The Tennessee Action Coalition is honored to congratulate Leanne Lefler, PhD, APRN, ACNS-BC, FAHA – University of Arkansas. This recognition is well deserved. Dr. Lefler has contributed so much to the Nursing Profession including her work with the Nurses on Boards (NOB) training.

Congratulations Dr. Lefler!

For the press release, click here.

The post Congratulations to Leanne Lefler, PhD, APRN, ACNS-BC, FAHA – University of Arkansas appeared first on Campaign for Action.

This is the 16th in a series of profiles of Campaign leaders talking about their connections to the nursing or health care profession and their interests in healthier communities.

Lucia Alfano, RN, MA, is a public health expert with a focus on diversity, nursing leadership, mentoring, and building cross-sector partnerships. Alfano was assistant professor of nursing at Concordia College, N.Y., before leaving to pursue her doctorate at Columbia University. She is founding president of the National Association of Hispanic Nurses Westchester chapter and has been a member of the Campaign for Action’s New York State Action Coalition since 2013. She is a 2015 Campaign Breakthrough Leader in Nursing as well as a Campaign Outreach Advocate for a Culture of Health, or COACH.

Why did you decide to become a nurse?  

I became a nurse by accident. At 18 years old, with little direction and not much support, I did not know where I would end up or what I wanted to be when I grew up. A friend told me she was attending nursing school and that I should apply—so I did. Not realizing the immense challenge this entailed, I dove right in and began my journey as a dedicated learner and soon after as a nurse.

Can you describe your philosophical evolution from making that decision to where you are today?

When I entered community college, I had to take remedial courses for a year before I could take the core courses for the nursing program. I spent countless hours and days in the tutoring center and in library. I became a lover of learning—in fact, 20 years later, I am still in school.

When I began the nursing courses, I knew that I was born to care for people. That applied not just to the patient during clinical rotation, but also for my peer who needed to understand the lecture; a junior student who needed mentoring; and even alumni who wanted to come back and help the seniors in the program. There seemed to be a lot to do and I was in the midst of it all. I became president of the student nurses association and then founded the first-of-its kind mentoring/tutoring program. This was essential for our success as nurses, and it proved to help many nursing students succeed. At this time, I was dubbed “the teacher” because I loved to reteach the lecture and create notes to share, with colorful details. I loved helping others excel, learn, rejuvenate to improved health, and thrive.

Today, I continue to be this teacher, avid learner, and willing to build or conceptualize something that will help people rise. This is my philosophy, to help as many people rise to their greatest potential—weather it be via health, education, mentoring, friendship, policy change, advocating, or picketing—an advocate and an activist by nature for all people in need.

Of all that you have accomplished, what are you most proud of?

I am most proud of where I am today—in a doctoral program at an Ivy League school, living my dream to be pursuing my doctorate.

I am also very proud of the founding of the National Association of Hispanic Nurses in Westchester County, which has served thousands of community members and professional nurses in a positive and uplifting way.

If you could change the profession in any one way, what would you change and why?

I aim to change the way nurses are educated. My vision is to create interprofessional education models that will help nurses become effective team members immediately after graduation. Nursing education is lagging in innovative strategies and modalities. We need to update curricula.

We also need to give more opportunities and support to people of diverse backgrounds. Less than 1 percent of nursing faculty is Hispanic, yet we are the largest population in our nation. We need to encourage more nurses from diverse backgrounds to pursue academia. Our students thrive when they can see educators who look like them.

What is the most important action that nurses can take to lead the way to improve health and health care in America?

Nurses need to stand forward in advocacy in their communities, professional organizations, and in policy and politics. Their voices need to be heard and their presence felt in decision-making arenas. Nurses have the potential of becoming influential in changing laws and policy by presenting their specialties, their research, their experience. Nurses are diverse, caring, smart—there is nothing we can’t do. We must be present. We must vote. We must run for office. We must educate and mentor the incoming generation. Each one must teach one. Don’t let others fail because of lack of support and resources—let’s stand together in seeing this does not happen.

What role do you see for yourself in building a healthier America?

As an educator with a doctoral degree, I want to be at the helm of decision-making for nursing education. I want to work with community, government, and academia in order to improve curricula around the nation. The foundation of how nurses are educated needs to be updated and revolutionized. I plan to be leading these conversations and building models and integrating them in universities and colleges—so that they can lead the way in educating nurses for generations to come.

