candidate bios - New Hampshire Nurses Association

NHNA 2014 ELECTION – CANDIDATE BIOS
PRESIDENT ELECT (would serve as President for 2015)
BOBBIE BAGLEY, RN, BS, MPH-C
Yrs in Practice: 20+
Field: Public Health, Academia, Management
Position: Nursing Instructor – Rivier University
Current or Past NHNA Service: Govt. Affairs Commission 2 years, Mid-Year Chair
Qualifications: I have been involved in advocacy work for many years. I have always taken a stand on what I believe in
and have a strong belief in equity, health and social justice. As a public health professional, many of the families in the
communities where I have worked have needed a partner in advocating on their behalf and on issues that have impacted
their health and well-being. I have a strong commitment to educating individuals and communities on the power of their
voices. I have seen changes made based on unified voices raising awareness on important issues. I have served on a
number of committees and boards and have traditionally supported the underserved in NH communities. I have
advocated for funding for HIV Prevention and Care services; Maternal and Child Health home visiting programs, and
issues of health and equity. As an instructor teaching a policy and politics course, I am a firm believer that nurses have a
huge amount of power and ability to impact the political process in our state and in our country. I hope to be able to make
an impact in the setting in which I work and continue to motivate and encourage future nurses to understand the
importance of their role in the political arena.
SECRETARY
BONNIE CRUMBLEY AYBAR, BA, BSN, CPAN
Yrs in Practice: 30 Field: Perianesthesia
Position:
Staff Nurse
Current or Past NHNA or related Service: n/a Served with Nursing Specialty Organizations
Qualifications: Served on BOD of American Society of PeriAnesthesia Nurses. Past Ohio Chapter Board President,
also Past State Representative. Past Secretary of New Hampshire Chapter of American Society of PeriAnesthesia
Nurses. Past Item Writer for Exam, Past member of Item writing Committee and past Chair of Exam Construction
Committee for American Board of PeriAnesthesia Nurses.
Rather than just working with specialty nursing, I am interested in serving the needs of NHNA and promoting nursing
profession. My strong organizational and analytical skills, along with my ability to work with diverse groups would be a
positive attribute to the group. I am pleased to be considered for this opportunity to join the NHNA Board of Directors in
the position of Secretary.
DIRECTOR AT LARGE
(designated ‘recent grad’ position)
LAURA FONTAINE, ASN-RN
Yrs in Practice: 1
Field: Cardiovascular Surgical
Position:
Registered Nurse - Catholic Medical Center
Current or Past NHNA Service n/a
Qualifications: Having served as treasurer of Manchester Community College's National Student Nurses' Association
chapter and having attended the National Student Nurses' Association national conference twice, I am interested in
continuing to build my leadership qualities in a position with the New Hampshire Nurses' Association. I am eager to
become an active participant as a recent graduate and young professional in my nursing career. Additionally, I have held
leadership roles within Alpha Omicron Pi, Gamma Chapter during my time at the University of Maine, including Vice
President of Chapter Development, Secretary, Keeper of the Ritual, and Vice President of Education. As a new board
member, I would work diligently at recruiting other recent graduates to become involved with the New Hampshire Nurse's
Association.
Karen Gagnon
ASN-RN
Yrs in Practice: 1
Position: Registered Nurse – Catholic Medical Center
Current or Past NHNA Service n/a
Qualifications: Served on Skin Team - Catholic Medical Center, Unit Practice Council - Cardiovascular Surgical Unit,
Catholic Medical Center, Rivier University Student Nurses' Association, Board of Directors - Joan G. Lovering Women's
Health Center, Portsmouth NH. I am a recently graduated student from Rivier University and am currently pursuing my
Bachelors. I have many years experience volunteering for various organizations, planning special events, writing
newsletters, and fundraising. Professionally, I also have over eight years experience working as an executive assistant
for a chief financial officer at a profitable publically traded company. I am comfortable and adept with working with Board
members, planning events, creating documents and using my creativity and knowledge for change. NHNA is instrumental
in connecting nurses to a variety of resources, information and people. Being a new nurse has its own unique challenges,
opportunities and issues that should be represented within the NHNA. I would approach this position utilizing some of my
personal qualifications, such as compassion, organized, team player, responsible and most of all, my sense of humor.
CONTINUING EDUCATION COMMISSION CANDIDATES:
LOUISE CUSHING-SMITH, MSN
Yrs in Practice: 40+
Field: Nurse Educator
Position: Clinical Education Specialist - Catholic Medical Center
Current or Past NHNA Service: Board President, Past President, Board of Directors, Current Member of CCE
Qualifications: I have had over 25 years experience in continuing education in NH. As part of the CCE commission I find
that networking with other nursing CE educators in the State is a very beneficial learning experience and has helped me
to enrich my practice as an educator.
DEBRA HASTINGS, PhD, RN-BC, CNOR
Yrs in Practice: 35+ Field: Education
Position: Director of Continuing Nursing Education – Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center, Lebanon
Current or Past NHNA Service: Current member of CCE
Qualifications: Multiple terms on the Commission. As the lead nurse planner of CNE at DHMC, I am actively involved in
the assessment, planning, implementation, and evaluation of accredited CNE activities provided to nurses. The work we
do as members of the CCE mirrors my responsibilities at DHMC. Sharing my expertise as a member of CCE is one way I
can give back to my professional organization.
