Board of Directors

Education

Kim Place attended the University of Toledo Medical College of Ohio and received her BSN in 1994.

Professional Experience

I've worked at The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center since 2004, with 12 years in the PACU and 5 years in Preop. The Unit I work in is called SPR, which means Surgical, Prep  and Recovery. Our SPR unit preops the patients that come in from home on day of surgery and then we also discharge the patients who are going home the same day. I am currently the Charge Nurse for SPR.  

Professional Achievements and Certifications

I am a Clinical Nurse IV, being both ACLS, and CAPA certified.

Professional Memberships

I am an active member of ASPAN, OPANA, COPANA, ANA and ONA.

Professional Committees and Boards

I currently serve as President of OPANA and Past President of COPANA District. I am on the Medical Center Clinical Ladder Committee, as well as, serve as the  Journal Club Coordinator and RN Planner.

Education

I received by BSN from The Ohio State University in June of 1990

 

Professional Experience

I have been a RN for 33 years. I have worked at The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center and Bethesda North Hospital, Cincinnati. I have now been at Knox Community Hospital, Mount Vernon for 26 years.  I have worked as perianesthesia nurse for the past 22 years at KCH. I am currently the Unit Coordinator (manager) of Ambulatory Surgery and Pre-Surgical Screening.

 

Professional Achievements and Certifications

I am ACLS, PALS, and CAPA certified

 

Professional Memberships

I am an active member of ASPAN, OPANA, COPANA, ANA, and ANA-Ohio

 

Professional Committees and Boards

I currently am the Vice President of OPANA and President of COPANA

 

Education

Dr. Amy Berardinelli received her initial nursing degree in 2004 from Niagara County Community College in Sanborn, NY. In 2013, Amy obtained her MSN from Walden University in Leadership and Administration and in 2016, her DNP from Chamberlain College of Nursing. Prior to nursing, Amy worked as a veterinary anesthetist at Cornell University where she completed her BS..

Professional Experience

The majority of Amy’s nursing career has been in the perianesthesia specialty with over 10 years in a perianesthesia leadership position. She worked as a RN in NY, USVI, and is currently in Cleveland, Ohio. Highlights of Amy’s career include 12 years at the Cleveland Clinic, the team lead for the New Knowledge and Innovations section for Magnet® submission, numerous nurse-led research studies, as well as the GCPANA President. Currently, Amy is the nurse manager of the adult perioperative services departments at University Hospitals in Cleveland, Ohio, a 1032-bed, level I trauma, tertiary medical center and an affiliate of Case Western Reserve University. At the national level, Amy serves as the ASPAN EBP SWT Coordinator, an author for the ASPAN Perianesthesia Ambulatory Nurse textbook, as well as a member of the standards and guidelines SWT, CPC, research committee, and research redesign task force.  

Professional Achievement/Certification

Amy is a board-certified nurse executive (NE-BC) and certified post-anesthesia nurse (CPAN). In 2018, she was awarded the Cleveland Clinic Enterprise Promotion of Evidence-Based Practice and Nursing Research annual nursing award for her ongoing dedication to nursing research and innovation. Dr. Berardinelli has published in JONA, JoPAN, and the Outpatient Surgery Magazine. Amy’s research interests include shared governance, capnography, opioid disposal, patient and family perceptions of communication, as well as the post-operative follow-up phone call. Amy has been an ASPAN National Conference podium and poster presenter since 2014. Received the ASPAN Outstanding Achievement Award at the 2022 Conference and her FASPAN Designation.

Professional Memberships

Amy is the President of GCPANA (Greater Cleveland PeriAnesthesia Nurses Association), the Immediate Past President of OPANA (Ohio PeriAnesthesia Nurses Association), and was elected 2023 to ASPAN Board as Director of Clinical Inquiry. She has served as the ASPAN EBP SWT Coordinator, a member of the ASPAN Clinical Practice Committee, as well as the Standards and Guidelines SWT, Research Committee, and Research Redesign Task Force. Amy is also a peer-reviewer for JoPAN research article submissions and the ASPAN CBO. She was elected to serve as member of the ASPAN nominating committee and received the ASPAN NIWI (Nurse in Washington Internship) scholarship. Amy lectures on Quality Improvement, Leadership, EBP, and Research at the local, state and national levels.

Education: I received my initial nursing degree from Capital University through their accelerated program in 2013. I also have a bachelor of science in Biology with a math minor from The Ohio State University. I completed my Master of Science at The Ohio State University in 2020,  receiving the Clinical Nurse Specialist Advanced Practice degree and obtaining a Nurse Educator Certificate during this time. 

