AACN Board
July 2023-June 2026
Jarrod Atkinson, MSN, RN, NEA-BC, CCRN-K, serves a three-year term as a director on the American Association of Critical-Care Nurses (AACN) board of directors from July 1, 2023, through June 30, 2026.
Atkinson is director of nursing in the off-shift at Rochester Regional Health – Unity Hospital in Rochester, New York. He is dedicated to improving patient quality outcomes and staff engagement, enhancing patient and family experiences, and providing visible leadership to the teams across the Unity campus. He was previously adjunct clinical instructor at SUNY Brockport (2022-2023) and had the same role at Daemen University in Amherst, New York (2015-2017).
Atkinson is an experienced nurse and nurse leader with a focus on acute and critical care nursing that includes bedside and leadership roles in adult ICUs, step-down units and medical-surgical units. He integrates Healthy Work Environment Standards into his work to promote positive patient and staff outcomes. He also mentors and coaches nurses to practice to the highest standard and achieve nationally recognized certifications in their areas of practice.
His AACN volunteer service includes the NTI Program Planning Committee (2023), Beacon Award - initial, senior, administrative reviewer (2017-2023), AACN – AACN Certification Corporation Nominating Committee (2021-2022), and the CCRN Virtual Exam Writing Committee (2017). He has been a member of AACN's Greater Rochester Area Finger Lakes Chapter since 2012, serving as president from 2020-2021.
Among his awards, Atkinson received the Rochester Regional Health Healthcare Heroes Award in 2020 and the Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve (ESGR) Patriotic Employer Award in 2015.
He earned a Master of Science Nursing at Daemen University, Amherst, New York, and a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from University at Buffalo.
During his free time, Atkinson is an avid collector of Wonder Woman memorabilia, including action figures, statues, art and other related items. He enjoys attending concerts, playing video games, reading, and spending quiet time with his husband and two dogs.