The following candidates are running for office. A link for voting will be sent to current members. If you would like to vote, please make sure that your dues are current.

If you have any questions, please email us at floridanpnetwork@gmail.com

Thank you again for your participation!

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First Vice President
Dr. Cindy Parsons, DNP, APRN-BC, FAANP

As the current Membership Chair of FNPN, I have committed my time and effort to work with the leadership to provide the structure and organization that allows a professional membership organization to serve its members. We have established strategic goals that guide the organization to develop leadership and expanded the leadership through the addition of Region Directors to help improve our communication and interactions with the local APN groups. We have developed programs to meet the educational needs of our members including an exceptional annual conference.

FNPN has developed opportunities for nurse practitioners to be involved in legislative changes, networking, and patient advocacy and with a goal enhancing the health of Floridians and advanced practice nursing.  While FNPN has been effective in garnering legislative changes to improve the practice of APNs in Florida there is still much work to do. The enactment of HB 607 will allow defined NPs to apply and register to practice to the full extent of their education and training. We have the potential of over 25,000 voices to reach our elected leaders.

If I am elected as, I commit to continue to work with the FNPN leadership to foster effective communication within the organization and from the organization to the NP community of Florida. I will also work with our FNPN leadership and lobbyist to assure that we remain active in the many collaborative nursing organizations that serve to foster our mission and advocate for the best practice environment for NPs.  It is imperative that our professional organization communicate and collaborate with other professional organizations to foster positive working relationships that can facilitate change and improvements for advanced practice nurses. It is vital in these times of rapid change to be proactive, flexible, and responsive to changes that occur within the health care arena, locally, statewide or even nationally. I will commit my time and effort to assure that FNPN is prepared to lead as a professional organization for NPs in the state of Florida. 

In addition, I will work with FNPN leadership to foster program development that leads to a vital, energetic organization that truly represents advanced practice nurses in Florida in the realm of professional and political advocacy. 

Expertise for the Office:  
I have served as FNPN membership chair 2016-2020, secretary 2012-present, and have been active with the organization for 10 years. I am a Fellow of the American Association of Nurse Practitioners and have been active with AANP for many years. Many years of active involvement in local chapter, as well as serving for more than10 years on a variety of national boards (ANCC Board on Certification for Psychiatric Nursing, chair 1995-1999; American Board of Nursing Specialties 1995-2000, secretary & Member-at-large. 

If elected, I consent to serve and attend BOD and annual meetings.

 

First Vice President
Vicky Stone-Gale, DNP, APRN, FNP-BC, FAANP

If elected as 1st VP of Legislative Affairs for FNPN, I will continue to be involved in APRN activities to advance our profession and will be actively involved during the legislative sessions, working closely with our lobbyists, bill sponsors, and legislators. I have been involved in legislation for APRN’s in Florida since 1992 and have worked throughout the years to educate the public and the legislators on our practice role and have worked on campaigns alongside key policymakers.

For many years I had the privilege of working with my colleagues and lobbyists toward the passage of the Barbara Lumpkin Controlled Substance Bill and was appointed to assist in the development of the formulary for implementation of this bill in June 2017. Independent practice for NP’s has been a passion of mine for many years and I worked tirelessly with others to assist in getting the APRN-IP bill passed. I also served as NP of the Day at the Capitol during the 2020 Legislative session. Recently, I was appointed as a member of the APRN-IP Council on Autonomous Practice to develop standards for practice. I am not new to APRN leadership positions as I have served at the local and state level for over 26 years as Ways & Means Chair and then President of the South Florida Council of Advanced Practice Nurses, Region 4 Director for FNPN, and Southeast Region Director for FNA.

I am also well versed in the rulemaking process and experienced in understanding the laws for NP’s in the state as I had a gubernatorial appointment to the Florida Board of Nursing, serving 4 years, and continue to Chair the North Probable Cause panel for the board. I feel that all of my past my experience and understanding of the legislative process will be of benefit to my role if elected.

