The Reason I Serve

For advice and inspiration, we invite you to read the real life experiences from nurses serving on all types of boards, large and small, local and national, healthcare and non-healthcare related to learn more about their paths to the boardroom.

Rosemary Smentkowski MSN, RN, CARN

A local assembly woman held a round table discussion about the opiate crisis. I called and asked to be invited. There were 20+ people going around the table giving input to the question, “who is missing from this table?” I was last to go and said “nurses, I’m the only nurse here. Nurses need to be invited to the war on drugs.” I was sitting next to our Board of Addiction Services. He turned to me and said, ” I don’t have a nurse on my board, would you consider it?” I’ve been serving ever since. My first nursing board position was on IntNSA. Dottie Shoemaker reached out to me after meeting at a conference. She said, “they need you.” I said, “I don’t have anything to offer.” She said, “of course you do!” With her coaxing, I got elected to the IntNSA and now serve as chair of the Addiction Nursing Certification Board. Continue Reading

- MSN, RN, CARN
Boards: Addiction Nursing Certification Board, STTI (home Chapter), Monmouth County Board of Addiction Services
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Amy Bruce MSN, RN, ME-BC

I was inspired to seek a board position because of my passion for health policy change. I want to help change the healthcare system to provide more optimal outcomes for the residents of WV. Continue Reading

- MSN, RN, ME-BC
Boards: WVLN, Arthritis Foundation
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Alexis Koenig EdD, MSN, RN, CNE, CCHP

I was once on the NJHA board when the IOM came out in 2010 to influence nursing and to push nurses to use their education/experience and brains! Continue Reading

- EdD, MSN, RN, CNE, CCHP

Cynthia Candow MSN, RN, CMSRN

Being a nurse for 20 years, I am ready to give back and serve the community with a unique perspective in a way not available in the hospital. Continue Reading

- MSN, RN, CMSRN

Donna M. Nickitas PhD, RN, NEA-BC, CNE, FNAP, FAAN

Journey to the boardroom began locally when I was first appointed by the Greenwich Democratic Committee to serve as a Board Member for the Department of Social Services for two consecutive terms (for a totally of four years). After this experience, I became involved with the YWCA of Greenwich serving as a Board Member, Secretary, Vice President and President for a total of 10 years. Due to my political expertise and policy background, I was elected to the Greenwich League of Women’s Voters Board and served has President for three years. My local experience in my home town provided ample training and development on board governance. Continue Reading

- PhD, RN, NEA-BC, CNE, FNAP, FAAN
Boards: STTI, ENRS, NLN-Connecticut League for Nursing, Editor of the Nursing Economics and Board Chair, Vice Chair of the Nursing Section of the New York Academy of Medicine
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Nurses on Boards Coalition