Enlightened Reading: Books that Inspired AACN President

AACN President Dave Hanson has selected his NTI President’s Picks: four books that have inspired him throughout the year:

Synergy: The Unique Relationship Between Nurses and Patients

By Martha A.Q. Curley, past chair, AACN Certification Corporation

This book by one of the originators and the foremost expert on the AACN Synergy Model for Patient Care offers a practical and intuitive framework that will resonate with nurses from varying subspecialties, levels of expertise and roles. The Synergy Model resonates with clinicians because it describes what nurses do based on the primacy of patients and optimal nurse-patient relationships.

Note: Curley will be joined by some of her co-authors at a book signing outside the AACN Bookstore in the Resource Center. The book signing is scheduled from 1 to 2 p.m. Wednesday.

The Art of Power

By Thich Nhat Hanh

In this book, world-renowned Buddhist monk Thich Nhat Hanh offers a surprising and radical new understanding of how we attain true power. He teaches us that true power comes from within and that what we seek we already have. With colorful anecdotes, precise language and concrete practices, this book will have an important and lasting legacy on how we understand our culture and choose to live our lives.

Influencer: The Power to Change Anything

By Kerry Patterson, Joseph Grenny, David Maxfield, Ron McMillan, Al Switzler

This book shows readers how to create rapid, dramatic and long-lasting change by implementing proven-influence strategies. You will learn how to motivate and enable the right behaviors — not just alter processes, technology or organizational structure. Influencer provides the knowledge to successfully pinpoint and affect six sources of influence – values, skills, support, teamwork, incentives and the environment – to achieve profound results and solve even the most resistant problems.

Note: Co-author Ron McMillan is the Tuesday General Session keynote speaker. He will be available to sign copies of this book outside the AACN Bookstore in the Resource Center. The book signing is scheduled from 11 a.m. to noon Tuesday.

The Power of a Positive No

By William Ury

This book provides a simple, three-step method for saying a “positive no.” It will show you how to assert and defend your key interests; how to make your “no” firm and strong; how to resist the other side’s aggression and manipulation; and how to do all this while still arriving at a “yes.” In the end, the “positive no” will help you get to not just any “yes” but to the right “yes,” the one that truly serves your interests. Based on William Ury’s celebrated Harvard University course for managers and professionals, The Power of a Positive No offers concrete advice and practical examples to say “no” respectfully and effectively in virtually any situation.