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Membership Chair
Marcia Johansson, DNP, APRN, ACNP-BC

Thank you for this opportunity to serve the State of Florida nurse practitioners as the Membership Committee Chair for the Florida Nurse Practitioner Network. As a practicing nurse practitioner and an educator for nurse practitioners at the University of South Florida, it is very important for me to be involved in this organization not only to serve the members but to increase the membership in the State of Florida and increase awareness of the opportunities for students who are members of the Florida Nurse Practitioner Network. I have been working with the scholarship committee in promoting scholarships through FNPN.

I have been an acute care nurse practitioner for the past 22 years. I started my nurse practitioner career in Rochester, New York, and moved to Clearwater Beach, Florida in 2012 to work at Tampa General Hospital in vascular surgery. I have continued my clinical practice at Tampa General Hospital as well as expanding to the electronic intensive care unit at BayCare. Both practice sites have offered exciting opportunities to care for critically ill patients and interact with nurses and providers who share in this commitment.

In 2013, I began as an adjunct professor at the University of South Florida in the graduate nurse practitioner program. I taught in the adult-gerontology acute care nurse practitioner clinical courses as well as some of the core courses, like pharmacology and advanced pathophysiology. After completing my Doctor of Nursing Practice degree in 2016, I became the concentration director for the adult-gerontology acute care nurse practitioner (AGACNP) program and have interacted with many new AGACNP providers in the Tampa Bay area. As a nurse practitioner, it is important to be a member of an organization that provides guidance to nursing practitioners in Florida and it would be my honor to serve as the membership committee chairperson.

I am thankful for the opportunity to provide service to the FNPN organization and will work to increase not only the membership but communication with APRNs in Florida.

 

Membership Chair
Leveny Murat, RN, MSN, FNP-BC

My name is Leveny Murat, and I have accepted your nomination for membership chair. I have been an FNP for over 10 yrs and have worked as a clinician and educator for several years. I have served on several committees at church concerning yearly Health fairs and serving underserved populations at my local church. I also had the pleasure of serving on the educational committee for community service at the local college while teaching full time. I also have worked with underserved populations during house calls all over PBC.

Currently, I work at an internal medicine office specializing in hormonal therapy, dermatology, and primary care.  I also teach adjunct faculty from time to time for clinical settings. I think I would be a good fit for this position due to my many years of experience dealing with different demographics over the years.

 

Membership Chair
Wendy Paracka, DNP, APRN, NP-C, FAANP

Wendy Paracka, DNP, APRN, NP-C, FAANP, is the founder and CEO of Remise Health Solutions in Tarpon Springs, Florida. As a business owner, she has created a successful private practice for the past 17 years. The practice meets her community’s needs with a blend of primary care, urgent care, and occupational health services. In 1996, she obtained her Master of Science degree from the University of South Florida and recently completed her DNP at USF. She is board certified in adult health and has a post-master’s certificate in family health. She is certified in workers’ compensation care and recently contributed her expertise for an AANP position paper on the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration’s proposed policy with obstructive sleep apnea.

A recognized expert with commercial driver examinations, she was invited to participate on a federal panel of medical professionals for the Department of Transportation. Tasked with developing a certification exam to assess the aptitude of CDL medical examiners involved two years of dedication and frequent meetings in Washington, DC. She lectures nationally on DOT topics and spearheaded course development for NPs preparing for the national Medical Examiner Certification exam. In 2014, she co-wrote and produced an eight-hour course for AANP’s continuing education department and is a regular speaker at AANP’s national conferences and FNPN’s state conferences.

During the 2020 state legislative session, Speaker Oliva extended Wendy an invitation to represent nurse practitioners at the Legislative Clinic. This involved serving in the clinic as NP of the Day and treating the legislators and their staff’s medical needs. She is one of six nurse practitioners from across the state to be selected for this honor and introduced by Speaker Oliva to the House of Representatives. She has been awarded an achievement of excellence as an NP preceptor and actively participates, and contributes, at state and federal levels regarding NP practice concerns.

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Secretary
Thomas Schlepko, DNP, APRN, FNP-BC Incumbent

Dr. Tom Schlepko, the current secretary of the Florida Nurse Practitioner Network, has been a strong advocate for full NP practice while serving on the Board of Directors. In addition to this advocacy role, he also brings significant skills from his current roles as Vice President for the Nurse Practitioner Council of Miami-Dade County, policy committee co-chair for Integrative Medicine for the Underserved (IM4US), and a mentoring committee member at the Miami Rescue Mission Homeless Center.

