Nurse-Attorney/Former Bristol-Myers Squibb Executive Selected To Lead New Jersey State Nurses Association

TRENTON, N.J., Feb. 10 /PRNewswire/ -- The New Jersey State Nurses Association (NJSNA) today announced that Patricia A. Barnett, a nurse and attorney with three decades of public policy experience, has been selected as the new Chief Executive Officer of the Association by the Board of Directors. Barnett will begin her work at NJSNA on March 1st.  She replaces Dr. Barbara Wright, who has been serving as interim CEO following the retirement of longtime NJSNA CEO Andrea Aughenbaugh.

(Photo:  http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20100210/PH52888 )

"We could not be more excited about the selection of Patricia to head our association," said Barbara Chamberlain, President of NJSNA. "Her skill-set and experience make her uniquely suited to lead NJSNA through what we are sure will be challenging times ahead in the rapidly changing world of health care."

Barnett served as Director and Government Affairs Manager for Bristol-Myers Squibb in Princeton from 1987 to 1993 and again in 1997 and 1998. She was Director of Economic and General Welfare for the Illinois Nurses Association in Chicago from 1979 until 1987. More recently, Barnett has served as Executive Director of Public Policy and Government Affairs for Forest Laboratories, Inc.

"I am thrilled to be given the opportunity to return to my roots and work exclusively on nursing issues," said Barnett. "I have 30 years experience impacting health policy and access to care at the city, state and federal level and I am eager to bring that experience to bear on behalf of New Jersey's 110,000 registered professional nurses."

A graduate of the Michael Reese Hospital School of Nursing, Roosevelt University and Loyola University School of Law, Barnett has served in both supervisory and line nursing capacities. She was a delegate to the American Nurses Association conventions in 1980 and 1982 and served on the Illinois Nurses Association Board of Directors.

"The quality of candidates we had seeking the Chief Executive Officer position was outstanding," added NJSNA's Institute for Nursing President, Dr. Mary Ann T. Donohue.  As Search Committee Chairman, Donohue expressed that "in Patricia Barnett, we believe we have found someone who will be a strong advocate for nurses statewide."

About NJSNA

New Jersey State Nurses Association (NJSNA) represents the interests of the state's 110,000 Registered Nurses, advances the profession of nursing and advocates on behalf of nurses and consumers. NJSNA, along with its national organization in Washington, DC, the American Nurses Association (ANA), and fifty- three state and territorial associations, all help to represent the nation's 2.6 million RNs. To learn more about NJSNA visit our website at www.NJSNA.org

Contact: Donald Sico 609-351-3591

SOURCE New Jersey State Nurses Association