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| MEET THE NHNA BOARD OF DIRECTORS |
Louise Smith Cushing, RN, BSN, MS - President
As President, Louise is the new spokesperson for the
organization and will represent NHNA at the ANA Constituent
Assembly and the House of Delegates. Her current nursing
practice is as Senior Educator in the Department of Education at
Catholic Medical Center. Louise is also adjunct faculty for
Rivier College and supervises the students’ clinical experiences
in medical-surgical nursing. Previously she served on the
Commission of Continuing Education for six years including
co-chairing the Commission for two years. "I am passionate about
nursing and have spent most of my career preparing others to
become caring and competent nurses. I believe that all nurses
have a responsibility to ensure a successful future for the
profession. That is the major reason why I am involved with NHNA.
I also enjoy working with my colleagues on issues/events that
impact the nurses in New Hampshire…I have found it to be both a
rewarding and enlightening experience." Louise resides in
Concord with her husband and 2 cats. When able to get some free
time, she is spoiling her four-year-old granddaughter, Jessica. |
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Susan Fetzer, RN, PhD - Vice President
Sue is a two-term past President of NHNA. Her current nursing
practice is as an Assistant Professor at the University of New
Hampshire. Her reason for being active in NHNA: "It is fun to
meet nurses from all over the state and hear about their
practice and professional issues. It is a growth experience
every day! Though volunteering for your professional
organization takes time, the rewards are timeless." When not
working or volunteering for NHNA, Sue resides in Henniker with
her husband and 3 golden retrievers. |
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Jennifer Torosian RN, MSN, CNA - Board Treasurer
Jennifer is the Director of Clinical Nursing Practice and
Initiatives at St. Joseph Hospital in Nashua. She has been the
Director of the Senior Adult Mental Health Program for 5 years
and has extensive experience in medical-surgical and psychiatric
nursing. Jennifer received her BS in Nursing from Western
Connecticut State University, and recently completed her Masters
Degree in Forensic Nursing from Quinnipaic University in Hamden,
CT. Jennifer is eager to apply her energy and motivation to the
new challenge of her work on the NHNA Board. "I am looking
forward to growing both personally and professionally while
helping NHNA." |
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Pamela P. DiNapoli, PhD, RN, CNL - Board Secretary
Dr. DiNapoli is an associate professor of nursing at UNH, with
primary teaching responsibilities in Maternal Child Health and
Nursing Theory. She is also Faculty mentor to the Leaders in
Education in Neurodevelopmental Disabilities (LEND) and Seacoast
Child Development Center within the Institute on Disability. Her
research agenda is on Physical and Emotional Consequences of
Adolescent Health Risk Behavior. Pam has been an active member
of NHNA since 1989 in both elected and appointed positions
including as a delegate to the ANA convention, member and
co-chair of the Commission on Continuing Education. She was also
appointed as a reviewer for the ANA Credentialing Center for
Continuing Education. Now, as secretary of NHNA, she would like
to see the association work to increase supports and services to
members by increasing the visibility of nurses across New
Hampshire. |
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Jim Biernat, RN, MA - Director at Large
Jim is the Director of Inpatient Psychiatry and the Psychiatric Partial Hospitalization Outpatient program at DHMC. He also is the Director of IV services. Jim serves as an Instructor in Psychiatry at the Dartmouth Medical School. “I can’t help but be drawn to the work of NHNA. Over 100 years of proven dedication to the nursing profession in NH and it’s still going strong. NHNA truly embraces the empowerment of nurses. It is woven into the core of the organization. From this solid center good work emerges. Good folk and good work. That’s a winning combo in my book
- Jim extends his nursing practice into groups such as -
Spirituality in the Workplace and leading monthly discussion groups on
- The Role of Forgiveness in the Healthcare Setting. Jim lives in the Upper Valley with his partner and shares his home with a loving canine, mischievous feline, and good friends that have access to 4 Wheel Drive.