Dr. Schlepko is a family and integrative medicine nurse practitioner who works in Miami, FL. In this role, he has spoken on integrative health topics at numerous national and statewide conferences. He earned his Doctor of Nursing Practice degree, achieved post-graduate training in integrative medicine and mind-body medicine, completed the Duke University-Johnson and Johnson Nurse Leadership Fellowship, and is finishing coursework for his Psychiatric-Mental Health Board Certification.

His other roles include being a faculty member at Barry University and a visiting professor at Chamberlain University. As a researcher, he was a recipient of an AANP grant that assessed fitness in a homeless population and an AANP Research Committee member. Dr. Schlepko is also the co-founder of Health and Wellness Creations which offers health & wellness coaching, integrative health education, and mind-body wellness training. In his downtime, he enjoys spending time with his family and keeping fit.

If re-elected as the secretary of the FNPN, he will continue to use his skills to advocate for all NPs and for increased access to high-quality NP care for all Floridians.

Secretary 
Deborah Tedesco, DNP, APRN, ANP-BC, AP-PMN, CWS, CWCN-AP

Deborah Tedesco has been a nurse practitioner in Orlando for over 20 years. She began her career as a nurse in the US Air Force, after graduating from UCF in 1993. After leaving military service, she obtained her MSN from UF in 1999, and her DNP from UCF in 2018. Deborah is a clinic-based nurse practitioner at Orlando Health Aesthetic and Reconstructive Surgery Institute, providing care to individuals undergoing reconstruction due to cancer or trauma. She is certified in adult health, pain management nursing, and wound care.

Deborah is an adjunct instructor in the DNP program at UCF and serves as a preceptor for APRN doctoral students. Her research and quality improvement projects include surgical pain management while limiting opioids, managing expectations of women undergoing breast reconstruction after mastectomy, patient quality and safety, and the patient experience. Deborah has shared her research and quality improvement projects at the local, state, and national levels.  She is active in health policy, advocating for issues related to APRN practice and patient safety.

Deborah is a board member of her local nurse practitioner group, The Central Florida Advanced Nursing Practice Council (CFANPC). She has held the positions of Secretary-Elect, Vice President, President, and is the current Immediate Past President. She also coordinates volunteer activities for CFANPC membership. Finally, Deborah is a member of the Florida Coalition of Advanced Practice Nurses and serves as the Recording Secretary.

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Region 2 Director
Pamela Johnson MS MSN FNP-BC APRN

I feel it is a privilege to be nominated as the Region 2 Director for the FNPN Board of Directors. I believe I have made a measurable impact in the profession of nursing for the past 40 years as an advocate for patients as well as an advocate for all nurses. Having worked in every critical care setting including as a life flight nurse and nurse educator I know I can bring another voice to help the community of advanced practice nursing and show advanced practice nurses are a vital entity in health care today. 

As a nurse practitioner, I have always tried to inspire nurses to excel in their chosen profession by breaking racial and social barriers with the art of touch and compassion. The scope of my work has included publication in ARNA, and as a consultant and reviewer in Brunner and Suddarth’s Textbook of Medical-Surgical Nursing, Volume 1, 10th edition. I have spoken at numerous conferences on the topics of cardiovascular and neurology/stroke. As a mother of a pediatric cancer survivor, I continue to speak and advocate for pediatric cancer issues. 

If nominated it is my hope to inspire Region 2 and share FNPN ideas directly to nurses by creating strong ties. I believe in open dialog and am inspired to be the liaison between the FNPN Board of Directors and FNPN membership in Region 2. 

Region 2 Director
John R. Lunde, DNP, MBA, AGACNP/FNP-BC, FCCM

I am Dr. John R. Lunde and I work as a Critical Care Nurse Intensivist in Northeast Florida. I have been practicing over twenty years in a variety of settings from the outpatient office setting, the Emergency Department and currently in the ICU. I am actively involved in precepting and teaching in the providers of tomorrow.

It is important now more than ever that we continue to solidify our place in the healthcare delivery system. In recent months, we have encountered challenges in how and where we provide care. It requires us to have a voice in healthcare delivery and be present at the table when decisions are made that affect our profession. I would be honored to serve the practitioners in the region as we continue to address issues and practice barriers that affect us all. Stay safe.

