Debra J. Drew, MS, ACNS-BC, RN-BC became the President of the American Society for Pain Management Nursing® (ASPMN®) at the organization’s 2018 National Conference in Bonita Springs, Florida.
About Debra Drew, MS, ACNS-BC (retired), RN-BC (retired), AP-PMN
In 2015, Ms. Drew received the Debra Gordon Honorary Lecture award at the Midwest Pain Society meeting. The topic addressed the implementation of the CAPA® (clinically aligned pain assessment) tool.
With over 20 publications, Ms. Drew's latest contributions include co-authorship of:
ASPMN® has been a consistent leader for the best care of patients in pain. We are a collection of dedicated individuals in clinical practice, research, education and administration who strive to do our very best to help patients who are struggling, fearful, and hopeless in the face of severe or unrelenting suffering. How do we, as the professional organization of ASPMN®, become a beacon of hope for people in pain, and for the nurses who care for them?
ASPMN® must emerge as a recognized resource and support for nurses who manage pain every day of their work.
We in ASPMN® must continue and strengthen our work to educate, advocate for, and support all patients with pain and all the nurses who care for these patients. How do we do that? We do it with teaching, advocacy, networking and research.
I am very hopeful for the future of pain management and ASPMN®.
Why am I hopeful? We, along with our partners in health care are working hard to better the science and art of pain management.
This coming year will be busy with implementing strategies to engage our current members, recruit new members to strengthen us collectively, and bring new energy and insights to our organization. We want to become THE professional pain management resource for nurses in every field of endeavor.
My hope for this coming year is that ASPMN® will continue to grow both in numbers and as a recognized resource to our members and our communities, so that when support is needed in managing pain, we are thought of first.
I want to thank you for the opportunity to serve as your President for the next year. You have elected a stellar Board with whom I will be working. We face big challenges, but we will work together to accomplish our goals. This organization is filled with talented, committed, wonderful people. Please, do not just look to others to be the beacon of light in these dark times. Become the beacon of hope for the care of patients in pain and for those nurses who care for them. As Desmond Tutu has said, "Hope is being able to see that there is light despite all the darkness."
Ms. Drew started her nursing career in 1976 with a bachelor's degree from the University of Illinois. She worked in hematology/oncology for four years before graduate school at the University of Minnesota where she earned her master's degree in 1982. For 33 years, Ms. Drew worked as a clinical nurse specialist in oncology, palliative care/hospice and pain management. She retired from the University of Minnesota Medical Center in 2015.
