S P E A K E R S
COMING SOON
Courtland Kurtas
BS, RN
Daniel Misa
MSN, RN, CEN, CPEN, NE-BC
Kristina DeJesus-Barquin
BSN, RN, CCRN, FNE-CSA
Daniel Misa
MSN, RN, CEN, CPEN, NE-BC
Dan Misa is certainly no stranger to NJNS. He was an active member during his undergraduate nursing education, and he has spoken annually at the state convention since 2014. Dan is pleased to be making his first NJNS Council of School Participants appearance this year. He is very active in the nursing professional organization community, holding positions and serving on committees for the Emergency Nurses Association (ENA), New Jersey State Nurses Association, Organization of Nurse Leaders New Jersey, and Philippine Nurses Association of New Jersey. Dan is a director of patient care for the emergency department at Saint Barnabas Medical Center in Livingston and an administrative manager (nursing supervisor) at Chilton Medical Center in Pompton Plains. He is a past recipient of the Institute for Nursing Diva and Don Award, New Jersey League for Nursing Nurse Recognition Award and New Jersey ENA Rising Star, Behind the Scenes, and President’s Awards. Dan is a proud alumnus of Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, holding his master of science in nursing degree in leadership and management and his bachelor of science degree in nursing. He is certified in emergency nursing, pediatric emergency nursing, and as a nurse executive.
Courtland Kurtas
BS, RN
Courtland Kurtas (they/them) is a Bachelor's prepared Registered Nurse. They currently work as a Resident at Hackensack Meridian Health Jersey Shore Medical Center in intensive care. They have experience working in both pharmacy as well as psychiatric care at Carrier Clinic. Outside of their nursing career, Courtland also works as a research assistant for the Sam & Devorah Foundation for Trans Youth. Their research is focused on healthcare and accessibility specifically for gender non-conforming youth. Courtland previously worked as a teaching assistant for Health & Social Justice at the Bloustein School of Public Health at Rutgers University. Last winter they presented at the Rutgers University Excellence in Student Affairs Conference and will also be presenting on healthcare for Trans youth in Newark, New Jersey for surgeon, Dr. Klein. They were honored in May, with the Rutgers School of Nursing Student Service Award.
Kristina DeJesus-Barquin,
BSN, RN, CCRN, FNE-CSA
Kristina DeJesus Barquin is a graduate of Muhlenberg Harold B. and Dorothy Snyder School of Nursing in 2011 as well as later receiving her Bachelor’s degree in nursing from Kean University in 2014. She has worked in a wide variety of settings such as acute, outpatient and critical care for a diverse population ranging from adolescent, adult and geriatric working in both Overlook and Morristown Medical Center. She has experience in neurology, endoscopy, pain management, plastic surgery, and home care but spent most of her professional career in cardiac critical care in which she is certified. She later obtained her forensic nursing license and became a forensic nurse working on call for both Union County and Morris County Prosecutor’s Office. In October of 2017, she survived a boating accident where a propeller severed her complete right arm. In 2018, after 7 months of therapy and battling excruciating phantom limb pain, she returned to critical care as a resource nurse. She is currently a Clinical Supervisor at Morristown Medical Center in the Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy Department. Kristina is active in the amputee as well as the adaptive community. She now advocates with an organization called Runway of Dreams to incorporate adaptive clothing lines into the main stream fashion industry.