“My major focus is on the health and wellness of vulnerable populations. I want to work toward more value-based health care delivery for them," ~ Rita Meadows, PhD, FNP-BC

Inspired by the example of her aunt Betty Falter, RN, MS, NEA-BC, an experienced nurse leader who helped develop the Arizona Health Care Leadership Academy, Dr. Meadows actively sought out experiences that would lead her to influence health care policy development and reform. Her passion for public service recently earned her an appointment by the state governor to the Delaware Primary Care Reform Collaborative, where she is the only nurse who sits on the committee.

The two-year-old Collaborative was established by the Delaware legislature to require commercial health insurance companies to make meaningful investments in primary care, including price increases for hospitals and non-professional services and requirements that health insurance companies work to improve health care value and increase the primary care investment.

We caught up with Dr. Meadows recently to learn more about her nursing journey, her experience in the UArizona Nursing PhD program and what she hopes to achieve in her new role.

What inspired you to pursue your PhD?

My aunt Betty was hugely influential in that decision. I’ve always done clinical preceptorship, so the educational role has always been ancillary to my clinical role. But we realized that my main interest was in developing an understanding of the theoretical foundation of my nursing career and who I was as a nurse and expand it into policy and research development. That’s what compelled me to choose the rigorous PhD program.

What was your experience like in the UArizona Nursing PhD program?

I interviewed at other places but from the day I first set foot in the college, it was the most nurturing and comfortable environment. It helped build me as a human being, and my human presence in the nursing world, and how my personal philosophy of life has become part of my practice of nursing. I connected with other likeminded and intellectual beings as colleagues. I was mentored by probably the most brilliant and nurturing individuals for four years of my life. Every single aspect of me was filled with thoughtfulness, expansion and growth. I have lifelong friends as a result, and I have mentors that I can always access if I need them in the future.

What were your primary research interests during the program?

Self-management of adolescents with Type 1 Diabetes. For years I’ve volunteered as medical staff at a summer camp for children with Type I diabetes. In that environment, I identified a lot of needs for these kids, so when I went to pursue my PhD, it was my volunteer work rather than my work as a FNP that took precedent. My research was in the facilitators and inhibitors of independent self-management of adolescents with Type I diabetes.  It’s a unique population. It was exciting to build on that – not only to build on our present body of knowledge but also to implement it in the camp setting into a leadership program for adolescents with Type I diabetes.

What led to your appointment to the Delaware Primary Care Reform Collaborative?

After earning my PhD, I decided to pursue health policy versus research because I’m so embedded in my community as an NP. So rather than move to a career in pure research, I chose to maintain my practice and look for opportunities in advocacy. It really started when I was put on the Government Advocacy Committee for the Delaware Nursing Association. I had a background of volunteer work. I mentor between three and 10 nurse practitioner or doctoral students per year as a clinical preceptor. I’ve also worked on Doctoral student projects for students at a multitude of nursing programs that I have mentored NP students in. It’s a matter of evolution and my role has just evolved because I really took the plunge into policy development versus research. I was also the JDRF Government Advocacy Team leader for the state of Delaware for a couple years, which helped prepare me for a role as a government advocacy leader, where I was very quickly able to network, to show what I can do and what I’ve done for the community. They put the recommendations in and referred me for this position.

What excites you most about the work you’ll be doing?

Policy is where you can really push nursing interests and therefore the community’s interests as far as primary health goes. Right now, this is a big issue for Medicare. Reimbursement for nurse practitioner services is 80% of what a physician receives even though we’re giving the same services. This is all part of the reform bill. Not just nursing but primary care is one of the lowest reimbursed services, yet we are still poorly reimbursed comparatively. One thing we’ll be working on is increasing the investment in primary care from the insurance perspective.

During your two-year term, what do you hope to achieve?

My major focus is on the health and wellness of vulnerable populations. I want to work toward more value-based health care delivery for them. My health care practice is part of an Accountable Care Organization (ACO), but we’re already working in my practice to coordinate high quality care and preventative management in the Medicare population to ensure that they have access to health care.

