NP Lhamo Dolkar

As I round out my presidency this spring, I am filled with the overwhelming sensation that I’ve lived several lives (at times exhausting but always fulfilling) over the last two years. I am grateful for each and every experience that has impacted me personally and professionally.

I have spent a lot of time lately thinking about equity, diversity and inclusion (EDI). About how important these concepts are, and how we, as nurses, cannot be bystanders when it comes to EDI and the pursuit of fairness and justice.

It is such an honour to be president during RNAO’s 100th anniversary year. I admire the women who, a century ago, had the vision and courage to lay the foundation for a professional nursing association. It was an idea fuelled by passion and backed by motivation to grow the profession.

As I reach the three-quarter mark of my first year as your president, I want to share what an absolute privilege and honour it has been to meet and engage with members. 

In my first formal message as your president, I feel an overwhelming sense of pride as I am writing to fellow RNAO members. I am honoured and I am in awe of my responsibility to represent almost 52,000 RNs, NPs and nursing students. I was nervous when I approached the podium back in June for my first official presidential address.