Kevin McEwan, chief nursing officer (CNO) at Madison Memorial Hospital in Rexburg, Idaho, and a Doctor of Nursing Practice in Leadership (DNP) student at Boise State, has been elected to the American Organization of Nurse Executives (AONE) national board of directors to serve a three-year term.
AONE is a national professional organization for nurse leaders, CNOs, vice presidents, etc., with an overall objective to provide leadership, professional development, advocacy and research to advance nursing practice and patient care, promote nursing leadership excellence and shape public policy for healthcare nationwide. The AONE board of directors is made up of 19 nurse leaders from all levels of healthcare practice, academic environments and practicing clinical nurse leaders.
“As a board member, I hope to add to the discussion of developing frontline clinical nurse leaders that lead our teams in healthcare every day,” said McEwan. “I hope to be the voice for nurse leaders in rural states and communities that are facing all the same challenges of urban areas but with less resources to provide the same quality of care.”
As a member of the board of directors, McEwan will represent AONE region eight, which includes New Mexico, Arizona, Colorado, Utah, Wyoming, Montana and Idaho. Additionally, he will represent AONE at the American Hospital Association regional policy board three times a year. There, he will set strategic and healthcare policy directions for federal regulations and advocate for professional practice in the form of public policy, legislation and support research development.
Furthermore, McEwan will work with state affiliate organizations as he will be a voice for their needs and help them gain access to education. For the state of Idaho, he will support and represent the Idaho Alliance in Nursing and Nurse Leaders of Idaho on a national level.
McEwan is board certified as a nurse executive and has served on several other local and state wide boards both in Utah and Idaho. McEwan plans to graduate from the DNP in Leadership program in spring 2021.
“The DNP in Leadership program at Boise State is focused on identifying population health issues and applying best practices from a collaboration of healthcare professionals and influencing nursing practice and healthcare policy,” said McEwan. “The program is broadening my view and tools for leading these initiatives and solutions to transform healthcare in my new position.”
“Kevin’s leadership in rural health and clinical care will add his voice and talents to the national healthcare conversation,” said Pam Gehrke, DNP in Leadership program coordinator and associate professor for the School of Nursing. “We are excited for our DNP in Leadership students and faculty to learn from Kevin and his national board experience with AONE.”
“I am so excited and feel extremely honored to represent all of Region Eight, Idaho and Boise State University,” said McEwan.
Learn more about the AONE board of directors.