The post Both Teacher and Learner, She Helps People Thrive appeared first on Campaign for Action.

Three outstanding registered nurses were recently inducted into the Louisiana State Nurses Association (LSNA) Hall of Fame and all three are active leaders with the Louisiana Action Coalition (LAC). During the Louisiana Nurses Foundation Nightingale Gala on April 1 in Baton Rouge, Cynthia Bienemy, PhD, RN; Mary Broussard, MSN, RN; and Lisa Deaton, RN, BSN were awarded this honor.

The LSNA Hall of Fame Award recognizes a registered nurse’s lifelong commitment to the profession of nursing and the subsequent impact on the health or social history of Louisiana. Those chosen for the award have practiced in Louisiana for at least 10 years and participated in LSNA, the American Nurses Association and/or other professional organizations. They have demonstrated leadership and achievement in the field of professional nursing.

Cynthia Bienemy, PhD, RN, began her 37-year nursing career in 1981 after graduating with her BSN from Southeastern Louisiana University. She has years of experience in nursing practice, nursing education at the undergraduate and graduate levels, nursing research, project planning, grant-writing, and program evaluation. She currently serves as the director of the Louisiana Center for Nursing at the Louisiana State Board of Nursing where she is charged with collecting, analyzing, and reporting on the registered nurse (RN) and advanced practice registered nurse (APRN) workforce in Louisiana. She serves as co-lead for LAC and is a member of the LAC Core Leadership Team. She also serves as the lead for the LAC Diversity Steering Committee which is responsible for the pillar of work that focuses on increasing the diversity of Louisiana’s RN and APRN workforce. Bienemy is the immediate past president of the National Forum of State Nursing Workforce Centers, chair of Louisiana’s Nursing Supply and Demand Council and the Louisiana Health Works Commission. She is an ANA SAMSHA Ethnic Minority Fellow Alumnus and the first graduate from the only PhD in Nursing Program in Louisiana, Southern University and A& M College (2004). Bienemy serves on multiple state and national committees and work groups.

Mary O. Broussard, MSN, RN, began her 42-year nursing career in 1976 after graduating with a BSN from the University of Louisiana at Lafayette. She received a MSN in Community Psychosocial Nursing from Southeastern Louisiana University in 1999. For more than 36 years, her work involved caring for the indigent and uninsured at University Medical Center in Lafayette, LA. While there, she worked in multiple management level positions and retired as the nurse administrator in 2012. Subscribing to her own practice of ‘recycling’ retired nurses, she now serves at the Region IV Action Coalition co-lead for LAC. The work of Region IV includes reaching out to the area’s school system in an effort to influence males and minorities to consider nursing as a career choice. In addition, Broussard served on the board of the Woman’s Foundation for 18 years. Woman’s Foundation offers programs related to educating and empowering women and children on making healthy living choices and reducing the incidence of teen pregnancy.

Lisa Deaton, BSN, RN, has been a registered nurse for more than 40 years. After receiving a BSN from Southeastern Louisiana University, she began her nursing career at Earl K. Long Hospital in 1976. There she held several leadership positions and was a staff trainer, where she fulfilled a key role in educating countless RNs. In 1988 she transferred to the Licensing and Certification Division within the Department of Health and Hospitals (DHH) where she retired in 2007.  She served in a variety of positions there including director of DHH State Survey Agency. Deaton is co-founder and a board member of Louisiana Enhancing Aging with Dignity through Empowerment and Respect (LEADER), an organization aimed at championing person-centered communities where aging adults and their partners are valued, respected and honored. LEADER works with providers, consumers, regulators and policy makers to help ensure person-centered care for elderly Louisiana citizens across all healthcare settings. Deaton also has served as the Health Policy Chairman for LSNA and currently serves as the chair of LA Nurses Political Action Committee (LANPAC). She serves on the LAC Core Leadership Team and its Executive Committee and leads the work of the Regional Action Coalitions.

The Louisiana State Nurses Association began inducting nurses into its Hall of Fame in 2004. To date, 56 nurses have received this recognition. The award is limited to three honorees each year.

Photo: From left, Mary O. Broussard, MSN, RN; Cynthia Bienemy, PhD, RN; and Lisa Deaton, BSN, RN.

The post Three LAC nurse leaders inducted into LSNA Hall of Fame appeared first on Campaign for Action.

