Director Candidate
Lauren Plaine
MPS, BSN, RN, CEN
Virginia
lauren.l.plaine@gmail.com
Why do you seek a position on the ENA Board of Directors?
I seek a position on the ENA Board of Directors because I know the impact that ENA can have on a single member, and I believe that I can help ENA continue to grow and support current and future emergency nurses. ENA and fellow members have had such a positive impact on my emergency nursing practice through the engagement and support they’ve provided, which every emergency nurse should experience.
Furthermore, I believe that a role on the board allows for an opportunity to do the greatest good for our profession and the communities we serve, since emergency nurses provide a safety net for the whole community. This resonates with my drive and desire to make a positive impact on the world through everything I do professionally and personally. Additionally, the ability to see the “big picture” and make change from a strategic level not only feels incredibly impactful, but also brings me great joy. This skill not only allows me see the strengths and weaknesses within ENA and how decisions impact the association, but also allows me to modify my actions that I take as a leader to achieve goals and lean into future success and growth.
How does your academic, professional background and experience within ENA make you a qualified Board candidate?
My academic and professional background focus around emergency nursing and management. My career began with volunteering for my local Emergency Medical Services and progressed into other roles, including ED technician, emergency nurse, assistant nurse manager, and emergency manager. I now hold a unique role in supporting federal emergency preparedness for chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear agents/materials as well as for emerging infectious diseases. In my current role, I lead multiple teams that develop guidance involving various stakeholder groups, provide strategic planning, and facilitate workshops and exercises. I am also typically the only nurse involved in guiding or influencing decisions that would impact ED nurses directly.
Within ENA I’ve held many leadership and supportive roles at the chapter, state, and national levels. However, the most important was serving as the inaugural Emerging Professional Liaison (EPL) to the Board of Directors. As the EPL, I learned to focus on governance of the association instead of operational issues as well as to listen to understand issues from different perspectives.
Through these roles I have proven my abilities to lead successful teams, work collaboratively in groups, consensus build, synthesize data to guide strategic decision-making, and think critically, question, and challenge opinions in delicate conversations.
Outline the specific skills you bring, or contributions you hope to make to the ENA Board of Directors.
I will bring many skills to the Board, but my desire to seek out change or ways to improve processes may be the most impactful for our members. I’ve been referred to as an innovative disruptor, as I’m always seeking to improve the business of the association; can easily see how the “low hanging fruit” can often detract from the larger, positive impacts of actions/initiatives; and am not afraid to bring the issue/change up for discussion. In this process, I’m also known to not be loudest voice in the room, but, instead, the most persuasive and prepared with the needed information, stakeholders, or experts to have a well-informed discussion.
Another skill to highlight is my leadership, and, while that encompasses many skills, my ability to be a natural leader since I first joined ENA cannot go unstated. I’ve not just held many leadership roles, but made those positions a success, even when not well defined. As a leader I’m agile/flexible to meet the needs of whomever I’m serving; manage conflict in a fair and professional manner, often seeking out what went wrong to correct the base problem; and seek out feedback from those I’m working with or for.
Provide a narrative that exemplifies how you demonstrate the Board competencies.
In addition to the skills and qualifications described in prior questions, I bring many other skills and influence which makes me a well-rounded candidate for the Board as well as an impactful future leader. My experience within the association demonstrates my ability to think independently, grow in knowledge, and rely on data rather than opinions to guide my actions as a leader. For example, modifying language within a resolution to include the data and differing perspectives presented/vocalized during General Assembly.
From a business perspective, my ability to recognize wider business and societal changes, including global markets, allows me to be an agile leader that is prepared to overcome challenges. Additionally, I have integrity in personal and business dealings, which has played a significant role in my success thus far in ENA. I understand legal, accounting, and regulatory requirements affecting the association, and I am often a resource within ENA as well as for other professional associations.
Lastly, I bring great emotional intelligence as a candidate for the Board. This quality allows me to connect and engage with members on a deeper level so that they feel seen and heard, which is a critical part of serving on the Board.
Conflict of Interest Disclosure
No current conflicts disclosed.
