Laura Mallett, MSN, RN President, Kansas State Nurses AssociationDEAR KSNA MEMBERS, GREETINGS! I am thrilled to be working with the KSNA Board and the dedicated nurses of Kansas. I am Laura Mallett, the newly appointed President of KSNA as of January 2024. This year has begun with a myriad of challenges for the nurses of Kansas, and I am committed to addressing them.
Like many nurses in Kansas, my top priorities are the well-being of Kansas nurses and residents. I am passionate about ensuring safe work environments for nurses and delivering quality care to the residents of Kansas.
Recently, I had the privilege of meeting with Governor Kelly and several healthcare organizations in Kansas to discuss strategies for passing legislation on Medicaid expansion for the state. The discussions included alarming statistics, such as the closure of hospitals, pharmacies, doctor offices, and small businesses in Kansas. We delved into the impact of neighboring states expanding Medicaid, drawing Kansas residents for healthcare services, leading to revenue loss. The workforce challenges in Kansas were also a focal point, affecting both the insured and uninsured populations.
Governor Kelly and her team are actively collaborating with various organizations to disseminate information to the residents of Kansas and are dedicated to making Medicaid expansion a bipartisan movement in Kansas.
As a proud member of KSNA and ANA, I aspire to see all nurses in Kansas unite and amplify our collective voice for the betterment of nurses and the residents of our state.
In line with our commitment to growth, KSNA is continuing the “Member Get A Member Campaign”, aiming to increase our membership by an additional 110 members. This initiative is a continuation of the 110th celebration for KSNA from 2023, and there are exciting prizes for the member who recruits the most new members!
I would also like to express gratitude to Linda Adams-Wendling for her outstanding leadership as the outgoing KSNA President. Join me in extending best wishes to her.
I encourage all members to explore opportunities for service, whether in your regions, on KSNA committees, or by considering roles on the board or in leadership positions such as President, VP, or President-Elect. Your involvement is crucial, and I am eager to collaborate with each of you.
Looking forward to a productive collaboration!
Warm regards,
Laura Mallett, MSN, RN
President
Kansas State Nurses Association
Content of this article has been developed in collaboration with the referenced State Nursing Association.
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Julie Nyhus, MSN, FNP-BC, APRN has extensive publishing experience and demonstrated leadership in editorial excellence. As a clinical medical writer at EBSCO, she was responsible for researching, updating, editing, and writing evidence-based support tools for nurses and allied health professionals. Additional experience in health publications includes freelance work for renowned publications such as American Nurse Journal, The Nurse Practitioner Journal, and Nursing2020. She has honed her writing, editing, and peer review skills, always ensuring the clinical relevance and timeliness of the content.
Julie has over 20 years of experience as a healthcare professional and significant involvement in health publications. Her background as an advanced practice nurse, with licenses in Illinois and Indiana and board certification as a family nurse practitioner, has provided her with a deep understanding of healthcare trends, nursing issues, and clinical content. This knowledge, combined with her Master of Science in nursing and Bachelor of Arts in communication, equips her to develop content that aligns with the needs of nursing professionals.
Cheryl L. Mee
Cheryl L. Mee MSN, MBA, RN, FAAN, Executive Editorial Director, American Nurse Journal
With more than 30 years of experience in health science publishing, Cheryl has held several senior leadership roles. She previously served as editor-in-chief of a national nursing journal at Wolters Kluwer. At Elsevier, she held dual leadership positions as Vice President of Nursing and Health Professions Journals—where she led a team of publishers supporting nursing societies—and as Director of Nursing Education and Assessment Consultation, guiding faculty in integrating digital tools into curricula to strengthen clinical judgment and teaching strategies.
Cheryl has authored more than 140 publications, reflecting her sustained contributions to nursing scholarship and practice. She also serves as adjunct faculty at the Frances Payne Bolton School of Nursing at Case Western Reserve University, where she works with doctoral nursing students.
Her career demonstrates a strong commitment to service, diversity in nursing, cultural competence, and improving health outcomes for underserved populations. For over 20 years, she has served on the Board of Americans for Native Americans, supporting initiatives such as scholarships, NCLEX fee assistance, and expanded clinical experiences for Native American nursing students. She has also led annual health screening programs that have provided care to hundreds of Native American elementary school children.
