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Candidate for Director for Education
Antoinette (Toni) Zito, MSN, RN, CPAN, CAPA, FASPAN

Professional Experience:

Toni brings 30 years of experience in perianesthesia nursing, practicing as a clinical nurse across all phases of perianesthesia care. She also serves as Nurse Professional Development Specialist (NPDS). Toni currently holds the position of ASPAN Director for Education actively contributing as a member of Standards, Clinical Practice, and Clinical Inquiry Committees. A recognized expert in the field, Toni is an advocate for nursing research and has served as both primary and co-investigator on numerous nurse-led studies. She is committed to advancing clinical practice through knowledge dissemination—creating, publishing, and presenting at local and national levels. She is also a contributing author to peer-reviewed journals and perianesthesia publications. Toni’s service to ASPAN has included acting as liaison to the Anesthesia Patient Safety Foundation (APSF), and she continues as a team leader for a patient safety advisory group. Her honors include the Professional Development/Education Excellence Award, Innovation Award, and FASPAN designation.

Membership and Organizational Affiliations:

ASPAN, OPANA, AORN, APSF, ANA, AVA

After reviewing ASPAN’s Strategic Plan and our Compelling Vision, describe your vision as a national leader to keep the organization current and relevant in the existing healthcare environment to meet the needs of the membership.  How will you assure ASPAN is strategically positioned to accomplish our goals and objectives?

As candidate for Director for Education, my vision is to move ASPAN forward in achieving its core purpose: to advance the specialty of perianesthesia nursing. During my first term, I led the initiative to provide free contact hours, expanding access to high-quality education. While offering robust content is essential, creating platforms that are accessible, relevant, and appealing to all members requires innovation and adaptability. My approach includes leveraging the strengths of our regions, addressing clinical practice concerns, and collaborating with Clinical Inquiry to ensure our educational materials are evidence-based and targeted. Education should reflect the needs of our members, not just personal perspectives. By listening to the membership and responding to their requests, we can continue to build on ASPAN’s strong foundation. My goal is to support nurses of all ages and experience levels by expanding existing programs and creating new content with a clear, forward-thinking vision for perianesthesia care.

~ Curriculum Vitae: Antoinette (Toni) Zito