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The
Kentucky Nurses' Association (KNA) and the Kentucky Nurses
Foundation (KNF) affirm the International Council of Nurses (ICN) "Vision
for the Future of Nursing" adopted by the ICN Board of
Directors in November 1998. The ICN vision encompasses nurses
of all nations unified and speaking with one voice that articulates
a mission for nursing to lead world societies toward better
health. Nurses act "as advocates for those we serve, and
for all the unserved, insisting that prevention, care and cure be
the right of every human being." To this end, nursing promotes
"healthy lifestyles, healthy workplaces, and healthy
communities" by supporting efforts to "mitigate poverty,
pollution, and other underlying causes of illness." Nursing education
must evolve to higher levels, ensuring broad provider competency
with the ability to assume policy roles that fully integrate and
utilize nursing within multidisciplinary health teams." Our
work is "guided by a common philosophy of nursing" a
commitment to caring in the fullest sense, being advocates for our
patients, helping people to help themselves, and doing for people
what they would do unaided if they had the necessary strength, will,
or knowledge." The KNA and KNF "Vision for the
Future of Nursing" translates and personalizes the ICN vision
for Kentucky nurses who devote their professional lives to the
health of the people of the commonwealth.
Kentucky nurses will speak with one
voice as advocates. They will collaborate with the public and
other health professionals, align their efforts and contribute their
expertise and strength in numbers to shape health care policy in the
Commonwealth. The Kentucky Nurses' Association and the
Kentucky Nurses Foundation shall assume leadership in unifying the
voice of Kentucky nurses in a cohesive consortium of both public and
private nursing organizations whose primary mission will be to lead
and support the citizens of the Commonwealth toward better
health. The nursing consortium shall propose and guide the implementation
of new care delivery models. Nurses will be self-governing,
independent providers having privileges in health care settings.
Nurses will be accountable and responsible for the independent
delivery of nursing care to individuals across the life span from
diverse cultures and in all health care settings.
Nurses will assume independent,
responsible, decision making policy roles in care delivery
environments to enhance patient advocacy effectiveness. Kentucky
nurses will work to assure citizen access to services that support
health promotion and disease prevention. Nurses will promote health education
for responsible self-care and guide citizens to current
evidence-based references and practices. All levels of nursing
education will support and prepare nurses with the competencies to
change and shape the health care environment to assure that citizens
achieve optimal health outcomes.
Kentucky will be active members of
their communities working to empower people to help themselves. They
will assume a political presence in their communities guided by a
common philosophy of nursing and a commitment to caring in the
fullest sense. A healthy workplace for all citizens, including
nurses, shall be promoted. The Kentucky Health Plan and Healthy
People 2010 shall guide the development of healthy communities. The
Kentucky Nurses Association and the Kentucky Nurses Foundation area
committed to assuring the at this articulated vision of nursing
becomes a reality.
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