Do any of you have a windsock – you know - one of those cloth, cone shaped tubes mounted on a pole of some type which can indicate the direction of the wind as well as the speed? Like a windchime, windsocks are often dismissed as more of a home accessory or decoration than a necessary safety tool for some industries. But…did you know that airports use windsocks? Gauging the direction and force of the wind is a must for safety conscious airlines. Did you know oilfields, chemical plants, and construction sites also use windsocks for safety reasons? Identifying the direction and force of the wind in the event of a chemical spill, or in the use of top-heavy equipment, could save lives (Northern Safety Company, 2025).

In southern New Mexico, my previous state of residence, turning the calendar page to the month of March signaled time to prepare for “windy season.” Yes, windy season is a separate season of the year. Residents go on high alert because they know what could happen - severe sandstorms, closed roads, and multi-vehicle pile-ups on major highways. If not a significant safety risk, residents can be seen scouring neighborhoods in windy season in search of lost yard items and large plastic trash cans. Some are never found. I remember seeing trampolines launched against telephone poles, and backyard chairs strewn across roadways. We laugh at memes of a large tumbleweed being worn as a hat, but the reality of living in southern New Mexico is that windy season brings safety risks for a number of reasons. Those who realize this take precautions to protect life and property.

Have you ever thought about your life direction in terms of a windsock? Quite simply stated, if your life direction and lifeforce were designated by a windsock, which direction would it be blowing, and how much force would the wind have? As the winds of March continue to blow, I encourage you to use the Nursing Process (American Nurses Association, n.d) to, first, assess the direction of your life windsock. What direction is it blowing? Secondly, determine the meaning of that direction, ie identify the meaning of that direction, (the nursing diagnosis of the Nursing Process). Are you happy with the direction of your life’s windsock? Is your windsock blowing in a direction or with a force that signals danger for you ahead? Begin to think about a needed change. The next step is the very important planning process, the third step of the Nursing Process. This is where Smart Goals (objectives) (MindTools, 2025) come in. Plan wisely.

• SMART goals are Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-bound.
• They allow you to write goals that are clear, attainable and meaningful.
• Having clarity in your goal-setting provides the motivation and focus you need to be successful (MindTools, 2025, para 1).

Did you identify your windsock direction, that is, the meaning of the direction of your life and future at this point in time? Is a change of direction needed to avoid a problem down the road? How many of you noted in your plan that additional education is needed as part of your Smart Goals plan (MindTools, 2025)? The fourth step of the Nursing Process is implementation (ANA, n.d.) - time to take action on your plan. Ottawa University is here to help you achieve the change of direction needed through nursing education, be that an initial prelicensure BSN nursing degree, completion of your BSN (RN-BSN program), or the MSN (Master of Science in Nursing – Education or Leader tracks). Please contact us to and get started on changing the direction of your windsock!

References

American Nurses Association (n.d.). The nursing process. https://www.nursingworld.org/practice-policy/workforce/what-is-nursing/the-nursing-process/

MindTools (2025). Smart goals. https://www.mindtools.com/a4wo118/smart-goals

Northern Safety Company (2025). What are windsocks used for? Eight types of worksites where windsocks are necessary. https://www.northernsafety.com/News/Article/800939938/What-are-Windsocks-Used-For-Eight-Types-of-Worksites-Where-Windsocks-are-Necessary?srsltid=AfmBOor1c0b98GcME4ZUJC8qzkJ5lrinQ5taJSNzz0nMszuYLCPZX_fw