Kentucky Nurse - June 2021

June, July, August 2021 Kentucky Nurse • Page 7
Meet the Kentucky Nurses
Association Board of Directors
We hope you enjoy this continuing series,
“Meet the Kentucky Nurses Association Boards”
that regularly appears in Kentucky Nurse. KNA
leaders tirelessly volunteer their time to advocate
for fellow nurses and those in their care. Get
to know these nurses, ask them questions and
reach out. This is your professional nursing
organization:
Kathy Hager, DNP, APRN,
FNP-BC, CDCES, is a
member of the Kentucky
Nurses Foundation Board of
Trustees
Current Professional Role:
Professor
Past KNA Positions: KNA
president and treasurer
Year Joined KNA: 1988
Kathy Hager
(KN) What made you decide to serve in a
leadership role within our organization?
(KH) I believe that our professional nursing
organization defines us and that we must actively
participate in moving the nursing profession
forward. Nurses need to be at every table that
determines the healthcare of our state and
country and at every table that defines our
nursing profession. This role extends into the
smallest community, defining population health
and the lifestyle changes that will make nurses,
Kentuckians and Americans healthy. Nurse can
do this by helping the community access healthy
food choices, promoting access to safe walk
paths, bike paths, playgrounds, neighborhoods
and most importantly, fighting for the right for
every nurse, Kentuckian and American to be
respected and enjoy mental and spiritual health.
Nurses can do this by researching the data that
leads us to these goals. Our Kentucky Nurses
Association, Kentucky Nurses Foundation and
the Kentucky Nurses Action Coalition have
these goals as their mission, the only Kentucky
organizations devoted totally to such a mission.
than the nurse who entered those doors from
the very beginning of the pandemic and then
continuing that dedication with testing and
vaccinating. Thank you, thank you, thank you!
Marsha Woodall, DNP,
MBA, RN is a directorat-large
on the Kentucky
Nurses Action Coalition
(KNAC)
Current Professional
Role: Nursing Program
Administrator/Division Chair
Year joined KNA: 2006
Marsha Woodall
Additional KNA Positions: president of
the KNA Pennyrile Chapter and serves on
the Finance, Nominating and Membership
Recruitment & Retention Committees.
Past KNA Positions: education role on the KNA
Professional Nurse Practice & Advocacy Cabinet
(KN) What made you decide to serve in a
leadership role within our organization?
(MW) I am a charter member of KNAC and
immediate past president of Kentucky Council
of Associate Degree Nursing (KCADN) and co-
chair of Kentucky Deans and Directors (KNDD). I
am active on several KNA committees and enjoy
serving/supporting Kentucky nurses. By serving
on the KNAC Board, I can influence and advocate
for the future of nursing by communicating with
nursing leaders around the state to share in KNA
endeavors. It is also important for me to serve on
the KNAC Board to represent Western Kentucky.
(KN) What would you say to others who
are considering leadership positions within
KNA?
(MW) This is a great way to have a voice and
support nursing throughout the Commonwealth.
(KN) What is your message to nurses on the
frontline of the COVID-19 pandemic?
(MW) I know you are weary…. I know you are
tired…. I know you may have permanent scars/
marks on your face from wearing your masks
13 hours at time…. I know you are frustrated
thinking how can I get the general population
to take COVID-19 seriously?! I have heard from
several of my former students working the
frontlines who have shared all these concerns.
Please know, I hear you and KNA hears you.
We are all putting forth effort to vaccinate and
educate the public in hopes of alleviating some of
your struggle. Take time for self-compassion and
self-love and always know you are worthy.
(KN) What would you say to others who
are considering leadership positions within
KNA?
(KH) We need every nurse to be part of our
mission. The more members we have, the more
we can do. If you are busy with family and work
now, join anyway. The more of us there are, the
more we can share the workload.
(KN) What would you like fellow nurses to
know about your KNA membership? What
does it mean to you?
(KH) It means that we can lead the way
for other nurses to find their perfect nursing
position – to provide the best care possible, to
provide mentorship for nurses moving from one
position to another and from one area of nursing
to another. We can be their bridge and support
structure.
(KN) What is your message to nurses on the
frontlines of the COVID-19 pandemic?
(KH) Thank you for putting your life on the
line every time you entered your place of work…
not knowing what lay beyond those doors…
having to protect your family from yourself. In the
beginning, you did not even know the monster
that lurked inside… there could be no one more
dedicated to the health and welfare of a patient
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