What is the most meaningful part of your work as an NP?

My patients think I’m part of their family. I’m embedded not just in the community but in the lives of the people in this community, and I can influence them and their health and their wellbeing without judgement. The trust and respect that they have in me Is probably reflective of my desire to help them.

Big picture, what are your hope for the future?

My whole career, every time I’m given an opportunity, I say ‘Yes.’ Some of those shifts were really bad shifts, but I learned, and I grew from them. I take every opportunity to advance my career, advance me as a human, advance me as a person, and I see this is as a steppingstone. It is a state appointed position and I just wonder if there’s more that I can do on a national level one day. I’m going to use this time in the next two years to listen, to find out where the needs are, to do an assessment of the primary care needs in Delaware and how they compare to the national needs. I think maybe I do have a role in policy formation in a bigger way, but I’m open to every opportunity that lands on my lap. Perhaps I’ll go in another direction but in general I think policy is where I can make the most impact on the most people’s lives.

“We are excited to expand upon our partnership with the Town of Gilbert to bring our MEPN program to the area so it can join our already successful BSN-IH in the same building. Both programs will help educate and train new generations of Wildcat Nurses, who are desperately needed in communities across Arizona due to an ongoing nursing shortage," ~ UArizona Nursing Dean Ki Moore, PhD, RN, FAAN

The University Building is equipped with an eight-bed skills lab and a nursing simulation suite designed to replicate a hospital patient-care setting, which was a major factor in the College of Nursing’s decision to expand in Gilbert. The College of Nursing has invested more than $300,000 to update the third floor of the University Building with speaker systems, technical infrastructure and state-of-the-art simulation equipment.

"We are proud of the success that the University of Arizona's nursing program has had at their Gilbert campus and are thrilled to support the expansion of this master's program," said Gilbert Mayor Brigette Peterson. “Education is a pillar of any strong community and it’s a sign of progress that Gilbert is able to continue to offer higher education programs while contributing to the training of nurses who are sorely needed today, tomorrow, and into the future.”

“It is anticipated that by 2030, there will be a shortage of almost a million nurses across the country, and the University of Arizona College of Nursing is dedicated to reducing the effects of this shortage in our state,” said College of Nursing Dean Ki Moore, PhD, RN, FAAN. “We are excited to expand upon our partnership with the Town of Gilbert to bring our MEPN program to the area so it can join our already successful BSN-IH in the same building. Both programs will help educate and train new generations of Wildcat Nurses, who are desperately needed in communities across Arizona due to an ongoing nursing shortage.”

More than 240 BSN-IH students are currently studying in Gilbert, with that number expected to quickly reach the program’s limit of 288 students. Including the Tucson and Gilbert campuses, approximately 130 students are expected to enroll in the MEPN program each year.

“We hope that NanO2 will be a drug that will successfully provide additional oxygen to parts of the brain region that are at risk, but not yet dead. We hope to provide a much-needed stroke therapy to the stroke population," ~ Helena Morrison, PhD, RN

The benefits for those with ischemic stroke could be substantial. “There is a saying that the American Heart and Stroke Association has adapted from Ben Franklin, ‘Time is Brain,’” Dr. Morrison says, referencing the famous ‘Time is Money’ aphorism. “This means that the more time that the brain does without oxygen, the more damage is done to the brain. We hope that NanO2 will be a drug that will successfully provide additional oxygen to parts of the brain region that are at risk, but not yet dead. We hope to provide a much-needed stroke therapy to the stroke population.”

Drs. Morrison and Unger hypothesize that the compromised brain tissue will be smaller in a preclinical cohort that receives the NanO2 treatment when compared to the cohort that will not receive the treatment. “In this case, the preclinical model is one of temporary ischemia, meaning that we model not just ischemic stroke but also the reperfusion, or reestablishment of blood flow, that could occur due to pharmacological or surgical interventions,” Dr. Morrison says. “Previous studies have examined the effect of this drug with ischemic stroke without reperfusion and these investigators illustrated a positive effect, meaning that the brain injury was decreased.”