Region 2 Director
Susan L. Smith, Ph.D., APRN, ACNP-C, FNP-C, RNFA, WCC, FAANP Incumbent

I am the current Region 2 Director for the FNPN. It has been my pleasure to serve APRNs throughout my region and the state. Our Board of Directors is dedicated to developing the Region Director’s role in order to address the unique needs of the five designated territories. My professional focus is on the care of burn-injured patients and research. I am a Burn Trauma Nurse Practitioner in Orlando with over 20 years of burn nursing experience. I received my Masters of Science in Nursing from the University of Tampa in 1998, Graduate Certificate in Acute Care from the University of South Florida, Doctor of Healthcare Sciences in 2005, and Ph.D. in Health Care Sciences from Nova Southeastern University in 2017.  I am nationally certified in Family Practice, Acute Care, and Wound Care, in addition to training as an RN First Assist.

My published manuscripts include a variety of patient care topics and advanced nursing practice and I have been honored to present nationally and internationally.  I am dedicated to supporting advanced practice nursing and am an active member of my local NP group, serving in several board positions, including past president. It is also my honor to serve as a Fellow of the Academy of Nurse Practitioners. I would be honored to continue in this position and participate in its ongoing evolution.  

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Region 4 Director
Diane Y. John Ph.D., APRN, FNP-BC, CNE 

I am excited about the nomination of Region 4 representative on the FNPN Board of Directors (BOD).  Before I share more information about me, I would like to thank You for being a member of such a valuable organization, which has been instrumental in supporting the APN profession and APN practice.

Who am I:

• Diane Y. John Ph.D., APRN, FNP-BC, CNE
• Wife, Mother, and Grandmother (1 girl, 6 boys)
• Family Nurse Practitioner 
• Associate Professor (Graduate Nursing Program; Family Nurse Practitioners, Certified Nurse Midwife, Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner, Women’s Health Nurse Practitioner) 

NP practice:

• Veterans Evaluation Service (per-diem) – current
• House Calls Practitioner – UnitedHealth
• FNP- ALF; SNF; Memory Center

Community Advocate

• YMCA advisory board member (LA LEE Branch)

My leadership experience includes service to the South Florida Council of Advanced Nurse Practice Nurse (SFCAPN) as a board member and chair of the community committee.  A recent appointment as chair of the FNPN Political Action Committee has made me more aware of how important it is for all of us (APN’s) to be aware of legislation and policies that impact the profession and our practice.  And, the significant impact we can have as a large body of professionals to move the profession forward positively influencing APN’s today and in the future.

What I’d like to accomplish:

It is my goal to serve members and constituents by making and maintaining contact and providing a voice for members and non-member NP organizations.  In addition, as a regional rep, I will promote the FNPN mission and provide support in the form of presentations/workshops and legislative updates. Region 4  includes four counties:  Palm Beach, Broward, Miami-Dade, Monroe, & non-Florida resident members in other states & countries (members at large).

Region 4 Director
Jennifer Kuretski, DNP, APRN, FNP-C, AAHIVS

I am running for the position of Region 4 Director for the Florida Nurse Practitioner Network. I graduated from the University of Miami in 2009 and started practice as a Family Nurse Practitioner in the area of Infectious Disease. I earned my DNP from the University of Miami in 2011. I currently provide care for patients for the prevention and treatment of HIV, STIs and provide primary care for those patients.  In addition to my practice as a NP, I am currently the Associate Dean of the Graduate Nursing Program at Palm Beach Atlantic University where we are educating our NPs of the future!

I believe that I would be an outstanding candidate for the Region 4 Director position. Through my experience as Vice President and now President of the Nurse Practitioner Council of Palm Beach County, I would like to continue to work together with our neighboring counties to enhance patient care through nurse practitioner practice. I traveled to Tallahassee and met with state legislative offices during the time autonomous practice was being reviewed by the Florida legislature.

In addition to the various leadership roles, I also strongly believe in empowering and inspiring new and future nurse practitioners. I have done this through preceptorship and now as a faculty member. I believe these traits are essential for a leader in FNPN. My personal motto is “Care for all, lead by example and above all, continue to inspire others!”