Thank you, Patricia Moccia. (former chief executive officer of National League for Nursing)(Editorial)

The official announcement that Dr. Patricia Moccia was no longer chief executive officer (CEO) of the National League for Nursing was released in mid-January. That press release listed accomplishments that occurred during her tenure. What the press release couldn't do, but what this editorial does, is acknowledge two forces that motivated Patricia Moccia during her tenure with the National League for Nursing: her love of the NLN and her belief in leading by example.

I don't know when or why Patricia committed her self to the National League for Nursing. When I began working closely with her, that commitment was already there. She expressed it when she talked about the members and the potential of the NLN. She expressed it with behaviors such as learning and remembering names of those active in the organization. At meetings, she could walk through a room and greet people by, name and talk with them about issues significant to them.

She also expressed her love for the organization in ways that upset people. For example, when the Board of the National League for Health Care (for those of you not familiar with that entity, it was a holding company created by the NLN to foster profit-making programs) attempted to give itself control over the hinds and governance of the NLN, Patricia fought them. She was a lone voice with that board, crying, "You can't do that!!" and citing the by laws. Some members of that board wanted her fired because she would nor do what they said. She was willing to be fired rather than fall into line and allow that board to take control of the resources of the National League for Nursing. Despite being called hysterical, Stubborn, and insubordinate, she fought for the rights of the National League for Nursing and the authority of the NLN Board. She won that battle for the NLN.

Her commitment to the organization was also evident when, in the first months of her tenure as COO/CEO, she was faced with reducing staff to curtail operating expenses ...