Dr. Morrison joined the study after UArizona Nursing colleague Leslie Ritter, PhD, RN, FAAN, recommended her to Dr. Unger because of her substantial experience and skills with the pre-clinical model necessary for the study. As Co-PI, Dr. Morrison will handle the nuts and bolts of the study, partnering with NuvOx to shape the study design and the drug supply. The bulk of the clinical work will take place in the Morrison Lab located at UArizona Nursing.

“I believe that the Nursing profession is one of the most selfless and noble career paths that one can learn to serve. I also knew that a Nursing career would allow me limitless opportunities to continue to learn, grow and challenge me," ~ Colton Hall, Level 4 BSN-IH Student

Why did you choose to pursue a career in nursing?

My high school’s motto is ‘Enter to Learn, Learn to Serve.’  I’ve always had a passion to help others.  I believe that the Nursing profession is one of the most selfless and noble career paths that one can learn to serve. I also knew that a Nursing career would allow me limitless opportunities to continue to learn, grow and challenge me.

What drew you to apply to UArizona’s BSN-IH program in Gilbert?

I was drawn to the BSN-IH program because of the integrative health aspect.  UArizona’s BSN-IH program is cutting-edge and gives our nursing students a different viewpoint and skill set that is applicable right out of school. Integrative health is a growing aspect of the healthcare industry. With more and more people being open to improving their lifestyle through practices such as yoga, meditation, acupuncture, music therapy, I believe integrative health combined with conventional medicine will be prominent in the future of healthcare. 

How would you describe your experience over the course of the program?

During my program experience, I have felt extremely supported. My fellow cohort students and I formed a bond rather quickly. Like a team of nurses at a hospital, we had similar concerns and experiences throughout the program, so we were able to empathize with each other. This tight knit relationship is what helped each of us get through the highs and lows of the program. Just as instrumental was the support of my professors. They listened, cared about my success and reached out to me personally when I needed additional support both academically and emotionally. I have been extremely impressed and feel lucky to be a part of such an amazing program. 

What has been the most meaningful part of your studies?

For me, participating in my preceptorship was a significant part of my nursing education. Textbook learning is very critical in nursing school, but the hands-on aspect of the preceptorship gave me those “aha” moments where a theory or concept was solidified. Being able to interact with the patients was so meaningful to me. Sometimes being a patient in a hospital can be a frightening experience. I felt that what I was doing had meaning and value to others.  

What has been your greatest takeaway from the program?

The University of Arizona BSN-IH program is full of rigor, so I knew it would be demanding. I was accepted into the program at the onset of the pandemic, which brought its own set of challenges. Looking back, I can vividly recall my anxiousness regarding this formidable journey. My takeaway is to always approach new challenges with an intrepid mindset.  Be organized, open to new ideas and have the courage to ask others for help.

Tell us about your post-graduation plans. 

I plan to take and pass the NCLEX right after graduating. My hometown which is in the California-Bay Area have a number of world-class hospitals. My goal is to start working in an ICU unit and obtain a CCRN certification. Within the next 10 years I hope to become a team lead and working my way to a charge nurse position. 

“Tobacco use is one of the leading causes of disease and death in the world. This study will be the first of its kind to test the efficacy of a guided imagery, integrative intervention delivered entirely remotely. There is tremendous potential to reach smokers wherever they are, whenever they’re ready," ~ Judith Gordon, PhD, UArizona Nursing Associate Dean for Research

“Tobacco use is one of the leading causes of disease and death in the world,” said study lead Judith Gordon, PhD, associate dean for research and professor in the UArizona College of Nursing, which is part of UArizona Health Sciences. “This study will be the first of its kind to test the efficacy of a guided imagery, integrative intervention delivered entirely remotely. There is tremendous potential to reach smokers wherever they are, whenever they’re ready.”

