Board of Directors
Candidate For:
Andrea Cressy
MSN, RN, CEN, SANE-A
Goal Statement
My goal as a member of the Academy of Forensic Nursing Board of Directors is to advance the profession by strengthening education, fostering mentorship, and promoting collaboration among forensic nursing professionals. I am committed to supporting evidence-based practice, expanding access to forensic nursing resources, and advocating for the recognition of forensic nurses as essential members of multidisciplinary teams caring for patients affected by violence. By leveraging my experience in program development, strategic leadership, and community partnerships, I hope to help the Academy cultivate future leaders, enhance professional development opportunities, and continue driving innovation that improves patient care and advances forensic nursing nationwide.
Biography
Andrea Cressy is the Forensic Nursing Program Director for Houston Methodist, where she leads a comprehensive, system-wide forensic nursing program serving multiple hospitals across the Greater Houston area. With more than 30 years of nursing experience, including nearly 20 years dedicated to forensic nursing, Andrea has built her career around improving care for patients impacted by violence through clinical excellence, innovation, and multidisciplinary collaboration.
Since becoming a forensic nurse in 2007, Andrea has been a leader in advancing forensic nursing practice. She established the Houston Methodist Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner (SANE) Program in 2014 and has since expanded it into a 24/7 forensic nursing service that provides specialized care for survivors of sexual assault, human trafficking, interpersonal violence, strangulation, elder abuse, and other forms of violence throughout the healthcare system.
Andrea is passionate about education and mentorship, having trained and mentored numerous forensic nurses while developing evidence-based policies, quality initiatives, and clinical programs that enhance patient care. She previously served as one of Texas's first Tele-SANE nurses through Tex-TRAC at Texas A&M University and as a forensic nursing expert coach with the Texas A&M Center of Excellence in Forensic Nursing. She regularly collaborates with healthcare leaders, law enforcement, prosecutors, victim advocacy organizations, and community partners, and actively participates in multiple Sexual Assault Response Teams (SARTs) across the Greater Houston region. She also serves as a volunteer member of the Her Well Advisory Board.
Andrea's leadership and commitment to excellence have earned numerous honors, including the Good Samaritan Excellence in Nursing Award (Bronze, 2019; Gold, 2020), recognition as one of Houston Chronicle's Top 150 Nurses, the Houston Methodist Culture of Safety Award, and the prestigious Houston Methodist ICARE Award. She is dedicated to advancing the forensic nursing profession through leadership, education, advocacy, and the delivery of compassionate, trauma-informed care.