Julie K. Davis, CRNA, MA
Omaha, NE

Current Practice: CRNA, University of Nebraska Medical Center, VA Medical Center, Omaha. Education: Masters of Biological Sciences, University of Missouri Kansas City & Truman Medical Center, School of Nurse Anesthesia 1998, BSN Creighton University, 1987

Professional Memberships: Member AANA since 1995, NANA since 2000.

Position Statement: I would first of all like to thank Phil Powers for nominating me to the NANA Board. I have practiced as a CRNA in both the rural and metropolitan areas of Nebraska. I practiced in North Central Nebraska for over ten years serving multiple hospitals and have been back in Omaha for about a year now. I think that this has given me an insight into the needs of most CRNAs in practice in Nebraska. The CRNAs of Nebraska really need to work together to protect our practice. I appreciate our state and national associations for their commitment to doing just that. I would anticipate that my role on the state board would be doing much of the same. I am ready to serve our association and would appreciate your vote.

Josh Hill, CRNA, MS
McCook, NE

Current Practice: CRNA as a sole proprietor in southwest Nebraska, serving four hospitals. Education: MS in Nurse Anesthesia, Mount Marty College, BSN Nebraska Wesleyan, Diploma in Nursing Bryan Memorial Hospital School of Nursing.

Professional Memberships: Member AANA, NANA.

Position Statement: Thank you for allowing me to participate in the running for a position on the NANA Board of Directors, as nominated by Ben Huls, CRNA. I have always wanted to be involved in the issues that mold and affect CRNAs in Nebraska. I have been involved in many areas of independent rural practice.

Medicine as a whole is facing uncertain times, specifically the many changes that have been proposed by President Obama. It’s important that Nebraska CRNAs keep open lines of communication with our government representatives, both on the state and national platforms. Communicating our concerns, as well as our goals, has brought our level of practice and independence to the levels we enjoy today. It is vital that we protect our independence, and promote ideas for the future.

Thank you for your consideration. I want nothing more than to promote the ideas of the NANA and the AANA with the help of other members. Building awareness of a CRNA’s role in Nebraska will help to educate those that do not recognize our profession.

Tiffany Olson, CRNA, MS
Omaha, NE

Current Practice: CRNA, University of Nebraska Medical Center. Education: MS, Mount Marty College; BSN, College of St. Mary; Professional Memberships: Member AANA, NANA, Sigma Theta Tau Honor Society of Nursing, Past Mount Marty College Nebraska Student Representative.

Position Statement: As a CRNA student, I was able to witness the importance of NANA and AANA to the CRNA profession by attending Mid-Year Assembly in Washington, D.C. and by serving as the NANA Board student representative. With graduation gone, and over a year of working as a CRNA, my eyes have been opened to various issues we face as a profession from day to day, in addition to major issues constantly being fought nationally. This is a profession that I am passionate about. I am proud to be a CRNA and want to give back to this wonderful profession in any way I can. I am honored to be nominated for the Board and look forward to being involved with NANA in whatever capacity I can.

The economical climate has shown its effect on our profession. It is important for us to stay informed and be proactive in any way we can to aim for a brighter future. It is imperative for us to be fiscally responsible within our own organizations. As a small state, we need to encourage our growth and funding. We need to continue to prevent or minimize cuts to Medicare and Medicaid reimbursement. Encouraging educational funding through title 8 is essential to our profession so that CRNA programs may continue to produce high quality practitioners to represent our profession. We also need to place emphasis on the importance of continuing education and to provide high quality educational opportunities for existing practitioners to remain current on new topics and techniques in anesthesia.

CRNAs provide safe and effective care. We need to continue to inform the public of this and educate them about our profession. Many of my patients learn about the CRNA profession for the first time when I am performing their preoperative interview; which tells me that we still need to work toward educating the public about who we are and what we do. If nominated to the Board, I hope to do my very best in representing all of the diverse members of the CRNA profession that we have here in Nebraska. Thank you again for considering me as a candidate for the NANA Board of Directors. I look forward to being involved with NANA in any way that I can.

Shannon Pecka, CRNA, MSN
Omaha, NE

Current Practice: CRNA, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Faculty, BryanLGH School of Nurse Anesthesia. Education: MSN: University of Iowa, BSN: University of Iowa, ADN: North Dakota State University.

Professional Memberships: AANA, NANA

Position Statement: I have been a practicing CRNA for the past 14 years and have worked in private practice as well as the academic setting. Many great things have occurred for Nurse Anesthesia in the past few years. One of the most important is the opt-out provision allowing Nurse Anesthetists to practice autonomously and provide quality anesthesia services to the residents of Nebraska. In order to provide quality care it is vital that we provide quality education and training for future anesthetists so that they are equipped with the skills and knowledge to practice independently or as a team.

I believe that it is also important that we grow as a profession. In my commitment to this belief I am currently working on my PhD at the University of Nebraska Medical Center. I am excited to be a part of Nurse Anesthesia and would be honored to serve on the NANA State Board. As a newly elected board member I would work to ensure that our practice rights are preserved, fight for anesthesia reimbursement, and strive to improve the education and experiences of our future anesthetists.

Sean Scribner, CRNA, MS, CCRN, RRT
Omaha, NE

Current Practice: CRNA, University of Nebraska Medical Center; VA Medical Center, Omaha, Ne. Education: MS-Mount Marty College, BSN-University of Nebraska Medical Center Professional Memberships: NANA, AANA

Position Statement: Last November I filled Eric Troudt’s vacant Board of Directors position as he was elected the association’s Treasurer. Since that time I have tried to contribute in as many ways as possible. I currently serve on the Government Relations Committee/ PAC Committee and serve as the NANA representative to the Institute of Medicine’s Regional Activation Committee. I also attended the Mid-year Assembly for our annual visit to “The Hill” in Washington DC. This year has given me great insight into the inner workings of our association on both the state and national level as well as fueling my enthusiasm for political involvement. It has been both an honor and a privilege to serve on the Board and I would greatly appreciate the opportunity to continue representing you.

John Shandera, CRNA, MS
Kearney, NE

Current Practice: CRNA, Kearney Anesthesia Associates, Good Samaritan Hosptial, Kearney, Ne. Education: MS in Nurse Anesthesia, BryanLGH College of Health Sciences.

Professional Memberships: AANA, NANA

Position Statement: Two years ago, I had the opportunity to attend the mid-year assembly in Washington, DC. I was finishing my schooling at BryanLGH college of Nurse Anesthesia and was about to begin my career as a CRNA. At mid-year I was able witness the passion felt by so many CRNAs about our profession, and about maintaining and enhancing our rights as independent practitioners. It was there that I first felt the desire to be involved in our professional organizations at both the national and local levels.

Now working at a CRNA only practice, I feel more strongly than ever about maintaining these rights as independent practitioners. I feel that it is our duty to be involved in our organizations to protect our profession and to be attentive to whatever issues may affect our practice. CRNAs are essential to the state of Nebraska in order to provide safe, cost-effective, high quality care to many rural and metropolitan areas. Without the efforts of our state organization these rights and services will not be protected. It is an honor to be nominated for the state board of directors and it would be my privilege to serve the state organization in whatever capacity I can. Thank you again for the nomination to the NANA Board of Directors.