Warshawsky had served as president-elect of the organization since January 2018. In her new role, she will lead the association through the name change that more accurately reflects the organization’s evolution to a broader focus on the science supporting nursing leadership practice and education. The association has about 175 members worldwide representing nurse leaders in both academic and practice settings.

“In the last decade through CGEAN, I have been able to network with national and international experts who have since become colleagues and mentors,” said Warshawsky. “I’m looking forward to giving back to the organization that has played an important role in my career, and excited to lead its evolution to the Association of Leadership Science in Nursing.”

In addition to her leadership role with CGEAN, Warshawsky currently serves as vice chair of the Commission on Pathway to Excellence with the American Nurses Credentialing Center and on the editorial board of the Journal of Nursing Administration. She is also a member of the American Organization of Nurse Executives and the American Nurses Association. Prior to joining the UCF College of Nursing in August 2018, Warshawsky held a faculty position at the şŁ˝ÇÖ±˛Ą of Kentucky College of Nursing.

Andrews has served as secretary of the organization since 2017. She has been a member since 2011 and previously served as co-chair of the planning committee for the biennial International Nursing Administration Research Conference.

Andrews’ other leadership roles include the Florida Center for Nursing Research Council, the Florida Organization of Nurse Executives Research Committee, treasurer of the Sigma Honor Society Theta Epsilon Chapter, a founding trustee and member of the finance committee at Adventist şŁ˝ÇÖ±˛Ą of Health Sciences, and a board member of the Florida Hospital Foundation. Additionally, she is an on-site evaluator for the Commission of Collegiate Nursing Education, and a member of the American Association of Colleges of Nursing, American Nurses Association, the Southern Nursing Research Society and the American Organization of Nurse Executives.

A faculty member at the college for more than 10 years, Andrews is currently director of the Master of Science in Nursing Leadership and Management program and the Doctor of Nursing Practice Nurse Executive program.

“It is an honor to be elected as a national officer of CGEAN, which is focused on transforming health care worldwide by using evidence-based research to develop nurse leaders,” said Andrews. “I look forward to representing UCF on this national level and working closely with the board members from other nursing schools of excellence throughout the U.S.”

As secretary, Andrews will serve as the board liaison to communication task forces, and serve as corresponding and recording secretary at meetings. As chair of the Bylaws Committee, she will review and provide recommendations for changes to the organization’s bylaws. Andrews has been a member of CGEAN since 2011 and most recently served as co-chair of the planning committee for the biennial International Nursing Administration Research Conference.

In addition to CGEAN, Andrews is a member of several other professional organizations dedicated to advancing health care and nursing. These include the , American Nurses Association, Southern Nursing Research Society and American Organization of Nurse Executives. Other leadership roles include the Florida Center for Nursing Research Council, the Florida Organization of Nurse Executives Research Committee and treasurer of the Theta Epsilon Chapter of Sigma Theta Tau International. Andrews is an on-site evaluator for the Commission of Collegiate Nursing Education, a founding trustee and member of the finance committee at Adventist şŁ˝ÇÖ±˛Ą of Health Sciences, and a board member of the Florida Hospital Foundation.

A faculty member at the college for more than 10 years, Andrews is currently coordinator of the master’s in Nursing Leadership and Management program and the Doctor of Nursing Practice Nurse Executive program.

Michele Upvall, PhD, RN, CNE, was elected to serve as Chair of the CCNE Nominating Committee for 2017. She previously served as a member of the committee, which is responsible for preparing, evaluating and accepting nominations from members interested in serving on the Board of Directors.

“It is an honor to lead the nominating committee, identifying qualified individuals who will continue to carry out the commission’s mission of advancing excellence and innovation in nursing education, research and practice,” said Michele Upvall, coordinator of the Nurse Educator MSN and certificate programs at the UCF College of Nursing.

Diane Andrews, PhD, RN, and Laura Gonzalez, PhD, ARNP, CNE, CHSE, have been selected to serve as on-site evaluators for the CCNE accreditation review process. The two join nearly 740 nurse educators and practicing nurses from across the country who currently serve in the role and assist in the accreditation process. At the College of Nursing, Susan Chase, EdD, RN, FNP-BC, FNAP, and Upvall have served as on-site evaluators since 2007 and 2008, respectively. Chase serves as an evaluation team leader and also is an appointed member of the Report Review Committee, which reviews continuous improvement progress reports from all accredited programs as well as other compliance reports for CCNE.

