Karen K. Wiley, MSN, RN, CEN, Takes Office as Emergency Nurses Association President

January 4, 2017 Membership
DES PLAINES, Ill., - The Emergency Nurses Association’s (ENA) today announced Karen K. Wiley, MSN, RN, CEN, began her one-year term as president of ENA, the premier professional emergency nursing association of more than 42,000 emergency nurses. Wiley works with the ENA Board of Directors to set the strategic direction of the Association. She has general oversight of the Board of Directors, and serves as the official representative and spokesperson of ENA.

Wiley, of Omaha, Neb., is a certified emergency nurse at CHI Health Immanuel, and has been an emergency department nurse for more than 20 years. She is passionate about advocating for emergency nurses locally and nationally. She served as Chair of the Nebraska ENA State Council Government Affairs Committee for 10 years, and successfully collaborated with the Nebraska Nurses Association to make it a felony to assault a nurse in Nebraska. For her sustained and inspiring efforts, Wiley received the 2012 Nebraska Nurses Association Outstanding Achievement in Nursing Award and the Image of Nursing Award.

Wiley has served on numerous national ENA committees including behavioral health, emergency preparedness wellness, Lantern Award for exemplary emergency departments, the Institute of Quality, Safety, and Injury Prevention, finance, and the executive committee. She was Chairperson of the Emergency Department Violence Work Team from 2009 to 2010, and a member of the American Nurses Association Incivility, Bullying, and Workplace Violence Steering Committee in 2015.

Wiley earned an associate degree in nursing from the College of Saint Mary, Omaha, Neb., a Bachelor of Science degree from Creighton University, and a Master of Science in nursing administration from Nebraska Wesleyan University. She is a certified emergency nurse and a member of the Nebraska Nurses Association, the American Nurses Association and Sigma Theta Tau International.

ENA’s new Board of Directors also took office this month. The Board is the official governing body of ENA responsible for managing the Association’s affairs. They maintain and update ENA’s mission, vision and goals through strategic planning, guide the Association, and serve as board liaisons to states as assigned.

The 2017 ENA Board of Directors includes:
President: Karen K. Wiley, MSN, RN, CEN
President-elect: Jeff Solheim, MSN, RN, CEN, TCRN, CFRN, FAEN
Secretary/Treasurer: Sally K. Snow, BSN, RN, CPEN, FAEN

Directors:
Maureen Curtis Cooper, BSN, RN, CEN, CPEN, FAEN
Ellen "Ellie" H. Encapera, RN, CEN
Mike Hastings, MSN, RN, CEN
Ron Kraus, MSN, RN, CEN, ACNS-BC
Patricia Kunz Howard, PhD, RN, CEN, CPEN, TCRN, NE-BC, FAEN, FAAN
Karla Nygren, BSN, RN, CEN, CFRN, CPEN, TCRN, CCRN, CPN
Jean A. Proehl, MN, RN, CEN, CPEN, TCRN, FAEN, FAAN
Immediate Past President: Kathleen E. Carlson, MSN, RN, CEN, FAEN
Executive Director: Nancy MacRae, MS

This is the third year of ENA’s five-year strategic plan focused on community, governance and leadership, knowledge, quality and safety, advocacy and infrastructure.

The Emergency Nurses Association is the premier professional nursing association dedicated to defining the future of emergency nursing through advocacy, education, research, innovation, and leadership. Founded in 1970, ENA has proven to be an indispensable resource to the global emergency nursing community. With 50,000 members worldwide, ENA advocates for patient safety, develops industry-leading practice standards and guidelines and guides emergency health care public policy. ENA members have expertise in triage, patient care, disaster preparedness, and all aspects of emergency care. Additional information is available at www.ena.org.