Renewal Nurse Network (RN²)
An Applied Professional Society — By Nurses, For Nurses
A Successful Launch in the San Francisco Bay Area
In an effort to expand the reach of its successful Integrated Nurse Leadership Program, the Center for the Health Professions developed the Regional Nurse Network (RN²) in San Francisco in 2007. The network’s mission is to create a place where nurses can advance their knowledge about leadership, organizational savvy, power, and influence in order to become more effective health care agents. Interest from nurses across the country in setting up their own RN² sparked the development in 2009 of the Renewal Nurse Network; a franchise-model that allows interested individuals to set up their own regionally-based nurse networks.
Developing Management and Leadership Skills
Quarterly Workshops Engage Nurses in Necessary Skill Development
To date, RN² has focused its efforts on reaching nurses through workshops designed to develop nurse professionalism, confidence, and leadership. RN² in California has hosted quarterly workshops, each one combining didactic and interactive sessions, on the following topics:
- Unleashing the Joy of Professionalism
- How to Influence and Engage Difficult Co-Workers & Professional Development
- What Makes a Great Leader…Knowing Your Blind Spots
- Creating Change from Within: Mentoring for the Professional Nurse
- Get More Meaning from Your Work, Reclaim your Mojo!
- Ending Nurse to Nurse Hostility; Creating a Healthy Supportive Culture
- Practical Negotiation Skills for Improved Patient Care
- Situational Leadership: Simple Strategies for Maximizing Your Day-to-Day Leadership Abilities
- Pushing Change from Where You Stand: Learning to Influence Those Around You
- How to Lead and Influence in an Uncertain World
- Embracing Diversity: Why should I? How would I?
Satisfying Pent-up Demand for Skills Building and Networking
High Meeting Attendance and Positive Feedback Propel Growth of RN²
On the power of word-of-mouth alone, RN² of the Bay Area has grown rapidly and steadily from 88 initial members at the first conference in March 2007 to over 3,200 members as of September 2009. Equally impressive is the number of repeat attendees and the positive feedback from attendees.
Feedback from Attendees
I am getting a real sense of community - a place to network and draw on others experiences to be a better nurse.
Like the thought of nurses networking finally!
This network is very highly recommended to all nurses.
I am a first time attendee. Your program was excellent! It will help me to challenge myself and to move forward.
More Than Just a Name…
Starting a Local RN² Chapter Comes with Tremendous Benefits and Support
Starting your local chapter of RN² is easy—we give you the tools, resources and support you need to make your chapter a success. Your chapter will benefit from the experience and expertise of the Regional Nurse Network and will receive all of the following:
- “Start-up” Tool kit to enable you to grow a Renewal Nurse Network™ in your area
- Presentations for each sessions with customizable curricula to address specific needs and issues in your region
- Workbooks and exercises for each session
- Founder Julie Kliger will present at opening session, workshop #1 (includes honorarium, travel, lodging, out of pocket expenses)
- Talking and teaching points for each session
- Pre and Post Evaluation forms
- Newsletters and announcements about activities going on in the “Network”
- Ongoing telephone and email support
- “Lapel” pins indicating membership in RN² (available after attending 3 workshops)
- Feedback from other RN² members all across the country
Taking RN² to the Next Level
Strengthening the Network through Additional Opportunities to Connect
In addition to quarterly workshops, the Renewal Nurse Network offers its affiliates opportunities to strengthen the network through a series of initiatives designed to increase the ease of communication and networking among members.
- Hospital-based Mini Networks: Designed to augment the regional network, individual hospital networks will give nurses a ready source of support and help encourage change organization-wide. The Renewal Nurse Network will help individual hospitals develop their own networks by providing training and tools to nurses who wish to establish their own networks.
- Mentoring Program: The Renewal Nurse Network is establishing a mentor program to assist new nurses in developing their professional and leadership skills. The mentor program will try to connect new nurses with experienced nurses at different organizations in order to continue to strengthen the network.
- Online Peer Support and Communication: Building from its Facebook page and Twitter site, RN² intends to extend its online presence with a dedicated website for its members. This new website will host forum discussions, Q&A pages, and skill development resources.
The Vision
Expanding RN2 Across the Country
The vision is to have a network of regional nurse networks across the country. Each region will shape its RN2 to meet the needs of its nursing community, while all regions will have the opportunity to learn from the successes of networks throughout the country.