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An opportunity to make a difference
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Salima Siraj is inspired each day by the profound impact nurses have on patients’ lives. It’s why she became a nurse. She joined the Mu Sigma Chapter recently with the help of an Edith Anderson Membership Subsidy.
Salima Siraj, MN, BScN, is inspired each day by the profound impact nurses have on patients’ lives. It’s why she became a nurse. “The opportunity to make a difference and the rewarding nature of the profession drew me in,” she
says.
She joined the Mu Sigma Chapter recently with the help of an Edith Anderson Membership Subsidy. It was important for her to join Sigma to broaden her network, gain diverse perspectives, have access to ongoing research, and take advantage of opportunities to attend conferences. Salima says that the financial assistance to become a Sigma member has helped her make meaningful connections through mentorship programs and has enabled her to engage with her chapter’s vibrant community. She says, “This support has not only accelerated my career development but has also positioned me for greater success within my field.”
Her patients’ prayers inspire her every day to continue her work. She is also motivated by changing perceptions of nurses and nursing. Before becoming a nurse, Salima was bothered by portrayals of nursing in the media. She wants to be “an agent of change” and work to reshape common misperceptions of nurses and improve the healthcare system.
As a recent graduate, she has advice for those still in school: “Stay resilient, challenge stereotypes, and embrace the rewarding aspects of nursing.” And maybe her ways of coping with the tough days can also help. Salima likes to practice gratitude through journaling to manage stress and regain perspective. Spending time with loved ones also helps her navigate challenges.
The Edith Anderson Membership Subsidy is made possible by donations to the Sigma Foundation for Nursing. Donate today.
5/10/2024
Salima Siraj
MN, BScN
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Salima Siraj
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Salima Siraj
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A community of leaders
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Jessica Norton received an Edith Anderson Membership Subsidy this past year and joined the Beta Psi Chapter. She took some time to answer a few questions about her nursing and Sigma journey so far.
Jessica Norton received an Edith Anderson Membership Subsidy this past year and joined the Beta Psi Chapter. She took some time to answer a few questions about her nursing and Sigma journey so far.
What has your nursing journey been so far? Why did you become a nurse?
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.
Why was becoming a Sigma member important to you?
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.
You’ve already taken a leadership role with your chapter, Beta Psi, by leading a campus-wide fundraiser. How did that go?
A few months ago, Beta Psi Chapter organized a socks and underwear drive on campus. We collected around 100 items and distributed them to our local domestic violence and homeless shelters.
What are some of your favorite Sigma benefits?
My favorite Sigma benefit is being a part of a greater community of nursing leaders. It has provided me the opportunity to become more involved in the health of my community and has challenged me to grow professionally.
Outside of nursing, what are some of your favorite activities?
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.
To donate to the Sigma Foundation for Nursing to help nurses like Jessica become part of the Sigma community, visit SigmaNursing.org/Donate.
6/22/2023
Jessica Norton
BSN
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Researching the impact of the pandemic on nursing students to effect change
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COVID-19 came as a surprise and disrupted the lives of people globally. Rugira Regis Marie Modeste, PhD, RN, NE, RM, noticed the impact on nursing students who needed to complete their training as healthcare workers. Thanks to donors, she received a small research grant to study the impact on students who were learning in environments where COVID-19 patients were being treated.
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.
6/24/2022
Rugira Regis Marie Modeste
PhD, RN, NE, RM
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Rugira Regis Marie Modeste
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Attending convention inspires nurse to look to the future
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Melissa Hatter, MSN, RN, CNM, had the opportunity to attend Sigma’s 46th Biennial Convention in Indianapolis, Indiana, USA, and present her research, “Using Nurse-Led Telemedicine Visits to Screen for Postpartum Depression During Worldwide Pandemic,” thanks to an Edith Anderson Leadership Education Grant from the Sigma Foundation for Nursing.
Melissa Hatter, MSN, RN, CNM, had the opportunity to attend Sigma’s 46th Biennial Convention in Indianapolis, Indiana, USA, and present her research, “Using Nurse-Led Telemedicine Visits to Screen for Postpartum Depression During Worldwide Pandemic,” thanks to an Edith Anderson Leadership Education Grant from the Sigma Foundation for Nursing.
“Sigma has been such an amazing platform for me to develop myself as a professional,” Melissa said. She received a small grant from her local chapter several years ago for a project in Montgomery, Alabama, USA, that she shared as a podium presentation at Sigma’s biennial convention in 2017. She learned about Sigma’s academies at convention and applied in 2019 for the 2020 cohort of Sigma’s Nurse Leadership Academy for Practice. She noted, “The [Nurse Leadership Academy for Practice] was an absolutely amazing opportunity to network with other nurse leaders and develop new skills, and my project has made a real difference in my clinical setting.”
This academy focuses on developing the leadership skills of nurses in clinical practice, and one of the ways scholars develop their skills is through designing and implementing a clinical project. Since the COVID-19 pandemic was declared shortly after starting the academy, the scholars had to pivot their projects to something that could be done in the new pandemic environment. Melissa was fortunate to work at a practice that quickly embraced telemedicine opportunities, and her supervisors were eager for her project to be incorporated. Melissa implemented a telemedicine postpartum visit model in October 2020, and by the following spring, it had become an integral part of St. Francis OBGYN Associates' postpartum care model.
At convention, Melissa was able to give two presentations about her experience as a Sigma scholar and the results of her project. Reflecting on her 2021 convention experience, Melissa said, “I have attended Sigma’s biennial convention in the past and have thoroughly appreciated the opportunities to engage with other professional nurses and gain new insight into a variety of topics that pertain to nursing. With the COVID-19 pandemic, travel restrictions, and social distancing, the opportunities to interact with large nursing groups have been severely limited, which has made those few opportunities that much more valuable to me. The energy of attending Sigma’s biennial convention is still with me and has inspired me to look toward future nursing activities, including scholarship, research, and networking with other professionals. I cannot say enough to fully express my appreciation for the funding to support my attendance at convention.”
Leadership Education Grants are made possible through donations to the Sigma Foundation for Nursing.
Donate today.
3/31/2022
Melissa Hatter
MSN, RN, CNM
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Creative Caring
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Nurses inspired Esther Apraku Bondzie to change her career trajectory. For her, nursing is a creative and compassionate journey with opportunities for lifelong learning and excellence.
Esther Apraku Bondzie was inducted into the Alpha Chi Chapter in November 2021 and received an Edith Anderson Membership Subsidy to make paying her dues possible.
Esther graduated with a bachelor’s degree in biology with a minor in classical studies in 2016. She immediately began a career in scientific research, studying lung diseases at Boston University School of Medicine. She went on to Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center’s Center for Virology and Vaccine Research to study infectious diseases. While at the Center for Virology and Vaccine Research, Esther shadowed providers and interacted with different professionals, including nurses. Because of these interactions, Esther decided on a career change. “I decided to become a nurse because I identified with a lot of the values and goals of the profession, and I have had a lot of positive experiences with nurses whose personalities and outlook on life inspired me.”
She applied and got into the accelerated Direct Entry Doctor of Nursing Practice Program at Boston College’s Connell School of Nursing. In addition to preparing to take her NCLEX this year, she is working as a clinical research coordinator,
where she loves having the opportunity to bring innovations in therapeutic agents from the bench to the bedside during clinical trials.
"On my journey to become a nurse, I have learned that the nursing profession is one of creativity, scholarship, compassion, and lifelong learning. My membership in Sigma reminds me of my own role as a creative nurse who will care for her patients with compassion while pursuing lifelong learning and excellence. I am looking forward to my time as a DNP student in the next year and to exploring the resources and tools that Sigma supports its members with."
Edith Anderson Membership Subsidies are made possible through donations to the Sigma Foundation for Nursing. Donate today.
2/23/2022
Esther Apraku Bondzie
Student
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Esther Apraku Bondzie
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Meet nurse researcher and grant recipient Amnazo Muhirwa
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Sigma small grant recipient Amnazo Muhirwa believes that research is all about the future and new possibilities.
Amnazo Muhirwa, BSN, RN, APRN, FNP-C, is a Sigma small grant recipient and a third-year PhD student at Duke University School of Nursing. Her research focuses on stress and cardiovascular well-being among African American rural women. She came to this focus from her experience as a nurse and as part of a collaborative initiative between Winston-Salem State University Division of Nursing and Duke University School of Nursing called Bridge to the Doctorate program that sought to increase minority representation in the nurse scientist field. During her time in this program, she was able to finish her master’s thesis which focused on rural, low-income women. Additionally, she was a bedside nurse on a cardiothoracic surgical unit and recognized the healthcare disparities that African American women face. These two experiences intersected and pushed Amnazo to home in on the most vulnerable of populations. “Research is all about the future and new possibilities,” she said. “I envision a world where the health of Black women is way better than what it is currently.”
Listen to Amnazo talk about her research and what this grant means to her
Encouragement for nurses thinking about entering the research field
Amnazo has a running joke that everybody should be a nurse because of the variety of experiences you can have in the field. “My passion lies in working with people and tapping into their vulnerabilities, especially with health. The health of an individual is such a vulnerable spot, and so to be able to be present and to be invited in, whether it be at the bedside, the health department, in a health provider’s office, or in research, I get to do that in many different ways and be present when individuals are displaying their vulnerabilities.”
Entering the field of nursing is rewarding but also takes a lot of perseverance. To nurses interested in nursing research, Amnazo wants to say, “You are so needed. Nurses have a unique lens, a unique perspective in identifying gaps that need to be addressed within the field of healthcare.”
Sigma small grants
Every year, donations to the Sigma Foundation for Nursing fund Sigma small grants up to US $5,000 to encourage nurses to contribute to the advancement of nursing through research. For Amnazo, receiving this grant serves as a foundation and launching pad for her career as a nurse scientist and researcher, addressing health disparities among multiple vulnerable populations.
Donate to the Foundation today to support nurses like Amnazo start and continue their important work.
Amnazo Muhirwa, BSN, RN, APRN, FNP-C, is a Sigma Small Grant recipient and a third year PhD student at Duke University School of Nursing. Her research is titled "Stress, the Superwoman Schema and Cardiovascular Wellbeing Among Rural African American Women."
5/7/2021
Amnazo Muhirwa
BSN, RN, APRN, FNP-C
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Amnazo Muhirwa
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Amnazo Muhirwa
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Edith Anderson Membership Subsidy recipient sees nursing as a journey
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Eliza Tello, BSN, RN, is a member of Sigma’s Chi Beta Chapter and also a 2020 recipient of the Edith Anderson Membership Subsidy. She graduated with her BSN from West Coast University.
Eliza Tello, BSN, RN, is a member of Sigma’s Chi Beta Chapter and also a 2020 recipient of the Edith Anderson Membership Subsidy. She graduated with her BSN from West Coast University.
“When I received a letter of recognition from my school and my eligibility letter to join, I felt so excited and I couldn’t believe all my hard work was recognized. I have never felt more valued in my life and appreciated.”
Eliza’s journey to becoming a nurse began when her dad was diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) in February 2014. His death that November further propelled her to pursue a nursing career. She started at a community college in Glendale, California. After she completed her science prerequisites, she eventually began her BSN studies at West Coast University. In October 2019, she became the first person in her family to receive a college degree. Then, in March 2020, she began her master’s program in nursing.
Without the Edith Anderson Membership Subsidy, Eliza would not have been able to join Sigma at that time. She said it would have been a missed opportunity. But with the subsidy she says she can now proudly display her membership on her resume and across social media profiles. The Sigma resource she uses the most is the job board to see who is looking for jobs and who is hiring. Recently, she received her first nursing job offer and believes that her Sigma membership helped her stand out as a top candidate.
“A goal in my nursing career is to be committed to improve patient education. Truthfully, I don’t know what my dream nursing job is. I feel like becoming a nurse is a journey and I need to take in each day with enthusiasm and learn from my teachers, mentors, and colleagues. I have surrounded myself with many inspirational role models who inspire me to reach high and I can’t wait to make a difference in people’s lives.”
During the pandemic, it has been challenging to keep her distance from loved ones and to stay social and active. She has kept a positive outlook by saying affirmations, exercising, and spending time with her family. “I see my life taking on a new direction, because I choose to see how beautiful life really is. I am so grateful to be healthy, and I hope to be a role model to new nursing graduates one day.”
Edith Anderson Membership subsidies are made possible through donations to the Sigma Foundation for Nursing. Donate today.
3/30/2021
Eliza Tello
BSN, RN
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Eliza Tello
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Eliza Tello
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Edith Anderson Membership Subsidy recipient looks forward to connecting with others and making a difference
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Haleigh Barrett, BSN, RN, is a new Sigma member of the Iota Beta Chapter and recent recipient of the Edith Anderson Membership Subsidy.
