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PICTURED:

Maria Kidner DNP, MSN FNP, BSN, ASN

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The Fay W. Whitney School of Nursing at the University of Wyoming announces their 2024 Distinguished Alumna, Maria Kidner. Kidner has been selected for this year's award for her significant contributions to the nursing profession for excellence in leadership.

 

Maria Kidner’s nursing educational path included ASN (1987), BSN (1998), MSN FNP (2001), and DNP (2008). Although she started in labor and delivery, the majority of her years as a Nurse Practitioner was in cardiology. Along her career path she got involved in international work with 6 months in Guyana, SA and then 12 months in Rwanda, Africa. That year led to her developing the LEAP leadership program, followed by the development and implementation of Rwanda’s first post master’s cardiac nursing course. In 2024, Dr. Kidner (through Rotary International) designed and implemented the first nurse led Rheumatic Heart Disease program providing knowledge skills and the tools for remote nurses to assess, diagnosis, ad treat Streptococcus pyogenes infection, acute rheumatic fever and RHD. Dr. Kidner was the Wyoming State liaison to the American Association of Nurse Practitioners for thirteen years, the Region 8 director to AANP for four years, the co-chair of the Research subgroup to the International Council of Nurses NP/APN, and avid participant in legislative activities. Dr. Kidner was Wyoming’s second AANP Fellow and has been instrumental in increasing Wyoming NP Fellows. She is a published author with her book on APN Role transition for ICN and she speaks nationally and internationally on leadership, cardiology, and the APN role.