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Alumna Spotlight: Sarah Stafford Evans’ Passion for Serving the Underserved

Dec. 14, 2018

When Sarah Stafford Evans graduated with her Master of Science for Entry into the Profession of Nursing (MEPN) in 2015, she was committed to inspiring healing in her patients. Having been diagnosed with Crohn’s disease in her freshman year, she came through the experience with a very personal appreciation of the power of the work nurses do.  Since graduating, she has amply fulfilled that promise. Earlier this year, the Tucson native moved to Fairbanks, Alaska, where she works as a pediatric nurse at Fairbanks Memorial Hospital. Her desire to serve the underserved also led her to volunteer at a local public health clinic as well as a remote mountain village in Haiti.

Why did you pursue a career in nursing?

When I was diagnosed with Crohn’s, it was so severe that it got to the point that I almost died. All of the comorbidities that accompanied that period in my life were really challenging. There were frequent trips to the hospital and I had to take several medical withdrawals from school. I had really good nurses, and honestly, pretty awful nurses through that experience. But it made me realize I had the calling to inspire healing in my patients. I saw what a difference it made in my healing to have someone who cared, who really tried to not only offer great nursing care but a good mentality to promote healing from within.


“Nursing school is a difficult time in everybody's life, including the instructors, so it helped that the MEPN program was really organized. The program was fast-paced and intense, but they did a great job of covering a huge amount of material in just 15 months." ~ Sarah Stafford Evans, UA College of Nursing MEPN Graduate 


What was your experience in the MEPN program like?

Nursing school is a difficult time in everybody’s life, including the instructors, so it helped that the MEPN program was really organized. The program was fast-paced and intense, but they did a great job covering a huge amount of material in just 15 months. On top of that, the camaraderie I had with my cohort was very strong. You build a family going through school, but at the same time you’re getting an education that’s going to not only prepare you but set you ahead. I was ahead of the curve in the professional realm when I started my job hunt.

What have you been doing since graduation?

Dr. Deborah Williams recommended me for a public health nursing job here in Fairbanks. I didn’t end up taking that position, but my husband and I liked the idea of coming to Alaska, so I applied for a job in pediatrics at the one hospital that they have. We flew up to visit and we liked it. In January, we sold everything we had, bought a truck, put the dogs in it and drove up. Currently, I’m on the pediatric floor. I’m on a couple of committees in the hospital and I volunteer with the public health clinic.

Sarah Stafford Evans

Can you tell us about your volunteer work in Haiti?

I’ve always been interested in rural medicine. When I was in college, I volunteered in free health clinics in Mexico. It was amazing experience, so when I found out that one of our pediatricians was involved in a group that goes to Haiti every year, I applied. Last January, I spent two weeks there. The group I went with had built a clinic in the mountains because the highly underserved villages previously only had access to health care in Port au Prince, which was a good five or six hours away. Many residents don’t have vehicles and have to pay motorcycles to get them to care. They do a lot of blood pressure medication and they have a program that benefits children suffering from malnutrition. There are a lot of women there who need prenatal care, so they recently started a program where the women come in every month for their ultrasound. During my time there, we saw a lot of pregnant women and we delivered quite a few babies. There was a lot of death and a lot that we couldn’t do, which was really devastating considering the interventions would have pretty minimal. But it was a great learning experience and I definitely want to go back.

What do you envision for the future?

Here in Alaska, there’s a big need for competent health care in the more remote areas. I’d like to set up practice in a way that I can go to go to rural areas that are unable to come to us unless it’s something really acute. My dad was a pilot, so I got my pilot’s license really young. I see myself flying into the villages with supplies, and providing care a couple months at a time, then regrouping in town. That’s kind of where I’m headed, but I try not to plan too far ahead.

What drew you to pursue a pediatric specialty?

I believe in fate. When we came up here, the only open positions at the hospital that really called to me were ER and pediatrics, and the ER wasn’t taking any new grads. I applied for peds and I’ve come to love it. It’s a challenge because you’re not just treating the patient, you’re treating the entire family, and trying to manage the parent’s stress just as much if not more than the child’s. You can walk into one room and have a newborn that’s septic, or go next door and find a toddler that’s angry that you’re there, and then you’ve got a teenager in the next room that just doesn’t want to be there. You have to master so many different approaches. The pediatrics population took my heart, because they’re the ones that are really educating our communities. They retain information we give them and they spread it through their towns and villages and their friends and families, even if it’s as simple as handwashing.

Catching up with Violeta Lewis, UA Nursing Alumna and Mayor of La Puente, CA

Dec. 7, 2018

In a world that increasingly requires multitasking as a key to success, Violeta Lewis is a powerhouse of varied activity. Her quest for knowledge has led her to pursue studies in fields as diverse as physical and biological anthropology, forensics and pediatric nursing. She is fluent in English, Spanish and French. Along the way, she built a resume that has spanned the financial sector, restaurant management, the legal world and both the clinical and academic rigors of nursing. Now, as the Mayor of La Puente, a bedroom community of 45,000 in east Los Angeles County, she daily puts to work the administrative skills she gained in the UA Master of Science Nursing (MSN) Clinical Systems Leadership program. She divides the rest of her time between her work as a fulltime nursing faculty member at Rio Hondo College and as a resource pool pediatric nurse at Adventist Health. And that’s not counting her extracurricular roles as a wife and mother.