This is the 15th in a series of profiles of Campaign leaders talking about their connections to the nursing or health care profession and their interests in healthier communities.

Frances (Fran) Keeler, MSN, RN, a 2014 Breakthrough Leader in Nursing, has more than 38 years’ experience as an RN, most recently with the Vermont Division of Licensing and Protection, where as director until 2014 she oversaw the state’s survey agency and the adult protective services program. She teaches nursing and health care administration at Empire State College, Chamberlain University, and University of Phoenix.

Why did you decide to become a nurse?

I wanted to be a nurse as a young girl, primarily because my aunt was a licensed practical nurse and I thought it was interesting. At the time I really did not understand was nursing would be like.

Can you describe your philosophical evolution from making that decision to where you are today?

I have come to realize that nursing is far more than working with a group of patients in a hospital inpatient setting, which was my first vision. Nursing can happen in so many environments. There seems to be an unlimited number of nursing roles, such as parish nurse, nurse surveyor, nursing faculty, and public health nurse, to name just a few.

Of all that you have accomplished, what are you most proud of?

Being chosen to serve as the president of the Association of Health Facility Survey Agencies, the national organization of state health care facility survey programs. It was an honor to lead such an important national group.

If you could change the profession in any one way, what would you change and why?

I would like to see nurses in all types of roles be able to have more time to do their important work with patients. We as nurses have so much expertise but all too often we have too little time to spend with each patient or resident encounter.

What is the most important action that nurses can take to lead the way to improve health and health care in America?

All nurses need to continue to speak out, and we need to use our collective voice more often. Too many nurses say, “I do not want to get involved in politics. I am too busy.” We must take the time to speak up and speak out about issues related to the overall nursing profession and to the health status of all Americans, as well as issues related to our American health care system.

What role do you see for yourself in building a healthier America?

I now teach nursing students—most often in RN-to-BSN programs—and I teach the importance of understanding about the social determinants of health, of looking at patients from a holistic and patient-centered point of view, and of understanding and utilizing evidence-based practice. I also try to remind them of the need to maintain and improve their own level of health and well-being. By doing this I hope to have some sort of positive impact on the patients that my students will care for.

The post Speak Up and Speak Out, Says Nurse Leader appeared first on Campaign for Action.

This is the 14th in a series of profiles of Campaign leaders talking about their connections to the nursing or health care profession and their interests in healthier communities.

As the chief nursing officer at Public Health Seattle-King County, Washington, Dorene Hersh, MSN, RN, is responsible for clinical practice oversight for over 350 public health nurses employed in management, supervisory, advanced practice, field nursing, ambulatory care, and correctional health roles. She is a Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Public Health Nurse Leader and Culture of Health Breakthrough Leader in Nursing.

Why did you decide to become a nurse?

I became a nurse by accident, literally. In the summer of my junior year of high school, I was working at a restaurant. There was a large roast beef-carving stand and I was slicing meat for customers. The knife slipped, and a customer said, “You should get that taken care of.” I looked down and saw that I had cut myself quite deeply. While in the emergency department, I admired the way the nurses cared for the patients, triaging and balancing the needs of everyone present, including the providers. This experience inspired me to pursue nursing.

I also grew up in a very small town in Michigan and wanted to travel. The flexibility of nursing would allow me to attain employment no matter where I decided to live.

Can you describe your philosophical evolution from making that decision to where you are today?

Nursing is probably the only field where you can have a “do over” any time you desire. Though my graduate degree was as a pediatric nurse practitioner, I never worked a day as a PNP after discovering great gratification working in public health care.

I began as a bedside nurse in a neonatal intensive care unit. Since my original degree was a diploma RN, I pursued my bachelor’s degree while working full time—12-hour nights. After I graduated with my BSN, I began working per diem in home care, caring for the graduated preemies from the hospital. I eventually moved into home care full time, moving into leadership positions until I became a chief of nursing for a pediatric center for medically fragile children.

I had moved from Michigan, to New York, to California, then to Washington State, where I currently reside. My graduate degree was as a pediatric nurse practitioner (PNP). I had cared for medically fragile children for the first 20 years of my career, working with populations that were impacted by social determinants of health (although it wasn’t called that at the time). I had realized that caring for well children didn’t hold the same degree of satisfaction as I had previously enjoyed.

I graduated, passed my boards, and entered the field of public health leadership, where I could put my passion into upstream strategies to change the trajectory of health.

