2016-2017 Meet the Board

President
Jennifer McNiel, BSN, RN, CCRN, CPHQ
Quality Outcomes Coordinator at The University of Kansas Hospital

Jennifer graduated from The University of Kansas School of Nursing in 2008 with a Bachelor's Degree in Nursing. She has spent her clinical time on the Medical ICU as a staff nurse and Unit Coordinator. She is very interested and excited about the opportunity to continue serving on the board for GKC AACN. She has a passion for critical care nursing and loves to support continuing education and motivating nurses to reach the next level of their career. She is excited about the opportunity to get more nurses involved with our local chapter.

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Education Co-Chair
Krista Zahner, BSN, RN
The University of Kansas Hospital
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​Krista received her BSN from the University of Missouri in 1989. She started her career in Kansas City 26 years ago, traveled the United States on contract for five years, and returned to Kansas City in 1994. At that time she began working at The University of Kansas Hospital in the Cardiothoracic ICU as a bedside nurse. She is currently in the CTS ICU as the Unit Educator. Krista has been a member of AACN for 20 years and feels that it is important to be active in the Kansas City Chapter to enhance the nursing profession at the local level.

Education Co-Chair
Julie Prater, BSN, RN
Bio coming soon!

Communications Chair 
Laura Sanders, MSN, RN
Manager, ICU/PCU/CRN at Saint Luke's South Hospital

I have been Secretary, President-Elect, and President of the local chapter in the past. I have also served previously on Visions (co-chair x 2) and most recently as a Silent Auction rep (last 3-4 years). I have been off the board for a couple years and would like to get back into an area that I haven't served in previously. Our local chapter contributes so much to Kansas City Area (and beyond) nursing community and I would like to become involved again.

Scholarship Chair
Janet Marts, MSN, RN, CCRN
Unit Educator, Cardiovascular PCU - The University of Kansas Hospital

Janet received her BSN from Washburn University and her MSN from Walden University. She has been the unit educator on Cardiovascular Progressive Care Unit at The University of Kansas Hospital since July 2012 at at KU for 12 years. She has been a telemetry/PCU nurse her entire career. She also teaches Basic Dysrhythmia and is a BLS instructor. Janet likes to serve on the board to help plan classes that focus on PCU topics. She is not far from the bedside so feels she understands what the staff nurses are experiencing.

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Treasurer
Courtney Ramlow, BSN, RN, CCRN
Quality Assurance Coordinator at Shawnee Mission Medical Center

I earned a BS in Business Management in 2005 from Baker University and a RN/BSN in 2007 from Baker University. I have four years of critical care experience. I obtained my CCRN in July 2010. I am earning my MSN in Organizational Leadership from KU School of Nursing and have an estimated graduation date of May 2015! My husband is a research scientist on neurodegenerative diseases. We have a wonderful baby girl and two dogs. I am currently employed at Shawnee Mission Medical Center where I work in the Quality Management Department as a Quality Assurance Coordinator. I work closely with physicians, policies and procedures, and CMS core measures. I would like to continue my role on the board as the secretary. I have enjoyed the past year and working with such a strong and collaborative board. It is important for me to stay involved in critical care and am grateful for the opportunity. I am a dedicated individual who wants to make a lasting imprint in nursing and continue to be involved in the Greater KC community.

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Treasurer-Elect
Brian Limer, BSN, RN, CCRN, ECMO Nurse
Children's Mercy Hospital

Kansas City native for the last 30+ years and have lived in Lee's Summit, MO since 2005. I have been married for 12 years to my wonderful wife, Nicki. Together we have a beautiful 8-year-old daughter, Penny, and she is the light of our lives. I have worked for Children's Mercy Hospital for just short of 20 years. 15 years was spent as a Respiratory Therapist on the Critical Care Transport Team. I graduated with my ADN in 2010 and my BSN in 2015 from The University of Central Missouri. Since 2012, I have been an RN in the PICU, trained and performed ECMO and CRRT and accepted a Charge RN position in fall of 2015. I love the Royals, spending time with family, and try to golf when I can find the time.

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Education Co-Chair Elect
Ali Ruckman, BSN, RN, CCRN
Staff Nurse - CICU St. Luke's Hospital of Kansas City

Hi, my name is Ali Rickman and I am currently a nurse in the Cardiac Intensive Care Unit at Saint Luke's Hospital. I started as a nursing assistant in my hometown of Albany, MO then later graduated with my RN-BSN from the University of Missouri-Columbia. I recently enrolled at Saint Luke's College of Nursing to pursue my Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner degree. I obtained my CCRN certification and attended NTI (National Teaching Institute). After attending NTI, I was able to see the amazing benefits of being a part of the AACN community. I am very excited for the opportunity to serve on the Greater Kansas City AACN board and give back to critical care nurses in the Kansas City area!

