Kelly Shank, APRN, ANP-C, will be taking over the reigns as President of the Ohio Association of Advanced Practice Nurses (OAAPN), replacing outgoing President Joscelyn Greaves, APRN-CN.
Growing up with a mom who was a nurse, Kelly says she always knew that she would pursue nursing as a career. But it was when she was in high school when she was exposed to an advanced practice nurse that she decided that is what she really wanted to do for her career.
Kelly graduated from Ursuline College in 1995, and from Case Western Reserve in 1997 with her Master’s degree as a Nurse Practitioner. After beginning her career in college health at the University of Toledo, she “returned to my true love, geriatrics,” and she has worked in geriatrics ever since.
She currently works for ProHealth Partners, Inc., and Elara Caring Hospice, and says “I find this an under-served area and love helping to increase the quality of life for these amazing people and their families.” She credits her faith with playing a big role in how she cares for her patients and says, “I try to remember that He is using me to take care of these people …that especially helps me to take care of difficult patients!”
She also recently had the opportunity to complete a year-long advanced practice nursing leadership fellowship through Duke and Johnson & Johnson, which she notes “was very intense but I am so glad I did it!”
Kelly has an adult daughter who lives in South Carolina, a son at Eastern Kentucky University who is studying Arson Investigation, and another son at home. Both boys, she notes, “are football players and 4H-ers.” In addition, she has “dogs, cats, goats, turkeys, hens, and duck…but I love my Husky the most.”
In her free time, Kelly likes to go boating with her family, or read a book while either soaking up the sun or snuggled up in front of a fire. She loves to watch football – Go Clemson! – and is dreaming of a trip to Greece, and enjoys a good rare steak, red wine, and brownies with walnuts.
Kelly originally joined OAAPN because she was new to the area and was not meeting many other APRNs in her position doing home visits. OAAPN, she says, was a great place to network. We recently had the opportunity to talk with Kelly about her role as incoming President of OAAPN, her goals, and why she thinks the organization is vital to the APRN profession.
What are your goals as incoming president?
- I really want to increase membership in the organization, increase member participation in the projects OAAPN is currently working on, and encourage members to get involved at the chapter and even board levels.
- I also would like to increase the CEU’s and workshops we offer for our members.
- I look forward to working with legislators to pass legislation that will directly impact APRNs in the state.
- And maybe most important, I want to be open to new ideas and projects our members want us to work on.
Why do you believe membership and active participation in OAAPN is important?
I believe that APRNs have a responsibility to be part of their local, state and national organizations. Networking, education, legislation are all a part of our practice. In order to be the best we can be, provide the best care for our patients, and advocate for our profession, we should all be members of OAAPN.
What value do you believe OAAPN provides for your professional development?
First of all, and maybe most importantly, they keep me updated on all the legal things I need to know. Trying to keep track of Acute and Chronic Pain laws, where I can and can’t prescribe, etc., keeps me practicing safely. Unfortunately, I see many people who don’t know the current laws.
Second, they provide great continuing education. Whether online, at a region conference, at a chapter meeting or at our amazing Statewide Conference in October, OAAPN provides some of the best education around at a great price.
Kelly’s words to live by…
If you aren’t uncomfortable, you aren’t learning. Always push your boundaries, whether personal, professional or spiritual. Never settle for complacency.
Three Things you might not know about Kelly:
- We have a small hobby farm and my kids are involved in 4H. I can butcher chickens with the best of them!
- My first job was inventory and counter service at a lawn mower shop.
- My hidden talent is precepting NPs!