Of all that you have accomplished, what are you most proud of? 

I am proud of all that I have accomplished. Each milestone seems the most important at the time.

I cherish my time as a Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Public Health Nurse Leader. The training, coaching, and support has exponentially moved me forward onto state and national stages, which I never thought would have been possible before that experience.

As of July 1, my team was awarded a multimillion dollar [Health Resources and Services Administration] HRSA grant that will train future generations of ambulatory care nurses to care for medically underserved populations. The funds will support training nurses in our unique clinical experiences, including primary care, mobile medical vans, Refugee Screening—a nurse-run clinic that serves all newly arrived refugees providing culturally sensitive care for those who might have been through trauma—and Buprenorphine Pathway clinics to prepare nurses in the delivery of trauma-informed care. All of this is part of preparing nurses to build resilience in our community—that is my new passion.

If you could change the profession in any one way, what would you change and why?

Excellent question! If I had a magic wand, I would establish parity in nursing practice across our nation. We as a country are missing a great opportunity utilizing nurse practitioners to the fullest extent of their licensure. This is an important strategy in providing care in underserved areas. The nursing and provider shortages are growing as the Baby Boomers age. I think this strategy is attainable.

What is the most important action that nurses can take to lead the way to improve health and health care in America?

If each nurse found one thing in their community, where they work, where they worship or where they play, to model for others, it would be a great start.

I work with inspiring, talented, and dedicated nurses who make a difference every single day. Not only at work, but after hours, dedicating their time to running for office, raising money for charities, participating in marches, volunteering for community clinics, the list goes on. If we could engage every nurse across our nation to do one thing, think the impact would be great. A ripple in the pool of health in America.

Nurses are the largest sector of the health care workforce and the most trusted profession. We are essential to improving health and achieving health equity. Solving the health care crisis will be a multifaceted approach, with no one answer.

What role do you see for yourself in building a healthier America?

In Washington State, our Action Coalition is working on this very thing. We have three goals:

1. We are striving to create meaningful leadership opportunities for nurses, with a key focus on statewide efforts to advance health equity and population health.
2. We are educating nurses in various practice settings on the impact of the social determinants of health through a variety of strategies.
3. We are striving to transform nursing practice by incorporating social determinants of health into plans of nursing care in all care settings.

We are fortunate to have three statewide initiatives to leverage in achieving our goals, Healthier Washington, which is our state health improvement plan; Action Now!, which is a group of nursing leadership across the state joining together to address the nursing shortage; and the American Hospital Association’s 123forEquity Campaign to eliminate health care disparities.

Volunteering my time and effort to co-lead our Action Coalition has been very rewarding by mentoring the next generation of nurse leaders, and by engaging nurses to help move the needle to improve the health of our communities.

The post Her Passion Now: “Preparing Nurses To Build Resilience In Our Community” appeared first on Campaign for Action.

This is the 13th in a series of profiles of 

Melissa Pinto, PhD, RN, FAAN, is associate professor of nursing at the University of California, Irvine’s Sue & Bill Gross School of Nursing, where her research focuses on mood disorders in adolescents and young adults. Her expertise is in the area of adolescent and young adult behavioral health, self-management, psychosocial barriers to mental health treatment for adolescents, and technology and adolescent health risk behaviors.

Why did you decide to become a nurse?

I wanted a fulfilling career that aligned with my core values. While there are many different career options that aim to help others, I chose nursing because it offers tremendous flexibility in how you can promote health, both in the traditional acute care setting and into the community.

Can you describe your philosophical evolution from making that decision to where you are today?

My view of nursing has broadened over time. Patients, colleagues, mentors, and students have been my teachers and provided me with the opportunity to grow professionally and personally. I have been afforded the opportunity to engage with individuals from different parts of the health care sector. These experiences have shown me the potential nurses have to not only shape the delivery of care in their institutions, but also on a national and international scale.

Of all that you have accomplished, what are you most proud of? 

I cannot point to a single accomplishment, however I can point to moments I feel the most proud. I am most proud when the general public and those in formal positions of influence, like policymakers, are interested in my research because it is an indicator I am achieving my goal—to improve the health of patients and communities.

If you could change the profession in any one way, what would you change and why?