KRIS IRWIN, MSN, RN, BC
Yrs in Practice: 20+
Field: Med-Surg; Nursing Education
Position: Manager, Professional Practice and Education – Elliot Health
Current or Past NHNA and related Service:
Member of CCE for 5 years
Qualifications:
Being a member of the Commission on Continuing Education for the last four years has been a
rewarding experience - networking with academic and hospital based educators from across the state to support
continuing nursing education and development. As a member of CCE, I strive to be creative, organized and flexible in
guiding provides of continuing nursing education through the requirements of the American Nurses Credentialing Center
(ANCC). It is a pleasure serving, and representing the nurses of New Hampshire.
GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS COMMISSION CANDIDATES:
LEA AYERS LAFAVE, PhD, RN
Yrs in Practice: 20+
Field: Community Health
Position: Senior Project Director - Community Health Institute - JSI
Current or Past NHNA or related Service: NHNA member and GAC member since 1998; planning and participation in
Health Policy Days 1999-2008; NH Nursing Summit with NH BON and NHNA: Curriculum Task force 1999-2000; Scope
of Practice Task Force, 2000-2001
Qualifications: My experiences serving on the GAC have been rewarding and have expanded my perspective on nursing
practice and policy. I have always particularly enjoyed the collaborative planning and implementation of Health Policy
Days. That event has grown and improved tremendously since my first experience in 1999, as a result of the collaborative
thinking and actions of this highly functional group of nursing professionals. I have also had the great pleasure of
witnessing the transformative effect of HP Days on student nurses as they become aware of our unique access to the
legislature in NH, and an understanding of the nursing role in policy. I enjoy working with members of the Commission,
and recognize the important opportunity for nursing during this transitional time of health care reform. I am a good
candidate for this Commission because of my sustained involvement and reliability, along with my commitment to nursing.
.
MARY BIDGOOD-WILSON
Yrs in Practice: 40+
Field: Family Practice/Midwifery
Position: Association
Current or Past NHNA or related Service: Currently serving on NHNA Government Affairs Commission.
Qualifications: Board member NH Medical Malpractice Joint Underwriting Assoc; 6 yrs on NH Endowment for Health
Advisory Committee; past rep to Joint Health Council and Liaison to the Committee of Advanced Practice – NH Board of
Nursing; MCH Physician Advisory Committee to the NH Dept of Health. In addition – legislative / political affairs
experience through involvement with the American College of Nurse Midwives and NH Nurse Practitioner Association as
well as various community based organizations. I look forward to my continued service on this very important
commission.
SARA MEADE, RNC-LRB, MSN
Yrs in Practice 38 Field: WCS
Position: Director, Women's Children's
Current or Past NHNA Service: n/a
Qualifications: I have been active in NH Section of AWHONN for several years, serving as Section Chair for 4 years.
Recently, I became the Legislative Coordinator of the Section, and believe that collaboration and knowledge sharing
between NHNA and NHAWHONN will best serve both organizations.
SUSAN SMITH, BSN, MHA
Yrs in Practice: 35+ Field:
Administration
Position: Executive Director – NH Voices for Health
Current or Past NHNA Service: Current GAC member
Qualifications:
NURSING PRACTICE COMMISSION CANDIDATES
JENNIFER JOHNSON, DNP, CNM, RNC-OB
Yrs in Practice: 20 Field: OB
Position: Associate Professor - MCPHS
Current or Past NHNA Service: n/a
Qualifications: This will be my first time volunteering. Over the last several years I have had the opportunity to grow
and develop my leadership skills. I am now much more confident in my ability to lead and make a difference. I look
forward to contributing to NHNA's Nursing Practice Commission!
MARYELLEN KING, BSN, CPN
Yrs in Practice: 35+ Field: Pediatrics
Position: Triage Nurse - Elliot Physician Network
Current or Past NHNA Service: Currently serving on the Nursing Practice Commission
Qualifications: I am very interested in promoting and improving the practice of nursing. I have seen the nursing
profession endure many struggles over the years, from striving for recognition to improving the relations between nurses
of differing education levels while at the same time trying to standardize education. I bring a wide variety of experience to
the table, I am a good communicator and a good listener and when I am given a task to do, I put a lot of effort into doing it
well. I believe we can do a great deal for our profession through the projects this committee is involved in and look
forward to continuing my efforts within this commission.
MILLIE SATTLER, RN, BSN, MSN, CCRN
Yrs in Practice: 31 Field: ED
Position: Nurse Recruiter (Interim) Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center
Current or Past NHNA Service: n/a
Qualifications: Guest speaker at Medicaid Expansion Press Conference at Plymouth State 2013. Having been a nurse
for over thirty years, I feel that I bring a wealth of experience and knowledge to the nursing profession. I am honest,
diligent and compassionate about what nursing can bring to health care today. I feel that we need leaders like myself who
are willing to share with others and lead the profession with methodologies of providing high quality care and outcomes for
public health initiatives. I would like to serve as a role model for future nurses, to aid in educational programs and
responsibilities for nurses and to serve our professional association on behalf of nursing in the State of New Hampshire.

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