Board of Directors Spotlight: Cindy Rothenberger
Welcome to the Board of Directors Spotlight series. Meet Cindy Rothenberger, DNP, RN, ACNS, BC, an assistant professor of nursing at Alvernia University. She has more than 30 years of experience as a medical-surgical nurse and has held numerous volunteer positions for the Academy of Medical-Surgical Nurses (AMSN). Get to know Cindy here.
What’s on your mind this month?
Here are a few things that are on my mind this month:
- So many of our colleagues are doing amazing work to enhance the quality of their care. Nurses don’t always think that they are doing anything unique or innovative. We can learn so much from each other! This month, I am focusing on taking more time to listen and learn from colleagues.
- It’s the time of year that many nursing students are graduating and joining our patient care teams. The transition to practice can be challenging. I am thinking about how I can support new nurses as they take on a new role.
- The diversity among our colleagues and patients adds so much to our experiences. This month, I am working on ways that I can be more inclusive and support belonging.
How did you get started with AMSN?
I was first introduced to AMSN through my local chapter. I was looking for a group that valued medical-surgical nursing and wanted to network with colleagues from other facilities. The monthly education programs were excellent, and I enjoyed volunteering with chapter members.
What was your journey to the AMSN Board of Directors, and why did you decide to join the board?
After being active in my local chapter for several years, I took on a leadership role. As I learned more about AMSN, I was amazed by the variety of volunteer opportunities available at the national level. I took a chance and applied to serve on the Clinical Practice Committee. Working together with nurses from around the country showed me that we can have a significant impact on patient care and our practice environment! I served several terms on the committee and then became the committee chair. The support and mentorship of AMSN leaders helped me develop the skills and confidence to seek a position on the board of directors.
What are your goals as a member of the AMSN Board of Directors?
My goal as a board member is to ensure that medical-surgical nurses have a community where we can grow professionally through education, collaborate to develop innovative approaches to patient care, and speak with one strong voice to advocate for a healthy practice environment.
What are you most excited about at AMSN and in the field of medical-surgical nursing?
There is so much to be excited about right now about AMSN and medical-surgical nursing! I am very excited about the innovative approaches that I see medical-surgical nurses using to enhance the quality of patient care, recognize excellence, and support wellness among colleagues. Medical-surgical nurses around the world are using evidence to create effective strategies to solve problems and enhance their unique practice environment.
At AMSN, I am excited about our organization’s focus on providing members with the support and information that is needed to advance medical-surgical nursing practice. Enhanced support for local chapters will help members network and learn together. Our new education content platform, Medical-Surgical Monitor, provides a way to quickly access information about clinical and professional issues. Our strategic plan provides a blueprint to guide us in amplifying the voice of medical-surgical nurses in the future.
What is one contribution you’ve made to medical-surgical nursing, big or small, that you are most proud of?
Although I have worked in a number of different settings and roles, I am currently working with nursing students in an academic setting. I think the contribution to medical-surgical nursing that I am most proud of is supporting nursing students as they move toward becoming registered nurses. Seeing former students thriving in their professional practice, knowing that they are providing quality, patient-centered care, and making a difference to countless patients is incredibly gratifying.
What is something you’d like members to know about you that they might not already know?
When I started volunteering for AMSN, I was not sure whether I had the knowledge or skills to make a meaningful contribution. I quickly learned that my skills as a nurse, such as problem-solving, prioritization, communication, organization, assessment, and evaluation, could also be used in my AMSN volunteer role. I encourage you to consider how the skills you have developed at work can be used to have an impact on our profession in a bigger way.