Voting for the NACNS 2021 Board of Directors election is open now through Nov. 30. 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.
To learn more about the Nominating Committee 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.
Jaclyn Andronico, MSN, RN, CNS, OCN, AOCNS (NY)
Please introduce yourself and briefly explain your work as a CNS.
My name is Jaclyn Andronico, and my experience as a CNS started at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center in a large chemotherapy infusion outpatient setting. My clinical expertise is in the administration of chemotherapy and biotherapy. I recently moved to one of our regional outpatient settings in 2019, which has expanded my role as a generalist where I support clinical areas such as infusion, radiology, medicine and surgical practice, radiation oncology, and symptomatic care clinic.
What do you plan to bring to NACNS as Nominating Committee?
I feel I can bring my experience, knowledge, and perspective of the outpatient health care setting and the oncology setting to the organization. If elected, I would like to work with NACNS in finding ideas on how to raise awareness and increase knowledge on the CNS role in health care systems and academia.
Dawn Becker, DNP, RN, CEN, ACNS-BC (PA)
Please introduce yourself and briefly explain your work as a CNS.
Hi, I am Dawn Becker. I have been a CNS for 13 years, working in a variety of settings. First, I developed my own position and was the CNS for the night shift. I worked throughout the hospital in various areas, helping with clinical issues, developing night-shift specific committees, and providing education when needed. More recently, I transitioned to the day shift and have been assigned two units. I have worked with the evidence-based practice fellow three times as a CNS. We are also completing an EPB project on the unit I am assigned to. I work with hospital throughput, and I’m the liaison with the schools of nursing.
What do you plan to bring to NACNS as Nominating Committee?
I plan to bring a better understanding of the CNS. I want to make the CNS more visible and utilized in organizations. I would love to do a video of “a day in the life of a CNS” or “what can a CNS do for you” and really promote the CNS role. I hope that the video would drive organizations to relook at their CNS and think about the work the CNS could be doing. I also hope to recruit new RNs into the advanced practice role of the CNS.
Jose Chavez, DNP, ACCNS-AG, CCRN, AACC (CA)
Please introduce yourself and briefly explain your work as a CNS.
My name is Jose Chavez; I am a Critical Care CNS in CSICU and CICU at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles, CA. I completed my DNP in August of this year, and I am the Advanced Practice Nurse Council’s current chair.
What do you plan to bring to NACNS as Nominating Committee?
I plan to bring excitement to the Nominating Committee. I will ensure that I am engaged and give my enthusiasm as a CNS and as a NACNS member. I enjoy using technology and what I have learned this year is that there is so much potential to improve communication and how we all work together. I plan on bringing my expertise in technology to the Committee.
Shannon Brunt, DNP, APRN, ACCNS-AG, CCRN (MI)
Please introduce yourself and briefly explain your work as a CNS.
With 16 years of professional nursing experience and nursing activism, I believe I am a perfect fit for your Committee. I began my career in 2004 as an associate degree Registered Nurse, obtained my Bachelor of Science in Nursing in 2007, completed my CNS program in 2017 and, most recently, my Doctor of Nursing Practice in 2020. I have held many roles as a CNS in my organization in a short period as I have established programs, provided training, and handed those programs off to begin new assignments. I have demonstrated the unique value that the CNS brings to an organization through project management, cost-effective care, and improved staff and patients’ outcomes.
What do you plan to bring to NACNS as Nominating Committee?
I believe in the value of NACNS as an organization and the support that the organization provides to clinical nurse specialists in all stages of practice. The most massive issue facing the CNS profession is the lack of role identity. What does the CNS do is a common question that is not easily answered as we practice in many areas and have very diverse responsibilities? Assisting our members in self-advocacy for the role of the CNS is key.