An interdisciplinary team of researchers will partner with tobacco quitlines and community organizations in Arizona, New York and West Virginia to recruit 1,200 participants randomized to receive either an integrative intervention or an active control tobacco cessation program. The interventions differ in content, but both programs use nicotine replacement therapy to reduce withdrawal symptoms. 

The study builds on Dr. Gordon’s previous research, which found that both the integrative and control interventions have potential to be effective. In the prior study, protocols were successfully delivered to participants, who adhered to those protocols and stayed with the intervention throughout the process.

Dr. Gordon’s current team will use the same study procedures, protocols, databases, training materials and surveys to test the efficacy of the integrative intervention in a much larger group of people. The expanded partnerships with quitlines and community agencies also will ensure a more representative sample of smokers in the new study.

“We expanded it to include Arizona, which has a high Hispanic/Latino population, New York and West Virginia. West Virginia has the highest tobacco use rates in the U.S.,” Dr. Gordon said. “New York State is highly diverse and has the largest state-run quitline in the U.S.” 

While generally successful, quitlines reach only a small fraction of smokers nationwide. Dr. Gordon chose to develop and test an integrative approach that could expand the appeal of cessation programs to people who may not be interested in the standard cognitive behavioral method. Dr. Gordon hopes the expanded options will resonate with a greater number of smokers. 

“The directors of the quitlines we’re partnering with are excited about adding another option to their services,” Dr. Gordon said. “They hope it will be a new way to motivate people who wouldn’t normally call a quitline. Given the fact that there are still millions of smokers worldwide, if you can get those people to quit, you’re going to greatly improve not only their health and wellbeing but also the health and wellbeing of people who are exposed to their secondhand tobacco smoke. There’s enormous potential for improving public health.”

“Understanding a patient’s culture, values and lifestyle through lived experience is extremely valuable in a patient-provider relationship, so it is incredibly important for patients to see themselves in their healthcare providers and as members of their communities. It can enhance communication and build trust, which are essential in providing quality care and, ultimately, improving health outcomes," ~ Tiffany Lynch, DNP Student

What appeals to you most about the Doctor of Nursing Practice program?

Indigenous health is very complex and challenging with numerous barriers. As a terminal degree, the DNP program will provide a strong foundation to tackle these problems, to affect change and to serve patients at the highest level.

As a student, who have your biggest role models been?

I have been privileged to work with a tremendous group of people who have dedicated their careers to helping to improve the health and well-being of the Indigenous population in and around Tucson. Their commitment has been the biggest motivator in my pursuit of an advanced nursing degree.

How important it is for patients to see themselves in their healthcare providers and as members of their communities?

Understanding a patient’s culture, values and lifestyle through lived experience is extremely valuable in a patient-provider relationship, so it is incredibly important for patients to see themselves in their healthcare providers and as members of their communities. It can enhance communication and build trust, which are essential in providing quality care and, ultimately, improving health outcomes.

What does Native American Heritage Month mean to you?

Native American Heritage Month is a time to celebrate and embrace our unique cultures and traditions. It is a time to reflect on our rich histories. It is also important for those of other backgrounds to see that we are here, and despite the challenges of our histories, our cultures and traditions continue to thrive.

What does it mean to you to be a Wildcat Nurse?

There is a sense of pride in being a Wildcat Nurse. I know that I am receiving a quality education because the University of Arizona College of Nursing is a respected institution with high standards and a stellar reputation. I am confident that this program will prepare us to be well-informed and well-rounded advanced practice nurses.

What are your future plans?

I am in the Family Nurse Practitioner specialty of the DNP program. My plan is to work in a tribal health facility. There is a strong need for healthcare providers in rural areas but even more so on American Indian reservations. Since the start of my healthcare career, my goal has been to have a positive impact on American Indian health – no matter how small. And that is what I intend to do.

Nurses stepped up to the challenge of caring for patients during the pandemic, and over 1,150 of us have died from COVID-19 in the U.S. As cases and deaths surge, nurses continue working in a broken system with minimal support and resources to care for critically sick patients, many of whom will still die.

