ANNA Member Spotlight
Welcome to ANNA's monthly member spotlight. 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.
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Cindy Richards, BSN, RN, CNN, CCTCPediatric Kidney Transplant Coordinator |
How long have you been a nurse?
41 years
How long have you been in nephrology?
35 years
What is unique about nephrology nursing?
The ability to develop long-term relationships with your patients and their families. This is something that does not often happen in the acute care setting.
What do you value most about your ANNA membership?
The education I have and continue to receive, and the camaraderie. I made most of my long-term friendships because of ANNA.
Do you have a favorite patient story?
I have so many stories of patients that it is hard to choose just one! I guess one would be a young man that I dialyzed in the middle of the night. He had a BUN of about 200 and a creatinine of 22. We talked the entire time I was dialyzing him. Weeks later, we talked about our conversation that night, and he remembered everything we discussed, despite the uremia he had at the time. He had an amazing memory! He was a patient for many years, and still comes by to visit every few years to say hello.
What would you tell a newly practicing nurse about nephrology nursing?
Embrace learning all you can about the kidney, how it functions, and about the different therapies. Find a seasoned nurse and ask them to mentor you. Join ANNA and become an active part of the association, as you can find all that nephrology nursing has to offer and more!
What do you enjoy doing when you are not working as a nurse?
I love to sing and to read. I also enjoy medical mission trips and love the planning of them, and the ability to help others.
Share an Interesting fact about yourself.
My family and I have two English mastiffs. One is a year and a half old puppy, and already weighs 192 lbs. He still wants to be a lap dog!