Committees

Purpose

To address legislative issues, nurses must be aware of the power we have as respected professionals to influence health care policy. Our goal is to encourage nurses to take advantage of the power we have in numbers and influence to affect the shaping of health care policy and to become politically active in the legislative process.

Responsibilities

• Review legislative information from external sources and communicate pertinent information to AAACN members via ViewPoint and the AAACN website.
• Recommend legislative priorities to the Board of Directors for AAACN involvement.
• Review and suggest action on nursing issues from other specialty nursing organizations.
• Recommend and develop position statements on legislative issues affecting AAACN and ambulatory care patients.
• Filter and process information on pertinent ambulatory care/telehealth legislative issues.
• Encourage involvement in nursing legislation action groups.

Initiatives

View AAACN's advocacy initiatives.

Members

Chair

Leondra Weiss, MN, RN, C-EFM, AMB-BC

Past Chair
Tracy Gosselin, PhD, RN, AOCN, NEA-BC, FAAN

Committee Members:
Sue Fowler, RN
Emily Gallagher, RN, MSN, DNP
Faith Jones, MSN, RN, NEA-BC
Toyin Lawal, MSN, RN, CCCTM
Kae Livsey, PhD, MPH, RN
Leslie K. Morris, DNP, RN, AMB-BC, NE-BC, NPD-B
Rebecca Newman, MS, RN, CPN
Debralee Quinn, MSN, RN-BC, CNN, CH-GCN, CCM
Diane Sprankle, MHA, MSN, RN, NE-BC
Sabrina Sumner, RN, CMSRN
Susan Webber, RN, BSN, MSN, CPN, CEN, CPEN, TCRN

Board Liaison
Mary Blankson, DNP, APRN, FNP-C, FAAN

Leondra Weiss, MN, RN, C-EFM, AMB-BC

 

Purpose

AAACN has long prioritized diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI), actively reshaping our governance to mirror the diverse environments we serve. The first step was establishing the DEI Committee, which has now evolved into the Inclusion and Belonging Committee. 

This change reflects a proactive focus on fostering inclusion and belonging within our membership and promoting inclusive workplaces, while still upholding DEI values. The committee collaborates across our organization to drive initiatives aligned with our culture, profession, and vision for the future.

DEIB Resources

Access AAACN's DEIB resources.

Members

Chair
Amy Cadoret, MHA, MSN, NEA-BC, AMB-BC

Chair-Elect
Gloria Okorley, BSN, RN, AMB-BC

Board Liaison
Kimberly Regis, DNP, RN, PNP-BC

Committee Members
Jennifer Cravens, MN, RN, AMB-BC
Debra Duran, MBA, BSN, RN
Mao Kong, RN
Toyin Lawal, DNP, MSN, RN, CCCTM
Nancy Parker, MSN, RN, PHN, CNL
Quyen Phan, DNP, APRN, FNP-BC
Betsy Punderson, MSN, RN, AMB-BC
Jenny Uguru, DNP, RN, AMB-BC, CLC, GRN

Amy Cadoret, MHA, MSN, NEA-BC, AMB-BC

 

Gloria Okorley, MSN, RN, AMB-BC

Purpose

The Leadership Development and Nominating Committee plays an integral role in selecting the future leaders of AAACN. Committee members identify, invite, and nominate current, qualified AAACN members as candidates to run for elected offices and oversee the annual election and any special election processes.

Qualifications

• Active AAACN member with broad organizational experience (e.g. served on SIGs, committees, task forces) to provide committee members with general knowledge of members who are active within AAACN.
• Possess skills to identify leadership qualities in individuals; willing to encourage and motivate members to run for office.
• Able to attend the Annual Conference, which kicks off the committee’s work for the year. Other activities take place via conference call and email.
• Comfortable with time commitment: Leadership Development and Nominating Committee positions generally require 20-30 hours annually. On occasion, additional time may be required for special projects. The Nominating Committee plays an integral role in selecting the future leaders of AAACN.
• Leadership Development and Nominating Committee members identify, invite, and nominate current, qualified AAACN members as candidates to run for elected offices and oversee the annual election and any special election processes.