We are nurses and nurse scientists who study nurse well-being during the COVID-19 pandemic. One of our studies, which asks health care workers to share voicemails about their experience providing care during the COVID-19 pandemic, is ongoing. What we have found across our studies is that nurses are struggling, and without help from both the public and health care systems they may they leave nursing altogether.

To help you understand their experiences, here are the five key takeaways from our studies on what nursing has been like during the COVID-19 pandemic.

1. Calling nurses ‘heroes’ is a harmful narrative

Nurses demonstrated that they will do almost anything for their patients, even risking their own lives. As of the end of December 2020, more than 1.6 million health care workers worldwide had been infected by COVID-19, and nurses make up the largest affected group in many countries.

For this, nurses have been hailed as heroes. But this can be a dangerous label with negative consequences. With this hero narrative, expectations of what nurses should do become unrealistic, such as working with inadequate resources, staffing and safety precautions. Consequently, it becomes normalized for nurses to work longer hours or extra shifts without consideration for how this may affect them personally.

This ultimately could result in nurses’ leaving the profession because of burnout. A survey conducted by the American Association of Critical-Care Nurses of over 6,000 ICU nurses found that 66% of respondents were considering leaving nursing as a result of their care experiences during the pandemic. Similarly, we found that 67% of nurses under 30 are considering leaving their organizations within the next two years.

The nurses in our studies put the needs of their patients and society above their own. This is how one young nurse described their experience caring for COVID-19 patients without any safety guidance: “There was a palpable tenseness being there … nobody knew what was going on or what was expected. There was no real protocol yet. If a patient was admitted and you had to take care of one, you kind of felt like you were being thrown to the wolves as an experiment.”

2. Nurses lack adequate resources or support

Nurses have cared for patients despite working in hazardous work environments. While some health care organizations have offered increased pay to travel nurses, or contracted temp nurses to address staffing shortages, that offer hasn’t been extended to their full-time staff. Many organizations instead require overtime and don’t provide adequate resources, such as personal protective equipment or support personnel, for safe patient care. This has left many nurses feeling unappreciated, undervalued and unsafe.

As one nurse from our study explained: “Lack of resources, lack of staffing, lack of getting all our concerns addressed, things like that. Those are very draining, especially when we’re supposed to provide patient care and do a good job. … All the drama from work and things like that, those don’t help. If anything, it just makes the environment more toxic and unbearable, definitely, and at one point, it will start affecting … your mental health and your physical health, even your spiritual health.”

3. Nurses lost trust in health care organizations

Nurses said they struggled with rapidly changing policies and procedures. Even when they were given information about these changes, many health care organizations weren’t transparent about the reasons behind them and expected nurses to just roll with the punches.

Even worse, some health care organizations gaslit nurses for being concerned for their own safety. One young inpatient nurse, for example, described frustrations with lack of communication from management: “They just weren’t telling us much of anything. We have three managers and seven clinical coordinators on our unit. There were definitely enough people to be sending emails and to be giving updates, but they were so unsure as well that they just kind of opted for radio silence, which was really frustrating and made the whole situation more challenging. When they were giving us information, a lot of it was, you guys are overreacting. You don’t need to wear N95s all the time.”

The safety sacrifices nurses have made for their organizations and patients has led to severe mental health consequences. In one study of 472 nurses in California, 79.7% reported anxiety and 19% met the clinical criteria for major depression.

Another nurse in our study had a similar experience: “Our policies were changing so rapidly that oftentimes anesthesia would have a different understanding [of the policy], the doctors and residents would have a different understanding, and nursing would have gotten a different email always within like a half-hour. It was extremely frustrating. It was very, very stressful.”

4. Nurses experience morally traumatic events

Nurses have been exposed to a substantial amount of moral injury, which occurs when they witness, perpetuate or fail to prevent something that contradicts their beliefs and expectations.