I would like to see the profession better capitalize on our strengths—like the delivery of care in different settings and understanding how patients care for themselves when they are at home. I would love to see nursing take this knowledge, convene and lead multidisciplinary teams to more rapidly develop creative solutions to some of our most pressing health problems like mental health, chronic disease, and violence. Nurses are well-positioned to promote the health populations of people around the globe.

What is the most important action that nurses can take to lead the way to improve health and health care in America?

Nurses should not wait to be invited to the table; instead ask for a seat. This is true for nurses working in all areas— acute care, academia, and in the community.

The general public, and even colleagues in health professions, often hold a traditional view of nursing and do not completely understand the role of nurses and their skills set. Being both vocal and visible about what we do that improves the health of Americans will position us well to lead important initiatives and be involved in critical decisions that influence the health and well-being of people on a large scale.

What role do you see for yourself in building a healthier America?

My contribution is to promote the mental health of adolescents and underserved populations through science, education, and leadership. I do not see the same attention paid to mental health as physical health; this is surprising given that mental health, particularly in youth, is a foundation for good physical and mental health long-term. Mental health is underfunded in research and in practice. There are considerable barriers to care, and mental health care is not well-integrated with physical health.  To address some of these needs, I see myself working with colleagues in various areas of the health sector to influence change and lead new initiatives at the population level. In my research, I will aim to improve the lives of children at risk for mental health problems by bolstering their resilience, developing new interventions, in an environment of severely limited healthcare expended for psychiatric disease and prevention.

The post Nursing Professor Aims to Improve Lives of Teens, Young Adults with Mood Disorders appeared first on Campaign for Action.

This is the 12th in a series of profiles of

Laure Marino, DNP, APRN, is an assistant professor of nursing at West Virginia University School of Nursing. A board-certified family and geriatric nurse practitioner, Marino has maintained a practice in Charleston since 1997, having opened the first nurse-led, reverse-integrated —meaning primary care services are placed in a behavioral health setting—care practice in West Virginia.

She is part of the Campaign Outreach Advocates for a Culture of Health, or COACH program.

Why did you decide to become a nurse?  

I don’t even remember “deciding”; it’s the only career I ever envisioned. My mom is a nurse, her sisters—who I grew up around—are nurses. I don’t recall considering any other career.

Can you describe your philosophical evolution from making that decision to where you are today?

My philosophy has not wavered. I entered nursing to make a difference and to walk with people through their health events. This is still what drives my nursing practice today—to meet people where they are and help them achieve their greatest health. My lens is broader now;  “patients” now includes families, communities, and health care systems.

Of all that you have accomplished, what are you most proud of?  

I’m proudest of the deep, abiding relationships I have developed with my patients over the years. It is a high honor and privilege to be invited to walk along with people, to share their ups and downs, to be allowed to experience their most intimate, challenging and joyful times. These are not one-sided relationships. I don’t do all the “lifting up.” Sure, I may hold a certain skillset or information that can benefit my patients, but it’s the working together and reaching mutual goals that lift me up.

If you could change the profession in any one way, what would you change and why? 

I would change how nurses see themselves and their role in health care. We are vital, valuable contributors to the health care team. Many nurses are bitter and angry, no doubt burned-out from the demands of an intense profession. But that makes them lose their effectiveness in delivering appropriate care, and their ability to feel hopeful and joyful about our profession. If we recognize that our role is essential, that our opinions matter, we become change agents to improve things that need to be attended to.

What is the most important action that nurses can take to lead the way to improve health and health care in America? 

Do something!!! Find your voice! Influence policy! Speak up and out! Be a patient advocate and be a profession advocate.  Don’t wait around for someone else to protect your scope of practice or your patient’s access to care. Learn to take your brilliant ideas for better health from idea to action. Sign up for a committee, contact a legislator, write an op-ed. Recognize the power that nursing holds to influence and impact change.

What role do you see for yourself in building a healthier America? 

I’m working primarily in nursing education now, influencing the next generation of nurse clinicians. America will be healthier when these clinicians can do what nurses do best- deliver health prevention and promotion. I want to impress upon new clinicians of their vital role in shifting the emphasis of care from treatment of disease to the prevention of disease. Nurses have always known this but we too get sidetracked when our health care delivery system is so disease oriented.

I’m interested in community work that emphasizes healthy behaviors and attitudes, getting citizens more active, getting governments to see health in every legislation or project. Reducing the burden of disease starts with not developing the disease in the first place.

