Ann Frahn
Throughout her 45-year career, Ann Frahn MS, APRN-CNS, RNC-MNN, EFM served in a variety of roles, including management, JCAHO, state and federal accreditation and compliance, facilitation of performance improvement teams, as well as a wide range of patient care experience. She retired in 2021 from Mercy Health St. Charles Hospital as the Director of Nursing.
Ann initially attended Saint Vincent School of Nursing and then went on to earn her Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Kent State University and her Masters of Science from Wright State University. Throughout her career, she focused on Women’s Health and Administration with a demonstrated ability to build teams, implement change, improve processes and improve patient care.
In her most recent position, she had 24-hour responsibility for supervising and coordinating the administrative and operational activities for the Inpatient Nursing Units, as well as oversight of Inpatient Fresenius Dialysis Contract Services. Prior to this, she served as the Manager of the Patient Care Quality Improvement Department at Baptist Hospital, Pensacola, Florida and as the Clinical Nurse Specialist for Women’s Health Services at Riverside Methodist Hospital in Columbus, Ohio.
Prior to serving in her current role as Director of Northwest Region for OAAPN, she was a member of the Columbus Chapter from 1999-2002 and then joined the Toledo and Bowling Green Chapters in 2006. Of the local chapters, Ann says, “The meetings held at the local, regional and state level allow for continuing education as well as the ability to develop friendships and support through networking with peers.”
When asked why membership and active participation in OAAPN is important to her, Ann says, “(it) provides credibility to your practice.” In addition, she says, “Being active in your organization allows you to stay current with changes and provides you with the ability to support the issues that OAAPN is currently addressing.”
Ann and her husband, George, have two grown sons, Christopher and Matthew, as well as a fur baby Pomeranian named Liam. In her free time, she enjoys spending time with family and friends, traveling, playing golf, and staying active. She is quick to note that her free time is also taken up with volunteering on various committees in my community and now with the OAAPN.
Ann’s words to live by
Integrity, ethical, truthful and compassionate
Advice for APRN students
You have chosen a wonderful profession that allows you to practice with autonomy yet collaboratively as needed to provide your patients with the highest quality of care. It is vital to belong to your professional organizations to have access to the current standards of care as well as the ability to network with peers.
Katie Worsham
Entering her third year as a Nurse Practitioner, Katie Worsham, MSN, APRN-FNP-C, RN-BC, is a Family Nurse Practitioner – Primary Care Provider with PrimaryOne Health, with a focus on both primary and preventative care.
Prior to becoming a Nurse Practitioner, Katie was a Registered Nurse for more than a decade within OSUWMC, most of that time spent in the Emergency Department. She earned her ADN from Columbus State Community College, followed by her BSN and ultimately her MSN-FNP, at Ohio University.
Katie says, “I have a passion for primary and preventative care after working in the Emergency Department for so long and seeing that having poor access to primary care led to worsening chronic illness and more frequent ED and hospital visits.” She says it was this realization that led her back to school to earn her MSN. “As much as possible, I am able to provide preventative and chronic care to patients before they hit the hospital.”
In her first role with OAAPN, Katie serves as a Co-Director of the Central Ohio Region, noting “In promoting the professional practice of Advanced Practice Nurses we have the opportunity to educate and provide increased access to care for patients.” OAAPN, she says, provides access to CEUs, offers the ability to network with other APRNs, and access to OAAPNs legal counsel.
Katie has been married for 23 years to who she calls, “the best, most supportive husband” with whom she has two adult boys. One of their sons is in the US Marine Corps who has two children “who are just the best little nuggets.” Their youngest son is currently in North Carolina attending NASCAR Technical Institute, so, she says, “who knows where he will land after graduation.”
Katie and her husband also have two rescue dogs, Ghost & Pepper, that light up their lives with the best unconditional adoration. They also frequently foster dogs for RESCUEDOhio.
Katie’s words to live by:
“Time passes no matter what: in 2, 4, 10 years what do you want to have accomplished?”
She notes, “this was said to me by a long time friend when I was starting my Associates Degree, going part-time… it was going to take 3.5-4 yrs to get a 2 yr degree due to life – having young kids, etc, and I was feeling down about it. It has stuck with me through everything and been very motivating along the way.”
And
““Why? Why not? Why not you? Why not now?” – Reza Aslan
Any advice for APRN students?
Ask the question, read the articles, go to the conferences and CME, listen to the podcasts. Never stop learning and improving your practice and your knowledge base.
Laura Willis
Laura Willis, APRN, CNP, works for Mercy Health and serves as the Lead APC of the Springfield Market and as the Nurse Practitioner for the Wittenberg University Student Health Center.
With a 30-year career in nursing, Laura has been practicing with Mercy Health since 2015. Laura initially earned her MSN (education) from Indiana Wesleyan in 2008, followed by her MSN (FNP) and her DNP from Frontier Nursing University in 2014 and 2015. She also is an adjunct professor for Franklin University and works with Wolters Kluwer as a clinical editor.
Laura currently serves as the SW Region Co-Director and South Dayton Chapter Leader for OAAPN, citing the opportunities for networking, education, and advocacy as the key reasons she joined OAAPN. She says the fact that OAAPN, “gives APRNs the chance to network and that advocates for us is extremely valuable to me.”
Laura and her husband have two grown sons and three kitties. In her free time she enjoys photography, birding, gardening, reading, and watercolor painting.
Laura’s words to live by:
“Stay where you are. Find your own Calcutta. Find the sick, the suffering, and the lonely, right where you are — in your own homes and in your own families, in homes and in your workplaces and in your schools. You can find Calcutta all over the world, if you have eyes to see. Everywhere, wherever you go, you find people who are unwanted, unloved, uncared for, just rejected by society — completely forgotten, completely left alone.” Mother Teresa
Any advice for APRN students?
Learn deeply. Be more concerned about learning the information and applying the information than ‘getting the A’.