Professional Experience:I have worked in several different departments. My initial job was at The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center as a Med/Surg Nurse. I then went to our Same Day Surgery PACU, where I worked for about 2 and a half years before moving into leadership. I was an Assistant Nurse Manager in the Perioperative Department for our Extended Recovery Unit for a year and a half. After that, I became a Nurse Manager of our Pre and Post Anesthesia Unit and the Extended Recovery Unit. I helped transition our PACU plus to become part of our Pre and Post Anesthesia Unit. After about eight years, I decided I wanted to see what another hospital system was like and went to work at Mount Carmel Grove City as a Nurse Manager in Surgical Services, where I helped manage three different departments: Preadmission Testing, Endoscopy, and Pre/Post/PACU. After about two years, I made my way to the Operating Room at East Hospital to round out my experiences in Perioperative Services. After a year, I then accepted the Nurse Educator position at East, which serves the Operating Room, Pre/Post/PACU and Ambulatory OR/Pre/Post staff. 

Professional Achievement/Certification:I have been a superuser for several different applications that were initiated in the hospital such as Kronos, WorkDay, and EPIC. I have been highly involved in Shared Governance through OSUWMC, having served as the co-chair for the Patient Safety committee and having led several different departments Unit Leadership Councils.  I was part of a DAISY team award in 2016. I was the recipient of the  Philippine Nurses Association of America's National Scholarship in 2019. I was also awarded the Advanced Practice Nursing Clinical Nurse Specialist Student Award in 2020. I currently hold a med/surg certification and my clinical nurse specialist certification in adults and geriatrics. I am currently ACLS and NIH Stroke Scale certified.

Professional Membership: I am a member of ASPAN, OPANA, COPANA, AORN, SGNA, PNAA, PNACOh, and ANA.  I currently serve as an RN Planner for the hospital 

Professional Board: I currently serve as the Secretary to OPANA and Recording Secretary of COPANA. I am the President- Elect for PNACOh and will serve as the President from 2024-2026

Education

I received my associate Degree in Nursing in 1977 from the Kettering College of Medical Arts in Kettering, Ohio and 30 years later, in 2007, I received my Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Indiana Wesleyan University.

Professional Experience

I have been a registered Nurse for almost 40 years and in that time I have worked in a variety of areas providing me with a wide range of experience.  As a new RN, I moved to Southern California with my then new husband, and worked as a house float in a small community hospital. During the 5 years there, I worked Med-Surg, Ortho, ED, Maternity and became the relief night house supervisor. My husband and I moved back to Ohio in 1982 and I returned to Kettering Medical Center where I had trained. I started working in a Cardiac Step Down/Telemetry Unit and over the next 10 years worked the ICU, ED and Employee Health before being talked into working resource in the PACU by a friend.  From the resource position, I transitioned into a part-time position, then into a full-time position and 10 years ago, I became the Team Leader for the PACU.  After more than 20 years in the PACU, I still enjoy the challenge and variety of perianesthesia nursing.

Professional Achievements and Certifications

CPAN. ACLS, TNCC, PALS, EPIC Super-user for the PACU

Professional Memberships

I have been a member of ASPAN, OPANA, and DAPANA since 2003 when I first obtained my CPAN certification. In 2009 I became DAPANA President and held that office until 2016 when I filled the OPANA Treasurer Position that I currently hold.

Education

Diploma in Nursing 1983 - Akron Idabelle Firestone School of Nursing. Attended toward BSN Kent State, University of Akron, Virginia Commonwealth University, and Trident Technical College. Licensed Massage Therapist Ohio and South Carolina with Certification from the Dr Vodder School Lymphatic Drainage in both MLD and  CPT. BSN program at Youngstown State University with  graduation September 2022.

Professional Experience

My journey began in rehabilitation at the Medical College of Virginia - Richmond, VA  with short stays in Los Angeles, CA and Charleston, SC before returning to Ohio. I have worked in  specialties of Rehabilitation, Neurology, Neurosurgery, Oncology and Emergency Nursing. My original home is Ohio, so I returned in 2002 and worked at the University Hospital - Portage Medical Center in medical and emergency nursing. My PeriAnesthesia experience started in May of 2008 and continues to presently working Pre-op and PACU. I find working in both units allows me to utilize the knowledge gained in keeping my current CPAN and CAPA certifications. Currently working in Home Healthcare.

Professional Achievements

I was a CRRN in rehabilitation and OCN in oncology while working in those specialties. Current ACLS, PALS, CPAN 2014 and CAPA 2015.

Professional Membership

ASPAN, OPANA,  NEOPANA since 2010

Professional Board/Comm

Current  ASPAN Coordinator of  Well-Being SWT 2023-2024, Membership and Marketing SWT 2016-2018, OPANA Gold Leaf Chair/Shining Star Award 2015-2018, 2022-2023. Past OPANA President 2019-2021 and current Board Member, as well as, NEOPANA Board Member.  I love to travel and learn. I am a history and genealogy nut. Many of you know Debby Niehaus and I found out we share a Great-Grandmother when we were talking about genealogy in Kansas City LDI! You never know how membership in ASPAN may benefit your life! I’m honored to serve OPANA and work with a great team!