As nurse educators, Andrews and Gonzalez will lend their expertise in nursing education and program development to assist in evaluating program curricula, faculty roles and qualifications, internal governance, student services, and student and faculty outcomes during an accreditation review. Each will participate in at least one on-site evaluation per year where they will travel with a team to a college or university in the U.S.

“As we strive as a nation to prepare a growing number of highly educated nurses, it is critical for public health that colleges and universities meet nationally recognized standards in providing a quality education,” said Diane Andrews, coordinator of the Leadership & Management MSN and Nurse Executive DNP at the College of Nursing. “Serving as an on-site evaluator allows me to contribute to this valuable process and foster continuous improvement among nursing programs.”

“CCNE values and fosters innovation in the accreditation process and in its accredited programs. As a researcher focused on innovation, I am honored to be able to give back and lend a unique viewpoint to the process from my experiences in the simulation community,” said Laura Gonzalez, simulation coordinator at the College of Nursing, current board member and vice president of programs for the International Nursing Association for Clinical Simulation & Learning, and former director of the Florida Healthcare Simulation Alliance.

CCNE is one of just two nursing program accrediting agencies nationally recognized by the U.S. Secretary of Education. The commission began accreditation reviews in 1998 and currently accredits nearly 1,400 baccalaureate and graduate nursing programs across 705 colleges and universities in the U.S. The bachelor’s degree in nursing, master’s degree in nursing, post-master’s nurse practitioner certificates, and Doctor of Nursing Practice programs at the UCF College of Nursing are accredited by CCNE.

Peggy Reiley, senior vice president and chief clinical officer for Scottsdale Healthcare (Arizona), shared her knowledge and expertise, and discussed the implications of the Affordable Care Act on the role of nurse leaders, evaluated the forces necessitating health care reform, and identified opportunities for nurse leaders to get involved as the nation moves to a new model of accountability for “health care” versus “sick care.”

Reiley said, “Shifts in the current healthcare system are largely cost related. Some of these issues include overtreatment, over-reliance on technology and coordination of care. Nurses are involved in many of these issues and will need to be part of the solution for the future.”

The free lecture – Nurse Leaders Role in Health Care Reform: Leading a Journey of Transformation and Accountability – was open to the public and attended by healthcare administrators, clinical nurse leaders, community partners, prospective and current students, and nursing faculty. Nurses had the opportunity to earn one contact hour of continuing education credit.

“These lectures are important for expanding our knowledge as nurses,” said Joy Parchment, director of nursing strategy and implementation at Orlando Health and a student in UCF’s nursing Ph.D. program. “I chose to attend because I want to continually broaden my exposure to the latest evidence and research that influences decisions and affects the practice of nursing.”

Susan Clark, a clinical coordinator at Martin Health System in Stuart, Fla. and first-year student in UCF’s Executive Doctor of Nursing Practice (D.N.P.) program, says she values having ownership for the profession and staying current with the latest nursing trends because healthcare is an ever-changing environment.

The Jan. 10 event supported by Florida Blue, formerly Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Florida, is part of the college’s semiannual Nursing Distinguished Lecture Series where a national leader is invited to discuss current nursing leadership topics. The series spans two days, including the evening community lecture, followed by a day-long intensive seminar with the visiting professor and faculty and students in the college’s online Advanced Practice D.N.P. and Executive D.N.P. programs.

While both programs are offered online, the college brings faculty and students together twice a year at the beginning of the spring and fall semesters to discuss thought-provoking leadership topics with a national nursing leader.

To learn more about the college’s online D.N.P. programs, visit , or contact Dr. Julee Waldrop about the Advanced Practice D.N.P. at julee.waldrop@ucf.edu, or Dr. Diane Andrews about the Executive D.N.P. at diane.andrews@ucf.edu.

