Since graduation from Indiana University, Dave Hanson's career has always been aligned with acute and critical care nursing and a focus on cardiovascular care. From staff nurse, charge nurse, team leader and educator in Dallas, to clinical nurse specialist in Fort Worth and Indianapolis, he has gained great respect as an accomplished educator, mentor, leader and collaborator.
Dave has rendered extraordinary local and national service to AACN. An active leader of the Dallas County Chapter-AACN, he joined colleagues in urging the chapter to fund the NTI schoolkids' visit program. Nationally, he served on the AACN board of directors from 2001 to 2004 including two one-year terms as treasurer and appointments as board liaison to national work groups. He was instrumental in expanding the board's financial oversight and paved the way for implementation the audit committee on which he served when president-elect. He returned to the board in 2006 as president-elect then president of the association.
Nurses are moved by Dave's passion. Dave's commitment to his core values-patients and families, safety, and reliability-has led acute and critical care nurses to recognize their priorities. He speaks from the heart and is crystal clear about his own priorities, as much when meeting the needs of patients and families, as of everyone he mentors. He engages and empowers his nurse colleagues to positively influence patient care, a gift from which the nursing profession will benefit for years to come.