The post She Opened the First Nurse-Led Care Practice in West Virginia appeared first on Campaign for Action.

Renee’ Menkens, MS, RN (in the tan jacket, far right) participates at a retreat for the Registered Nurse to Bachelor of Science faculty at Oregon Health & Science University.

This is the 11th in a series of profiles of Campaign leaders talking about their connections to the nursing or health care profession and their interests in healthier communities.

Renee’ Menkens, MS, RNC is clinical assistant professor at Oregon Health & Science University’s School of Nursing. As one of 20 nurses named as a Breakthrough Leader in Nursing by the Future of Nursing: Campaign for Action, an initiative of AARP Foundation, AARP, and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, Renee’ has succeeded in bringing the voice of rural Oregon forward as a member of the Oregon Action Coalition to support a Culture of Health as a statewide initiative. She is a board member of the Coos County Friends of Public Health and for the Kids HOPE Center.

Renee’ is part of the Campaign Outreach Advocates for a Culture of Health program.

Why did you decide to become a nurse?

I wanted to make a difference, and saw that being a nurse and interacting with people at their most vulnerable to help them was a way to meet that goal.

Can you describe your philosophical evolution from making that decision to where you are today?

I have come to see nurse involvement is an important contribution to the quality of the work being done to support and improve the health of local communities.

I have always felt that there was more to being a nurse than being at the bedside, although this is a critical role for nurses. Through my graduate work and as a faculty member, I’ve been involved in the community to improve the Culture of Health. I feel strongly about the need to address issues at the local and policy level. I’ve worked with community groups focusing on disease prevention, and been involved in campaigns to eliminate smoking in local parks in Coos County and to support improving nutrition options for county residents through the work of the Community Health Improvement Committee on Healthy Eating, Active Living.

Of all that you have accomplished, what are you most proud of?

I am most proud of my ability to work with a diversity of people and groups as a nurse to support a Culture of Health in my community.

In both my work as a discharge call nurse and in community organizations, communication is important. Being on the Kid’s HOPE Center board is a way to see broader issues in this community relating to child health; participating in the Community Health Assessment and Community Health Improvement committees over the last eight years has been a wonderful experience in how community groups can make a difference in the health of community residents.

If you could change the profession in any one way, what would you change and why?

I would like to see more nurses involved in community efforts to improve health and prevent disease.

I think the focus in our nursing education on acute care training is missing other ways that nurses can provide care to those who need our services.

What is the most important action that nurses can take to lead the way to improve health and health care in America?

It is critical for the nursing profession to see involvement in the community, state, and nation on policy issues that improve health as a way to make positive change in the health of our communities and nation.

What role do you see for yourself in building a healthier America?

I plan to continue in my community involvement work as a nurse and focus more on how policy change can support a healthier community and nation.

The post Get Involved in Community, Urges Nurse Leader appeared first on Campaign for Action.

This is the tenth in a series of profiles of leaders who are part of the

Dan Lose, DNP, RN, CNML is a nurse manager and leader at the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics, focusing on teamwork, culture, and building healthy work environments to allow nurses to practice to the full extent of their training and education to achieve high-quality patient outcomes. As one of 20 nurses named as a Breakthrough Leader in Nursing by the Future of Nursing: Campaign for Action, an initiative of AARP Foundation, AARP, and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, he has served on the Iowa Action Coalition’s nurse residency taskforce since its inception in 2012. Dan is a member of the American Assembly for Men in Nursing, the American Nurses Association, and American Organization of Nurse Executives. Dan is part of the Campaign Outreach Advocates for a Culture of Health program.

Why did you decide to become a nurse?    

I grew up in Rochester, Minnesota—the home of Mayo Clinic—so health care was a major aspect of our community. My dad is a dentist so I spent a lot of time with him at his office helping patients. Seeing how he treated people who needed help greatly influenced my ability to be compassionate and empathetic.

My plan was to become a dentist when I enrolled at The University of Iowa, but after volunteering in the hospital and seeing the role of nurses in the health care system, I shifted my focus. I met with quite a few nurses—both men and women—and asked them about their experiences in the profession. What I loved is that they all recognized the value of their work and were able to balance their job with their home/family life.

Can you describe your philosophical evolution from making that decision to where you are today?

