Tracee Kennon

I attribute my success to staying grounded and mindful every day. I take time to rethink and regroup myself every morning - by the time people are starting their day at 8:30, I've already been up and ran 2 miles, walked, and reviewed my schedule for the day. I do what I call a mental download, where I'll put my phone on a recording app during my walks and record thoughts for the day, challenges for the week, or visions for where I see the business going. I also stay mindful through prayer over these things. I think it's about my passion - nursing wasn't my first degree, but I've always been on the thought process and forefront of wanting to expand the minds of all those I could. I'm always thinking about what our next mission is, both privately for what we need to do as a group and publicly for how we're representing nursing and where we see education going. Even when I meet challenges, I stay focused on the legacy of what we leave behind and the impact we're making for future generations. Sometimes you're in the struggle and you feel it, but you don't always see how impactful it's going to be for the next group. That vision of creating lasting change for nursing keeps me grounded and drives everything I do.

The biggest challenge in nursing right now is that we are the largest healthcare workforce, predominantly female, yet we have the smallest voice. We haven't created a foundation that bonds us together. Even when you look at the C-suite, the CNO gets paid the least because it's proposed to be a female position - we haven't created our roots. We're waiting for another group to recognize us when we're the largest working force and the most crucial aspect of healthcare. In terms of ECMO and critical care education specifically, the challenge is accessibility and cost. Current conferences cost almost $2,000 to attend, which bedside nursing staff cannot afford. You're paying $2,000 to hear 40 people speak for 10 minutes, and the amount of information you glean is not on the level most bedside nurses need - they need deeper involvement and training. APPs are being pushed out into managing complex ECMO patients with no education because that part got skipped. The opportunity is in creating diverse educational platforms and networks that aren't working in silos. We need to look at AI technology, apps, healthcare management, and prepare for advances like miniature hearts with no tethering. We have to learn how to create and diversify within our own platforms and build internationally, because we're not working in silos anymore. The opportunity is in getting good education and awareness and networking possibilities throughout the country that supports our group in a way that we can create a lasting impact.

The most important values to me are accessibility, impact, and legacy. My goal has always been to ensure education is accessible to those who need it most - I believe education should be free or affordable, which is why I keep pushing to make our symposiums free for nurses even when my team says we can't keep it up financially. I'm constantly thinking about the impact we're making, not just for my business line, but for where we're going as nursing, where we're driving and leading our next groups into. The weight of representing the largest healthcare workforce is always on my mind. I also value collaboration - when we're caring for patients who are this sick, you want to ensure every facet is touched on, bringing together physicians, physical therapists, respiratory therapists, and nutritionalists. And ultimately, it's about legacy - what we leave behind for the next generation. Sometimes you're in the struggle and you feel it, but you don't see how the struggle is going to be impactful to our next group. Everything's not always about us - it's about creating foundations and networks that will change lives for future nurses and healthcare workers. That's what keeps me grounded and passionate about what I do.