Haleigh Barrett, BSN, RN, is a new Sigma member of the Iota Beta Chapter and recent recipient of the Edith Anderson Membership Subsidy, which underwrites up to 75% of the annual membership fees to those who require financial assistance. “Once I received information that I was one of the recipients,” Haleigh said, “I realized that you could come from many hardships and still have a chance to do something with your life. Now, I will be able to connect with others and make a change.”
Haleigh values connecting with others and making a difference, making her a perfect addition to the Sigma family. Some of the Sigma benefits she’s most looking forward to taking advantage of are talking to experienced nurses, attending Sigma events and connecting with nurses from diverse backgrounds, and finding a mentor to guide her career in the right direction. “My goal in my nursing career is to be an advocate for others. I believe that it is really important to stand up for individuals when they do not have the means to do so. I have learned that not everyone will agree on things, especially in the medical field. But you have to stand up for what is right, even when other don’t see it. That is something that stuck with me in nursing school, and I will never forget how important it is,” she said.
“Although it’s just the beginning of my membership, Sigma has already helped me in the best way possible,” Haleigh said. “By joining Sigma, I was able to put my membership on my resume and now I am going to start my career off at one of the most highly recognized hospitals—Vanderbilt University Medical Center. I cannot explain how excited I am for this transition, and Sigma made it possible.”
Edith Anderson membership subsidies are made possible through donations to the Sigma Foundation for Nursing. Donate today.
3/11/2021
Haleigh Barrett
BSN, RN
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2020 Emerging Nurse Researcher Award Recipient sees Sigma as a platform to elevate and disseminate nursing science.
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Champion Nyoni, PhD, MSocSc (Nursing), BScN (Hons), RN, is a Sigma member, research grant recipient, and 2020 Emerging Nurse Researcher/Scholar Award recipient. He is currently a post-doctoral fellow and Senior Researcher at the School of Nursing of the University of the Free State in Bloemfontein, South Africa.
Champion Nyoni, PhD, MSocSc (Nursing), BScN (Hons), RN, is a Sigma member, research grant recipient, and 2020 Emerging Nurse Researcher/Scholar Award recipient. He is currently a post-doctoral fellow and Senior Researcher at the School of Nursing of the University of the Free State in Bloemfontein, South Africa.
“I think it is essential that the science of nursing is elevated through scholarship and research, and such science is disseminated in environments that foster advancement, connectedness, and transferability. Sigma offers such a platform for nurses.”
As a researcher, Champion Nyoni’s interests have been aligned with development, implementation, and evaluation of quality, competency-based nursing and midwifery programs in low- and middle-income countries. He is often engaged in faculty capacity development on competency-based education, instructional design, and student performance assessment. He leads research in these fields and supervises several master and doctoral students on various parts of research programs.
Soon after his induction into Tau Lambda at-Large Chapter in 2016, Dr. Nyoni was awarded the Sigma/Alpha Eta Research Grant. Due to increasing maternal and child death rates in Lesotho, work was underway to transform midwife education. However, Dr. Nyoni and his team observed challenges that threatened the sustainability of education innovations and resulted in curriculum drift. This research supported educators in implementing the curriculum nationally, creating a platform for improving educator competencies and curriculum quality. In his own words, Dr. Nyoni said, “This grant has been life changing, and the funding made a research study that seemed impossible possible. Thank for this opportunity; my life, my students, my institution, and my people will never see the world the same again.”
Dr. Nyoni also utilizes Sigma’s events as a platform to advance nursing science. In 2020, he received a leadership education grant to present virtually at Sigma’s 31st International Nursing Research Congress. His presentation, Curriculum Innovation In Nursing: A Journey Less Traveled, highlighted the importance of a strong curriculum and the critical training nurses receive. By attending congress, Dr. Nyoni was able to connect with several nursing education scientists from around the global and exchange ideas. “The conference broadened my horizons on the nursing knowledge economy, and I am grateful and hope to attend the next conference.”
At congress, Dr. Nyoni was also recognized as a 2020 Emerging Nurse Researcher/Scholar Award Recipient during the opening plenary. When asked about what the recognition means to him, Dr. Nyoni said, “This award is revolutionary to my career and that of the fellow nurses I engage with every day. Being recognized for such work inspires me to continue working towards excellence in nursing scholarship and to set an example of inspiration among junior nurses in low resource settings on the impact and potential value of their work. Such a global accolade brings in opportunities to engage in and connect with other nurse scientists in the world towards nursing academic excellence.”
The grants Dr. Nyoni received were made possible by donors to the Sigma Foundation for Nursing. Donate today to make more of these grants possible.
11/25/2020
Champion Nyoni
PhD, MSocSc (Nursing), BScN (Hons), RN
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Champion Nyoni
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Champion Nyoni
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Research grant recipient inspired by her clinical experience
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Mia Cajita, PhD, RN-BC, is an assistant professor in the department of Biobehavioral Nursing Science in the College of Nursing at the University of Illinois at Chicago. Her favorite part of her job is the opportunity for research.
Mia Cajita, PhD, RN-BC, comes from a family of nurses, but nursing was not her first choice in careers. However, as an immigrant to the United States from the Philippines, nursing was the most practical career available to her. It was only after becoming a nurse that she learned to fully appreciate the profession. When she received her invitation to join Sigma, she was already a bedside nurse pursuing her BSN. She accepted her invitation as a reward to herself for achieving a 4.0 GPA.
Today, Mia is an assistant professor in the department of Biobehavioral Nursing Science in the College of Nursing at the University of Illinois at Chicago. Her favorite part of her job is the opportunity for research. “I genuinely enjoy doing research and being able to do it professionally is such a blessing. I particularly enjoy the planning stage of research—coming up with a solution, designing an intervention, putting together a study protocol—and analyzing the data. I also like learning new things and keeping up to date with the latest breakthroughs and health innovations is a given when you’re in research.”
Her role in academia also plays a part in developing the next generation of nurses. Since she no longer works directly with patients, she appreciates the interactions with nursing students to stay connected with clinical practice.
