Jessie M. Walton
President
National Association of Republican Nurses
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Jessie M. Walton, RN, is the Founder and President of the National Association of Republican Nurses (NARN), bringing together decades of nursing experience, healthcare leadership, and a longstanding involvement in conservative politics.
Throughout her nursing career, Jessie has worked in some of healthcare’s most demanding environments, including Trauma ICU, Intensive Care, PACU, critical care travel nursing, and leadership as an ICU Charge Nurse. Her years on the front lines have given her a firsthand understanding of the realities facing nurses, healthcare professionals, patients, and families across America.
But Jessie’s leadership has never stopped at the hospital doors.
A lifelong Republican and deeply engaged conservative, Jessie has spent years actively involved in Republican politics and the conservative movement. She has attended both presidential inaugurations of Donald J. Trump in Washington, D.C., participated in national conservative political and leadership events, and attended events at Mar-a-Lago. Her involvement has placed her in political environments where national leaders, policymakers, advocates, and conservative organizations come together to discuss the direction and future of the country.
It was the intersection of these two worlds — frontline healthcare and national politics — that inspired Jessie to establish NARN.
She recognized that nurses represent one of the largest and most trusted professional groups in America, yet conservative nurses have historically lacked a strong, organized national voice in the political and policy arena. Jessie founded NARN to change that.
Just as importantly, Jessie understands something that years of critical care nursing makes unmistakably clear: nurses do not stand alone. Healthcare is a team. Nurses work every day alongside respiratory therapists, nurse practitioners, physicians, advanced practice providers, and countless other healthcare professionals whose expertise is essential to caring for patients.
That belief is helping shape the future of NARN. While NARN remains proudly nurse-founded and nurse-led, the organization is actively working to build stronger relationships with Respiratory Therapists (RTs), Nurse Practitioners (NPs), and other conservative healthcare professionals who share its values and mission. Jessie believes that when healthcare professionals stand together, their collective voice becomes far more powerful — both inside healthcare and in Washington.
As President, she is working to build NARN into a powerful national network of Republican nurses and conservative healthcare professionals who are prepared to advocate, organize, engage policymakers, support conservative leadership, and influence the healthcare policies that affect both patients and those who care for them.
Jessie believes nurses should not simply live under policies created by others. They should have a seat at the table where those policies are shaped — and they should bring their healthcare colleagues to that table with them.
Through NARN, she is working to ensure that conservative nurses and healthcare professionals are seen, heard, represented, and politically engaged at the highest levels.
Alex Walton
President of Political Affairs
National Association of Republican Nurses
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Alex Walton brings extensive experience in political strategy, federal advocacy, grassroots organizing, and legislative affairs to the National Association of Republican Nurses. With a background spanning national political leadership, government relations, PAC management, and legislative advocacy, he provides strategic guidance focused on advancing conservative healthcare priorities and strengthening nurse engagement in public policy.
Throughout his career, Alex has successfully led and contributed to major legislative and advocacy initiatives at both the federal and national levels. His work includes helping advance H.R. 7411, the Respect for Marriage Act, where advocacy efforts contributed to securing support from 49 members of the House Republican Conference while coordinating extensive grassroots engagement and targeted congressional outreach.
Alex also helped lead advocacy strategy surrounding H.R. 5813, building bipartisan congressional support through targeted engagement efforts that resulted in the bill reaching the top percentile of introduced legislation by total sponsors. His experience includes direct engagement with congressional offices, policymakers, federal agencies, and executive branch officials to advance legislative priorities.
In political operations, Alex has overseen political action committee management and candidate engagement efforts, directing substantial fundraising initiatives and supporting targeted political campaigns through grassroots mobilization and coalition building. His leadership experience spans national organizations, political boards, advocacy groups, and congressional environments.
A graduate of George Washington University with degrees in Political Science and English, Alex combines policy expertise with organizational leadership to help position NARN as a strong voice for nurses in the political arena.
As Vice President of Political Affairs, Alex works to expand nurse involvement in advocacy, strengthen political engagement efforts, develop legislative strategy, and build a stronger future for conservative nurses nationwide.
