Press Room

Five Clinical Nurse Specialists Elected To NACNS Leadership

Will Help Lead “Resurgence Of The CNS” For 89,000 Clinical Nurse Specialists

RESTON, VA – February 2, 2021 – The National Association of Clinical Nurse Specialists (NACNS) announced the election of its President-Elect, Secretary/Treasurer and three members of the Board of Directors today.  The NACNS’s mission is to advance and support the unique expertise and value the clinical nurse specialist (CNS) contributes to health care in the United States.

These new leaders of the national nursing association will officially assume their duties representing the 89,000 clinical nurse specialists in United States at the NACNS annual conference scheduled for March 9-11, 2021.  The conference theme is “The Resurgence of the CNS” recognizing the increasing number of nurses becoming CNSs helping the CNS role to become one of the fastest growing of the four Advanced Practice Registered Nurse (APRN) designations.

“We are in the middle of a resurgence of the CNS role in health care as we near the milestone 100,000 mark for the number of CNSs in the United States. Outstanding leadership is needed to manage an organization like NACNS and continue its growth,” said Sean M. Reed, PhD, APN, ACNS-BC, ACHPN, NACNS President.  After a competitive membership-wide election, I’m confident we’ve elected the right people to NACNS leadership roles and I’m looking forward to working with them.”

About NACNS’ New Leaders

Newly elected leadership include:

  • President-elect

Phyllis Whitehead, PhD, APRN, ACHPN, RN-BC, Clinical Nurse Specialist, Palliative Medicine/Pain Management, Carilion Roanoke Memorial Hospital; Associate Professor, Virginia Tech Carilion School of Medicine, Virginia

  • Secretary/Treasurer

Linda Thurby-Hay, DNP, APRN, ACNS-BC, ADM, CDE Adult Health Clinical Nurse Specialist, Bon Secours Mercy Health System, Richmond, Virginia

  • Members of the Board of Directors

Jennifer Manning, DNS, ACNS-BC, CNE Nurse Researcher at East Jefferson General Hospital, Louisiana, Associate Dean for Undergraduate Nursing Programs at Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center School of Nursing, Louisiana

Traci Smith, DNP, APRN, ACCNS-AG, CCRN Clinical Nurse Specialist for Critical Care and Cardiac Services, Wellstar Health System, Georgia

Jeri Tidwell, Ph.D., RN, PNP-BC, PCNS-BC, FNCSI Clinical Nurse Specialist at Children’s Medical Center, Texas

About The National Association of Clinical Nurse Specialists

The National Association of Clinical Nurse Specialists (NACNS) is the only national association representing the clinical nurse specialist (CNS). CNSs are the most versatile advanced practice registered nurses and work in a variety of health care specialties to ensure delivery of high-quality, evidence-based, patient-centered care. As leaders in the acute, post-acute, and ambulatory health care settings, CNSs impact direct patient care, nurses and nursing practice, and organizations and systems to optimize care and drive outstanding clinical outcomes. NACNS is dedicated to advancing CNS practice and education, and removing unnecessary and limiting regulatory barriers, while assuring public access to quality CNS services. For more information or to join NACNS click here.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *