: A Half-Century of Advancement in Transcultural Practice, Education, Research, and Administration. Through numerous outstanding presentations, conference attendees: (1) examined the historical evolution of transcultural nursing practice, education, research, and administration; (2) explored methods of preparing a new generation of nurses to apply ethical, moral, and politically responsible healthcare to diverse populations; and (3) discussed the role of transcultural nursing in addressing emerging health issues impacting individuals, populations, and communities.
Each time I attend the TCNS annual conference, I leave with renewed inspiration to do the important work of transcultural nursing, while also being humbled by those from whom and with whom I have learned. This year was no exception. As part of my reflection on this experience, I wish to share with you what I feel is a fitting analogy for TCNS and our members. Our organization represents a bridge connecting the past, present, and future efforts to ensure cultural competence in transcultural nursing practice, education, research, and administration. The following describes some of the critical components of the bridge that is TCNS.
A bridge must have a strong foundation. We are fortunate that Dr. Madeleine Leininger, the foundress of TCNS, and the early members of our organization provided a strong foundation upon which to build, as they worked tirelessly and with great passion to make their vision a reality.
A bridge must be built with strong materials. Our members represent the material of which our bridge is comprised. Each serves a unique purpose, and without their contribution to the whole, the bridge will not have the strength needed to endure. Therefore, we must strive to treat one another with respect, celebrating the diversity of our membership while drawing strength from the universality of those drawn to our profession. We must also demonstrate humility, recognizing that each of us is just one part of this amazing organization.
While a bridge must be strong, it also must be flexible enough to adapt to changing environments. In this way, we can position ourselves and our organization to address the changing needs of the individuals, populations, and communities we serve.
A bridge must engender a sense of security. You want to feel safe when crossing a bridge! Therefore, we must strive for an environment in which all feel safe and protected, allowed to have a voice. We must ensure the safety of one another. This means each of us needs to not only speak of our values, but live them.
Finally, a bridge should be maintained so that it can continue to serve its purpose and endure. Each of us must continually renew our commitment to this organization and the role we have to play in its maintenance. We must maintain TCNS by nurturing existing relationships while forging new ones. As members of this organization, we need to identify new ways to strengthen our own through mentorship, friendship, and support. As ambassadors for this organization, each of us has a responsibility to promote TCNS in our workplaces and the organizations in which we participate – healthcare organizations, universities, community agencies, and other professional organizations.
This new year brings with it the opportunity for each of us to start anew and resolve to make this 51st year of TCNS even better than those that came before. I would like to leave you with the following resolutions that I hope you will consider adopting as your own:
As members of TCNS, we resolve to:
• Remember that each of us are the materials from which the TCNS bridge is built!
• Celebrate the uniqueness of each member by respecting individual differences and promoting common interests.
• Embrace freedom and openness by working to create an environment that is safe and affirming, one that nurtures independent thinking and the free and open expression of ideas.
• Practice civility by extending to those we meet the same respect, cooperation, and caring that we expect from others.
• Promote justice by working to build an organization that offers everyone an equal opportunity to grow, flourish, and contribute.
• Seek integrity by aspiring to the highest moral and ethical standards.
• Strive for excellence by doing your part to support TCNS in achieving the fullest potential of our organization.
Rebecca C. Lee, PhD, MSN, RN, PHCNS-BC, CTN-A, FTNSS, FNAP
*The text is not the final, published version of the President's Message. The published version can be accessed at the Sage Journals website, Journal of Transcultural Nursing: https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10.1177/10436596241301455.