President-Elect Candidate
Dustin Bass
DNP, MHA, RN, CEN, NEA-BC
North Carolina
dustin.bass@board.ena.org
Why do you seek an officer position on the ENA Board of Directors?
ENA has been and is a significant part of my professional and personal journey since I started nursing path in 2011. As the 2024 Secretary/Treasurer, with four years of dedicated service on the board, I am seeking the opportunity to transition into the role of President-elect, prepared to lead ENA into the future in 2026. The mission of ENA, focused on advancing excellence in emergency nursing, deeply resonates with me both personally and professionally. With experience in emergency department nursing and leadership, I recognize the pivotal role ENA plays in advocacy, education, networking, and research, as well as how it is and will shape the everchanging healthcare landscape. Today, amidst rapid fire changes in healthcare, these pillars are more crucial than ever, driving the need for inspirational, innovative, and thought centered leadership. I seek a position as an officer on the ENA board of directors to contribute my expertise, leadership, passion, and commitment towards ENA's mission. I aim to leverage my experiences and connections around the world to champion initiatives that empower emergency nurses, enhance patient care, and elevate our profession.
How does your academic, professional background and experience on the ENA Board make you a qualified officer candidate?
Throughout my 14-year nursing journey, I've primarily served as both an ED Nurse and Leader nationwide. My career experience and experience with ENA since the begining of my career speaks to my passion for emergency nursing and its practice. I hold a Doctor of Nursing Practice in Healthcare Leadership, Systems, and Policy from Yale University, where I was honored as the top scholar and presented my doctoral project, "Reduction of unnecessary ED visits through targeted patient care navigation for ED overutilizers," to the entire nursing school body.
Recognized as one of ENA's "20 under 40" and a Young Professional Voice by AONL, I hold certifications as a board-certified emergency nurse and advanced nurse executive. Sharing my experiences, ideas, and innovations through well-received lectures at regional and national conferences, focused on leadership and operational excellence in EDs has given me the opportunity to connect with others, mentor others, and continue to learn and grow myself. Additionally, I authored a leadership planner and coloring book/journal, aiming to inspire leaders globally. My experience, passion, and committment makes me an ideal candidate for the role of President-elect.
Outline the specific contributions you hope to make as you continue your role on the Board in an officer position.
Continuing in my role as an officer, and President-elect on the ENA Board, I aspire to ignite a spirit of innovation and collaboration that empowers emergency nurses everywhere. Additionally, I want to strategically build the plan that guides us to pioneer new approaches and technologies as well as fostering additional partnerships with healthcare companies, specifically in the realm of AI technology so that we can extend our reach and impact. I envision a future where ENA's presence shines brightly in every ED, where our collective dedication to compassionate care and continuous learning transforms the way emergency nursing is practiced worldwide. I want to strategically lead ENA in a direction that grows our membership, exposure, and advances our practice.
Provide a narrative that exemplifies how you demonstrate the Board competencies.
As a former board member and current 2024 Secretary/Treasurer of ENA, I'm very familar with our board competencies of collaboration, decision-making, strategic thinking, professionalism, business acumen, and leadership planning. Collaboration, in particular, is pivotal to my leadership approach, as I continually seek inclusive dialogue and consensus-building in decision-making processes. During strategic sessions and board meetings, I work to ask questions that foster open exchange of ideas to develop innovative strategies aligned with ENA's mission. My dedication to professionalism and business acumen is evident in my role as Secretary/Treasurer where I seek out the information needed to make the right strategic decision based on the environment, while still constantly seeking out ways to improve myself and expand my personal professional developtment. For leadership planning skills, I intentionally connect with ENA members either through formal mentoring or networking at conferences to continually grow others and encourage them to seek out their own professional developtment and take on leadership roles they may have not considered previously. Overall by utilizing our board competencies I hone in on the situation specific skills needed to make strategic decisions that impact our organization and profession in a positive way.