Sharon McLane, chief nursing informatics officer and director of clinical transformation at Lakeland Regional Medical Center, shared her knowledge and expertise on the subject, and discussed the impact of electronic records on nursing workflow and how to manage all the information available. McLane earned her Ph.D. in Healthcare Informatics at the şŁ˝ÇÖ±˛Ą of Texas, Houston, and previously was director of nursing informatics at MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston.

The free lecture – Beyond Implementation: Informaticians & Meaningful Use – was open to the public and attended by healthcare administrators, clinical nurse leaders, community partners, prospective and current students, and nursing faculty. One attendee even traveled two hours from Tampa to attend the event. Nurses had the opportunity to earn one contact hour of continuing education credit.

McLane said, “We are just beginning to become aware of the possibilities in using information to improve quality in healthcare,” adding that managing the increasing amount of information will be needed even more in the future.

The Aug. 23 event supported by Florida Blue, formerly Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Florida, was part of the college’s semiannual Distinguished Lecture Series where a national leader is invited to discuss current nursing leadership topics. The series spans two days, including the evening community lecture, followed by a day-long intensive seminar with the visiting professor and faculty and students in the Executive Doctor of Nursing Practice program.

Launched this past January, the Executive D.N.P. is an online program, but the college brings faculty and students together at the beginning of the spring and fall semesters to discuss thought-provoking leadership topics with a national nursing leader.

The next Distinguished Lecture for the community will be held Jan. 10 to kick off the spring semester, and to welcome the second cohort of Executive D.N.P. students.

To learn more about the Executive D.N.P. program, visit nursing.ucf.edu or contact Dr. Diane Andrews at diane.andrews@ucf.edu.

The College welcomed Donna Herrin-Griffith, MSN, RN, NEA-BC, CNEP, FACHE, as the inaugural distinguished speaker. Herrin-Griffith serves as the senior vice president/administrator and chief nursing officer for Martin Memorial Health Systems in Stuart, and was the 2009 president of the American Organization of Nurse Executives. Herrin-Griffith spoke about “Leading for the Future: Planning for the New Healthcare Environment” to the prospective and current students, faculty,  healthcare administrators, clinical nurse leaders, and community partners.

Herrin-Griffith emphasized the importance of nursing leadership within the framework of healthcare reform, and said nurse administrators still function as nurses when they lead care. Their influence on practice may be more indirect, she said, but it still contributes to quality patient care. She shared strategic priorities that healthcare administrator and executive leaders should be cognizant of in their leadership roles.

By the conclusion of her lecture, Herrin-Griffith inspired her listeners and helped them understand that all nurses and healthcare administrators are working in a leadership role, and that they are charged with the responsibility of shaping the future of our healthcare industry. Nurses at the event had the opportunity to earn one contact hour of continuing education credit.

The program was led by Dr. Diane Andrews, the Graduate Leadership and Management Executive Track Coordinator, and Dr. Susan Chase, the Associate Dean for Graduate Programs, both of whom are graduate faculty members in UCF’s College of Nursing.  The kickoff event spanned three days, including the distinguished lecture series and welcome reception, a conversation and brainstorming session with Herrin-Griffith and the new Executive D.N.P. student cohort, and the initial meeting of the students and faculty in their first semester courses.

To learn more about the Executive D.N.P. Program, visit http://www.nursing.ucf.edu/academics/Executive_MSN-DNP.asp or contact Dr. Diane Andrews.

Donna Herrin-Griffith, senior vice president/administrator and chief nursing officer for Martin Memorial Health Systems in Stuart and a former president of the American Organization of Nurse Executives, will discuss “Leading for the Future: Planning for the New Healthcare Environment.”

The lecture will be held at UCF College of Nursing from 6 to 8 p.m. in Room 602 of şŁ˝ÇÖ±˛Ą Tower. The college is in Research Park adjacent to UCF’s main campus. The free lecture is open to the public. Nurses will have the opportunity to earn one contact hour of continuing-education credit. Limited seating is available.

Funded by the Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Florida Endowed Visiting Distinguished Professorship, the lecture series will be hosted twice a year by the College of Nursing.

For more information, contact Diane Andrews at the College of Nursing, 407-823-3084 or Diane.Andrews@ucf.edu.