Mia was selected to receive a Sigma Small Research Grant in 2020 for her study Health Literacy-Based Heart Failure Self-Care Intervention (H2Lit). Her interest in this topic started with her work as a bedside nurse. “I was in a cardiac unit where most of our patients came in for acute exacerbation of their chronic heart failure. I always felt that I was not doing enough for my patients, often hurriedly educating them on heart failure self-care when they were getting discharged. I wanted to find a nurse-friendly solution to this problem. I hope that by developing scalable interventions, I can finally empower individuals with heart failure to effectively perform self-care.”
After completing this study, Mia’s short-term goal is to expand the intervention to address the common comorbid conditions of heart failure. In the long-term, she wants to develop the intervention into a whole suite that is capable of addressing a wide range of chronic conditions.
“This study is the product of my clinical experience and research training. The research problem was born out my clinical experience and the study intervention capitalizes on my predoctoral and postdoctoral training. As a cardiovascular fellow at Johns Hopkins, I received specialized training in cardiovascular-related interventions. As a postdoc fellow on the Technology Research T32 program at University of Pittsburgh, I was exposed to the application of technology in various interventions. While this study is a product of my nursing experience, it is also the beginning of the next leg of my nursing journey.”
Research grants like the one Mia has received are funded by donations to the Sigma Foundation for Nursing. Donate today to make more of these grants possible.
11/19/2020
Mia Cajita
PhD, RN-BC
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Research grant recipient tells her story
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Nickcy Mbuthia, PhD, BScN, was selected to receive the Sigma/Alpha Eta Chapter Research Grant recipient in 2020 for her study Clinical Deterioration Recognition and Response by General Ward Nurses in Coastal Kenya. Currently, Nickcy serves as the Chair of the Department of Nursing Sciences in the School of Health and Human Sciences at Pwani University in Kilifi, Kenya.
Nickcy Mbuthia, PhD, BScN, was selected to receive the Sigma/Alpha Eta Chapter Research Grant recipient in 2020 for her study Clinical Deterioration Recognition and Response by General Ward Nurses in Coastal Kenya. Currently, Nickcy serves as the Chair of the Department of Nursing Sciences in the School of Health and Human Sciences at Pwani University in Kilifi, Kenya.
Why did you become a nurse?
The funny thing is I did not choose to be a nurse—nursing chose me! I had a different career plan. However, with the way the education system is in Kenya, I was selected to join the BScN program at the university. I planned to change to something different after I got my practice license, but all this changed when I started working in an ICU after my internship at one of the major hospitals in Kenya, and I fell in love with nursing. I have never looked back.
What inspired you to join Sigma?
Sigma provides an opportunity for international networking. Nursing is a global profession, and it is crucial for me to extend my networks outside my region, and I get this with Sigma. Beyond that, Sigma also supports my career growth in education, research, and leadership by providing resources that I would otherwise not have available.
What do you enjoy most about what you are doing professionally today?
I am an educator, researcher, and leader, and each gives me a different kind of joy. As an educator, one of my joys is transmitting my knowledge and experiences to my students and seeing them grow to love nursing. I feel great pleasure when the students return after graduation and tell me that I made an impact on them. As a researcher, I delight in seeing a project I envisioned coming to fruition, collaborating with others, and being in the field. Being a leader is one of the most challenging things in my life but being able to inspire and lead others brings me great joy.
What led you to focus your research study on nurses caring for acutely ill patients in the general wards?
My research interests are in critical care nursing and patient safety and the role of the nurse. I have worked as a clinical nurse in an ICU, and I am an educator in medical surgical nursing. In low-resource settings, there is a limitation on the availability of critical care services, therefore most acutely ill patients are cared for in the general ward. This study shall help us understand the challenges of the nurses’ experiences and the issues surrounding recognition and response to clinical deterioration.
Do you have plans to expand this study based on your findings?
Yes, I do. First, I would like to expand the study to a larger setting (the current study is based on the Kenyan coastal region only). Secondly, based on the findings, I would be interested in developing an interventional study, possibly to test some patient safety interventions and evaluate their impact.
Is there anything else you’d like to share about your study?
I am grateful and humbled to receive the funding for my first project after my PhD (I completed in 2018) from Sigma. As an early career researcher, this funding will greatly support the project and grow my research career.
Funds for this grant were provided by Alpha Eta Chapter in collaboration with the Sigma Foundation for Nursing. Donate today to make more of these grants possible.
10/26/2020
Nickcy Mbuthia
PhD, BScN
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Nickcy Mbuthia
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Nickcy Mbuthia
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Grant recipient dedicates career to mothers, infants, and families
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Sharon Ruyak, PhD, MSN, RN, is a Sigma member and the 2020 Sigma/Western Institute of Nursing Research Grant recipient.
Sharon Ruyak, PhD, MSN, RN, is a Sigma member and the 2020 Sigma/Western Institute of Nursing Research Grant recipient. She chose nursing because she wanted to be a part of a caring profession. Upon acceptance to her nursing program, she felt called to care for mothers, infants, and families.
“I became a nurse to be of service to women and to empower them to be active participants in their health. I have been blessed by this profession to answer that call as a nurse and then a certified nurse midwife. I have had the honor of being present for thousands of births.”
Sharon joined Sigma upon completion of her master’s program and continues her membership today to stay connected with other members and her local chapter. She also appreciates the connections Sigma provides to nursing leadership and global nursing research.
In her current role as a nurse scientist, she most enjoys the teamwork that takes place between scientists from nursing and other fields. And in this role, she continues to answer the call to care for mothers and their children.
Sharon received the 2020 Sigma/Western Institute of Nursing Research Grant for her study The Effect of Prenatal Opioid and Alcohol Exposure on Key Placental Immune and Serotonin Factors influenced by TLR4 Signaling Pathways. Her research addresses a growing public health crisis of opioid abuse in pregnant women and the implications on their infants.
“Infants with neonatal opioid withdrawal syndrome (NOWS) experience increased rates of respiratory and feeding difficulties, low birth weight, and seizures increasing hospital length of stay and placing an estimated US $1.5 billion/year burden on the US healthcare system.”
The preliminary data gathered from this study will be used to apply for a larger National Institutes of Health grant to expand on this research.
Funding for the grant Sharon received are provided jointly by the Sigma Foundation for Nursing and Western Institute of Nursing. Donate today to make more of these grants possible.
8/19/2020
Sharon Ruyak
PhD, MSN, RN
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Sharon Ruyak
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Grant recipient explores the affect of gender norms
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Andrew Corley, MSN/MPH, BSN, of Nu Beta at-Large Chapter, is a 2019-2020 Sigma research grant recipient.
