UNP Election: Candidate Information

Posted over 5 years ago by Daphne Solomon

The UNP Board of Directors Election ballot is open.

UNP members will receive a link to the UNP 2018 Board of Directors Ballot via email. Voting will be open October 29, 2018 through November 12, 2018

Candidates for positions are:

President Elect Nominee

Dr. Melissa Hinton

Dr. Hinton 2018

Melissa Hinton, DNP, FNP-BC, CARN-AP, has served as UNP board member for the last 2 years. She has been a nurse for 27 years with ER and ICU experience as well as flight nursing and float pool experience (basically, the gamut) in both the Salt Lake area and rural Utah. She was raised in Cedar City and now lives in St. George, has 5 children and 4 grandchildren. She is actively involved in community events, enjoys music and performing, and enjoys running marathons and hiking. Melissa completed her MSN (Family Practice) in 2009 and her DNP in 2011. She has experience in Acute Medicine, Family, and Pain/Addiction medicine in which she is also certified.

Utah's Nurse Practitioners have seen enormous strides in unrestricted practice this past year, liberating each of us to practice to our full education and scope and develop stronger relationships with our colleagues as independent providers. This is an exciting time for NPs! The remarkable changes that we have seen this year in legislation against powerful political entities is unprecedented in Utah. We can and MUST keep that momentum.

Melissa has been interested and involved in the progress that has been made this year, but also feels that there needs to be unified strength and interest in what is happening to make the final changes to state law that limits our full practice authority. Melissa has a passion and excitement for what our profession can do for the healthcare system and would be pleased to continue to work with Utah’s Nurse Practitioners. Her personal goals are to continue to be a voice that supports the association’s political efforts and the needs of Nurse Practitioners on the front lines.

Treasurer Nominee

Dr. Janet Crawford

Janet Crawford 2018

Janet Crawford, DNP, MBA, APRN, FNP-C dedicated and meticulous Advanced Practice Professional with 38 years of a proven record of quality patient management, developed critical thinking ability, department and personnel management, staff development, as well as outreach educational project initiatives that span the nation. She is a skillful expert in patient management, procedure performance, critical thinking, patient progress anticipation, outcomes management, and positive family, patient, and colleague interactions. Janet is proficient in planning, developing, supervising and implementing learning opportunities, diversified policies, new programs and procedures, for optimum productivity and cost efficiency.

I am excited to continue in my efforts to serve my Advanced Practice Colleagues in the State of Utah. I feel with my depth and breath of experience, I can bring ideas to the table that I have gleaned from around the nation. I have served on multiple local and national Board of Directors and bring that unique experience to this organization. I would love to continue in my service to you!

Board Member Nominees

Dr. Amy Bleak

Dr. Bleak 2018

Amy Bleak DNP, FNP-BC

Amy Bleak has been a nurse for over 22 years. In 2017, she graduated with her Doctorate of Nursing Practice from the University of Utah, and is currently working as an FNP at the Four Points Community Health Clinic and Intermountain Workmed in Cedar City, UT.

During her career, she has worked in a variety of settings, including ER, SANE, and Flight Nursing. In the past few years, she has helped to integrate the medical program into Iron, Kane and Beaver Counties CJC.

Over the past 11 years, Amy has served as the Nurse Manager for the Infusion, Oncology, Diabetes, and Wound Outpatient Clinic at the Cedar City Hospital and was responsible for opening the Cedar Hospital Cancer Center. This was Intermountain Healthcare’s First Integrated Oncology Clinic and has served as a model for Intermountain Cancer Services.

“I enjoy new journeys and experiencing new adventures. I enjoy the political process, and as an UNP board member, I would be able to help the board navigate through the political arena and help facilitate legislative changes. I have a vast experience within the political process. I believe, as nurse practitioners, we should be recognized for our strong influence on the healthcare system. The future of healthcare lies with the nurse practitioners. If we stand together, we will be able to achieve great things.”

Amy is married to Mike, a retired Police Officer and together they have 3 children.

Dr. Denise Ward

Dr. Ward 2018

Biography

Dr. Denise Ward is an assistant Professor (Clinical) in the Division of Acute and Chronic Care in the College of Nursing. She is certified an Acute Care Nurse Practitioner (ACNP) and Family Nurse Practitioner(FNP).

Career Highlights

Dr. Ward has over 30 years of clinical experience. Her experience includes Emergency Medicine, Intensive Care, Flight Nursing, and Family Practice. She is currently working as a ACNP in telecritical care (TCC) and ICU at LDSH, and is the Director of the Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner Specialty Track in the DNP program. She has been with the College of Nursing since 2012.

Publications

Ward, D and Ferguson, J. (2017). Common Respiratory Disorders. In Patricia Gonce Morton (Author) and Dorrie K. Fontaine (Author) Critical Care Nursing: A Holistic Approach (11th Edition -pending). Lippincott, Williams & Wilkins.1. Chapter in Book. Published, 03/31/2017.
Justin R. Rhees, Carolyn H. Scheese, Denise Ward, Lynn Hollister, Takara Blamiers, Diana G. Wilkins, Connie Madden, Clinical Practice Simulation for Blood Transfusion Reactions: An Interprofessional Approach. Clinical Laboratory Science, Vol.28 No. 4 Fall 2015. Published, 09/30/2015.