Fostering Recruitment and Retention Through a Book Club Strategy

Friday, 26 July 2019: 10:20 AM

Barbara Tarnowski, MN, RN1
Carol Wild, MScN, RN2
Colleen Maykut, DNP, RN3
Christine Shumka, MN, RN1
(1)Department of Nursing Science, MacEwan University - Faculty of Nursing, Edmonton, AB, Canada
(2)Alberta Health Services, Ponoka, AB, Canada
(3)Department of Nursing Science, MacEwan University, Edmonton, AB, Canada

Honour societies may be likened to a community of practice, where a group of individuals come together to promote discourse for the purpose of transforming work culture and practice by challenging assumptions and beliefs, fostering belonging and shared journeys (hooks, 1994), and supporting growth as a professional (Benner, 2001; Lave & Wenger, 1991; Wenger, 1998). Communities of practice (CoP) require ongoing commitment in developing relationships, designing meaningful learning, and creating innovation in work places. Although there is much interest in joining honour societies, once applicants have joined, the issue becomes one of retention. Membership renewal rates for Sigma Theta Tau International (STTI) average approximately 70% (Sigma, 2018) and reasons for continuing membership vary (Hopkins et al., 2016). Chapters must be creative and innovative to address the diverse needs of their members to ensure growth in membership. Therefore, honour societies must be intentional in utilizing strategies to foster both recruitment and retention, recognizing the importance of creating and supporting a CoP that promotes excellence in scholarship, education, and/or service.

Book clubs have been shown to be one educational strategy that may appeal to members and potential members in that they provide a safe, social forum for the exploration and discussion of issues relevant to nurses (Álvarez-Álvarez, 2016; Gillespie, Pritchard, Bankston, Burno, & Glazer, 2017; Kilham & Griffiths, 2017; Stephenson et al., 2014). Nurses must navigate an ambiguous healthcare environment while responding effectively and efficiently to ever increasing complexity in health needs for individuals from diverse backgrounds. Through the reading of books, participants gain new knowledge by reading about cultures, contexts, and situations different than their own (Álvarez-Álvarez, 2016; Gillespie et al., 2017; Kilham & Griffiths, 2017) and reflect on what they have read to examine their own values and beliefs. Narratives help situate who we are in the world and thus provide clarity for interpreting and responding to the other’s life phenomena (not limited to: trauma, resilience, joy, and vulnerability) as a basis for ongoing learning about one’s self, and for nurses as professionals (Benner, 2001). Ironside (2014) suggests narratives create ontological space - “the possibility to jointly explore their experiences such that new understandings emerge for all” (p. 217) which may foster transformational thinking for practice in a communal group of like-minded individuals (Ironside, 2006). It is this critical discourse that promotes uncovering of multiple perspectives and perhaps transcendent thinking to enhance future thinking and revisioning of the world - nursing practice. In a book club, the individual insights and perspectives garnered from reading the book are expanded and strengthened through the dialogue, sharing, and exchange of perceptions (Álvarez-Álvarez, 2016; Gillespie et al., 2017; Kilham & Griffiths, 2017), which is a vital first step when engaging in analyzing the text. Engaging in critical literacy to analyze such concepts as power, inequities, and deficits in moral and social justice are crucial concepts for understanding individual’s beliefs, values, and assumptions (Bishop, 2014; Comber, 2015; Morrell, 2017). Furthermore, global factors shape every aspect of the 21st century life and if we are to develop criticality and leadership models that reflect this pervasive impact of globalization (Williamson, 2018), strategies such as book clubs can be utilized to promote discourse within CoP to realize and embody critical literacy.

A sense of community is also formed or strengthened as book clubs provide the opportunity for people to meet and network in a social context with a common purpose to discuss their various viewpoints and perceptions (Kilham & Griffiths, 2017; Stephenson et al., 2014). Audiences tend to prefer the more informal atmosphere of a book club as a safe, inviting space for exchange and debate over formal educational activities (Doolittle & Talwalkar, 2015; Stephenson et al., 2014).

Sigma Chi Nu Chapter chose a book club strategy as part of an ongoing commitment to not only recruit and retain members but to foster meaningful learning and belonging as a larger community. Specific outcomes included: facilitating voice for local authors; focusing on issues topical to nursing that included identification of sociopolitical structures of oppression to foster peace and power; indirect service to community organizations; and finally, transforming of self through multiple ways of knowing to influence becoming. Overall goals for participants were twofold: (1) to continually grow and learn about one’s beliefs and assumptions related to themes found in the book and (2) to facilitate engagement and critical literacy, with the overarching intent to encourage professional development with respect to “cultural safety” (Browne et al., 2009; Crenshaw, 1989). The book club event has been hosted by the Chapter annually, using the occasion to celebrate National Nurses Week by hosting a dinner that provided an opportunity to network, converse with the author, learn and discuss issues arising from the books enlightened by invited topic experts. Authors and books were intentionally selected with a general theme of health and applicability to nursing practice. Five book club evenings have been held, with a range of themes including immigration and midwifery, colonization, aboriginal culture, truth and reconciliation, Down syndrome, inclusion and reproductive rights, publication and authorship, nurses as main characters in novels, and safety in healthcare. Book authors, topic experts, chapter members, faculty, students, and the general public have attended the events. Some participants joined the Chapter as a result of attending the book club. More than one member remained in the Chapter for several years, and one was involved in organizing subsequent book club events. Although the content/theme of the book club events may have begun as a local priority, global implications for adopting a book club as a strategy are evident. We believe a book club event has the potential to transform societal perspectives on a number of emergent and critical themes by creating a CoP to enhance professional development of nurses to envision a brighter future for society.