Meet Andrew Corley, MSN/MPH, BSN, of Nu Beta at-Large Chapter who is a 2019-2020 Sigma research grant recipient. Andrew received grant funding for his study Examining the Relationship Between Parents' Endorsed Gender Norms and Their Early Adolescents' Psychosocial Health, Educational Engagement, and Nutrition in the Eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo.
Andrew, who joined Sigma during his master’s program said, “I was pleased to be recognized for my academic achievements and knew being a member would open up new opportunities for networking, funding, and professional advancement.”
Currently pursuing his PhD while practicing as a nurse in a cardiovascular surgical ICU, Andrew shared what he likes most about what he is doing today. “I'm fortunate to be satisfying numerous professional interests. As a student I get to think and learn about research methods and topics that I find interesting. As a bedside nurse I have the privilege of practicing the art and science of nursing, while working with an outstanding interdisciplinary group of health professionals. It's a really nice balance between theory and practice.”
While in the Peace Corps, 2008-2010, Andrew was stationed in Benin, West Africa. His time there sparked his interest in adolescent global heath. “Adolescence is such an important time in one's life, but because of the urgent need to focus on reducing the under-five mortality in many low-income countries, it has remained a somewhat neglected topic in global health circles up until only the last decade or so.”
Regarding his Sigma-funded study, Andrew further shared, “My interest in gender norms was kindled later when I came to better understand the powerful effect that inequitable gender norms exert on individuals' health and well-being. I hope that my research will contribute to our understanding of how inequitable gender norms affect the trajectory of adolescent health and development.” He expects this project to not only contribute to but provide important lessons that will be applied to future research.
The grant Andrew received was made possible by donors to the Sigma Foundation for Nursing. If you would like to help more Sigma nurses like Andrew, donate today.
8/19/2020
Andrew Corley
MSN/MPH, BSN
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Andrew Corley
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Andrew Corley
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Research grant recipient tells her story
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Meet Fernanda Raphael Escobar Gimenes de Sousa, PhD, MSN, BSN, was awarded a research grant for her study Nasogastric/Nasoenteric Tube-Related Incidents in Hospitalized Patients: A Multicenter Prospective Cohort Study.
Fernanda Raphael Escobar Gimenes de Sousa, PhD, MSN, BSN, of Rho Upsilon Chapter in Brazil was awarded a research grant for her study Nasogastric/Nasoenteric Tube-Related Incidents in Hospitalized Patients: A Multicenter Prospective Cohort Study. She shared what led her to pursue nursing, what she’s doing today, and details on her research.
At the age of 9, I underwent an appendectomy and despite the pain I felt, I couldn't help admiring that new world that was presented before my eyes. As the nursing staff guided me on the stretcher through the corridors of the hospital in my hometown, I watched the movement around me, and I was amazed. I was even more amazed by all those nurses around me and surrounded by medical devices and equipment unknown to me. I remember that I kept smiling, dazzled by that scenario. After the surgery, I was hospitalized for a few days. In the following months, I suffered a bicycle accident and fractured my arm. Once again, I needed to be hospitalized. These experiences made me dream of the universe of health and I decided that year to become a nurse.
I am a faculty member at the University of São Paulo at Ribeirão Preto College of Nursing and have been conducting research on patient safety for more than 15 years. Our university is the largest university in Brazil and one of the most prestigious higher education and research institutions in Latin America. Our nursing school is the most prestigious nursing education and research institution in Brazil and in Latin America. It is also a PAHO/WHO Collaborating Centre for Nursing Research Development. In my role as a faculty and leader of the research group on patient safety, I work closely with our clinical partners on integrating research, knowledge translation, management, and practice. Currently, I am coordinating a multicenter study on feeding tube related incidents with the involvement of undergraduate and graduate students.
To our knowledge, this is the first large scale study in Brazil and in Latin America documenting the prevalence of feeding tube incidents. We expect that the results will encourage the use of evidence effectively to influence the scientific foundation for clinical practice and the development of evidence-based policies that will prevent, manage, and eliminate complications caused by feeding tube related incidents, and improve the quality and safety of care provided to hospitalized patients.
Although inserting a nasogastric/nasoenteric tube is a relatively innocuous procedure, improper positioning can cause severe and fatal events. Several single-center studies have identified the prevalence of nasogastric/nasoenteric tube-related incidents in general inpatients; however, there are no studies reporting on those incidents across multiple hospital sites and at a national level.
Enteral tubes are frequently associated with serious and fatal adverse events. Considering that, in Brazil, nasogastric/nasoenteric tubes are inserted by nurses blindly at the bedside, I plan, based on the results, to conduct a study to assess the diagnostic accuracy of clinical methods to distinguish between gastric and pulmonary placement.
Data from this research was used in my post-doctoral program at the Centre for Health Systems and Safety Research (CHSSR), Australian Institute for Health Care Innovation, Macquarie University, Sydney, Australia. For this post-doctoral program, I was awarded with the 2018 Endeavour Research Fellowship from the Australian government. It is a prestigious program supporting high performing individuals to undertake studies, research, and professional development abroad and gain international experience. Candidates from around the world applied for the scholarship and I was one of the selected.
Research grants like the one Fernanda received are funded by donors to the Sigma Foundation for Nursing. Donate today!
8/11/2020
Fernanda Raphael Escobar Gimenes de Sousa
PhD, MSN, BSN
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Fernanda Fernanda Raphael Escobar Gimenes de Sousa, PhD, MSN, BSN, sits in her office wearing her lab coat.
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Fernanda Fernanda Raphael Escobar Gimenes de Sousa, PhD, MSN, BSN, sits in her office wearing her lab coat.
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A passion for the research
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Meet Jiepin Cao, MS, BSN, a Sigma member and Duke University School of Nursing PhD student, who received the 2020 Sigma/Rosemary Berkel Crisp Research Grant.
Meet Jiepin Cao, MS, BSN, a Sigma member and Duke University School of Nursing PhD student, who received the 2020 Sigma/Rosemary Berkel Crisp Research Grant. The funding she received will allow her to expand her research on intimate partner violence a (IPV) among Chinese women. We asked Jiepin to share a little bit about what she is doing today and her goals for her research.
What do you enjoy most about what you are doing professionally today?
