Candidate for Director for Clinical Practice

Maureen McLaughlin, BSN, RN, CPAN, CAPA

Professional Experience:

Maureen is a Clinical Educator for a 30 bay Phase I PACU in Burlington, MA, and has over 25 years of perianesthesia nursing experience.  She has been active in many ASPAN committees, including Clinical Practice, Standards and Guidelines, Membership and Marketing and Education Approver.  She is the current Chair of the ASPAN Governmental Affairs Committee.  Maureen is also a member of both the Advocacy Strategic Work Team and the Web Redesign SWT for ASPAN.  In 2005 and 2007, she was part of the Standards and Guidelines Committee that revised the ASPAN Standards. Maureen presented at the 2007 Component Development Institute and will be a lecturer at ASPAN’s 2008 National Conference.  At the component level, Maureen is the immediate past president of MASPAN.  Under her leadership, MASPAN was the proud recipient of the 2005 Gold Leaf of the Year Award.  Maureen is completing her Master’s in nursing preparation at Boston College.

Membership and Organizational Affiliations:

ASPAN, MASPAN, ANA/MARN, AACN/MVC, Sigma Theta Tau/Alpha Chi Chapter, Massachusetts Organization of Nurse Executives, National Association of Clinical Nurse Specialists

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 ensure that ASPAN is strategically positioned to accomplish our goals and objectives?

As Director for Clinical Practice, I will strive to provide the most current, evidence based information to our perianesthesia nursing colleagues to facilitate expert nursing practice.  Expert clinical practice is sought by all: the bedside nurse attempting to provide the best nursing care possible; the nurse manager, accountable for the overall competence of the unit; the patient and family, who depend on the skill and knowledge of the perianesthesia nurse to ensure a safe recovery.  As Director, I will forge a union between the Evidenced Based Practice Committee and the Clinical Practice Committee so that members have the necessary resources for inquiries not covered in the ASPAN Standards.  I will work closely with the Standards and Guidelines Committee to ensure that our ASPAN Standards reflect expert perianesthesia nursing practice and contain current, evidence-based information.  I will assist ASPAN in continuing to be an indispensable, educational resource for our perianesthesia nursing colleagues.