Not only have nurses seen a high volume of deaths every day, but they have also been placed in morally difficult situations due to resource shortages, such as oxygen supplies, ECMO machines that support heart and lung function, and hospital beds and staff. Even more routine aspects of care, such as basic hygiene, were neglected, further contributing to nurse moral distress.

One nurse in our study described their experience of moral distress in making life support decisions for patients: “We were told very early on … if this person needs a ventilator, they are not going to get it. So, in a way, we were determining code status without really consulting the patient, which to me is very problematic and unethical.”

5. Nurses are frustrated by the public’s not taking the pandemic seriously

Masks and vaccines are proven to help prevent the spread of COVID-19. Yet some Americans still refuse to mask, and, as of Nov. 1, 2021, only 67% of the population has received at least one dose of the vaccine.

According to the CDC, 92% of COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations, and 91% of COVID-19-related deaths, were among individuals who were not fully vaccinated between April and July 2021. Conversely, only 8% of COVID-19 cases and 9% of deaths were among fully vaccinated individuals.

Nurses care for patients regardless of vaccination status. Unfortunately, what the public may not realize is that their decision to decline vaccination or masking has serious consequences not only for nurses, but also their friends and community members. When hospital systems are overwhelmed with unvaccinated COVID-19 patients, there may be limited staff or resources to help those who need care for other medical emergencies. This is a frustrating experience for nurses who find themselves unable both to care for every patient in need and to protect people from contracting COVID-19.

A nurse in one of our studies recalled having to chase after an unvaccinated pregnant person with COVID-19 who attempted to leave the ICU against medical advice, despite the risk that she might infect other people: “This was so early [in the pandemic], we didn’t know how far [the virus] would travel. So I’m, like, is she going infect the staff in the lobby? Are there people down there? You know, she’s just going to go home and give this to her newborn. And … her husband looked at me and said, you know, basically Western medicine isn’t real and this isn’t real and I’m, like, OK, this is real. And I’m, like, you’re going to give it to your newborn and your five kids.”

How you can help nurses

As the pandemic continues to overwhelm hospitals and communities across the U.S., its effects on nurses need to be carefully considered. Exhausted and demoralized nurses are already quitting or retiring at alarming rates.

Only time will tell what long-term effects the COVID-19 pandemic will have on the nursing profession. But the public and health care organizations can step up to help nurses now by increasing access to mental health support and providing adequate resources, safe working conditions and organizational transparency during times of immense change. And everyone can help by protecting themselves from COVID-19 through masking and vaccination.

“Native American Heritage Month makes me think of my grandparents and how strong they are. It makes me proud to be a part of such a resilient heritage," ~ Jordan Curry, Level 3 BSN-IH student 

Tell us about your educational journey to the University of Arizona and why you’ve chosen nursing as a career.

During my college studies, I developed a passion for anatomy, cellular biology, and biochemistry. Anything involved with how the body functions was fascinating to me. I had opportunities to shadow nurses in my hometown and was inspired by the organization, attentiveness to care, and overall compassion-driven work the nurses displayed. I am grateful that my journey led me to the University of Arizona where I can take pride in the rich history and inclusivity the College of Nursing demonstrates.

What appeals to you most about the BSN-IH program?

The BSN-IH program focuses on each patient as a whole—mind, body, and spirit. We are taught to consider all aspects of a patient’s life before providing them with care. Finding a personalized treatment modality for each patient is crucial for delivering the highest level of care.

As a student, who have your biggest role models been?

In the BSN-IH program, I’ve been privileged to attend clinical rotations throughout the Valley where I have seen how strong nurses are. I have learned from each of the nurses I have encountered. Of course, my parents always keep me grounded as they bring a patient-minded aspect to my studies. I also aspire to one day be as positive as our program director, Dr. Betty Parisek.

How important it is for patients to see themselves in their healthcare providers and as members of their communities?

It is important for patients to see themselves in their health care providers to feel safety, respect, and comfort in care. Likewise, as a health care provider, it is important to understand that making a patient comfortable is a priority. It is also important for patients to see themselves as members of their communities to feel a sense of belonging. There is value in understanding that all individuals struggle but can overcome their struggles with proper support.