The research itself excites me the most. As a PhD student in nursing at Duke, I have really enjoyed my research training a lot, from doing statistical analysis to presenting the work at conferences and from learning a new methodology to writing a grant proposal. I have been very blessed to be able to work on a topic I am passionate about and have been supported by a wonderful network of mentors and peers. I sincerely think that doing research itself is a reward to me. You can ask exciting research questions and find the best way to answer the research questions.
There are ups and downs in the research process but the passion for what I am doing always motivates me and keeps me moving forward. Sigma has played a crucial role in my journey to support my research and professional development as a future nurse scientist. I would like to talk about two unforgettable moments in my journey so far.
Last July, I was very honored to present my work on the experience of IPV among Chinese women using a text analysis of the posts from domestic violence forums at the 30th International Nursing Research Congress in Calgary, Alberta, Canada as part of the Rising Stars of Research and Scholarship invited student posters. While standing in front of my poster, I was told by a lady who went through every word on the poster about how much she appreciated the work I was doing as an IPV survivor herself and how heartbroken and connected she felt to these anonymous Chinese women who shared their stories. I was deeply touched by what she shared and amazed by the power of research—research connects people from different backgrounds together.
Another wonderful moment is the day I was notified my dissertation research got funded by the Sigma/Rosemary Berkel Crisp Research Award. It is such a wonderful news to learn that the research proposal, which my dissertation committee and I have put a lot of effort into, has also received very positive comments from peer reviewers. It is a real boost to my research journey that I am doing very important work. We can’t wait to learn the results from this study.
What led you to your research topic?
My research interests on IPV emerged when I was working as an interventionist in a program aiming at reducing the relapse rate for adults with substance use disorders (SUD) in compulsory rehabilitation centers in 2014 in China. Given that this program was sound in theory and supported by empirical evidence, the whole team was expecting a significant reduction in the relapse rate of the intervention group after they returned to communities. Unfortunately, this was not our finding. Prior to our six-month follow-up , we saw some familiar faces of the study participants coming back to the rehabilitation center due to the reuse of drugs. Discouraged and confused, I got the opportunity to talk to one of our previous female participants who she shared her story. She was a migrant in Wuhan, China. Without employment or income and heavily dependent on her husband, she was manipulated by her husband into using drugs. He would beat her, threaten to kill her and her kids unless she followed his instructions to sell drugs for him, and he also forced her to inject drugs. She even revealed to me, “to be honest with you, I feel safer here [rehabilitation center] compared to getting back to him. Even if I can return to my community, I experienced much discrimination and every family member is ashamed of me. They will think it [IPV] is an excuse I made up.”
The roots of her struggles were IPV. Substance abuse is only a small part of her story, which she used as her tool to get back to the compulsory rehabilitation center, a place only accessible for detention officers who could protect her from the violence. Later on, I found out that she was not the only woman faced with IPV and other health problems that stem from the multiple disadvantages embedded within social, cultural, and legal systems consistently putting women at higher risk in China. An intervention only focused on individual-level factors without adequate evaluation of other evidence can be limited in its effectiveness or even lead to unintentional harm. Surprisingly, these factors are embedded in broad social contexts in China and have a great impact, but they have rarely been considered relevant to interventions. These experiences have shifted my research interests towards the health of vulnerable and disadvantaged population from the theoretical lens of social determinants of health, intersectionality and a gendered framework with a special focus on IPV against women.
Do you have plans to expand this study?
My study funded by Sigma/Rosemary Berkel Crisp Research Award would be the fundamental step in understanding IPV against Chinese women. We are expecting to learn from our study what the social determinants of health are that significantly contribute to women’s risk for IPV, who are the subgroups of women at highest risk for IPV, and what the health consequences of IPV against Chinese women are. All the information will help to establish the empirical foundation for health providers and policy makers to prioritize the allocation of the limited resources as well as to develop future tailored intervention and prevention resources for Chinese women. Furthermore, this study will contribute to development of a conceptual framework for gender role attitudes and IPV. Gender role attitudes, as a modifiable factor, hold great potential in intervention and prevention efforts addressing IPV by developing programs changing gender role attitudes or even gender norms at the community or societal level.
Is there anything else you’d like to share?
We need to raise public awareness of IPV as a public health challenge as well as improve the capacity of health professionals to collaborate with criminal justice system and other sectors to really make a difference.
Doctors and nurses working in emergency departments and in gynecology/obstetrics are rarely asking for IPV history, a highly recommended screening approach to identify IPV. Cultural factors, such as IPV being viewed as a private issue and women having to take responsibility for being abused, are barriers to the implementation of these evidence-based strategies. In an interview, a member of senior staff working at a local branch of All-China Women’s Federation, a governmental organization offering various resources to Chinese women, shared her struggles to offer help to women due to the reluctance of collaboration from police officers and legal workers and because women living in rural areas with a low socioeconomic status do not know who to turn to when being abused. All these activities have stressed and echoed my observations in fieldwork: efforts from various levels need to be made in order to effectively address IPV against Chinese women.
Similar situations exist in the professional realm. When my Chinese colleagues learn that I am doing research on IPV, it is not unusual for me to get questions such as, “What do you see the connection between IPV and nursing” and comments like, “IPV is a public health problem or a problem for the police officers, we [nurse scientists] are not at the right position to address IPV.”
One of the aims of my study is to examine the health effects of IPV. As nurse scientists, we should recognize that the unique holistic focus of nursing would greatly contribute to the research on IPV.
Research grants like the one Jiepin has received are funded by donations to the Sigma Foundation for Nursing. Make a donation today.
7/20/2020
Jiepin Cao
MS, BSN
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Jiepin-Cao_web
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Infusing joy in the workplace
/evalyn-abalos
evalyn-abalos
Sigma nurse Evalyn Abalos is intentional about infusing joy and enabling others to do so as well.
While attending the 45th Biennial Convention in Washington, DC, USA, representing Sigma’s Psi Beta Chapter, Evalyn Abalos, PhD, RN, heard Sigma President Richard Ricciardi speak at the closing plenary. “As I went back to the Philippines, I brought with me President Ricciardi’s Call to Action to Infuse Joy. In my country, I can contribute to a positive workplace culture so I must be intentional in my actions to spread joy and enable others to infuse joy in the workplace,” she said.
Evalyn practices this by leading an authentic life and taking care to practice her values consistently to ensure she creates a pleasing work environment. She is also developing her mentoring skills to help others see the best in themselves, because “When people are inspired and happy, they make others happy, too.”
