Josephine Agyei is a current student in the MSN Healthcare Organizational Leadership/ MBA Dual Degree program at the School of Nursing. In the fall of 2023, Josephine was elected to the American Nurses Association (ANA) Board of Directors and has just embarked on this appointment for the 2025-26 term. In this Q&A, Josephine shares what this appointment means for her, and what she hopes to achieve in this position and beyond.
How did you get involved with the ANA? What does this appointment mean personally and professionally?
My involvement with the American Nurses Association (ANA) began in June 2023 when I attended the ANA Hill Day and Membership Assembly as an observer. This experience was transformative. I gained valuable insights into how nurses actively shape health care policy through ANA’s advocacy efforts and position statements. As a critical care nurse, this was a pivotal moment for me as it reaffirmed my commitment to nursing advocacy and inspired me to engage more with ANA-NY and pursue candidacy for the ANA Director-At-Large, Staff Nurse position. During the assembly, I realized the vital importance of amplifying the voices of staff nurses and contributing meaningfully to ANA’s mission. It further solidified my belief that nurses must play an integral role in influencing the future of health care.
Later that year, I took a more proactive role by organizing a meet-and-network event at the 2023 ANA-NY conference. In collaboration with Dr. Giselle Gerardi, Director-at-Large for ANA-NY, and Lauren Lodico, President of the National Student Nurses Association, we created an initiative designed to engage nursing students and early-career professionals in organizations like the ANA. This event provided a platform for mentorship, networking, and professional development, further highlighting my passion for empowering the next generation of nurses and fostering their involvement in professional organizations.
This appointment holds profound meaning as it represents my journey as a first-generation nurse and a critical care professional, passionate about leadership and advocacy. It is an opportunity to honor the values instilled in me through my upbringing, including the importance of equity, service, and community impact. Serving on the ANA Board is more than a professional milestone; it reflects my belief in the power of nursing to drive meaningful change in health care. This appointment stands as a symbol of possibility for those who may not see themselves represented in leadership roles. It inspires me to create opportunities for the next generation of nurses, empowering them to recognize their potential, raise their voices in advocacy, and embrace their ability to lead. Above all, I want every nurse to know that their journey matters and that their contributions are vital to shaping the future of health care.
Professionally, this role allows me to bridge my clinical expertise and leadership aspirations to make a broader impact on the nursing profession. As a Director-At-Large Staff Nurse, I am excited to champion issues such as workplace safety, safe staffing, equitable practice environments, and health policy advocacy. It is an opportunity to contribute to the advancement of nursing by influencing policies that prioritize positive health outcomes, support nurses’ well-being, and foster diversity, equity, and inclusion within the profession. This role enables me to collaborate with like-minded leaders to shape the future of nursing and ensure that every nurse’s voice is heard and valued.
What drew you into nursing in the first place? How did you come to study at Hopkins?
Growing up in Ghana, West Africa, I witnessed the stark disparities in healthcare access and quality between the haves and have-nots. These experiences profoundly shaped my decision to pursue a career in health care. After earning my Bachelor of Science in Nursing, I began my career as a clinical nurse in the Thoracic, Vascular, and Medical Stepdown Unit at Mount Sinai Hospital. In January 2022, I transitioned to the Cardiac Surgery Intensive Care Unit, where I cared for critically ill patients recovering from complex cardiothoracic surgeries.
In my role as a clinical nurse, I have seen firsthand the impact nurses have as advocates, leaders, and compassionate caregivers. I have been inspired by the way nurses seamlessly integrate clinical expertise with empathy and effective communication to deliver exceptional care during life’s most vulnerable moments.
These experiences, along with my upbringing in Ghana, fuel my commitment to advancing health equity and improving access to quality healthcare for underserved communities, both locally and globally. This mission ultimately brought me to Johns Hopkins, an institution renowned for its dedication to health equity, transformative leadership, and innovation in nursing.
Why did you choose to pursue the MSN Healthcare Organizational Leadership/MBA dual degree?
My work primarily focuses on providing high-quality, complex care to post-operative cardiac patients. Through my experience as a critical care nurse, I have developed a strong passion for both clinical excellence and leadership.
As a first-generation student, I chose to pursue the MSN in Healthcare Organizational Leadership/ MBA Dual Degree because I believe that making a broader impact in health care requires advanced leadership skills alongside clinical expertise. This dual program offers the opportunity to merge my clinical background with the business and leadership acumen necessary to drive organizational change, improve health outcomes, and address systemic challenges in healthcare. With this dual-degree, I aim to bridge the gap between clinical care and health care management, ultimately leading initiatives that enhance health care delivery, equity, and efficiency across diverse settings.
What do you hope to achieve as an ANA board member?
As an ANA board member, I am committed to advancing the organization’s mission by advocating for workplace standards that promote safe care, upholding the highest standards of nursing practice, and prioritizing the well-being of nurses. I am passionate about inspiring nurses to see themselves in leadership spaces and encouraging them to actively engage in their units, hospital committees, and professional organizations. Through my experiences as a mentor for pre-licensure nursing students and my involvement in hospital committees and professional organizations both locally and globally, I aim to make meaningful contributions that foster a sense of purpose and drive long-term success for the ANA.
In my role as Director-at-Large, Staff Nurse, I will be dedicated to leading the nursing profession in improving health through practice, advocacy, equity, innovation, and philanthropy. I am committed to promoting equity and engagement to improve nursing practice and create supportive work environments for all nurses. Moreover, I am passionate about creating opportunities for the next generation of nurses by fostering inclusive leadership and ensuring they are empowered to envision and achieve transformative roles in health care.
Do you have aspirations to continue your nursing education beyond this degree?
I am committed to advancing my nursing education beyond my MSN in Healthcare Organizational Leadership and MBA by pursuing a PhD. My goal is to become a nurse leader focused on conducting research that shapes health care systems and policies, improves health outcomes, and advances health equity on a global scale.
This pursuit aligns with my aspiration to contribute meaningfully to nursing knowledge through evidence-based research, which will help address systemic health care challenges and inform innovative solutions. My PhD journey will be a critical step in becoming a transformational leader dedicated to improving health systems worldwide.
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