My focus has shifted from finding a professional career that provides me with value and satisfaction to finding ways to grow the nursing profession to better serve our patients and the health care delivery system. Throughout my undergraduate nursing education, it became clear to me that our health care delivery system was set to undergo major changes. Since nurses cared for people everywhere—hospitals, clinics, nursing homes, schools, health centers, etc.—they were well-positioned to be driving forces of change and improvement. As a nurse, I believe I have the perspective and knowledge of the patient experience that is needed at the decision-making table for changes that influence health care delivery.

Of all that you have accomplished, what are you most proud of?

I am most proud of all the amazing care that nurses under my leadership provide each and every day. My goal is to create and maintain a work environment that supports safe, high-quality patient care. I love receiving positive feedback from patients and/or family members about the skill and empathy of our nurses. When our nursing staff members have the resources to help patients on their journey to health and wellness, I feel I am successful in my role.

If you could change the profession in any one way, what would you change and why?

I believe that having young men open to the idea of becoming a nurse would greatly benefit the profession, and I would encourage men to strongly consider nursing as a profession, especially young men in high school or early in college.

Nurses are valued health professionals who work in all settings throughout the world.  The nursing profession has been wonderful for me; it has provided the opportunity to serve others, work with large health care teams, and utilize data to drive decision-making.

What is the most important action that nurses can take to lead the way to improve health and health care in America?

Nurses need to have the confidence that their voice matters.

Getting involved in their state nurses’ association and specialty organizations provides a vehicle for nurses to network and influence public policy. The Nurses on Boards Coalition is a great way for nurses to learn more about serving on local, state, and national governing boards!

What role do you see for yourself in building a healthier America?

I aim to continue being an advocate for health and wellness and promoting the nurse’s role and ability to help patients. The knowledge and skills that I gained through my Doctor of Nursing Practice in Health Systems have aided my ability to make changes at both the local and national levels. I use every opportunity I can to educate those around me on the role and value nurses bring to building a healthier America.

The post A Nurse Manager Who Is Growing the Nursing Profession appeared first on Campaign for Action.

Leanne L. Lefler, PhD, ACNS-BC, APRN, FAHA, is an associate professor at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences College of Nursing (UAMS), is a co-leader for the Hartford Center of Geriatric Nursing Excellence, and is president of the Academic Senate for UAMS. She is a Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Culture of Health Breakthrough Nurse Leader in Nursing, and is a board member of the Arkansas Action Coalition for the Future of Nursing. She received her Bachelor of Science in Nursing in 1982 from Arkansas Tech University, her Master of Science in Nursing in 2001 from the University of Central Arkansas, and her Doctor of Philosophy in Nursing Science in 2006 from UAMS.

Why did you decide to become a nurse?     

I was very practical about it, I thought it would be a steady job! I quickly learned that it was a vocation—one requiring great dedication. I took to it wholeheartedly.

Can you describe your (philosophical) evolution from making that decision to where you are today?

Probably one of the most profound moments was in graduate school while in research utilization class. I raised my hand and asked, “Do you mean that with research, I perhaps can change the health of populations of people?” When my instructor said yes, I knew that instant, this is what I want to do. I decided that moment I would get a PhD, be a nurse research scientist and to work towards health and wellness in older adults with cardiovascular disease.

Of all that you have accomplished, what are you most proud of?

Choosing one thing is too difficult. I am very proud of all the students that I have taught and mentored in my 18 years of academic education. My hope is that I inspired them to care, and care deeply. I’ve always been a rule-breaker and thought outside of the box…this has led me to develop alternative ways to help promote cardiovascular health in the research and community work I have done.

If you could change the profession in any one way, what would you change and why?

I would love to change our higher education system into one that has true interprofessional education, especially for graduate students studying health, wellness, and healthcare. I really believe this type of education would help improve quality of care for our citizens. We would work so much better as a team in promoting wellness and providing treatment.

What is the most important action that nurses can take to lead the way to improve health and health care in America?

I believe that nurses could lead the shift that is so needed in health and health care—that is, from a disease-driven model to a model of wellness. Lead …meaning influencing others to join in, such as other health care providers, but also individuals and communities. We are everywhere, we are smart, we are savvy, and we know different interventions work for different people and communities.

What role do you see for yourself in building a healthier America?

You mean roles? As an educator, to teach the principles of building a Culture of Health and inspire my students to run with it in their lives and in their practices. As a research scientist, to develop better ways of promoting wellness than we have had in America. As a citizen, to fight for healthy workplaces, communities, and homes.

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