Another way she is working to infuse joy in the workplace is through improved communications. She admits some conversations are by nature confrontational. However, she believes that by taking the time to listen to the viewpoints of others, conflicts can be more easily resolved.
In her current role as an Associate Professor in the Graduate Program of Silliman University (Philippines), she is making contributions to the nursing profession by educating in health leadership and governance. As part of her commitment, she serves on the Technical Committee for Nursing Education with the Commission on Higher Education for the Republic of the Philippines and as the Chair of the Leadership Succession Committee for Psi Beta Chapter.
Evalyn was the recipient of a leadership education grant from the Sigma Foundation for Nursing. This grant assisted her with expenses for Sigma’s 45th Biennial Convention. “Coming from a middle-income country, it would have been impossible for me to attend this convention without the generous financial support.” These grants are only possible with donations from members like you. If you want to help more Sigma nurses like Evalyn participate in Sigma events, donate today.
5/11/2020
Evalyn Abalos
PhD, RN
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Evalyn Abalos
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A passion for teaching and service
/beth-desaretz-chiatti
beth-desaretz-chiatti
Sigma nurse Beth Desaretz Chiatti, PhD, RN, CTN, CSN, is an advocate for nursing in her many roles as an educator, mentor, researcher, and dedicated Sigma volunteer.
Sigma nurse Beth Desaretz Chiatti, PhD, RN, CTN, CSN, is an advocate for nursing in her many roles as an educator, mentor, researcher, and dedicated Sigma volunteer.
She is passionate about serving. One of the ways she does that is by volunteering with Sigma at the chapter, regional, and international levels. “I value the mission and vision of Sigma; service to the honor society is an important aspect of my professional identity,” she says.
Beth currently services as the Secretary of Nu Eta Chapter and has held several elected offices with the Delta Tau Chapter, where she was awarded the 2009 Delta Tau President’s Award for Distinguished Service to the Chapter and the 2010 Chapter Outstanding Nurse Award.
At the international level, Beth volunteers as a mentor in the Global Leadership Mentoring Community. She was fortunate to attend the 45th Biennial Convention in Washington, DC, USA, where she welcomed her mentee at the Aga Khan University School of Nursing and Midwifery in Karachi, Pakistan.
In addition to meeting her mentee, Beth’s attendance at the convention allowed her to present her study, In Their Own Voices: Ethiopian Immigrant Women in the United States. When asked what led her to this research, she responded, “Historically, this is a patriarchal society in which women have been subordinate to men based on cultural and religious practices. I wanted to learn more about the culture, care, beliefs, and practices of Ethiopian immigrants in Ethiopia, and if and how these beliefs and practices changed once they immigrated to the US.”
Beth is an Associate Clinical Professor with Drexel University College of Nursing and Health Professions in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA. She was awarded a leadership education grant by the Sigma Foundation for Nursing to assist with expenses related to the biennial convention. If you want to help more Sigma nurses like Beth attend Sigma events, donate today.
5/11/2020
Beth Desaretz Chiatti
PhD, RN, CTN, CSN
20197399-46f8-6225-bce7-ff000034804e
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Beth Desaretz Chiatti
20197399-46f8-6225-bce7-ff000034804e
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Beth Desaretz Chiatti
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Bridging the gap
/faith-nawagi
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Sigma nurse Faith Nawagi is bridging the gap in the internationalization of nursing education.
Sigma nurse Faith Nawagi, BSN, RN, PGDcert Clin.Epi, MIPH, is promoting collaboration among organizations, nursing training institutions and hospitals from different countries and regions to ensure knowledge and skill-sharing as a conduit for quality nursing education.
“Global exposure in health professional training is a key component in promoting transformative educational approaches through short-term electives. Through these placements, many nursing students from abroad have learned through observerships, ward rounds, and supervised assistantships in inpatient care,” Faith explained.
Although African countries frequently host nursing students, few African nursing students can participate in these programs in other countries due to the high costs. To address this gap, GEMx®―the Global Educational Exchanges in Medicine and the Health Professions―a service of the Educational Commission of Foreign Medical Graduates (ECFMG®), launched a South-South student nursing exchange model in partnership with the African Forum for Research and Education in Health (AFREhealth). “The aim of this initiative is to facilitate accessible and affordable exchange opportunities for African nursing students to gain global exposure through regional mobility, South-South exchange model,” Faith said.
Based on feedback to expand this program outside of Africa, Faith saw Sigma as a natural place to explore the program’s growth. “Sigma has an extensive presence globally, and it is an excellent organization to explore the possibility of a global nursing elective network,” she said. Sigma’s 45th Biennial Convention was the perfect opportunity to gauge other people’s interest in the program.
Faith received a leadership education grant from the Sigma Foundation for Nursing to assist with the cost of travel and attending Convention. Speaking to the importance of Sigma and this grant, Faith shared, “I appreciate the opportunity to attend this convention. Sigma is a place that allows nurses to explore their potential and understand that they are limitless.”
At Sigma’s biennial convention, Faith co-presented the session “Enhancing Global Exposure for African Nursing Students Through Regional Partnerships” and exhibited in order to increase the programs’ exposure to nurses and healthcare professionals from other regions. This has allowed Faith and her colleague to make several new contacts with nursing leaders from schools and other healthcare settings to create a global network.
The grant Faith received to attend the 45th Biennial Convention was made possible by donors to the Sigma Foundation for Nursing. If you would like to help more Sigma nurses like Faith participate in Sigma events, donate today.
5/7/2020
Faith Nawagi
BSN, RN, PGDcert Clin.Epi, MIPH
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Faith Nawagi
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Faith Nawagi
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Edith Anderson Membership Subsidy empowers recipient
/brooklyn-loxtercamp
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Brooklyn Loxtercamp’s mother started telling her she could be a good nurse when she was little. By the time Brooklyn made it to high school, she too recognized that caring for people was her calling.
Brooklyn Loxtercamp’s mother started telling her she could be a good nurse when she was little. By the time Brooklyn made it to high school, she too recognized that caring for people was her calling. Today, she’s in her final semester in the nursing program at College of St. Benedict/St. John’s University and joined the Kappa Phi at-Large Chapter of Sigma in October 2019.
Recently, Sigma awarded Brooklyn with the Edith Anderson Membership Subsidy. “Receiving this gift means so much to me,” she said. “First, it shows that there are people who believe in me and my dreams even though they don’t know me. Second, subsidies and scholarships help me reach my goals. Without the financial help I have received up to this point in my education, I would not be where I am today.”