What does Native American Heritage Month mean to you?

Grandparents. Resiliency. Native American Heritage Month makes me think of my grandparents and how strong they are. It makes me proud to be a part of such a resilient heritage. I feel honored that it is not just one month, but every day, that I get to carry on my heritage.

What does it mean to you to be a Wildcat Nurse?

To be a Wildcat Nurse means to be a part of a deeply rooted history. It means being taught not only how to embrace community but how demonstrate adaptability, leadership, and inclusivity in efforts to push healthcare forward.

What are your plans for the future?

My plans for the future are to experience many aspects of nursing and find a specialty that is a good fit for me. I hope to be mindful and present with each patient in order to provide the highest quality of care for their mind, body, and spirit

Lecturer John Fraleigh, BSN, MSN, won the Outpatient/Community & Public Health award, which honors registered nurses who work in community health, behavioral health, clinics, hospice, home-health & palliative care, public health, K-12 schools or universities, outpatient diagnostics, parish or prison nurses, and private practice nurses of any specialty.

And Clinical Assistant Professor Lisa Kiser, DNP, CNM, WHNP, took honors for the Women's Health category, which recognizes registered Nurses involved in antepartum, labor & delivery, maternal/baby care, postpartum, and gynecology.

Additionally, UArizona Nursing Doctor of Nursing Practice student Lena Perez won for the Student Nurses Advanced Degree category, which honors students enrolled in either a MSN or a DNP program, with a minimum GPA of 3.25, and exemplifying outstanding participation within the community.

UArizona Nursing couldn’t be prouder of the superb work these faculty members do, especially during such trying times.

Cheryl Lacasse: “The Arizona March of Dimes Nurse Educator Award nomination process provided an opportunity to reflect on the nursing and teaching experience and wisdom that I bring to my role as a. nurse educator. It is a true honor to be acknowledged for my contributions to the nursing profession through education, professional development, mentoring, and developing future nurses and leaders in health care.”

John Fraleigh: “It was an honor to win the March of Dimes Heroes in Action for Outpatient/Community & Public Health. I think lots of nurses are ‘out there’ doing great things but it feels awesome when someone stops to recognize my efforts. My volunteer work in areas that help the community include Human Trafficking prevention, Maricopa County Child Fatality Review (Homicide, Suicide, and Accident Teams), and teaching in our Community Health course for the MEPN Program on the Phoenix campus. I appreciate the opportunity the college has provided in lending the platform to introduce these topics to our nursing students.

While I appreciate the comparison to being a ‘hero,’ I am merely a representative of the team that assists. Opportunities to attend meetings, conferences, and educational events are only possible because coworkers remain behind to fill the gaps. Most important is my team at home, that keeps running strong while I’m off volunteering. If I am a hero, then my wife, Lyn, is my sidekick who remains back in the shadow with little recognition. Our 10-year-old son, Adam, has down syndrome and requires additional attention and care, in order for me to be out doing ‘those things.’ Well, I now have a plaque that says, ‘we did it.’ As the representative of my ‘work team’ and ‘family team,’ I am thankful for this recognition.”

Lisa Kiser: “As a certified nurse-midwife and women's health nurse practitioner, I am very honored to receive this award from the Arizona chapter of the March of Dimes. I rely on the work of the March of Dimes, both in my teaching and in my practice, and find that they are always a leader in evidence-based care that addresses the issues that most affect maternal and infant health. Knowing the importance of their work and mission, I am proud to be recognized by the March of Dimes: we share the same vision for women's health, which is to eliminate health disparities and truly improve health outcomes for all women and children in the state of Arizona.”

Cheryl Lacasse: “The Arizona March of Dimes Nurse Educator Award nomination process provided an opportunity to reflect on the nursing and teaching experience and wisdom that I bring to my role as a. nurse educator. It is a true honor to be acknowledged for my contributions to the nursing profession through education, professional development, mentoring, and developing future nurses and leaders in health care.”