Geraldine (Polly) Bednash

Geraldine (Polly) Bednash is the Former Chief Executive Officer of the American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN) and former head of the association’s legislative and regulatory advocacy programs as director of government affairs. In her roles, she worked closely with the National Institute of Nursing Research in its work to advance the science of nursing and directed AACN’s efforts to secure strong federal support for nursing education and research.

Polly was most recently appointed to the Board of Stewardship Trustees for Common Spirit Health, the nation’s largest Catholic health system which serves a quarter of the United States population. Trustees report directly to the Vatican in Rome, monitoring the health system’s work and its service to the poor.

Polly began her career in nursing through the fortuitous recommendation of a friend. When it came time to declare a major, her friend shared her thinking on the benefits of a nursing degree. Polly has never looked back.

Polly’s early career as a Nurse Practitioner was in primary care, and she served as both a consultant and practitioner at the family practice residency program at DeWitt Army Hospital at Fort Belvoir, Virginia. Additionally, she completed service as an Army Nurse Corps staff nurse in Vung Tau, Vietnam.

As CEO of the AACN, she was among the founding members of the Global Alliance for Nursing Education and Science (GANES). She notes that leadership means having a purpose, a mission, and hers has always been aligned with the Global Alliance – to improve nursing policy and educational capacity throughout the world. Polly has also directed efforts of scholarship and education at the International Council of Nurses alongside representatives of the Ibero-American States of Portugal, Spain, Mexico and South and Central America; countries where she has done extensive consultation to expand nurse credentialing and help to set up nursing standards. Additionally, she has facilitated nursing exchanges throughout Australia, New Zealand, the United Kingdom and the United States as part of her work with GANES.

Polly shares that we live in a global community, and health is a global issue. Helping nursing professionals around the world to develop a stronger sense of personal responsibility and advocacy for the resources they need to provide good care – through practice improvement, education, and research – allows nurses to work to the highest level of capability and expertise. More importantly, it focuses on the primary responsibility of nurses to serve individuals, families and communities and to improve the general economic and social welfare of these communities.

Polly has worked tirelessly to improve the policy and educational environment for nurses around the world, so nurses don’t leave their home communities for the opportunities afforded them elsewhere. She currently serves as a Visiting Professor at the Australian Catholic University, where she facilitates collaborative work between an array of academic institutions to facilitate faculty and student exchange. These exchanges provide nursing professionals with an enhanced understanding of culture as an essential element of providing excellent health care. Additionally, she holds a position as a visiting professor at the University of Vermont where she has worked to establish the University’s commitment to interprofessional and team based education and practice.

Polly received her Bachelor of Science degree in nursing from Texas Woman’s University, Master of Science in nursing from The Catholic University of America, and doctorate in higher education policy and law from the University of Maryland. She holds honorary doctorates from five academic institutions. She is a fellow of the American Academy of Nursing and member of nursing’s national honor society, Sigma Theta Tau International. Polly is also the founding president of the Interprofessional Education Collaborative and is a former Board Member of The Arnold P. Gold Foundation.

– Deb

Geraldine (Polly) Bednash is the Former Chief Executive Officer of the American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN) and former head of the association’s legislative and regulatory advocacy programs as director of government affairs. In her roles, she worked closely with the National Institute of Nursing Research in its work to advance the science of nursing and directed AACN’s efforts to secure strong federal support for nursing education and research.

Polly was most recently appointed to the Board of Stewardship Trustees for Common Spirit Health, the nation’s largest Catholic health system which serves a quarter of the United States population. Trustees report directly to the Vatican in Rome, monitoring the health system’s work and its service to the poor.

Polly began her career in nursing through the fortuitous recommendation of a friend. When it came time to declare a major, her friend shared her thinking on the benefits of a nursing degree. Polly has never looked back.

Polly’s early career as a Nurse Practitioner was in primary care, and she served as both a consultant and practitioner at the family practice residency program at DeWitt Army Hospital at Fort Belvoir, Virginia. Additionally, she completed service as an Army Nurse Corps staff nurse in Vung Tau, Vietnam.

As CEO of the AACN, she was among the founding members of the Global Alliance for Nursing Education and Science (GANES). She notes that leadership means having a purpose, a mission, and hers has always been aligned with the Global Alliance – to improve nursing policy and educational capacity throughout the world. Polly has also directed efforts of scholarship and education at the International Council of Nurses alongside representatives of the Ibero-American States of Portugal, Spain, Mexico and South and Central America; countries where she has done extensive consultation to expand nurse credentialing and help to set up nursing standards. Additionally, she has facilitated nursing exchanges throughout Australia, New Zealand, the United Kingdom and the United States as part of her work with GANES.

Polly shares that we live in a global community, and health is a global issue. Helping nursing professionals around the world to develop a stronger sense of personal responsibility and advocacy for the resources they need to provide good care – through practice improvement, education, and research – allows nurses to work to the highest level of capability and expertise. More importantly, it focuses on the primary responsibility of nurses to serve individuals, families and communities and to improve the general economic and social welfare of these communities.

Polly has worked tirelessly to improve the policy and educational environment for nurses around the world, so nurses don’t leave their home communities for the opportunities afforded them elsewhere. She currently serves as a Visiting Professor at the Australian Catholic University, where she facilitates collaborative work between an array of academic institutions to facilitate faculty and student exchange. These exchanges provide nursing professionals with an enhanced understanding of culture as an essential element of providing excellent health care. Additionally, she holds a position as a visiting professor at the University of Vermont where she has worked to establish the University’s commitment to interprofessional and team based education and practice.

Polly received her Bachelor of Science degree in nursing from Texas Woman’s University, Master of Science in nursing from The Catholic University of America, and doctorate in higher education policy and law from the University of Maryland. She holds honorary doctorates from five academic institutions. She is a fellow of the American Academy of Nursing and member of nursing’s national honor society, Sigma Theta Tau International. Polly is also the founding president of the Interprofessional Education Collaborative and is a former Board Member of The Arnold P. Gold Foundation.

– Deb