Courage to Promote Exellence at the National Level

Kristy Massey is the Cardiac Surgery Intensive Care Unit Director at Carilion Roanoke Memorial Hospital.

Kristy’s expertise in critical care nursing is extensive including:

• Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation (ECMO) and Left Ventricular Assist Device (LVAD) Specialist
• Certification as a Critical Care Nurse by AACN (CCRN)
• Certification in Cardiac Surgery Unit Advanced Life Support (CSU-ALS)
• Certification in Advanced Life Support (ACLS)
• She maintains a full RN competency including Continuous Renal Replacement Therapy (CRRT), Left Ventricular Assist Device's (LVAD), transvenous and epicardial pacemakers, and advanced hemodynamic monitoring. 

While Kristy is well known and respected by her colleagues here at Carilion, her expertise is now recognized on the National stage. The American Association of Critical Care Nurses (AACN) has recognized Kristy's talent and have her working on many projects that will impact the future of critical care nursing related to knowledge base, empowerment, and excellence. 

AACN has requested Kristy's expertise in the following areas:

• Poster Presentation Abstract Reviewer for the 2022 National Teaching Institute (NTI) typically attended by over 5,000 critical care nurses annually.
• NTI recorded sessions review panel- live presentations from NTI are recorded and placed on AACN’s CE website.  Kristy reviews these for continuation or archives.
• Cardiac Surgery Certification (CSC) Lead Subject Matter Expert for the newest version of the exam which was released in January 2022.  Ten question writers submitted items (questions) to Kristy for content review/editing.  Kristy reviewed and edited >250 questions for content/current practice for the newest version of the exam in addition to writing several items herself.
• ECMO micro credential (this is a new exam/micro credential coming out through AACN later this year or early 2023).  Kristy will serve as subject matter expert.
• Beacon Application Reviewer – this is an AACN Award process for critical care units. Kristy will be on a team of application reviewers and will do the initial application review.

We are privileged to have this level of talent at Carilion Clinic.  Many thanks to you Kristy, for your courage to serve beyond the walls of the hospital and impacting patient care globally!