The OAAPN Northwest Regional Co-Director, Erin Hennessey is a Doctor of Nursing Practice educated nurse practitioner and Assistant Professor of Nursing at Gonzaga University. As a Registered Nurse, her background was Pediatric Emergent, Intensive, and Recovery Care in Burn, Trauma, and Reconstructive surgery.
Erin holds a DNP from Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland, Ohio, with a clinical focus in aesthetic dermatology and research. She is the co-owner of Blush Aesthetics in Perrysburg, Ohio, with her husband, Brad, and trains nationwide for MedAesthetics.
Erin believes that a united voice such as OAAPNs is stronger than an individual voice and that the organization’s consistent voice benefits all APRNs. When asked about the value of membership in OAAPN for her professional development, Erin says,
“OAAPN does an amazing job of bringing relevant speakers to statewide and regional conferences. This enables me to meet my educational needs without leaving the state. For busy individuals, this is a huge benefit!”
As for her advice for APRN students, she encourages them to dive deep into the information that they are being taught and to collaborate with fellow APRNs and OAAPN members. She notes, ”This group has become my go-to for clinical second opinions and advice.”
She goes on to say,
“There is a wealth of knowledge in your fellow APRNs. Leverage that knowledge, but always recognize and know what you don’t know. Don’t rush your development and find what you are passionate about!”
In addition to being active with OAAPN, Erin is an active member of the American Society for Laser Medicine and Surgery, Sigma Theta Tau, and the Dermatology Nurses Association. While she admits she doesn’t have a lot of it, she enjoys spending free time with her family, preferably traveling, and listening to audiobooks.
She resides in Toledo, Ohio with her husband, and they have two children, Emma who is 16, and Colin who is 13, as well as two naughty – but very cute – Corgi puppies. With Emma beginning her senior year of high school this Fall, Erin is looking forward to a year of lasts and firsts, and Colin keeps them busy on the weekends with sports.
As a family, they also enjoy visiting San Francisco as much as possible, as they lived there when her husband pitched for the Giants, and the city still holds a very special place in their hearts. And you can always count on Erin to look on the bright side – after all, her words to live by are from Francois Guizot, “The world belongs to optimists; the pessimists are only spectators.”