Marquette woman named to state Board of Nursing

LANSING, Mich. – Gov. Rick Snyder today announced the appointments of Kelly Beranek, of Marquette; Elaine Leigh, of Grand Haven; Tiffany McDonald, of Flint, and Sondra Velez, of Dearborn, to the Michigan Board of Nursing.

“I appreciate the willingness of these experienced and qualified women to serve the people of our state on this important board,” Snyder said.

Beranek will fill the position currently held by Elaine Leigh to represent professional registered nurses with a baccalaureate degree engaged in nursing practice or nursing administration. Beranek is a registered staff nurse in the staffing pool at Marquette General Hospital where she provides nursing care to various departments. She previously served as a staff nurse on the neuro/ortho/surgical/pediatric floor at Marquette General Hospital, as a clinical instructor for Northern Michigan University, and as a staff nurse on the pediatric floor at Chicago’s Children’s Memorial Hospital. Her four-year term expires June 30, 2017.

Leigh will now represent nurse practitioners, replacing Karen Bowman. Leigh is on the affiliate faculty of the Grand Valley State University Kirkhof College of Nursing, where she provides classroom and clinical instruction for advanced practice nursing students and undergraduate professional leadership students. She is also a nurse practitioner in the Hepatitis C Treatment Clinic for Mercy Health Partners, as well as in the gastroenterology clinic for Spectrum Health Medical Group. Leigh earned a diploma from the Blodgett Memorial Medical Center School of Nursing, a bachelor’s degree in nursing from Ferris State University, and a master’s in nursing and a doctor of nursing practice from Grand Valley State University. Her four-year term expires June 30, 2017.

McDonald will represent professional registered nurses with a baccalaureate degree engaged in nursing practice or nursing administration, replacing Nina Bugbee. McDonald is a registered nurse at Genesys Regional Medical Center, and has extensive experience and knowledge in the clinical nursing practice. She co-chairs the staffing subcommittee and participates on the women and children task force and family birthing center unit council at Genesys. McDonald has associate and bachelor’s degrees in nursing from Mott Community College. She will serve a four-year term expiring June 30, 2017.

Velez will represent nurse midwives, replacing Kathleen Lavery. Velez is a certified nurse midwife in labor, delivery and triage at Oakwood Hospital. She holds a bachelor’s degree in nursing from Madonna University and master’s degrees in parent and child nursing and nurse-midwifery from the University of Michigan. She will serve a four-year term expiring June 30, 2017.

The 23-member board establishes qualifications for nurse licensure, approves standards for nurse education programs and takes disciplinary action against licensees when the health, safety and welfare of the public have been adversely affected.

Members serve four-year terms and the appointments are subject to the advice and consent of the state Senate.