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Nursing Resource Centers Module
1. Define Your Mission
Begin by defining your mission and detailing your goals. A mission statement can be a very strong motivational statement for staff, will help keep you on track, and can become a strong marketing tool you can use to help publicize your Center later on. More than half of AIHA’s established NRCs possess a written mission statement. To get a better feel for what a mission statement is, read these examples:- Corporate: "To make people happy." (Disney)
- Non-profit: "The American Red Cross, a humanitarian organization led by volunteers and guided by its Congressional Charter and the Fundamental Principles of the International Red Cross Movement, will provide relief to victims of disasters and help people prevent, prepare for, and respond to emergencies." (American Red Cross)
- Educational institution: "The mission of the University of Cambridge is to contribute to society through the pursuit of education, learning, and research at the highest international levels of excellence." (University of Cambridge)
Here are some tips to follow when creating your own mission statement:
- Choose One Theme. The theme should be easy to understand, non-controversial and translate into behavior that can gain support.
- Use Action Words. Carefully choose words such as “strengthen,” “contribute” and “support” in your mission statement. These action words can help demonstrate the benefits of what you are doing, not simply describe the program.
- Focus on a Few Key Attributes. Try to keep your mission statement brief, no longer than a few sentences, shorter if possible. Trying to include too many details may weaken your mission statement.
- Don't Rush the Process. Creating a mission statement may take some time. Be sensitive to the process as well as the end result. Write out several versions of your statement and request feedback from stakeholders.
