OMAHA, NE - The Nebraska Action Coalition (NAC)-Future of Nursing’s 3rd bi-annual award for emerging nurse leaders provides needed recognition of young nurses across the state. These nurse leaders, all under the age of 40, are the future of nursing, health, and health care in Nebraska and were recently honored at a NAC-sponsored leadership conference in Lincoln.                           

Kristene Perrin, RN, CCRN; and Melissa Snyder, MSN, RN, were recognized for their unique contributions to leadership within the nursing profession through: clinical practice, education and teaching, administrative leadership, research, writing/publishing, policy involvement/self-governance, mentoring, and/or health care innovation.

As a full-time nurse in Regional West’s Intensive Care Unit (ICU), Kristene is not only a leader who helps train new nurses, but also serves on the Nebraska Board of Nurses, devoting her time and energy to advancing the nursing profession. According to Tasha Hesman, director of Regional West’s Critical Care and Emergency Department, “Kristene is dedicated to her patients and is someone we can always count on.”

In addition to working as a full-time nursing instructor at the UNMC College of Nursing, Melissa Snyder works weekends and during school breaks on the Critical Care Unit. In addition to her other responsibilities, Melissa also sponsors the student nurses association and even took the group to nationals. Linda Fowler, clinical coordinator of Regional West’s Cardiac Intensive Care Unit, said, “Melissa is dedicated to learning and teaching. She’s not only active in her professional responsibilities, but serves as a role model by volunteering in her church and her community.”

This leadership award aligns with the nationwide Future of Nursing: Campaign for Action initiative to transform health care and build a healthier America. The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF) and AARP, champions of this initiative, along with 51 state action coalitions, recognize that the increasing complexity of health care requires the unique perspective of the nation’s largest and most trusted health care profession (Gallup 2015). Health care organizations, communities, businesses, schools, and political organizations achieve more when nurses have a voice in the decision-making process.