Voting for the NACNS 2021 Board of Directors election is open now through November 30, 2020. With the positions of President-Elect, Secretary/Treasurer, Board of Directors, and Nominating Committee up for election, you don’t want to miss out on your chance to cast your vote.
Tolearn more about the Board of Directors candidates, read this Q&A about who they are and why they want your vote. You can learn more about the duties of this position here.
Click the link at the bottom of the page to cast your vote.
Sarah Andrews, ANCS-BC, ANVP-BC, MSN, RN, SCRN, PCCN-K, CMSRN (TX)
Please introduce yourself and briefly explain your work as a CNS.
Thank you for the opportunity to introduce myself. I am a mom, sister, daughter, wife, friend, and nurse. Since graduating as a Registered Nurse (RN) in the United Kingdom in 1997, I have had the privilege of traveling the world and working as an RN in many other countries. My experiences have allowed me to see life through the lens of others. The three spheres of influence provide a framework in which I have successfully developed multiple disease-specific programs in various clinical settings over the last 10 years. As a Clinical Nurse Specialist (CNS), I currently serve as the Brain and Stroke Program Coordinator within an Acute Inpatient Rehabilitation Hospital.
What do you plan to bring to NACNS as a Board Director?
With a zest for life and a passion for nursing, I will bring energy, dedication, and creativity to the NACNS. We find ourselves in a challenging time, in a headwind, that may be a distraction. My absolute and steadfast belief is that if we lean into these times, more extraordinary opportunities are ahead. More than ever, it is critical for us as a professional body to refocus our energy on what the CNS offers without sacrificing our professional identity and supporting our CNS students in their journey. The resurgence of the CNS could not have come at a more appropriate time, and I am excited to help shape tomorrow.
Jennifer Manning, DNS, ACNS-BC, CNE (LA)
Please introduce yourself and briefly explain your work as a CNS.
Hello everyone! My name is Jennifer M. Manning DNS, ACNS-BC, CNE. I work in both academic and practice roles as a proud CNS. In the academic setting, I serve as the Associate Dean for Undergraduate Nursing Programs at Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center School of Nursing (LSUHSC SON) in New Orleans, LA. I teach and precept CNS students at LSUHSC SON. In the practice setting, I work as a Nurse Researcher at East Jefferson General Hospital. I have served as a board member for the Louisiana State Board of Nursing since 2018. I have been a member of NACNS since 2007, a member of the Research, Evidence-Based Practice, and Scholarship Committee since 2016, and am the current co-chair of this Committee.
What motivated you to run for Board Director of NACNS?
I was motivated to run for the Board Director position because I am passionate about my role as a CNS and feel I can successfully serve at the national level. My philosophy is that CNSs are critical to the success of healthcare organizations. I want to increase the awareness and value of the CNS, enable excellence in the profession, and position CNSs to practice within the full scope of their training.
Cherrie Pullium, DNP, APRN, ACNS-BC (TX)
Please introduce yourself and briefly explain your work as a CNS.
Howdy (it’s a Texas A & M thing!). I’m Cherrie Pullium, and I’ve been an adult CNS since 2005. I have been a graduate nursing faculty member at Texas A & M since 2015 and keep my CNS practice current as a volunteer primary care provider one day a week in our local free clinic and make weekly rounds in two local LTC facilities.
What do you plan to bring to NACNS as Board Director?
As a Board Director of NACNS, I will bring an open mind, a willing spirit, and many years of leadership experience. And if you are at all familiar with the StrengthsFinder assessment, I’m a Woo. I will bring that talent along as well.
Traci Smith, DNP, APRN, ACCNS-AG, CCRN (GA)
Please introduce yourself and briefly explain your work as a CNS.
Greetings from Atlanta, Georgia; my name is Traci Smith, and I hope to serve as a member of the NACNS Board of Directors at Large. I have been a CNS member since 2017, focusing on critical care and cardiac services for an 11-hospital system.
What motivated you to run for Board Director of NACNS?
I have been engaged as a member of the Georgia affiliate, serving as the social media manager, and most recently, treasurer-elect. I wanted to become more involved at the national level and had the privilege to serve as part of the NACNS Nominations Committee for 2018-2020, acting as co-chair of the Committee. Following my term, I wanted to remain actively engaged within the organization and believe that the Board of Directors would be the next step.
Jeri Tidwell, Ph.D., RN, PNP-BC, PCNS-BC, FNCSI (TX)
Please introduce yourself and briefly explain your work as a CNS.
I am currently a CNS at one of the most prestigious pediatric health care systems in the country. I have been a CNSfor approximately 20 years and a member of NACNS for 13 years. In that time, I have served as an abstract reviewer, conference moderator, Practice Committee Member and Chair (six years) and a past volunteer on the NACNS FALS Crosswalk Taskforce, and a contributor of the CNS toolkit. I was instrumental in the reinstitution of the CNS role at my current organization. I have worked as a CNS preceptor, a CNS Manager, and as a CNS at the unit and organizational level. This year, I was inducted as a CNSI Fellow, and I currently co-chair the NACNS website and ListServ committees.
What motivated you to run for Board Director of NACNS?
I believe it is important that CNSs at the local, state, and national level work collectively to disseminate the value of our expertise. I was inspired to run for the Board of Directors by the courage, success, and dynamic leadership of the past CNS leaders and scholars in NACNS. I have been privileged to work collaboratively with incredible CNSs, each sparking my impetus to seek this opportunity.