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Lori Brown, RNC - Director at Large
Lori has been a Registered Nurse for 14 years. She is a graduate
of the Cape Breton Regional Hospital School of Nursing in Nova
Scotia, Canada and the University of New Hampshire with her BSN.
Lori has worked in the Long Term Care industry since moving to
New Hampshire in 1995. She was employed as a Director of Nursing
Services for over ten years and is now the Nursing Home
Administrator at Merrimack County Nursing Home. Regarding her
interest in joining the NHNA Board, she says: “" have been a
member of the New Hampshire Nurses Association since 2001. I
feel it is every nurses’ responsibility to have a voice and the
visibility to make a difference in our healthcare community." |
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Elizabeth Hale-Campoli, RN, MS, OCN - Director at Large
Beth is the Administrative Director of Nursing Systems and
Support at Catholic Medical Center in Manchester. Prior to
moving to NH Beth worked many years in Albany, NY. She has
extensive experience in medical-surgical, oncology and
ambulatory nursing. Beth received her BS in Nursing from
University of New Hampshire and most recently her Masters in
Nursing Leadership from University of New Hampshire. Beth is
excited about the opportunity to work with NHNA and to improve
the visibility of nursing in New Hampshire. "Nurses can and will
make a difference for our patients and the entire healthcare
system". |
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Ginny Blackmer, ARNP, MSN - Chair, Commission on Govt. Affairs
Ginny chairs our Government Affairs Commission (GAC) which serves as the Voice of Nursing when it comes to the legislative and health policy arena. She has chaired GAC for over a decade and was a member for years prior. She is also a past Vice President as well as President of the Association and also served on our former Commission on Practice.. Her current nursing practice is at Lakes Region General Hospital as a wound / ostomy specialist. Her reason for being active in NHNA :
"NHNA provides an opportunity to make a difference on nursing
and health policy issues at a state level while networking with
nurses from all practice settings, roles, and experiences across
the state. Meeting and working with many other nursing and
health care organizations is an additional benefit." |
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Marilyn Ireland MS, RN, BC, CEN
- Co-Chair, Commission on Continuing Education
Marilyn is serving as co-chairperson of the NHNA Commission on Continuing Education (CCE) for a second year. This is her third term on the Commission. As co-chairperson and member, Marilyn functions as a consultant and reviewer of continuing education programs throughout the State. Her current nursing practice is as Director Education / Organizational Development Department at Wentworth-Douglass Hospital and adjunct nursing faculty at the University of New Hampshire." Volunteering for NHNA helps me feel like I am making a special contribution to the profession of nursing. And for me it is also a great way to network with other educators in the State." |
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Patti Puglisi RN, BS - Chair, Commission on Professional Affairs
Patti has been an NHNA member for many years and is serving her first term as Chair of the Commission on Professional Affairs (CPA) which works to advance nurses’ professional development. With over 20 years experience as a cardiovascular nurse, her current practice is at the Elliot Hospital as a Cardiovascular Nurse Specialist in their Cardiovascular Health Department. Patti’s reason for being active with NHNA:
"I believe it is important for nurses to volunteer in a
professional nursing organization, in any way possible, because
it provides a new forum for learning diverse aspects of the
profession; increases awareness regarding issues beyond hands-on
clinical nursing practice, and allows nurses to contribute their
vast talents to advancing practice through a variety of
avenues." |
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Raelene Shippee-Rice, RN, PhD - Chair, Commission on
Organizational Affairs
Raelene is associate professor of nursing at the University of
New Hampshire. Her primary areas of teaching and research are in
care of the older adult, family care giving, health care policy,
ethics, and the emerging role of the clinical nurse leader. She
was on the American Association of Colleges of Learning national
Implementation Task Force for the Clinical Nurse Leader. She has
presented her research at state, regional, national and
international conferences and served as a Fulbright scholar to
St. Petersburg Russia and Sofia Bulgaria. "I have had a long
standing interest in New Hampshire Nurses’ Association and
professional organizations throughout my career. I look forward
to serving on the NHNA Board and helping to shape the future of
nursing and health care in New Hampshire." |
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