Alena Fuhrman is a board-certified acute care pediatric nurse practitioner in the pediatric general and thoracic surgery department at Inova L.J. Murphy Children’s Hospital.

Alena is committed to providing patient- and family-centered care to children undergoing surgery, whether in the hospital or in the outpatient setting. Alena takes great pride in helping her patients navigate the hospital experience and ensuring that children and their families understand every step of the surgery and recovery process.

Alena completed her undergraduate education at the University of Minnesota in Minneapolis in 2008 and has worked in pediatrics since that time. Prior to becoming a nurse practitioner, Alena worked as a nurse in pediatric oncology and pediatric peri-operative services for over a decade. She has served on multiple committees and organizations focused on advocacy and improving the patient/family healthcare experience. She obtained her doctorate of nursing practice from the University of Maryland in Baltimore. Her doctoral project focused on improving the transition to adult care for adolescents with special healthcare needs.

Outside of work, Alena is an avid reader, writer and collector of eclectic hobbies such as reef keeping and coffee roasting. A native of Minnesota, she can be found outside with her husband and their two sons in all kinds of weather.

Awards/Associations

• National Association of Pediatric Nurse Practitioners 
• American Pediatric Surgical Nurses Association
• Sigma Honor Society of Nursing
• Histiocytosis Association Ambassador