Colorado Emergency Nurse Award Nominations Open Through Oct. 31
Meet the Candidates
Eric Christensen--President Elect
I am currently seeking the position of President Elect in 2020 and as required for the nominations process, I am writing in order to provide a summary of my qualifications and relevant experience. I have been active as a member of COENA since 2002. I served as the Denver Mountain View Chapter Treasurer in 2003-2004, and from 2005-2010, I served on our Board of Directors. This included 3 years as President. In addition, I have served as the State Trauma Chair since 2012, and have been the Pediatric Committee chair since 2015. I am also the current chair of the Bylaws Resolution Committee. In addition to my local and state contributions, I have also been active nationally. I served on the National Resolutions Committee from 2012-2018. During this time, I served for 2 years as the Chair of the committee. I have been a delegate for the state of Colorado in almost every General Assembly since 2002. I have co-authored 2 successful resolutions and I have co-authored a bylaws amendment. I have also been a content reviewer for both the TNCC 7th edition and ENPC 5th edition provider manuals, and recently I have authored exam questions for the latest versions of both courses. I believe that COENA has grown significantly over the last few years and I would like to contribute to that momentum. I have demonstrated commitment to our organization from the local to national level. I believe that these activities as well as running my own successful business will easily characterize me as a worthy candidate. I am looking forward to running again for office.
Kory Scheideman--Treasurer Elect
My name is Kory Scheideman, and I seeking election into the Treasurer Elect position for the Colorado ENA. I have over 25 years of Emergency Medicine experience, with the last 12 years working as an Emergency Department nurse. I am currently the manager of a 12 bed Free Stand Emergency Department in Fort Collins, and I have been working in a leadership role for the last 5 years in my organization. This last year I attended the General Assembly as a Delegate, and continued to work with the Colorado ENA as a delegate with the bylaw revision committee. During this time, I have really got to know more of the Colorado ENA members and see how much an impact one person can make in our professional organization. I meet all qualifications as an active member in the Colorado ENA, and Current registered nurse licensure. As a manager, I am very familiar with managing, tracking and planning budgets on a daily basis. As the healthcare industry continues to figure out how to do more with less, I have the knowledge and commitment to run a smooth account. Our current treasurer has done an amazing job already, and I plan to continue that excellent track record. With this role I hope to continue to serve the Colorado ENA in the future as an active member for our community. If I was to be elected into the Treasure Elect Position, I would work with our current Treasurer to ensure a smooth transition of the next year. As with any great leader, I would immediately seek and foster the next generation member into the treasurer role with an integrated succession planning. I would truly appreciate your vote for this position. Thank you, Kory Scheideman ss offers? Say it here.
2023 Board
Colorado ENA Committee Chairs
TNCC/ENPC Chair: Eric Christensen
Eric Christensen is a registered nurse living in Littleton, Colorado. He is currently employed in the emergency department at Denver Health Medical Center. He also owns and operates his own traveling education business which serves medical professionals and facilities throughout the rocky mountain region.
Mr. Christensen has been involved in emergency care for over 28 years. He began his career as an Emergency Medical Technician and earned his baccalaureate degree in nursing. He has achieved dual board certifications in emergency nursing and pediatric emergency nursing. Eric finds joy in caring for patients and families during their times of need, and he is passionate about educating all levels of emergency providers.
During his career, Mr. Christensen has been very active with both the Colorado and National Emergency Nurses Associations. He has served as president for the state of Colorado for 3 years and he is currently the chair of the state Trauma and Pediatrics Committee. Nationally, Mr. Christensen is the presiding chair of the ENA resolutions committee.
Eric is active as both a course director and faculty for the nationally recognized Trauma Nursing Core Course and the Emergency Nursing Pediatric Course. He is also a course director and training center faculty for the American Heart Association’s Advanced Cardiac Life Support and Pediatric Advanced Life Support Courses.
Mr. Christensen has presented lectures at the Colorado and Iowa State Nursing Conferences. Eric has lectured nationally for both the Emergency Nurses Association and for the American College of Emergency Physicians. He has a genuine passion for educating emergency care providers across the spectrum.
Eric has been recognized multiple times throughout his career including the Outstanding First Aid Award from the American Legion Post #471, the Denver Health Medical Center Emergency Department Preceptor of the year, and he was a nominee for the Florence Nightingale Award.
Eric is a firm believer in his own guiding principle that it is not just important to know what to do, it is important to understand why you are doing it.
Education Chair: Chris Hendricks
Chris Hendricks has been in critical care emergency medicine since 1994 as an EMT, nurse, and paramedic. He has long been a preceptor and educator. He currently is the Clinical Practice Coordinator at Boulder Community Health Emergency Department, and a Flight Commander and Nursing Flight Instructor in the Wyoming Air National Guard. He holds an MSN, and certifications in Emergency Nursing (CEN) and Forensic Nursing (CFN). He also is the author of a book of Crossword Puzzles for Nursing, entitled Crossword Nurse.
Boulder Community was a pilot hospital for the Colorado Hospital Association 2017 Opioid Reduction project (ALTO) and Chris is eager to share his experience with interested educators. He also is a member of the Boulder County MDT team to combat Human Trafficking and is a champion for Human Trafficking education and advocacy.
IQSIP Chair: Heather Watson
Fundraising Chair: Chelsea Collins
Chelsea has been a nurse for 3 years, beginning as a new graduate in the ER. She has worked in the Denver Metro area, where she also works as a Forensic Nurse Examiner and Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner. Chelsea obtained her BA in Anthropology from Idaho State University in 2008, her ASN from College of Western Idaho in 2014, and her BSN from Boise State University in 2015. She is currently a student at Johns Hopkins University, School of Nursing, working towards her Doctor of Nursing Practice, Clinical Nurse Specialist, Adult-Gerontological Critical Care Degree. She is also working to obtain her Nurse Educator Certificate during her degree.
Chelsea is currently on the Colorado Government Affairs committee, as well as serving on the National ENA Resolutions Committee. She is passionate about health policy, government affairs, and education. Chelsea has served in leadership roles beginning in nursing school where she was the President of Idaho Student Nurses Association for two years, serving on the Council of State Presidents for National Student Nurses Association. She has planned conferences and done fundraising in these roles.
Scholarship Chair: Debra Steveson
Debra is a current ENA member and has been active in the Colorado chapter for more than 9 years, most recently as a delegate to Nationals and as co-chair of the Government Affairs Committee. Debra is the Clinical Nurse Educator for Good Samaritan Medical Center's ED.
Conference Planning: Andrea Moore
2022 Awards Banquet
State Conference November 2019
2018 National General Assembly and Education Conference
Day on the Hill 2023
Day on the Hill 2022
Resolutions
2017
Colorado's 2017 Resolution Requesting a National Standard for Child Passenger Restraint was PASSED by the ENA General Assembly! We requested the ENA work with other key stakeholders to develop one set of standards for child safety seats. State laws and several organization recommendations conflict. We asked for one solid resource everyone can turn to for best practice.
2016
Colorado's 2016 Resolution Requesting Research on the Impact of Marijuana Legalization on Emergency Departments, Children, Adolescents, and Young Adults was PASSED by the ENA General Assembly!
A BIG thank you to our 2016 President, Shawn Ullrich, 2017 President Sharon Schultz, and 2018 President Jeane Shupe for all of your hard work writing and presenting this resolution!!