My journey as a nurse is just beginning, as I graduated nursing school in June 2023 with a BSN from Oregon Health & Science University. After obtaining my license, I plan to enter a nurse residency program in the emergency department of St. Anthony Hospital in Pendleton, Oregon. 

In a few months, I will enter graduate school at Oregon Health & Science University’s DNP PMHNP program. I decided to become a PMHNP because I am passionate about mental health. I have experienced first-hand the impact access to mental healthcare resources can have, and I want to be part of the effort to expand access, especially in rural Oregon.

I felt honored to be invited to become a Sigma member by our chapter leader, Patty Barfield. I decided to join because I felt it was a great opportunity to grow as a leader in the nursing profession.

Outside of nursing, my favorite activity is growing and taking care of houseplants. I have an indoor greenhouse cabinet where I grow a variety of rare tropical plants, mostly anthuriums. I am also a lover of birds and enjoy spending time with my budgie, Einstein.

Gifts to the Sigma Foundation for Nursing fully fund research and leadership grants as well as the Edith Anderson Membership Subsidy. This subsidy has a direct impact on Sigma members who need financial assistance to join or retain their membership. Learn more about the Edith Anderson Membership Subsidy. 

Rugira Regis Marie Modeste, PhD, RN, NE, RM, joined Sigma in 2005 as part of the Alpha Beta Beta Chapter. In June 2022, she was awarded a small research grant in June of 2022 to continue her work studying the impact of a pandemic on nursing students, particularly those in a clinical learning environment where patients with COVID-19 were being treated. She is conducting her research at Stellenbosch University, Department of Nursing and Midwifery, in South Africa.

“Understanding their distress, support, coping, and resilience will be beneficial for nurse educators and nursing institutions; as such, information may be used to put in place programs and processes to [help] students move towards successful completion of the program while developing constructive coping mechanisms and resilience.”

Rugira’s study is also being conducted at neighboring universities to ensure additional support mechanisms for student nurses in training are being provided. She plans to produce at least two publications and develop further intervention program based on information from the study.

Small research grants for Sigma members are fully funded by donations made to the Sigma Foundation for Nursing. Donate today.