Personal experiences managing sickle cell disease inspire nurse to become a CRNA

 
Bria Sharp, right, student in the Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) program in the UT Health Science Center College of Nursing, decided to pursue nursing after her own experience managing sickle cell disease. Her mother, Assistant Professor Jackie Sharp, DNP, APRN, PMHNP, left, said she was excited when Bria decided to become a nurse.

Leigh Ann Roman rported this story for the University of Tennessee Health Science Center. 

“I always knew I wanted to go into health care after my early experiences with St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. They were my primary providers for my first 18 years and provided a great model for me to follow,” she said. “Not only did they provide excellent care, but they also taught me about my disease and how to manage it.” These experiences are what led to Bria developing her desire to pursue nursing.

Despite her chronic condition, Bria has chosen a very challenging path in nursing. She is in the middle of a rigorous, full-time Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) program in nurse anesthesiology at the UTHSC College of Nursing. Bria earned her Bachelor of Science degree in Nursing (BSN) from the college in 2019. It was in this program that Bria was first introduced to nurse anesthesiology. “I had a certified registered nurse anesthesiologist (CRNA) who took us under her wing for our clinical day in the OR. We could tell her role was complex and interesting, and this is where my interest began.”

Read more about Bria Sharp at:

https://news.uthsc.edu/nursing-students-experience-as-patient-inspires-her-journey-to-become-a-crna/

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Donna

A rare form of dwarfism and renal failure didn't stop Rachael Johnson, RN

 

The Queensland Nurses and Midwives' Union reported the following on their Facebook page.

QNMU member and RN Rachael Johnson has a rare form of dwarfism and was diagnosed with renal failure at a young age. She shares her inspiring story with us on International Day of People with Disability - Australia.

"I spent four years on dialysis before receiving a kidney transplant when I was seven years old.

Because of this experience I knew I wanted to become a nurse and repay the people who had made such a difference to my life.

However, things weren’t plain sailing. I was belittled by nursing facilitators and repeatedly told that a nursing course was not suitable for me and I should “go and find something you can do”.

But my desire to become a nurse held strong. I worked tirelessly and qualified as a paediatric nurse in 2009.

I may not be able to reach the top shelf in the store cupboard, but I can empathise fully with the patients in my care.

I am living proof that you should never let anyone stop you from fulfilling your dreams."

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Donna

Aaron Wimer aims to make an impact in mental health care as a psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner

 

Wimer earned his bachelor’s degree from VCU School of Nursing in 2016 and joined VCU Health as a registered nurse in the cardiothoracic step-down unit. But he wanted to go back to school and become a nurse practitioner. Pursuing a graduate degree in psychiatric mental health nursing grew out of his own mental health journey and the realization he had valuable personal contributions to make as a health care provider.

“I believe what drew me to this degree was witnessing how putting my own mental health first exponentially improved my life,” he said. “Around the same time, I became interested in holistic care, and I stumbled upon a podcast whose guest was a psychiatrist that practiced functional medicine. That’s when I realized that psychiatry was evolving, was so much more dynamic and interesting than I had once believed, and that there was space for me to plant my roots and bloom.”

Read more at:

https://news.vcu.edu/article/2024/05/vcu-nursing-student-aaron-wimer-aims-to-make-an-impact-in-mental-health-care

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Donna

Ever thought about becoming an independent nurse consultant?

 

Michelle Greene Rhodes can show you the way to get started! 

REGISTERED NURSE. AUTHOR. SPEAKER.

Life coach. Mentor. Business Consultant.

"Michelle Greene Rhodes is known as The Life Coach and Business Consultant for Nurse Entrepreneurs.

Inspired by her passion, she assists health professionals who struggle with the “start-up” phases of their business. She helps them free up their time and find a purpose filled life of their own by streamlining the first steps of entrepreneurship."

Upon completion of this continuing education course, participants will be able to:

List 3 steps in determining a name for a new company.

Describe 2 methods of accepting payments for a new business.

Explain 3 potential methods of funding a new business start up.

 Follow the link below to learn more about this course and how to sign up.

https://dev.pedagogyeducation.com/Courses/Becoming-an-Independent-Nurse-Consultant?affiliate=EXCEPTIONAL  #Affiliatelink

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Donna

Micro premie graduates from nursing school and will work at same NICU that cared for her

 

Wendy Grossman Kantor reported on this story for People.

"This summer, Hayley Good will start working as a nurse in the same NICU she spent time in as a micro-preemie."

“I grew up knowing how the nurses saved my life,” Good, 22, who graduated with a degree in nursing in May, tells PEOPLE. “I was told that they tirelessly worked and advocated for me, even though they weren't even sure if I was going to survive."

"Now, she's looking forward to being able to share her unique perspective about what life can look like after the NICU with the parents of her patients."

“Being able to be that hope and light and just walk through the hardest part of their life with them is just very special,” she says.

"For about four and a half months, Good was in the NICU at Ohio State University Medical Center and also at the NICU at Nationwide Children’s Hospital, where she had heart surgery shortly after she was born."

"She grew up knowing about the loving NICU nurses who not only took care of her and saved her, but also comforted and supported her entire family."

Read more at:

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/other/micro-preemie-was-born-weighing-less-than-2-lbs-soon-she-ll-be-a-nurse-at-nicu-that-saved-her-life/ar-BB1nTVxF?ocid=BingNewsSerp

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Donna

Preparing for a nursing student with a service dog

 

Silbert-Flagg, J., Shilling, S. D., Lucas, L., Nolan, M. T., Lin, L., Bellefeuille, P., Foley, M., Mallareddy, D., Baker, D., & D'Aoust, R. (2020) published an article in The Journal of Professional Nursing. 

Highlights of the article include:

Guidance to nursing programs to assist in planning clinical for a student with a service animal

Common misperceptions about service animals in the workplace

Examples of experiences with students with service animals in two schools of nursing

Abstract

This article offers guidance to nursing programs to assist in planning for a quality educational experience for a student with a service animal while ensuring patient safety and the continuation of efficient clinical operations. Nursing faculty should be aware of misperceptions about service animals in the workplace, address fears, concerns, and communicate plans for educating the student with the service animal to all faculty, staff and clinical personnel involved with the student. Examples are provided from experiences with multiple students using service dogs at two schools of nursing.

Silbert-Flagg, J., Shilling, S. D., Lucas, L., Nolan, M. T., Lin, L., Bellefeuille, P., Foley, M., Mallareddy, D., Baker, D., & D'Aoust, R. (2020). Preparing for a student with a service animal. Journal of professional nursing : official journal of the American Association of Colleges of Nursing, 36(6), 458–461. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.profnurs.2020.03.001

Preparing for a student with a service animal - ScienceDirect

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Donna