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Membership Co-Chair Elect
Jessica Flanary, RN, BSN, CCRN
MICU/CCU Nurse Manager at KCVA Medical Center

Jessica graduated from William Jewell College in 2006 with a Bachelor's degree in Nursing. She has spent her career proudly caring for our nation's veterans in the Medical Intensive Care Unit at the Kansas City VA Medical Center. She currently serves in the MICU/CCU Nurse Manager role and thoroughly enjoys leading her nurses toward their career goals. She has focused her attention on furthering their education, the pursuit of certification and supporting their daily efforts serving those who have served our country. Jessica has a passion for enduring safe practice standards and improving processes to increase both patient and nurse satisfaction. She has a love for critical care and is very excited about the opportunity to serve on the board for AACN/s Greater Kansas City Chapter.

Secretary
Kay Luft, MSN, RN, CCRN
Professor at St. Luke's College of Nursing

Kay has been a nurse educator at St. Luke's College in Kansas City for almost 30 years. Her areas of teaching and clinical expertise include critical care nursing, adult health, and pathophysiology. Kay is also an instructor for the Kaplan Corporation and has been helping new graduates prepare for the NCLEX for almost 20 years. Kay graduated from Avila College in 1974 (BSN) and The University of Kansas in 1983 (MSN). She is currently a PhD in Adult Education student at Capella University and is in the dissertation phase. She has also been a co-contributer and reviewer for many nursing textbooks published in recent years. Kay is an active member of the American Association of Critical Care Nurses (AACN), most recently having served as a President of the local chapter (GKC-AACN). She has served as a national chapter advisor for Region 14 (Missouri and Kansas), and has served on a variety of different advisory teams. She is also a member of Sigma Theta Tau, ANA and MONA. Kay serves on the Nursing Research Council at St. Luke's Hospital and volunteers her time as an ACLS instructor once or twice a year. Kay has maintained her professional certification in critical care nursing (CCRN) for almost 20 years and became a certified nurse educator in 2010. Kay appreciates the many opportunities she has had through her job and the AACN organization to promote her own and her students' learning and professional development.

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Membership Chair
Zach Wright, RN, BSN
​The University of Kansas Hospital

Zach graduated with his BSN from The University of Kansas School of Nursing in 2015. Upon graduating, he began working in the Medical ICU at The University of Kansas Hospital. In June 2014, Zach was accepted as one of two inaugural recipients of the Authentic Leadership Mentor-Mentee Program through the Greater Kansas City Chapter of AACN. "I am thrilled to have the opportunity to serve on this board alongside so many exceptional nursing leaders. This opportunity is a tremendous platform to enhance critical care nursing in the Greater Kansas City community."

Historian 
Mindy Stites, MSN, APRN, ACCNS-AG, ACNS-BC, CCNS, CCRN
Critical Care Nurse Specialist, The University of Kansas Hospital

Mindy started in nursing as a CNA, then progressed to an LPN, ADN, BSN, and her Masters' degree at The University of Missouri-Columbia in May 2012 in the CNS track. She is currently a Critical Care Nurse Specialist at The University of Kansas Hospital and is board certified as a clinical nurse specialist in adult health and critical care and maintains her bedside critical care certification. "I am so excited to have the opportunity to become more involved in the Greater Kansas City Chapter of AACN! I truly love critical care nursing and learning from my colleagues in critical care. Serving on the board would allow me to give back to the Kansas City critical care community."

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President-Elect, Visions Chair
Anne Gramkow, MSN, RN, PCCN
Nurse Manager - Heart Rhythms Management Department in the Mid-America Cardiology Clinic at The University of Kansas Hospital

I graduated with a BSN in 2009 and a MSN in education in 2011 from MidAmerica Nazarene University. My experience has been in progressive care with unit experience on a medical telemetry renal, cardiothoracic surgery progressive care, and cardiac and family medicine. I am currently the nurse manager for the Heart Rhythms Management Department in the Mid-America Cardiology Clinic at KU. I've enjoyed being part of the board for the past few years and look forward to continuing to serve and inspire others to participate in growing the critical and progressive care nursing community in Kansas City.

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Communications Chair-Elect
Emily Winkler
Student - Saint Luke's College of Health Sciences

​Emily is currently a senior nursing student at Saint Luke's College of Health Sciences set to graduate with a BSN in May of 2016. She has been in the Authentic Leadership Mentor-Menthe program for the past year. "I have learned so much from working with the local board members so far and am excited at the prospect of serving the critical care community through further involvement with the board and chapter.

