Heidi Nanavati, MSN, CRNP, CNOR

Candidate for President-Elect (One to be Elected)

Read Candidate Q&A

Heidi L. Nanavati, MSN, CRNP, CNOR, is an APRN (CNS, NP, CRNA) at Idaho Shoulder to Hand Specialists, Boise. She earned a Bachelor of Science in nursing from The College of New Jersey, Ewing Township; a Master of Science in nursing and a family nurse practitioner certification from Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; and an RNFA certificate from Delaware County Community College, Media, Pennsylvania.

Nanavati has worked as a perioperative nurse or surgical nurse practitioner for the past 24 years and has been a member of AORN for 23 years. She is a member of

• AORN of Treasure Valley (2020-present)
• the Advanced Practice Nursing Specialty Assembly (2015-present)
• the RNFA Specialty Assembly (2015-present)
• the Leadership Specialty Assembly (2015-present)
• the Ambulatory Specialty Assembly (2019-present)

She has been a member of

• AORN of Baltimore (2015-2020)

Nanavati has attended Congress 10 times in the past 10 years, each time as a delegate.

Nanavati has received

• an AORN Outstanding Volunteer Leadership Award (2018)
• an AORN 40 Under 40 Award (2017)

Highlights of Nanavati’s service to AORN include that she is

• Treasurer of AORN (2023-present)

She has been

• a member of the AORN Board of Directors (2021-2023)
• a member of the AORN Nominating Committee (2018-2020)
• chair of the AORN Nominating Committee (2019-2020)
• a member of the AORN Scholarship Committee (2017-2020)
• a member of the AORN Silent Auction Committee (2017-2020)
• secretary of AORN of Treasure Valley (2022-2024)
• chair of the RNFA Specialty Assembly (2016-2017)
• president of AORN of Baltimore (2016-2018)
• a subject matter expert for Periop 202 orthopedics - shoulder and elbow module (2017)

In other leadership roles, Nanavati is

• a member of the Idaho State Nurses Association (2020-present)
• a member of the American Nurses Association (2015-present)
• a member of the American Association of Nurse Practitioners (2022-present)

In her community, Nanavati is

• an organizer for soccer club golf scramble (2023-present)
• an organizer for soccer club gala silent auction (2022-present)

She has been

• president of the Parents Association at St Paul’s School, Baltimore, Maryland (2018-2020)
• head of Room Parents at Davenport Preschool (2015-2017)

Election Statement

AORN, an organization led by the members, for the members, our communities, and safe patient care. AORN is known as the guiding light for perioperative nursing globally. We have led the charge in many areas of perioperative nursing to benefit our members with resources to utilize in their workplace at the bedside, for safe patient care, as well as tools for their professional journey. Over the past 3.5 years, serving as a member of the Board of Directors, and your AORN Treasurer, I have also learned it is a business that needs to run smoothly and have financial sustainability to provide the funds and opportunities to support the mission and vision of the organization. Having served on several of AORN’s national committees and task forces, the Nominating Committee, as well as the Board of Directors has given me insight into multiple avenues and assets to the organization and our members. This experience along with working as a surgical nurse practitioner in a private orthopedic practice enables me to see the benefits of all the work the organization does to support our nurses and safe patient care. First assisting in surgical cases, in different facilities, opens my eyes to the needs of many of our nurses and patients in different surgical landscapes. Having a hand in the operations of a private surgical practice has enabled me to gain insight into the business side of health care and translate that experience into the AORN Boardroom. Being placed on the ballot to run for President-elect is an honor at this critical time. The health care landscape is ever changing. Across the country, and the globe, everyone in health care is dealing with staffing shortages, decreased reimbursements for care, burnout across all sectors, and disparities in equitable care creating many moving parts in perioperative nursing. In turn, this also creates an abundance of opportunities for our organization. Facing new challenges in this changing environment takes a special lens with experience in the organization to create and reimagine what we provide the members. I have the ear to listen to the members’ wants and needs as well as the experience, business fortitude, and insight to reimagine what the organization can do to fulfill those needs. It would be an honor to serve our members as your next President-elect.