2009 AWARDEE

Stephanie Kassulke, BSN, RN, CPAN

A long standing ASPAN/WISPAN member, Stephanie Kassulke, BSN, RN, CPAN, has been awarded WISPAN’s 2009 Outstanding Achievement Award.  This award honors component members whose dedication to excellence furthers the art and science of perianesthesia nursing.  Stephanie has 22 years of perianesthesia nursing experience, during which time she has made contributions at the state and national level as a spokesperson, lecturer and writer/author in the field of perianesthesia nursing. 

She serves ASPAN through membership on several committees including Marketing, Publication, Clinical Practice and Standards & Guidelines.  She has lectured at ASPAN National Conferences as well as locally.  In addition to working full-time as a staff nurse in the PACU at Aurora Sinai Medical Center, she has served on committees within her organization as President and President Elect of Aurora System Nursing Alliance, Nursing Practice Council, and Nursing Coordinating Council.  Stephanie is a strong advocate in the peri-anesthesia nursing environment.

Stephanie demonstrates outstanding knowledge and expertise in the practice, education, and research areas of perianesthesia nursing.  She has contributed articles to national publications including ASPAN’s Redi Reference, JoPAN, and Breathline. She is the current editor of WISPAN’s newsletter the AWAKENING and maintains her certification as a post anesthesia nurse. Stephanie was President of WISPAN from 2001-2002.  Additionally, based on research in which she participated, changes were made in her own institution.

Kim Kraft, BSN, RN, CPAN, Regional Director, Region 3 from ASPAN and Mary Raspanti RN CPAN, WISPAN President presented Stephanie with a plaque and $100 at the WISPAN winter seminar in Madison on February 7^th, 2009.