Our Leadership

President Barbara Crane, RN

Barbara has been a member of the New York State Nurses Association for more than 34 years. She recently went per diem at the intensive care unit at St. Catherine of Siena Medical Center in Smithtown, Long Island, to serve the National Federation of Nurses full-time.

In her professional life, Barbara is the assistant nursing care coordinator in the intensive care unit at St. Catherine of Siena Medical Center in Smithtown, Long Island and has served as the chair of the NYSNA local bargaining unit at her facility for more than a decade.

“It is with profound humility and gratitude that I pledge to serve registered nurses across this nation in working to build a strong national nurses’ movement,” Barbara says. “The goals of this new federated structure are straightforward and significant: to support, educate and assist our members in achieving their economic, workplace, and practice goals on both state and national levels. The NFN is committed to preserving the autonomy and self-governance of each of its member nurses’ labor organizations.”

Vice-President Julie Shuff, RN

Julie Shuff graduated with an Associate Degree in Nursing from Southwestern Oregon Community College (SOCC) in 1991. Julie served two terms as a member of the Economic and General Welfare Cabinet (E & GW Cabinet) from 2001 to 2003, and was elected as Chair of the E & GW Cabinet in 2007 to present. Prior to her current role as E & GW Cabinet Chair, Julie also served as a member of the ONA Board of Directors in 2006-2007. Julie has been an ANA Board member since 2008.

Julie has been employed as a registered nurse at Bay Area Community Hospital, Coos Bay, Oregon in Intensive Care, since 1991.

“We must advocate for ourselves as vigorously as we advocate for our patients,” Julie said, “and the National Federation of Nurses is a bold new platform for that advocacy. I believe, deeply, that a national union for nurses must be led by nurses, must understand the issues and the concerns of the nursing profession, so that our advocacy can be informed by our experiences and values. The NFN is the ideal vehicle for giving a voice to the voice of nurses across the nation, and I am proud to serve.”

Secretary Kim Armstrong, RN

Kim Armstrong has been a member of the Washington State Nurses Association for 20 years. During this time, she has served the State Nurse’s Association as a member of the Cabinet on Economic and General Welfare for 8 years(1997-2005) with 4 of those years as Chair (2001-2005) Presently she is serving as as WSNA’s President (2005-2009)

In her professional life, Kim is a staff nurse in Labor and Delivery at Tacoma General Hospital, Tacoma Washington. She has worked. She has served her fellow nurses at TG as Grievance Officer, Negotiation Team member and as unit representative.

“We are at the dawn of a new labor movement. Never before have like minded nurses come together, pledging to honor our differences and mutually support our common goals, while promoting the name of staff nurses in their quest to have the voice to protect the profession and the patients. I’m deeply honored to serve the registered nurses across this nation to build a strong national nurses’ labor movement.”

Treasurer Rose Marie Martin, RN

Rose Marie Martin has been a member of the Ohio Nurses Association since 1984. She has served in a number of leadership roles, including director-at-large on the ONA Board of Directors (1999-2007), Co-chair of the Economic and General Welfare Commission (2005-2007). Ms Martin also served as a staff nurse director-at-large on the American Nurses Association Board of Directors from 2002 to 2006.

In her professional life Rose Marie is a staff nurse III on the Blood and Marrow Transplant Unit at The Arthur G. James Cancer Hospital and Richard J. Solove Research Institute at The Ohio State University Medical Center. She has also served as president and on the board of directors of OSUNO the ONA bargaining unit at her facility.

“The NFN is a federated structure founded on core covenants and committed to support, educate and assist member Nursing Labor Organizations. The NLO’s have a unique opportunity to work together to address practice, workplace, economic issues and organizing on a state and national level while maintaining their autonomy and self governance. This makes the NFN a unique organization.”

Director Jeanne Avey, RN

Jeanne graduated from St. Patricks school of Nursing in Missoula Montana in 1978 and has been an active member of WSNA for 31 years. She served on the Cabinet for Economics and General Welfare for 10years, the last 2 years as Chair. Jeanne has also been the local unit chair of her facility for 10 years, served on 5 contracts and is a member of their safe staffing committee. Jeanne is on the Board of Directors of WSNA, has been an ANA delegate for several years, belongs to AACN, and has worked as an ICU nurse for 19 years.

“We need a stronger voice for nurses now more than ever. With discussions about meaningful healthcare reform beginning on the national level, nurses’ unique perspectives and expertise must be represented,” said Jeanne. “As a strong, collaborative organization that will be accountable to our members, we will provide a powerful platform for nurses to have their voices heard.”

Director Vicky Rae Byrd, RN

Vicky Rae Byrd, RN, has been an active member of Montana Nurses Association (MNA) through the Economic and General Welfare (E&GW) program for 20 years. She has served as past president and past vice president of her local unit. Vicky sits on her local bargaining team and serves as a grievance officer. She is also the E&GW liaison on MNA’s Board of Directors.

Vicky is a staff nurse specializing in pediatrics and oncology. The first 12 years of her career she worked in-patient pediatrics and oncology. Vicky now works in a hospital based out patient oncology clinic.

“I have been a union nurse my entire career thus far and it is with great pleasure and pride that I am part of the beginning of the NFN. What a fabulous opportunity for union nurses. This federation provides a national voice for registered nurses represented for collective bargaining. The NFN provides its members with support, education and assistance at state and national levels. I look forward to working with the NFN in establishing national labor agenda to support and advance collective bargaining, workplace conditions and practice of registered nurses through collective-bargaining and shared decision-making. What better way to advocate for our profession and our patients.”

Director Tina Hedin, RN

Tina Hedin has been a member of Montana Nurses Association for over 20 years. She has been active in her local collective bargaining unit for the past 10 years. Tina is currently the President of Montana Nurses Association and is the facilitator of her local Professional Conference Committee. She has served as President of both her local unit and district. She also serves as her local units’ primary grievance officer.

Tina has been a staff nurse for over 25 years. The first few years she was the only RN on shift for a very rural 6 bed hospital. Almost 22 years ago she moved to Billings Montana where she works as an Emergency Department nurse. She has been intimately involved with starting the Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner program at her institution. Tina was the first, and so far only, health care provider to receive the Montana Attorney’s General “Crime Victim’s Advocate” award.

“I am so honored to be a part of this innovative federation representing nurses. I have passionately fought for the strong voice of nurses and I believe this provides a great opportunity for all nurses. “ Tina stated. “The NFN gives each state the autonomy to meet the needs of their individual states while obtaining support from all other states affiliated with the NFN.”