Jesse M. L. Kennedy, BSN, RN, currently practices in Eugene, Oregon as a clinical nurse at Peace Health River Bend in the critical care super pool, the post-anesthesia care unit, emergency department and intensive care unit. He works with hospitals and nurses alike to find better ways to provide care and sits on numerous shared-governance committees. He is the founder of Nurse Connect, a group aimed at developing camaraderie among nurses and establishing mentors for recent nurse graduates. Kennedy has been involved in state and national legislative efforts to improve the health of children, make the nursing profession safer, and improve the quality of patient care. He has testified before the Oregon Joint Ways and Means Committee and attended numerous state and national lobby days.
Kennedy served as president of the National Student Nurses’ Association (NSNA, 2013-2014), the largest pre-professional student organization in the world. He founded NSNA’s National Day of Service and has coordinated numerous volunteer events from the local to the national level, including two international nursing brigades to Thailand. He also has served as vice president of the Oregon Student Nurses’ Association. Additionally, Kennedy served on the International Council of Nurses student committee in Melbourne, Australia, and was invited to speak about the importance of professional development and joining professional organizations. While in Australia, Kennedy helped local students form their own national student nurses association.
Kennedy earned an associate degree in nursing from Lane Community College in 2013. He earned his BSN at Oregon Health and Science University in 2015.
