The Pennsylvania State Nurses Association (PSNA), representing more than 228,000 registered nurses in Pennsylvania, announced today that it has named PSNA Vice President Deb Cardenas, DNP, MSN, RN, Paralegal, LSSYB, as PSNA President, effective June 29, 2021. Dr. Cardenas will serve as PSNA President following the resignation of Tarik Khan, MSN, RN, FNP-BC, who will be running for an elected office, representing Pennsylvania’s 194th district in the state legislature. The role of PSNA Vice President will be filled during the 2021 membership election in September.
Dr. Cardenas is the Program Manager of Quality and Patient Safety Outcomes at Penn State Health Medical Group’s Academic Practice Division. She earned a Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) from George Washington University in 2018, a MSN from Widener University, and a BSN from Albright College. Cardenas is a graduate of the PSNA Legislative Ambassador Program, was a member of the PSNA Government Relations Committee and Nominating Committee, and has served as PSNA Secretary and PSNA Vice President and Secretary of the Nursing Foundation of Pennsylvania.
“I would like to thank Tarik Khan for the many years of service he has dedicated to PSNA, especially for his role as PSNA President. I know he will continue to do great work for nurses in Pennsylvania,” stated Dr. Cardenas. “I am privileged to serve as President of PSNA. It is important to continue showcasing the important, selfless contributions Pennsylvania nurses have made both before and during the pandemic. I look forward to continuing the momentum for positive change for nurses in our Commonwealth.”
PSNA CEO Betsy M. Snook, MEd, BSN, RN, commented:
“Dr. Cardenas is a motivated professional nurse leader. During her time with the association, Dr. Cardenas has collaborated with nurses and state lawmakers regarding legislative initiatives and issues affecting the healthcare profession. In addition, she has served as the PSNA Board liaison to the Nursing Foundation of Pennsylvania, in which she helped raise scholarship funds to support the education of nurses in the Commonwealth. Her range of professional experiences in clinical settings and education, provide Dr. Cardenas with the knowledge and background to be a strong leader for our membership. We look forward to having her serve PSNA as the incoming President.”