Candidate for Director for Clinical Practice

Barbara Godden, MHS, RN, CPAN, CAPA

Professional Experience:

Barbara is the Clinical Manager of the Preop/Same Day Surgery and PACU at Sky Ridge Medical Center in the southern Denver, CO, metropolitan area.  Barbara was involved extensively in the start-up operations of this new hospital four years ago.  She is now involved in a major OR expansion, and a new surgery center, both at Sky Ridge.  Barbara was a Colorado Nightingale Award Nominee, and the First Humanitarian Award clinical recipient from Sky Ridge, both in 2004.  Barbara served RMPANA as District and Component Presidents, and on Membership and Education Committees.  Barbara joined ASPAN in 1984, serving on the Clinical Practice and Standards Committees for several years.  She currently chairs ASPAN’s Standards & Guidelines Committee and served as Chair, Council of Component Presidents in 2003-2004.  Barbara has been a perianesthesia nurse for many years, and is passionate about ASPAN and perianesthesia nursing, especially the clinical practice arena.

Membership and Organizational Affiliations:

ASPAN, RMPANA, Sigma Theta Tau

Upon review of ASPAN’s Strategic Plan and our B.A.G., describe your vision as a national leader to keep the organization current and relevant in the existing health care environment to meet the needs of the membership.   How will you assure ASPAN is strategically positioned to accomplish our goals and objectives?

ASPAN’s Strategic Plan and Big Audacious goal (BAG) is an excellent roadmap to guide ASPAN.  The objectives and actions, though extensive, are achievable with strong leadership.  Clinical practice is the core of what we do as nurses.  My passion is for perianesthesia patients, and ensuring that they receive the highest quality care possible.  To do this, we need to be guided by strong principles and our Standards of Practice, which need to be high quality, best practice, achievable, and evidence based.  We also need strong bedside clinicians who are committed to providing this level of care.  The Director for Clinical Practice is in a unique position to connect with grassroots nurses and their practice concerns, and have great influence in a variety of venues both inside and outside of the nursing community.  This affords a great opportunity to promote and enhance our specialty and the needs of our patients.