Dr. Kathryn Schroeter, clinical associate professor in the College of Nursing, has been named chair of the American Nurses Association’s Ethics Advisory Board at the Center for Ethics and Human Rights (CEHR). She will serve in the position for two years, starting in January 2020.
Founded in 1896, the American Nurses Association is an organization dedicated to advancing and protecting the profession of nursing and improve health care for all. The Ethics Advisory Board includes a deliberative body of experts who provide guidance on ethical concerns within the nursing practice as well as education, research, administration, and other matters relating to the mission and goals of the CEHR.
“I am both excited and honored to step into the position of the ethics advisory board chair. I have been given the opportunity to work with a very knowledgeable and experienced group of nurses who are all devoted to promoting ethics in health care and in nursing practice,” Schroeter said. “As the new decade begins, the Ethics Advisory Board will continue to develop policies and position statements to address current ethical issues directly impacting the profession of nursing.”
CEHR objectives include addressing issues in ethics and human rights at the state, national and international levels, as well as advocating for public policy to ensure ethics and human rights are addressed in health care.
In her new role, Schroeter will guide the board in its work and offer recommendations on positions adopted by the advisory board. She will also serve as a spokesperson for the advisory board and liaison to the American Academy of Nursing Bioethics Expert Panel.
“The College of Nursing congratulates Dr. Schroeter on being selected as the next ANA ethics advisory board chair,” Dr. Janet Wessel Krejci, dean of the College of Nursing, said. “Her passion, expertise and knowledge of ethics in professional practice, as well as her previous experience as an ANA board member, makes her well-suited for this important position. We have no doubt she will make substantial contributions to this board.”
Schroeter has served as a member of the advisory board since 2017. She was previously a member of the steering committee for the revision of the ANA Code of Ethics, as well as a contributing author for the ANA’s Code of Ethics publication.