Education

Debby Niehaus graduated from Bethesda Hospital School of Nursing with a diploma 1970 and obtained her BSN and Business Degrees in 1989 from the College of Mount St. Joseph in Cincinnati, Ohio.

Professional Experience

Debby had an interest in perianesthesia nursing from her first rotation in nursing school, so much so that she convinced the Director of the unit to let her work while in school. She was the first student trained as a Student Tech II in the main hospital Post Anesthesia area, working evenings for two years. As an RN, she worked in Phase I PACU/Special Procedure Unit. After seventeen years in this unit, Debby completed a nursing research study, moved from Ladder Level III to Clinical Nurse IV, was a preceptor, educator, charge nurse, completed her CPAN certification and her BSN. Being involved and an Officer nationally in ASPAN, she was aware that “Ambulatory Surgery” was the future.

Debby moved to a new freestanding ambulatory surgery center in 1987 and was there for the set-up of the PACU and bringing along her “ASPAN Standards”. Debby loved clinical nursing and worked PACU Phase one and two, the OR for monitored sedation, and was trained and often given assignments in Pre-surgical Services, Circulator in the OR, Endoscopy, Educator for Perioperative Services, and served as Chair on many Hospital Councils and Committee representing her North Ambulatory Surgery Center and Clinical Nursing. Debby retired after forty-seven years working in perianesthesia nursing care units.

Professional Achievements/Certification

At the National Level Debby served on ASPAN Board 9 years:  ASPAN Executive Board Member two years, Treasurer four years, and one year each for Vice President, President 1990-91, and Immediate Past President. Debby is a Charter member 1980 of ASPAN, has chaired numerous ASPAN Committees and SWTs, been an Ambassador for ASPAN at many national nursing meetings and events, been a liaison with other national nursing organizations, and proudly represented ASPAN at a Nurses Day Luncheon at the White House. She has written chapters, edited ASPAN’s and other Medical Core Curriculums, written articles for JOPAN and Breathline, a peer reviewer for JOPAN, and completed assignments as a Past ASPAN President including being a successful leader/mentor in the Emerging Leaders Program.

Debby did item writing for both CPAN and CAPA certification exams and was ABPANC Board CPAN certified in the inaugural class taking her test November 1986 when certification was first available and maintaining for 35 years through 2021 when she became her current designation as a CPAN retired.

Professional Memberships

Debby is a Charter member 1979 and Past President of Cincinnati CAPANA District and current Treasurer of CAPANA. She is an OPANA Charter member 1979 and served twice as President and is a Board member currently serving as OPANA Webmaster and Historian.

Debby is a Charter member 1980 of ASPAN who served on National Board as President, Treasurer and Board member for nine years and chaired numerous ASPAN Committees and SWTs. She takes immense pride that she has attended every ASPAN National Conference since the first in 1982. Debby has been a Member, Officer and Representative for Nursing organizations and Federations over the years including: AORN, FASA, NSFNO, ANA, AACN, and ASPMN.

Debby currently serves ASPAN on Development SWT, Membership and Marketing SWT, as a Leader/Mentor in Advancing/Emerging Leaders SWT, and the ASPAN Past President Circle of Honor.

Education

While in nursing school, I worked as a Nurse Tech at Massillon Community Hospital from 2003-2005. I graduated Summa Cum Laude from the University of Akron with my Bachelor of Science in Nursing and a minor in Psychology in 2005. 

Professional Experience

I worked for 1 1/2 years on the Medical/Surgical floor at Massillon Community Hospital (now Affinity Medical Center) in Massillon, Ohio. In 2006, I obtained my ACLS and PALS for the first time. In January of 2007, I started in the PACU. Since being in the PACU, I have also crosstrained to primarily SDS with some floating to PAT and Endoscopy. I was part of the GEM program at my hospital in 2011 and 2012.

During this time, I redesigned our PACU and SDS nursing records.  In 2013 when our hospital went to computer charting, I was the PACU super user, which included helping train my coworkers in PACU and SDS on charting. Since 2013, I have oriented several new employees to PACU as well as several new SDS employees to PACU call. 

Professional Certification/Achievements

I obtained my CAPA certification in 2011. I am a member of Sigma Theta Tau International Honor Society of Nursing.

Professional Membership

I have been a member of ASPAN since 2007 and involved with NEOPANA since 2011. 

Professional Board/Comm.

I served as NEOPANA President from 2014-2015. Since 2009, I have attended 9 ASPAN National Conferences. I was OPANA  President 2017-2019 and a NEOPANA Board Member. I also served on the 2017- 2019 ASPAN Representative Assembly for OPANA. Currently on the OPANA Board and is the "SNOOZE News" newsletter Editor.