For Prematurity Awareness Month, we celebrate nurses who were born as premies!

 

                                                              Light it up Purple!

Throughout Prematurity Awareness Month, March of Dimes shines a light on the global crisis of prematurity by raising awareness and asking for lifesaving donations.

Brittany Boolos, RN was born prematurely at 27 weeks weighing 2 pounds 7 ounces. She spent several months in a NICU. She is now working in the NICU at the University of Mississippi Medical Center in Jackson. https://www.clarionledger.com/story/life/2015/11/07/preemie-grows-up-nurse-preemies/75166182/

Stacey Hamilton RN was born at 31 weeks. Her mother had placenta previa. Stacey spent 7 weeks in NICU. She now works as a senior staff neonatal nurse at Royal Hospital for Children in Glasgow, Scotland. https://www.babygaga.com/premature-baby-becomes-neonatal-nurse/

Ashley Moore, RN was born weighing one pound eleven ounces. She stayed in NICU for two months. She now works as a pediatric nurse at Children's National Hospital in Washington, DC. https://childrensnational.org/giving/why-give/stories-of-strength/ashley

Elizabeth Wertz, RN was born at 26 weeks. She spent two months in NICU. Her twin sister passed away at two days old. She worked at Indiana University Health North in the NICU and later became a clinical educator. Elizabeth is in graduate school studying to become a Pediatric Clinical Nurse Specialist (CNS). https://iuhealth.org/thrive/nicu-nurse-was-a-preemie

For more information about prematurity, or to help or make a donation, visit the web site of the March of Dimes. https://www.marchofdimes.org/prematurity-awareness-month.aspx

Cheers!

Donna

Remember to VOTE!!!!

 

Cheers!!!

Donna

Nurses in Palm Beach County, Florida are invited to participate in "Healers in the Garden"

 

"Palm Health Foundation is partnering with Ann Norton Sculpture Gardens to thank local nurses for their tireless work during the pandemic. We invite all local nurses to participate in the Healers in the Gardens program, taking place now until June 2021, which grants nurses free access to the gardens."

"Recognizing the growing demands and complexities nurses are facing, Palm Health Foundation and the Ann Norton Sculpture Gardens (ANSG) have joined together to offer a free day of art and nature to healthcare heroes through Healers in the Gardens. The program is funded by a grant from Palm Health Foundation and will offer 500 Palm Beach County nurses and their guests complimentary admittance to ANSG to acknowledge the community’s gratitude and respect for their devotion to patient care. The program begins on October 1, 2020 as part of Palm Health Foundation’s Train the Brain: Resiliency and Self-Care in the Face of Adversity campaign. The Healers in the Gardens program runs through June 30, 2021."

Nurses can reserve their tickets here: https://bit.ly/36Qn1Qe

https://ansg.org/

Cheers!

Donna

Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner, Carlos Larrauri APRN uses his lived experience with schizophrenia to help others

 

Carlos "Tino" Larrauri, APRN is on a mission! As a psychiatric nurse practitioner, who happens to have schizophrenia, his goal is to interface practice, policy and research to reduce health disparities for people living with mental illness.

As a practicing nurse practitioner, he is dual-board certified as a Family Nurse Practitioner and a Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner. He serves on the board of directors for The National Alliance on Mental Illness and NAMI Miami-Dade. 

When he isn't seeing patients, he is busy public speaking, advocating and writing for publication. He also plays the guitar and harmonica and writes original music based on his lived experience. He performs with his friend Matthew "Matteo" Racher as FOGDOG ABOUT | FogDog (fogdogmusic.com)

You can learn more about Carlos "Tino" Larrauri, APRN at:https://www.carloslarrauri.com/ 

Bravo and thanks for the all the work you do Tino!

Cheers,

Donna

*P.S. Carlos "Tino" in now in law school at the University of Michigan

Nurses with disabilities: Need help from FEMA?

 

In California

For disaster- specific information in California, including eligible counties: Visit https://www.fema.gov/disaster/4558 

 Accessible videos can be found at the FEMA channel:

https://youtube.com/user/FEMA/search?query=FEMA=accessible.  

Outside of California 

Register with FEMA

ASL: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xl3SFH7U1b8&feature=youtu.be

Spanish language video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=meQ_A5XlqSQ&feature=youtu.be  

Individual assistance registration: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hUrdKaE9SVQ&feature=youtu.be 

 

Reasonable accommodations with the American Red Cross, FEMA and other partners 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WIqR6fbuYkA&feature=youtu.be 

Other needs assistance https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_QeYz2IeFmk&feature=youtu.be 

Renters may be eligible for help https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yAHSPK_K7tg&feature=youtu.be 

How to call FEMA with questions https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kfbf56VHOcc&feature=youtu.be 

Beware of fraud and scam artists https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EVqS709Gj_U&feature=youtu.be. 

Understanding your letter https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M1a6lYO5hgY&feature=youtu.be. 

Reasons to apply for an SBA Loan https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0pvfgBaA6_Q&feature=youtu.be 

FEMA assistance does not impact government benefits https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ii7nc94B30c 

Please pass these accessible resources along!  

Stay safe, 

Donna

Andrea Dalzell, RN... A nurse who uses a wheelchair receives one million dollar surprise!

 

What a remarkable achievement! Our hats off to Andrea Dalzell, RN, Good Morning America and The Craig H.Neilsen Foundation!

Andrea is an exceptional nurse and long time disability advocate. This photo is also included on the www. ExceptionalNurse.com web site.

We wish her all the best!  

You can view the GMA clip at: https://www.goodmorningamerica.com/living/video/deserving-nurse-million-dollar-surprise-lifetime-72921811

Cheers!!

Donna

For homeschoolers: "I am a nurse: Color me Exceptional" is an art activity that demonstrates that disability isn't a barrier to becoming a nurse!

 

In a celebration of abilities, this coloring book includes illustrations of twenty-three nurses working in a wide variety of healthcare settings. All of the nurses have visible or invisible disabilities. The nurses represent real-life nurses working in a variety of practice settings (e.g. camp, NASA, amusement park, school, hospital, clinic, church, cruise ship and more). 

The nurses have disabilities related to hearing and vision loss, amputations, cerebral palsy, diabetes, osteogenesis imperfecta, Asperger's syndrome, spina bifida and epilepsy.

Some nurses use sign language, a clear face mask or an amplified stethoscope. Others use a crutch, wheelchair or service dog.

Coloring the pictures can be a fun art activity as well as a teaching tool to begin early discussions about diversity, acceptance and career possibilities.

Proceeds of sales of the coloring book benefit the ExceptionalNurse.com scholarship fund for nursing students with disabilities.

The coloring book can be purchased at: https://www.amazon.com/nurse-Donna-Carol-Maheady-APRN/dp/107519606X/ref=sr_1_13?dchild=1&keywords=maheady+coloring+book&qid=1598303236&sr=8-13

Thanks for your support and please share!

Cheers!

Donna