Strategic Plan and Initiatives

Illinois Coalition for Nursing Resources
Strategic Plan 2010

Strategic Planning Process
The Strategic Plan is based on four Strategic Areas:

• Policy and Advocacy
• Image
• Strategic Alliances
• Perpetuity

Each year the Board of Directors of the Illinois Coalition for Nursing Resources reviews accomplishments of the previous year, updates the organization’s strategic plan, and develops a targeted plan for the next year.  This annual list of goals, objectives and actions needed to meet the annual goals is then approved by the membership and serves as the guidebook for organization activities during the year, and as the benchmark for reviewing organization accomplishments at the end of the year.  All planned activities must be directed toward fulfillment of the ICNR mission and vision.

Strategic Plan 2010
2010 marks the tenth birthday of the Illinois Coalition for Nursing Resources (ICNR).  ICNR has evolved over the last ten years from an entity addressing the nursing shortage in Illinois to a coalition addressing many nursing issues.  Since its inception ICNR has been an alliance of nurse leaders, educators, staff and advanced practice nurses, nursing organizations, hospitals and other employers and providers, state and government entities, and other interested and committed people and organizations from across Illinois.  Because of its membership and makeup, it is in a unique position to  provide a nursing forum (both virtual and live) for meaningful dialogue, exchange of information, and collaboration to assure the people of Illinois have access to nursing resources needed to meet their healthcare needs.

More recently, specifically since the State Legislature created the Illinois Center for Nursing and provided funding for that entity, the ICNR has moved toward providing a “safe haven” for open discussion of professional issues for nurses and others who wish to express their opinions freely and learn about differing views from others.

ICNR members invite both members and others to come to the membership meetings to provide information and innovative initiatives to those from other geographic areas of the state.  Ideas are discussed and revised for specific application designed to address challenges for different populations of nurses and patients.

Besides provision of information, ICNR meetings include specific topics or issues to be discussed, debated, and negotiated among our members.

The Board of Directors recognizes this metamorphosis of purpose and vision and is proposing the Strategic Plan for 2010 be one of Transition.  The Board is recommending 2010 be a year of transition of structure, purpose and definition in order to provide thoughtful development of a Coalition that can continue to serve its members for these purposes in the most effective way possible. 

Therefore, the Board is proposing that the membership adopt a new mission statement as stated below and that we continue to develop a revised vision statement over the next year.  The Board will also keep the same committee structure for now but will examine and evaluate the entire organization structure in 2010.  The Board will develop this new structure with continuous input from the membership and will develop quality improvement indicators, initiatives, and evaluations to guide their efforts.

Mission (proposed) and 2010 Primary Goal
Provide a unique forum to promote collaboration and dialogue among nurse educators, practitioners and leaders to advance the profession of nursing and meet the health care needs of the people in Illinois.

 The Board of Directors will be responsible for oversight of committee activities and the administration of the Coalition and operational policies required to meet the primary goal for 2010.
Specific goals for 2010 include:

1. Ensure a process and clarification of management oversight that will include a job description for the Executive Director
2. Maintain the vitality and viability of the Association through engaged membership and sound financial goals and planning. 
3. Review the Committee structure
4. Review and evaluate the current operational structure
5. Provide a forum for all to engage in healthcare discussions and issues.

Activities/ suggestions to attain the restructuring goals may include:

1. Put more structure in activities of the Committees
2. Evaluate the need for some Committees that have minimum function and /or combine committees with overlapping function.
3. Create an annual calendar of meetings and programs.
4. Set up in advance general topics for the 4 membership meetings.
5. Discuss doing webinars in lieu of in-person programs.
6. Hold programs on the same day as meetings and charge for the program or build programs into the membership meeting agenda and increase membership dues.
7. Develop and provide formal orientation to Board members in order to clarify their duties.
8. Develop a marketing plan for Coalition sustainability and growth.
9. Continue best practices developed in 2009 including:

a. Consensus agenda for efficiency
b. CEs at meetings when appropriate
c. Forum at each meeting…major nursing issues discussed
d. Conduct member evaluations of each meeting.

 Strategic Area: Policy and Advocacy
The Policy and Advocacy Committee provides information and opportunities for value -added discussion on key legislative and policy initiatives that have potential impact on nurses and nursing resources. The committee addresses these issues in the context of recognizing the partnership and voices of education and practice.
Ongoing Activities for this strategic area:

• Identify and communicate key policy issues to the membership.  
• Elicit feedback and provide comment by ICNR membership to pertinent policy statements and legislative initiative of other appropriate groups.
• Enhance the ICNR members’ understanding of Illinois’ regulatory and legislative process.
• Support the individuals’ accountability by expanding awareness of and involvement in regulatory, practice and professional initiatives throughout Illinois.

Strategic Area: Image
The Image Committee is working on image improvement for both clinical and academic nursing professions/ positions and recruitment and retention efforts to attract people to nursing.
Ongoing Activities for this strategic area:

• Support innovative best practice recruitment and retention activities in order to keep our valuable nursing resources. 
• Promote quality initiatives that raise awareness of gender, ethnicity, diversity and workplace issues in an ever-changing health care environment.
• Work with the Perpetuity Committee to continue to develop an ICNR series of programs on the Image of Nursing

Strategic Area: Strategic Alliances
The Strategic Alliances Committee promotes and maintains the ICNR as a forum for nursing dialogue, exchange of information and collaboration in order to provide a unique opportunity for exploration and learning about issues that affect nursing resources for Illinois.  This committee works to improve both internal ICNR communication and communication with the public.
Ongoing Activities for this strategic area:

• Continuously raise awareness through internal and external communication methods for the purpose of providing a Forum that improves sharing of information throughout Illinois regarding current and future trends in healthcare.
• Maintain a relevant, dynamic, vibrant website (www.ic4nr.org) with the provision of relevant information, issues, discussions, data, and links to key state agencies.
• Disseminate timely communications to membership with the intention of informing, and educating members about factors that affect nursing in Illinois.

Strategic Area: Perpetuity
The Perpetuity Committee supports the goals and objectives of ICNR by developing resources for operations support, increasing membership numbers, and advancing membership engagement in the organization.
Ongoing Activities for this strategic area: