Ep. 164 - AMSN Legislative Action Update With Yalanda Comeaux and Michael Urton

About the Episode

Curious about what the present state of politics means for our medical-surgical nursing specialty? In this episode, the co-hosts welcome AMSN Advocacy and Legislative Committee Board Liaison Yalanda Comeaux and Incoming Chair Michael Urton to share the latest updates on the legislative issues impacting the future of medical-surgical nursing. From staffing and workplace safety to Title VIII funding and workforce development, they'll explain how AMSN is making sure the voices, challenges, and expertise of medical-surgical nurses are heard by lawmakers who can make a difference.

Special Guests

Yalanda Comeaux, MSN/Ed., M.J., BA, RN, CMSRN, is a nurse of 30 years with experience spanning specialties like post-operative care (PACU) nursing, acute care, critical care, medical-surgical/telemetry, nurse educator, and adjunct faculty in teaching medical-surgical clinical. Currently working as clinical nurse at Northwestern Memorial Hospital in Chicago. Yalanda has an MSN/Ed. and holds a Master of Jurisprudence in Health Law & Policy (M.J.) from Loyola University of Chicago School of Law. She is a grant recipient of the 2016 NIWI (Nurse In Washington Internship), which allowed her the opportunity to travel to Washington, DC, on the "Hill" where she acted as a nurse advocate on behalf of medical-surgical nurses. After her return from Congress, Yalanda's work as a volunteer with AMSN began. Her involvement includes working as committee chairperson for the Legislative team, working as a member on several taskforce projects, and currently acting in the role as a member of the Board of Directors. Yalanda is a Certified Medical-Surgical Registered Nurse (CMSRN®) and is a self-published author of RN Bound: A Guide for Becoming a Successful Nurse (2016).

Michael Urton, DNP, APRN, AGCNS, NEA-BC, FAMSN, is a board-certified adult-gerontology clinical nurse specialist and is currently the director of advanced practice nursing at Duke University Health System in Durham, North Carolina. He is vice chair of the AMSN Advocacy and Legislative Committee. Dr. Urton holds a faculty appointment at East Carolina University and retired from the U.S. Navy Nurse Corps with the rank of Lieutenant Commander.

Meet the Co-Hosts

Samantha Bayne, MSN, RN, CMSRN, NPD-BC, is a nursing professional development practitioner in the inland northwest specializing in medical-surgical nursing. The first four years of her practice were spent bedside on a busy ortho/neuro unit, where she found her passion for newly graduated RNs, interdisciplinary collaboration, and professional governance. Sam is an unwavering advocate for medical-surgical nursing as a specialty and enjoys helping nurses prepare for specialty certification. 

Kellye' McRae, MSN-Ed, RN, is a dedicated med-surg staff nurse and unit based educator based in South Georgia, with 12 years of invaluable nursing experience. She is passionate about mentoring new nurses, sharing her clinical wisdom to empower the next generation of nurses. Kellye' excels in bedside teaching, blending hands-on training with compassionate patient care to ensure both nurses and patients thrive. Her commitment to education and excellence makes her a cornerstone of her healthcare team.

Marcela Salcedo, RN, BSN, is a floatpool nightshift nurse in the Chicagoland area, specializing in step-down and medical-surgical care. A member of AMSN and the Hektoen Nurses, she combines her passion for nursing with the healing power of the arts and humanities. As a mother of four, Marcela is reigniting her passion for nursing by embracing the chaos of caregiving, fostering personal growth, and building meaningful connections that inspire her work.

Eric Torres, ADN, RN, CMSRN, is a California native who has always dreamed of seeing the World, and when that didn’t work out, he set his sights on nursing. Eric is beyond excited to be joining the AMSN podcast and having a chance to share his stories and experiences of being a bedside medical-surgical nurse.

Maritess M. Quinto, DNP, RN, NPD-BC, CMSRN, is a clinical educator currently leading a team of educators who is passionately helping healthcare colleagues, especially newly graduate nurses. She was born and raised in the Philippines and immigrated to the United States with her family in Florida. Her family of seven (three girls and two boys with her husband who is also a Registered Nurse) loves to travel, especially to Disney World. She loves to share her experiences about parenting, travelling, and, of course, nursing!

Sydney Wall, RN, BSN, CMSRN, has been a med-surg nurse for 5 years. After graduating from the University of Rhode Island in 2019, Sydney commissioned into the Navy and began her nursing career working on a cardiac/telemetry unit in Bethesda, Maryland.  Currently she is stationed overseas, providing care for service members and their families.  During her free time, she enjoys martial arts and traveling.