We take the time this month to celebrate and honor a founding member of the Central Florida Advanced Nursing Practice Council.
If you missed the Christmas party, Sharon was awarded Lifetime Membership and presented an award. She was last month's membership spotlight.
Here is her biography:
Sharon Parrish, BSN, MSN, EdD, APRN started her career as an Associate Professor of Nursing for 10 years at St Louis University. She was active in AACN, MO State Nursing Association and Sigma Theta Tau. After earning a diploma in Nursing from the MO Baptist Hospital she continued her nursing education at Washington University School of Nursing earning a BSN and MSN. She developed and coordinated Continuing Education, Outreach Programs at St Louis University and visited various hospital critical care units in outlying areas of Utah. She presented topics on critical care, assessing ventilators, defibrillators, crash carts and resuscitation procedures.
She moved to FL in 1984 and began teaching at UCF and various clinical sites at ORHS (now Orlando Health) in the areas Medical/Surgical and Critical Care. During her tenure at UCF she was awarded the College of Nursing Excellence in Teaching Award. She remained active in AACN, Delta Laude chapter of Sigma Theta Tau, American Heart Association Research Committee serving in various board positions. She states she has been a member of State Nursing Associations in MO and Florida since she began her nursing career. She says it is a great source for networking and recognition. In 1992, She completed her EdD with focus on Nursing Education Curriculum and Instruction from UCF then began teaching at the Adventist College of Nursing as a Professor of Nursing clinical sites at Florida Adventist Hospital; serving on the hospital's Research Committee.
She has received numerous awards for Leadership and Commitment throughout her years of Nursing practice. Sharon says she served on the founding committee that established CFANPC. She has held board positions as Secretary, Vice President and President of CFANPC.
Before her husband passed away in 2021 she says they traveled extensively in their RV to every state in the US, National and State Parks and Canadian Maritime Provinces. They enjoyed snow skiing in the US and Italy, Switzerland, Spain and the Alps. In her free time, she enjoys gardening, and visiting her children and grandchildren in Oregon. She says at the present time she has taken a pause in her career to decide where, when, and what direction is next.
Sharon, we appreciate the knowledge and passion you bring to our organization. Thank you for all you have done to pave the way for us.
