Celebrating Clinical Nurse Specialist Week

CNS Friends & Colleagues,

On behalf of the Indiana Association of Clinical Nurse Specialists Board of Directors, we would like to wish you a very happy Clinical Nurse Specialist week!! We hope you have been able to spend time over this week reflecting on and receiving recognition for all of the exceptional work you do each and every day. As CNSs, you are the torchbearers of leading evidence-based practice, providing expert clinical consultation, advancing nursing practice, and optimizing organizational systems.

The theme for 2025's CNS week has been "Collaborate". CNSs are skilled collaborators in your ability to pull stakeholders around a shared vision, break down silos, and coordinate care. Thank you for your unwavering commitment to leading teams in evidence-based practice to ensure high-quality care is delivered to patients across Indiana. Your efforts are invaluable in ensuring the best outcomes for our communities.

Over the past year, with your help, IACNS has continued to focus on driving our 2024-2026 Strategic Plan forward. We have focused on fostering relationships both within our membership and beyond. We have connected members via structured networking at each of our business meetings this year. IACNS members volunteered at Gleaners Food Bank of Indiana in July where members helped to provide 4,190 meals. Additionally, IACNS has launched a Strengthening CNS Pathways Taskforce focusing four main priorities: (1) strengthening relationships with CNS programs in Indiana, (2) collaborating with practice partners, (3) exemplifying CNS value, (4) promoting CNS as an opportunity in nursing schools.

Thank you for your support as we continue to strengthen our connections with the CNS programs around the state, schools of nursing, and other nursing professional organizations. Together, we are making remarkable progress towards healthcare transformation and promoting public access to CNS services.

The call for 2025 IACNS Board of Director Nominations in now live. Each one of you has unique and valuable perspective we would love to have on our board as we strive to drive the mission, vision, and purpose of IACNS forward. Please consider nominating yourself or a colleague. Call for 2026 IACNS Board Member Nominations | The Indiana Association of Clinical Nurse Specialists | Nursing Network

The IACNS Conference Planning Committee has also been working hard to plan our annual conference, titled "Building Bridges: Fostering Meaningful Relationships for Collaborative Growth." Registration is now open! Please share the save the date, registration link, and encourage your colleagues to attend. The link to register is: IACNS 2025 Annual Conference - Building Bridges: Fostering Meaningful Relationships for Collaborative Growth | The Indiana Association of Clinical Nurse Specialists | Nursing Network

With Celebration and Gratitude,

Your IACNS Board

Megan, Laura, Alyson, Brooke, Haley, Mechelle, Alicia, Erin, Kristin, & Shannon