Shannon Patterson RN, BS
Director of Nursing Affairs
National Association of Republican Nurses
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Shannon brings a diverse and accomplished background in healthcare, education, leadership, and advocacy to the National Association of Republican Nurses. As a critical care ICU nurse, she is committed to delivering compassionate, evidence-based care while advocating for policies that empower healthcare professionals, offer safer environments, and improve patient outcomes.
Prior to becoming an ICU nurse, Shannon built a distinguished career spanning multiple areas of healthcare and education. She worked in health and wellness, Division I sports performance/strength and conditioning, cardiopulmonary rehabilitation at a major teaching hospital where she authored a cardiovascular care manual for patients and their families, and co-taught weekly classes on health education topics. She later transitioned into education, where she developed and implemented curriculum for a startup Allied Health and Sports Medicine program for high school students in a small rural community, preparing future healthcare professionals through hands-on learning and career-focused education.
In addition to her classroom leadership, Shannon also dedicated her time to mentoring future healthcare leaders as an advisor for Health Occupations Students of America (HOSA), fostering leadership, professionalism, and service among aspiring medical professionals.
Throughout every stage of her career, Shannon has demonstrated a committed ability to develop innovative programs, build collaborative partnerships, and lead teams toward meaningful goals. Her experience across clinical practice, education, athletics, and leadership provides a broad perspective that strengthens her drive to serve the mission and goals of NARN.
Shannon is passionate about advancing policies that promote safe, effective, ethical, and patient-centered healthcare. She believes healthcare professionals deserve a meaningful voice in legislative and regulatory decisions that directly impact the future of the profession and the patients it serves. Meaningful change begins when healthcare professionals become engaged beyond the bedside; words into action. Through this action, she is dedicated to strengthening NARN's mission while encouraging nurses and healthcare professionals across the country to join and become active participants in shaping the future.
Jillian Ditch RRT
Director of Respiratory Affairs
National Association of Republican Nurses
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As a Registered Respiratory Therapist and Lead Respiratory Therapist, I have dedicated my career to providing exceptional patient care in intensive care, emergency department, trauma, and acute care settings. My experience has taught me the importance of remaining calm under pressure, making sound clinical decisions, and advocating for both patients and healthcare professionals.
As a Christian and Republican healthcare professional, I believe in service, integrity, personal responsibility, and the importance of protecting the dignity and safety of every patient and healthcare worker. While I proudly serve patients in Arizona, I recognize that healthcare professionals across our nation benefit from thoughtful leadership, practical solutions, and strong representation from those who understand the realities of frontline medicine.
Throughout my career, I have championed workplace safety, accountability, and open communication. I strive to foster an environment where healthcare professionals feel respected, supported, and empowered to provide the highest standard of patient care. Through collaboration, honest communication, and leadership by example, I am committed to advancing positive outcomes for both patients and healthcare teams.
As Director of Respiratory Therapy Affairs for the National Association of Republican Nurses (NARN), I look forward to working alongside fellow healthcare professionals and organizational leaders to promote common-sense healthcare policies, strengthen professional advocacy, and ensure that the voices of respiratory therapists and other frontline providers are heard in shaping the future of healthcare.
I am committed to serving with faith, integrity, transparency, and dedication to the patients, professionals, and communities that make up our healthcare system across Arizona and the United States.
Sam Worthington
Manager of operations and Strategic initiatives
National Association of Republican Nurses
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Sam Worthington brings expertise in organizational development, operational strategy, systems management, and long-term growth planning to the National Association of Republican Nurses. Working behind the scenes to support leadership initiatives, organizational expansion, and member engagement, Sam focuses on building scalable systems that strengthen the organization’s national impact.
With experience supporting strategic planning, communication systems, process development, and organizational infrastructure, Sam works to ensure that day-to-day operations align with NARN’s mission of empowering conservative nurses across America.
As Director of Operations & Strategic Initiatives, Sam focuses on improving efficiency, supporting leadership objectives, strengthening member experience, and helping position NARN for sustainable long-term growth.
Sam believes strong organizations are built through clear communication, efficient systems, and leadership focused on results.
