CACNS Quarterly Education Meeting (QEM)

Dr. Saunders has 35 years experience in nursing holding roles as RN, APRN-CNS, tenured professor, graduate coordinator, and leadership roles as Board of Director, Secretary of Michigan CNS, and President of NACNS. Her goals are to promote nursings role, and in particular, the CNS role in achieving the best possible patient and family caregiver outcomes. She is currently editing and co-authoring a book for nurses caring for family caregivers (expected summer 2024) titled: The 10 Nursing Interventions for Family Caregivers. It is an evidence-based book that flows around the stories of CNSs across the country and in different specialties telling through experience best practices with nurses and family caregivers to achieve best outcomes for all. Family caregivers are the silent patients - we need to change that. Better family caregiver outcomes = better patient outcomes. The book shows the way. Dr. Saunders most recent achievements have been in her role as President of the National Association of Clinical Nurse Specialists maximizing the value of the CNS through leadership, public appearances, presentations, podcasts, and publications. During her tenure, the Board added three new councils: Past President, Program Director, and a student group known as Novice to Exceptional Transformational CNSs (NEXT CNSs). Additionally, a social media committee was added (Next Gen) to promote the CNS role to our next potential generation of CNSs. A task force was also commissioned and produced a Grow Your Own Toolkit as a roadmap for nurse leaders in developing CNS Intern roles in nurses being educated to be CNSs. The year’s theme, Lead the Next Generation, is Dr. Saunders professional mission to spread the word about CNSs and get healthcare outcomes in America where they should be. She is a full-time, tenured professor at the University of Detroit Mercy in Detroit, Michigan. She has lead a successful CNS program for the past 16 years. The program is US News and World Report ranked at 37 best masters in on-line nursing and boasts an all time certification pass rate of 98%. These accomplishments capture her strong desire to support the next generation of nurses and help nurses in their careers to reach their full potential - maybe as a CNS.

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