How does she balance it all? We caught up with Mayor Lewis recently to hear more about her diverse life and career.

What led you to pursue a career in nursing?

I was a hospital volunteer when I was 15 years old. I have travelled different avenues in terms of education and career but that was an impactful, pivotal experience in my life. When I was looking to change careers, I reflected on it and thought, ‘I want to go into nursing because that was such a positive experience.’

What led you to enroll in the UA Master of Science Nursing (MSN) Clinical Systems Leadership program?

At the time, the hospital I work for was looking to hire someone with an MSN. That springboarded me to the UA program, because their leadership said I could have the job, but only if I finished my degree. They wanted to breed leadership from within. The UA attracted me because it gave me a rounded background and lot more options. I could go into hospital management or education.


“I was a hospital volunteer when I was 15 years old. I have travelled different avenues in terms of education and career but that was an impactful, pivotal experience in my life. When I was looking to change careers, I reflected on it and thought, 'I want to go into nursing because that was such a positive experience." ~ Violeta Lewis, MSN, RN, CPN, Mayor of La Puente, CA 


What drew you to pediatric nursing?

I love children. I felt a real connection when I was in school doing my rotations. I identified with the families, which is important, because it’s not just the child who is the focus. Many times, you’re caring for the family more than the patient. I’m drawn to help with the family challenges, the psycho-social issues, minimizing trauma as much as possible.

What was your experience like when you were working on your MSN at UA Nursing?

The classrooms were intimate enough and even though it was distance learning, I didn’t feel as if I was far. The professors were engaging and personable. They really went out of their way to make sure we felt connected. It worked well around my schedule, but it challenged me and really pushed me forward in a lot of other avenues, especially in my role as mayor. I was actually finishing the program during my first term and found that some of the skills that I learned have helped me not just in my nursing but my political career as well.

How did you become involved in politics?

I was already a nurse before I became involved in the city. At that time, I was on the fringe. I was part of a coalition of concerned citizens, just keeping track of the issues. There was an opening on the city council when the incumbent decided not to run for reelection. My husband convinced me to run, saying, ‘You actually have a lot of positive attributes. You’re a nurse, you’re Latina, you speak Spanish. You’re actually representative of the community even though that’s not your forte in terms of being out in the spotlight.’ I like to work more one-on-one with people, so it was a challenge for me. I decided to put my name on the ballot and see what happened. Many times when people tell you that you’re not going to be successful, that gives you more drive to win. I had to reinvent myself, get more confident, and go door-to-door to meet constituents. I learned how you win in a grassroots campaign: The people have to see you.

What are some of your accomplishments as mayor?

We started a health Fair, both for seniors and the community at large. I started a civic engagement process with local elementary and middle schools. Those are the things that drive me.

How do you juggle all these different responsibilities?

I live by my Outlook Calendar – just kidding. I think the busiest people sometimes are the most organized. You make time for everything. Of course, support from your family is key. My husband and kids are very supportive of what I do. They understand when I have to go to events. That has been part of my personal growth as well, being able to manage all of it. Sometimes you’re scared. You think you don’t have the time, but you do. It motivates you to keep going when you see the positive benefits.

UA College of Nursing Class of 2018: Sobia Fatima Zehri

Nov. 30, 2018

UA College of Nursing Class of 2018: Sobia Fatima Zehri

BSN program; Arizona Nursing Inclusive Excellence (ANIE) student

Why did you decide to pursue a career in nursing?

I’ve always known that I want a career in the healthcare field. When I was young, I was diagnosed with epilepsy, and my family and I really appreciated the healthcare professionals who took their time to educate us and guide us. This motivated me to be a healthcare professional who provides family- and patient-centered care. I specifically chose nursing because I like the holistic approach to patient care, and I like how every day is exciting and different and there are many different career opportunities for nurses. 

What drew you to the UA College of Nursing?

I saw that it was one of the top nursing programs in the country. I attended the nursing workshops for pre-nursing students, and I liked the program.

What features of your program/specialty are you especially passionate about?

I like getting to know my patients and making connections with them. I love that in nursing there’s not just an emphasis on treating the patient physically, but there’s also importance in addressing the patient’s psychological and spiritual needs. 


“I like the different opportunities provided by the ANIE program. I especially appreciated the summer program because I was able to get extra experience in clinical and practice my skills throughout the summer." ~ Sobia Fatima Zehri, NSN program, Arizona Nursing Inclusive Excellence (ANIE) student


How did being part of the ANIE program help you with your academic journey?

