ONS Connect - May 2008 - (Page 14)

Sellers decided to apply for LDI because of the encouragement of her mentor. in LDI allowed me to clearly see the direction I wanted to go and to steer my career down that road.” Sellers says that LDI spoke to persistence and that never giving up was her personal take-away. “I actually applied for the first LDI class and was not accepted. Of course, I was disappointed, but it worked out better for my personal life at that time. I applied the next year and was happy to be accepted! “It also helped me to understand the need for strategic thinking,” Sellers says. “In all my actions, I try to view everything from the bigger picture; for me, this coming together with a purpose of advancing one’s profession while advancing oneself is truly empowering.” find the leader in You Do you have the courage to look inside and bring out the leader in you? Do you have a great idea, but are unsure of how to bring about the change? Do you find yourself searching for a better way to practice or advance your career? LDI may be your answer to finding the leader in you. “Participating in LDI is the best thing I ever did,” Sellers says. “I would not be where I am today without this experience. How do you thank those who have brought you so far and allowed you to believe you did it on your own? I try to live the LDI experience each day.” ✱ Stengel, A.D., & Nevidjon, B. (n.d.). Introduction (pp. 2–6). In Oncology Nursing Society/ONS Foundation Leadership Development Institute: A decade of success stories. Pittsburgh, PA: Oncology Nursing Society. “Participating in LDI is the best thing I ever did. I would not be where I am today without this experience.” dardized chemotherapy teaching folder, which was created to meet the needs of patients beginning the journey through chemotherapy. Because of the success of Anders’ LDI project, her institution created a new clinical educator position for her. personal Transformation Another core element of the LDI program is maximizing the personal development of nurses as individuals. Leadership can be taught, but transforming a person into a leader is a mat14 ONS CONNECT ter of personal development (Stengel & Nevidjon, n.d.). “Personally, LDI gave me a reason to become excited about making a difference; it gave me the tools required to initiate change effectively and with the least amount of disruption,” Anders says. “It helped me to look beyond thinking that ‘we always do it this way’ and to tackle a huge problem with safety adherence in our setting with self-confidence and vision for change. I learned things about myself, including my true calling as an educator. Participation Contributing Editor Michele E. Gaguski, MSN, RN, AOCN®, CHPN, APN-C, is an oncology clinical nurse specialist in oncology services at Ocean Medical Center in Brick, NJ. MAY 2008

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ONS Connect - May 2008 Contents Editor's Note Just In ONS Leadership Development Institute A Year in the Life - Month Five Web Content Capitol Connection Notice Nursing Now Caregiver Care Put Evidence Into Practice to Prevent and Manage Constipation in Patients With Cancer Giant Database Allows Scientists to Share Information Calendar of Events Working for You Staying on Top

ONS Connect - May 2008

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