Mike Hastings, MSN, RN, CEN, of Kansas

Mike Hastings’ enduring and substantial contributions are in the areas of leadership and nurse advocacy. In the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic, he served as the emergency nurse leader on collaborative efforts with the U.S. Under-Secretary of the Administration for Strategic Preparedness and Response, as well as being the only nurse on NHTSA’s National Emergency Medical Services Advisory Council. Due to the relationships forged through collaboration, Mike was well positioned to advocate for emergency nursing practice and safety, specifically to champion efforts to pass the CARES Act, which supplied millions of dollars for PPE. He continued his leadership and advocacy work in leading the creation of virtual training options for thousands of emergency nurses to obtain or maintain credentials supporting high-quality emergency care. Mike has also been actively involved with moving pediatric readiness initiatives forward in four states. Hastings is the emergency services director of nursing at Children’s Mercy Medical Center in Kansas City, Missouri.