Membership

	Rachel Start, MSN, RN, NEA-BC, FAAN Chairperson
	Lisa Duncan, DNP, MBA, RN, AMB-BC, CIC, NEA-BC Member
	Sarah Storhoff, MSN, RN-BC Member
	Rachelle White, MSN, RN, CCCTM Member
	Andrea C. Petrovanie-Green, MSN, NC, RN, USN, AMB-BC, CAPT(Ret) Board Liaison

Purpose

The committee’s primary purpose is to review oral and poster abstracts submitted to select qualified presenters to speak or present posters on desired topics at the conference. The Education Director assists in all aspects of conference planning and assists as needed.

Monthly conference calls, and email correspondence is estimated to take 1 hour per week during Conference planning (July-October).

During Conference planning, committee members spend additional time reviewing abstracts, selecting and confirming presenters, and participating in additional conference calls. Time commitment during peak Conference planning times is two hours per week.

The national office Conference manager plans the logistics of the meeting site and participates in implementation of conference activities. Marketing of the conference, attendee registration, and preparation of materials are done by the national office.

Members

Purpose

The AAACN Publications Committee plays a pivotal role in shaping the future of ambulatory care nursing through its oversight and strategic guidance of AAACN publications. These publications are essential resources that drive excellence in clinical and administrative management, support certification preparation, strengthen orientation and preceptor programs, and facilitate the development of nurse residency programs. By contributing to the creation and refinement of these resources, the committee helps advance the professional growth of ambulatory care nurses.

Committee members are responsible for managing publication timelines, recommending authors and writing groups, monitoring production progress, and proposing new publications to the AAACN Board. They work closely with writing and revision task forces in an advisory role, ensuring smooth collaboration and progress without directly revising or writing content. Their contributions help ensure that AAACN publications remain relevant, high-quality, and impactful for the nursing community.

Members

Chairperson
Cara Spencer, PhD, RN, FNP-BC

Co-Chair
Leslie Pihlstrom, RN

Board Liaison
Cara Spencer, PhD, RN, FNP-BC

Members
Sherrie Bragg, MSN, BS, RN, AMB-BC
Caroline Coburn, DNP, MS, ANP-BC
Leslie Morris, DNP, RN, AMB-BC, NE-BC, NPD-B
Ray Snider, DNP, MSN, RN, NEA-BC
Jenny Uguru, DNP, RN, AMB-BC, CLC
George Velianoff, PhD, RN, FACHE, ANEF

Cara Spencer, PhD, RN, FNP-BC

Leslie Pihlstrom, RN

Purpose

Research is critical to the achievement of AAACN’s mission and vision. Goal five of our strategic plan is to build the infrastructure for AAACN to design, develop, and disseminate research.

The committee will be responsible for the development of research culture, oversight of the establishment of the research priorities, research awards and grants, and building research partnerships. The Research Committee is led by AAACN’s Nurse Scientist.

Membership

Chairperson
Margo Halm, PhD, RN, NEA-BC, FAAN

Co-Chair
Kristen Shear, PhD, MSN, RN

Members
Elizabeth Fritz, PhD, RN, NPDA-BC, EBP-C
Jene Hurlbut, RN, MSN, MS, PhD, CNE
Kathy Mertens, DNP, MN, MPH, RN
Edtrina Moss, PhD, RN, AMB-BC, NE-BC, CLSSGB
Jessica Varghese, PhD, RN

Ad Hoc Member
Na Lim Heo, MDiv, MSN, RN

Board Liaison
Cynthia L. Murray, BN, AMB-BC

Fellow
Chrystal Lewis, PhD, RN

Margo Halm, PhD, RN, NEA-BC, FAAN