Brooklyn is also a nursing teacher assistant in her nursing program and is one of two nursing class of 2020 representatives. She joined Sigma because she appreciations its mission and the connections it’s known for and has already put her membership to use by connecting with both new and experienced nurses.
After she graduates in May, Brooklyn plans on pursuing her dream—becoming a pediatric nurse. She looks forward to being her patients’ go-to person.
4/17/2020
Brooklyn Loxtercamp
Student
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Brooklyn Loxtercamp stands on wooden bridge in a tropical forest.
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A Q&A with Edith Anderson Membership Subsidy recipient
/dawn-dorland
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Dawn Dorland, MSN, RN, of the Lambda Rho at-Large Chapter, recently received the Edith Anderson Membership Subsidy. Find out what this award means to her and the path she’s taken to get to this point in her nursing career.
Dawn Dorland, MSN, RN, of the Lambda Rho at-Large Chapter, recently received the Edith Anderson Membership Subsidy. Find out what this award means to her and the path she’s taken to get to this point in her nursing career.
What does this award mean to you and how do you plan to use it in your nursing career?
I am extremely grateful to receive the Edith Anderson Membership Subsidy. I completed my Master of Science in nursing education at Jacksonville University. Even though I am currently on medical leave from my nursing career, I remain engaged in current topics and continue to research education trends in academic settings. As a Sigma member, I am part of a group of nurses who strive to improve the quality of care for people all around the world.
How long have you been a Sigma member? Why did you join Sigma?
I have been a member of Sigma since 31 August 2019. I wanted to be a part of Sigma to remain current in nursing topics and be part of a group of nurses dedicated to advancing our profession. As a future educator, I hope to instill in my students a drive to continuously evolve their education through examples they see in myself. Sigma offers numerous beneficial resources that help me achieve my goals. I have not held a leadership position within the organization yet and hope to someday in the near future.
If you were to sum up your Sigma experience in one sentence, what would you say?
Sigma allows me to be part of the world of advanced nursing and become a more than just a nurse, but a nurse who is part of something more than themselves.
How did you decide nursing was the right career path for you?
My journey into nursing is different than most people’s. Growing up I was not familiar with nursing. Most of my siblings did not finish high school and I was the only one who eventually went to college. On a whim I took the medical sciences entrance exam at my local technical college. While reviewing my test scores, the guidance counselor suggested I try the practical nursing program. I never thought I was smart enough to be a nurse, so I was excited at the possibility of someday having a real career.
Shortly after becoming a licensed practical nurse (LPN), I realized that science was my passion. I loved numbers and chemistry, and medications and the disease process were fascinating. Within six months I enrolled at a community college and started my path towards becoming a registered nurse (RN). As an RN I spent most of my time working in emergency departments, float pool assignments, and a few years as a supervisor.
After 13 years as an RN, I returned to a local college to pursue my BSN. I applied for and was chosen as a student ambassador in 2016/2017. In the ambassador role, I met many hopeful nursing students and counseled them on how to make their dream a reality. Upon graduation I was awarded the Exceptional Leadership in Nursing award for my role in promoting the field of nursing to future students. I immediately started my journey into nursing education at Jacksonville University, and graduated with my master’s degree in 2019.
Awards such as the Edith Anderson Membership Subsidy are available because of donors to the Sigma Foundation for Nursing. Donate today to help support current and future generations of nurses and nurse leaders at www.sigmanursing.org/donate.
4/17/2020
Dawn Dorland
MSN, RN
32737299-46f8-6225-bce7-ff000034804e
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Dawn Dorland
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Edith Anderson membership subsidy recipient plans to pay it forward
/raluca-radu
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Raluca was ecstatic to join Sigma in June 2019 because of all the opportunities her membership provides, like information about conferences, continuing education courses (CNE), and, most importantly for her, connecting with other nurses around the world.
Raluca Radu, MSN, RN, has just completed her graduate studies with a study of climate change and nursing education at the University of British Columbia. She is a member of Sigma’s Xi Eta at-Large Chapter and is a recent recipient of the Edith Anderson Membership Subsidy.
She was ecstatic to join Sigma in June 2019 because of all the opportunities her membership provides, like information about conferences, continuing education courses (CNE), and, most importantly for her, connecting with other nurses around the world. Because Raluca has been a full-time graduate student and holds two volunteer positions—events director and president of the Graduate Students in Nursing Association—she would not have been able to join Sigma without the assistance that she received from the Edith Anderson Membership Subsidy. "When I received news from Sigma that I was selected, I felt truly grateful for being given the chance to become a member of such a prestigious organization where I can bring my voice and passion for nursing into a community that makes you feel valued and that encourages ongoing professional development,” she said.
Raluca plans to pay this gift forward by providing a “similar gift to an individual who wants to pursue their dream to become a nurse. I envision this being in the form of a bursary made available in either undergraduate or graduate education, which I would love to give as a recognition for the times when others helped me financially on my journey of becoming a nurse.”
Raluca and her family emigrated to Canada from Romania when she was 12 years old. Growing up, she accompanied friends and family to doctor’s appointments where she learned that being healthy meant not only how you feel physically but also mentally. At these appointments, she always wanted to know more about conditions and how the body works. Down the line, she, too, had to overcome illness. “It was the nurses who I always looked up to who were able to provide this unconditional, holistic care regardless of how busy they were on their shift,” she said. “I was always astounded by how much compassion they carried in their demeanor and how their sole presence oftentimes was sufficient to ease my pain. It is as though I had to undergo those painful times in my health in order to realize that nursing was my true calling.”
She became a registered nurse (RN) in 2014 and started at a community hospital in surgical units and in the rapid assessment area of emergency. She then took on additional roles in a private surgical facility. This experience in both public and private health sectors in addition to serving as a clinical resource nurse at Vancouver General Hospital made her hungry to add more tools to her toolkit. She started her graduate studies in 2017. She is excited to begin this next chapter in her nursing career. “I am ready to contribute to advancing nursing knowledge and to improving our complex healthcare systems,” she said. “I believe that as the International Year of the Nurse and the Midwife continues to unfold, nurses have a spectacular opportunity to unveil their strength and contributions to healthcare delivery, something I am and will always continue to be proud of.”
4/9/2020
Raluca Radu
MSN, RN
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Raluca Radu
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Raluca Radu