Taskforce members: Karin Lightfoot, Ron Norby, Mary Lopez, and Mary Wickman

CACN's mission, vision, and values reflect the principles that guide the organization. Created and embraced by nurse academic leaders, these principles are the foundation for the work we do today. They provide purpose and direction in shaping and informing the future of baccalaureate, master’s, and doctoral-level nursing practice in California.

Mission

Advance innovation, advocacy, and excellence in nursing education and practice.

Vision

Foster implementation of evidence-based, transformational nursing education programs throughout California.

Values

• Leadership
• Providing leadership in supporting evidence-based, transformational nursing education statewide and addressing challenges in achieving this vision.
• Advocacy
• Serving as the voice of California baccalaureate and graduate nursing education
• Innovation
• Fostering innovation in nursing education and academic best practices
• Diversity
• Fostering involvement of individuals with diverse backgrounds in all organizational activities.
• Inclusivity
• Providing a fair and equitable organizational environment where all individuals are valued and respected
• Integrity
• Upholding the trust that CACN, as an organization, upholds the highest standards for nursing education
• Compassion
• Modeling compassion in all interactions by engaging in authentic, caring relationships
• Collaboration
• Working together with other organizations in shaping and informing the present and future state of nursing education in California

Goals

Increase the number of baccalaureate-, master's- and doctorally-prepared nurses in California

• Analyze data on barriers to expanding nursing programs
• Support expanded enrollment in doctoral programs for nurses
• Advocate for increasing the number of baccalaureate- and masters-prepared nurses in the workforce to 80%
• Advocate for competitive nursing faculty salaries
• Reduce clinical placement barriers
• Increase diversity within student cohorts by addressing disparities in student application acceptance

Improve nursing education through public advocacy and academic nurse leadership

• Raise awareness and highlight the impact of the current and projected nursing shortage
• Address barriers for increased diversity in the workforce, including in academia
• Aggressively advocate for greater investment in the California nursing workforce
• Advocate for academic-practice partnerships that value collaborative and innovative programs, such as joint appointments and greater access to preceptors
• Support federal funding to encourage nurses to pursue faculty careers and remove financial barriers to graduate nursing education
• Develop programs to encourage students and practicing nurses to consider roles in nursing education

Inform policy makers and health care stakeholders regarding the current state of nursing education, research, trends, and issues

• Serve as the leading information resource on trends and issues impacting academic nursing in California
• Support the assessment, development, and evaluation of the nursing education response to changing workforce needs and shortages
• Synthesize data from internal and external sources to advance evidence-based academic nursing
• Advocate for ensuring a diverse nursing workforce.
• Facilitate ongoing and effective communication and networking
  
• Develop collaborations among baccalaureate, masters, doctoral and associate degree nurse educators to address targeted issues/concerns.
• Formalize a mutually advantageous relationship between CACN and COADN that fosters collaboration and joint actions to promote nursing education and pathways for nursing students to seamlessly progress in their educational pursuits
• Engage nurse educators and nursing practice partners in ongoing dialogue to identify issues of mutual interest and address them
• Maintain active membership in the QUAD Council for the purpose of ongoing communication, involvement and networking with key state nursing organizations and legislative entities
• Ensure CACN representation at venues and meetings impacting nursing education.
• Develop and mentor the next generation of academic nurse leaders
  
• Foster programs that facilitate an increase in the diversity of academic faculty and nurse education leaders
• Generate appreciation of finding joy and meaning in the work of teaching and academic nurse leadership.
• Provide a safe venue for voicing challenges and questions during CACN meetings
• Provide an engaging, interactive platform to support formal and informal mentorships between new Deans/Directors and CACN members
• Disseminate information about formal mentorship programs offered by outside professional organizations