Message from the President
Moving to the Future and Accepting the Challenges
July/August 2025
Ursula Mellinger, BSN, RN, CPAN, CAPA
ASPAN President 2025-2026
The National Conference was held over three months ago. Fall is fast approaching, as ASPAN embarks on its journey to the future. It has been a busy and exciting time since I took office as your ASPAN president. I have travelled twice to Washington DC to represent ASPAN at the American Organization for Nursing Leadership (AONL) Advocacy Days and the American Nurses Association (ANA) membership affiliates meeting and Capitol Hill Day. The most urgent topics of discussion with our legislators focused on two bills, the “One Big Beautiful Bill” and the Save the Healthcare Workers Bills. The latter bill would make it a federal crime to knowingly assault a healthcare worker on their work property.
Relocating to a new home or job is never easy. There is always a certain amount of uncertainty, angst, and apprehension. You worry about your new neighbors and whether you will get along with them. You wonder if your new supervisor will have a positive impression and like you, whether the unit has a copy of the ASPAN Standards, and if there are others who are certified. But we recognize the challenges and accept them. And we move forward. As ASPAN moves forward, questions arise about whether the new Chapters will integrate smoothly with other states in the regrouping, and whether a new Chapter Director will be appointed. How will I contact the national office, will we have policies and procedures, will we have opportunities for nursing professional development? Who takes care of the finances?
We may feel lost in this process, but I can honestly say ASPAN’s Enhancing Organizational Capacity Strategic Work Team (EOC SWT) is moving along with precision, forethought, planning and integrating ideas and processes. They are leaving no stone unturned. All SWT members can share their views and ideas. Innovations and collaboration among the teams and even other SWTs (NextGen SWT) have been amazing. Updates will continue as we progress through this. We look forward to seeing many of you at the Perianesthesia Development Institute this November in Louisville, Kentucky, where we will discuss final ideas and processes.
This summer, we also had the opportunity to welcome Pete Pomilio, ASPAN’s new Chief Executive Officer (CEO). Pete was able to attend the National Conference SWT meeting in San Francisco to finalize plans for the 2026 national conference.
We are looking forward to seeing many of you at ASPAN’s Perianesthesia Development Institute in November. We invite you to attend this high impact meeting, where there will be opportunities for discussion and interaction. You will also have the opportunity to meet new ASPAN CEO Pete Pomilio.
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