Member Spotlight
Member Spotlight
ANNA is a vibrant organization because of nurses like you!
ANNA is a vibrant organization because of nurses like you!
Your diverse experiences and unique perspectives make us a collective whole that is a masterpiece. We are proud of the work each of you do!
If you would like to be featured, participate in our online community, ANNA Connected.
Members are featured in the Member Spotlight based on their engagement in ANNA Connected, so start connecting, talking, and getting to know other ANNA members via ANNA Connected.
Featured Member
Kimberly Poshar, BSN, RN
Renal Services Nurse Manager | Children’s Hospital of The King’s Daughters
Norfolk, VA | Tidewater Chapter #241
How long have you been a nurse?
I have been a nurse for 12 years.
How long have you been in nephrology?
17 years.
What is unique about nephrology nursing?
It’s about building long-term partnerships with patients, preventing complications, improving quality of life, and guiding individuals through every stage of kidney disease, from diagnosis to dialysis or transplantation. That combination of science, technology, and human connection is what makes nephrology nursing truly unique.
What do you value the most about your ANNA membership?
What I value most about my ANNA membership is the opportunity to connect with other nephrology nurses who understand the unique challenges and rewards of caring for patients with kidney disease. The educational resources, leadership opportunities, and professional support have helped me grow throughout my career. ANNA inspires me to continuously improve my practice, advocate for patients, and mentor the next generation of nephrology nurses.
Do you have a favorite patient story?
When I walked into my renal transplant patient’s room as a new nurse in 1974 and the young male patient was standing on the windowsill threatening to jump the 11 floors to the ground as he kept saying: God failed him as his transplant failed and he had to go back on hemodialysis. I knew than that psychosocial factors were the most important. When I did my dissertation 20 years later, I wanted the now late Dr. Renee Fox, Medical Sociologist on my committee as I read her book, “The Courage to Fail” based on the kidney transplant that fails, and the patient needs to return to hemodialysis.
What do you enjoy doing when you are not working as a nurse
I enjoy gardening and doing home improvement projects with my husband.
Share an Interesting Fact About Yourself
I have a purple belt in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu.
What would you tell a newly practicing nurse about nephrology?
I would tell a new nurse that nephrology nursing is a specialty where you get to combine highly technical skills with meaningful, long-term relationships. You’ll learn to manage complex patients, understand how every body system is connected to kidney function, and develop strong critical thinking skills. What makes nephrology truly special is the relationships you build. You’ll see patients regularly, often for years, and become an important part of their journey through chronic kidney disease, dialysis, transplantation, and beyond. You celebrate successes, support them through challenges, and can make a lasting impact on their lives. Nephrology nursing is about patient education, advocacy, problem-solving, and helping people maintain the best quality of life possible while managing a chronic condition. If you’re looking for a specialty that challenges you intellectually while allowing you to form genuine connections with patients, nephrology nursing is an incredibly rewarding career path.
Featured Member
Senior Strategic Clinical Quality Manager
Dr. Felicia D. Lambert, DNP, MSN, CNN
Banning, CA | SoCal Unified Chapter #517
How long have you been a nurse?
31 years.
How long have you been in nephrology?
29 years.
What is unique about nephrology nursing?
What makes nephrology nursing unique is the privilege of walking alongside patients throughout their kidney disease journey. We celebrate their successes, support them through setbacks, and often become an extension of their support system. Nephrology nurses blend science, technology, and compassion every day while helping patients maintain hope, independence, and the best quality of life possible. It is a specialty where long-term relationships, patient advocacy, and lifelong learning come together in a truly meaningful way.
What do you value the most about your ANNA membership?
What I value most about ANNA membership is the opportunity to mentor and develop the next generation of nephrology nurses while continuing to grow as a leader myself. The relationships, educational opportunities, and shared passion for improving kidney care have enriched both my professional journey and my ability to positively impact patients and colleagues alike.
Do you have a favorite patient story?
One of my favorite patient stories happened when I helped open a new dialysis clinic in Kentucky in 2005. A retired nurse receiving treatment there was so impressed with the care our team provided that she wrote a letter to our CEO recognizing the staff. Her message led to our clinic being featured at a national Clinical Managers Conference, making it a proud moment that celebrated both our patients and the exceptional care provided by our team.
What do you enjoy doing when you are not working as a nurse?
I absolutely love to dance, and I’m happiest when spending time with my grandchildren. As “Yaya” to a 2-year-old granddaughter (Zoey) and 1-year-old grandson (Corey), I enjoy every moment of watching them learn, grow, be unpredictable and keep our family smiling. A close third is watching movies; I can do all weekend eating chocolate covered macadamia nuts from Sam’s Club!
Share an Interesting Fact About Yourself
I had the opportunity to go rappelling off the mountains in Odenwald, Germany while I was served as a medic in the United States Army! I was the last one rappelling just in case a soldier got injured; I would be ready to render medical aid.
What would you tell a newly practicing nurse about nephrology?
Nephrology nursing found me, but it became my passion. Over the years, I have discovered that this specialty offers endless opportunities to grow as a clinician, educator, leader, researcher, and advocate. My advice to a newly practicing nurse is to stay open to learning, seek mentors, and never stop asking questions. Nephrology patients teach us about resilience every day, and the relationships we develop with them are unlike any other area of nursing. Remember to use all of your nursing skills, and do not allow yourself to fall into monotonous endeavors. If you invest in your patients and your professional development, nephrology nursing can become more than a career; it can become a calling. Never loose site to why you became a nurse, and never loose site on a continual lifelong learning that enhances the delivery of care to the patients living with kidney disease.
Why Join ANNA?
The American Nephrology Nurses Association is a non-profit, non-partisan membership organization established to support nephrology nurses through education, advocacy, networking and science.
We are committed to advancing the nephrology nursing specialty and nurturing every ANNA member.