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Scholarship Chair-Elect
​Jazmin Richardson
Student - UMKC

Jazmin will be a graduating senior of the University of Missouri-Kansas City's Traditional BSN program in May 2016. Jazmin is one of two students chosen to participate in the 2015-2016 cohort of Greater Kansas City's Chapter of AACN Authentic Leadership Mentor-Menthe (ALM-M) program founded by Heather Brantley. Jazmin has served as a mentor to incoming nursing students at her university and has also served as a student leader on her campus in several capacities including currently serving as the Vice President of her program's Student Nursing Association. Jazmin has shown herself to be an effective leader and is very passionate about caring for others. Since being a part of ALM-M, Jazmin has grown both professionally and personally and believes that she is more than ready to serve as Scholarship-Elect for the AACN-GKC board.

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Education Co-Chair Elect
Brooke English, MSN, RN
Staff Nurse - Pediatric ICU
Children's Mercy Hospital

I started my career as an RN in Pediatric Hem/Onc and Bone Marrow Transplant. After a few years, I transitioned to the PICU and absolutely love it. Being in critical care has challenged me to be a better nurse and truly fulfill my role at the bedside! I recently graduated with my MSN with emphasis in Nursing Education and am interested in the educational and research aspects of the nursing profession. By becoming more involved in AACN I hope to be able to bring a pediatric perspective to our chapter as well as help expand the opportunities for all critical care nurses within the Greater KC area.

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Membership Co-Chair Elect
Cheryl Buntz, RN, BSN, CCRN, SICU/PACU 
Nurse Manager at KCVA Medical Center

Cheryl has been a nurse in the Kansas City area for the past 18 years. She received her BSN in 1998 from Graceland University and is currently pursuing a MSN in Nursing Leadership and Administration from the University of Missouri-Columbia with a graduation date of May 2016!

For the past 17 years, she has been ensuring quality patient care is provided for our veterans at the Kansas City VA Medical Center. Cheryl worked at the bedside for 8 years in the MICU and now currently serves as the Surgical Intensive Care and PACU Nurse Manager. She has focused her efforts on promoting evidence-based nursing practices, effective-open communication, advocating for patients and nurses and cultivating the leader within her nursing peers.

Shawnee Mission Medical Center, Shawnee Mission, KS

Armida Torres

2016-2017 Hospital Reps

Centerpoint Hospital, Independence, MO

John Wood

Children's Mercy Hospital, Kansas City, MO

Marilyn Maddox

Cushing Memorial Hospital, Leavenworth, KS

Please contact us if you are interested in being a rep!

Kindred Hospital, Kansas City, MO

Barbara Flakus

Lawrence Memorial Hospital, Lawrence, KS

Please contact us if you are interested in being a rep!

Lee's Summit Medical Center, Lee's Summit, MO

Amy Pickren

Liberty Hospital, Liberty, MO

Miranda Hamilton

Menorah Medical Center, Overland Park, KS

DeRecia Wade

Mercy Hospital - Joplin, MO

Joan Wilson

North Kansas City Hospital, North Kan City, MO

Janell Huskey and Sandra Merritt

Olathe Medical Center, Olathe, KS

Michele Wegemer & Joey Barton

Providence Health (including St. John Hospital) Kansas City, KS & Leavenworth, KS

Jodi Fincher

Research Medical Center, Kansas City, MO

Cheryl Edwards

Select Specialty Hospital

Please contact us if you are interested in being a rep!

St. Luke's East, Lee's Summit, MO

Alana Goeringer

St. Luke's Hospital, Kansas City, MO

Cheryl Rader

St. Luke's Northland, Kansas City, MO

Craig Williams
Sarah Castillo

St. Luke's South, Overland Park, KS 

Laura Sanders

St. Francis Health Center, Topeka, KS

Please contact us if you are interested in being a rep!

St. Joseph Medical Center, Kansas City, MO

​Please contact us if you are interested in being a rep!

St. Mary's Medical Center, Blue Springs, MO

Julie Baker

Stormont Vail Healthcare, Topeka, KS

Amy Jarvis

The University of Kansas Hospital, Kansas City, KS

Janet Marts and Amanda Gartner 

Truman Medical Center, Kansas City, MO

Please contact us if you are interested in being a rep!

Truman Medical Center - Lakewood

Wendy Richardson

VA Medical Center, Kansas City, MO

Cheryl Buntz