I like the different opportunities provided by the ANIE program. I especially appreciated the summer program because I was able to get extra experience in clinical and practice my skills throughout the summer. I think this really helped me become more confident and more prepared for fourth semester. 

Share your favorite memory from your time at the CON

I don’t have a specific memory. One of my favorite parts of being part of the CON is making friends that I was able to share this journey with and who I know will be part of my life even after we graduate. 

What are your goals/plans for the future?

I accepted a job at Wake Forest High Point Medical Center in North Carolina on a neurovascular unit that I will start in February. I am excited to start this job and move to NC to be closer to family. My goals for the future are to become a clinical instructor and nurse practitioner after getting experience working as an RN. I also really enjoy public health nursing, and would like to get involved in that in the future, too.

Where are you from originally?

I was born and raised in Arizona, but my parents are from Pakistan. 

Do you hold any other degrees?

I will also graduate with a bachelors in physiology in December. 

As you prepare to graduate, do you have any words of advice for incoming nursing students?

I would tell incoming nursing students to take time out for self-care and to spend time with family and friends. Nursing school can definitely get stressful and you want to take time to relieve your stress so you can be a better student and not go insane. 

New Faculty Profile: Get to Know Jessica Rainbow, PhD, RN

Nov. 29, 2018

Assistant Professor Jessica Rainbow, PhD, RN, joined us this semester, migrating from Madison, WI, to the sunny Old Pueblo. She has worked as an Infusion Nurse and as an ICU Nurse and won the Mary Keller Research Award from the University of Wisconsin-Madison School of Nursing in spring, 2018. She is a welcome addition to our faculty.

What drew you to a career in nursing?

My dad was diagnosed with cancer when I was in my senior year of high school. Through going to chemotherapy with him and meeting lots of different healthcare providers, I saw the roles of the different members of the team and I really liked how much nurses interacted with patients. It was during my undergraduate nursing program that I became interested in research. My experiences working in the ICU made me realize that my passion in nursing is researching how to improve the nurse work environment to improve nurse health and wellbeing and patient outcomes.

What attracted you to the UA College of Nursing?

I was attracted by the incredible people and the inspiring research being done here at the UA College of Nursing.

What is your field of research/specialty?

My research focuses on nurses who work in hospitals and how we can improve the nurse work environment and culture in order to improve health and wellbeing for both patients and nurses. Specifically, I’m interested in measuring and developing interventions to address presenteeism, which is when someone is at work, but not fully engaged or performing.

What courses do you teach?

I’m going to be teaching NURS 642 and 650.

Where are you from originally?

I grew up in a little town on Lake Tahoe called Incline Village, Nevada.

How do you like Tucson so far?

I really like Tucson so far - it’s so nice to be able to play tennis or hike outside in the fall! The people are also incredibly friendly, and there are a lot of fun events and beautiful places to explore.

What do you like to do in your free time?

I love playing tennis, cooking, hiking, reading crime and spy novels, traveling, and exploring Tucson. 

Redefining Pain and Addiction

Nov. 26, 2018

UA Nursing Professors’ Integrative Health Expertise Informs Statewide Opioid Education Curriculum

With more than 116 overdose deaths occurring every day in the U.S., the seriousness of the opioid epidemic is hard to overstate. Health care professionals across the country are developing strategies to fight the crisis, but Arizona is the first state to take the proactive approach of devising a statewide curriculum designed especially for medical prescriber schools. Earlier this year, University of Arizona College of Nursing professors Angela Brown and S. Renee Gregg joined representatives from 18 Arizona programs (representing prescribing groups such as MD, DO, NP, PA, DMD, ND and DMP) to help craft a curriculum that emphasizes integrative therapies over pharmaceutical options.

When the call came for school representatives to join the effort, Drs. Brown and Gregg didn’t hesitate to sign up. Both have lengthy professional and scholarly interest in integrative health care and felt they could make a significant contribution to the discussion. Additionally, their participation in UA Nursing’s landmark Integrative Nursing Fellowship (INF) expanded their knowledge base of integrative therapies.

“It’s something that’s been close to my heart,” says Dr. Gregg. “I wanted in on it, and Angela was the same. Arizona Department of Health Services wanted to get us all together to have a discussion, with the goal of creating a curriculum we could implement in our schools so that the next generation of providers would come in with better skills and a higher level of preparation to reduce the overall use of opioids.”


“As prescribers, we need to educate our students about the difference between someone with chronic pain and somebody that's just trying to divert, and how to practice providing pain interventions where patients are at a safe level. We wanted to make sure graduates are prepared for that." ~ Dr. S. Renee Gregg 


“As a Nurse Practitioner, I’ve seen people out there really struggle with chronic pain,” says Dr. Brown. “As prescribers, we need to educate our students about the difference between someone with chronic pain and somebody that’s just trying to divert, and how to practice providing pain interventions where patients are at a safe level. We wanted to make sure our graduates are prepared for that.”

Meeting monthly for six months, Drs. Brown and Gregg and their colleagues assisted with the drafting of the Arizona Pain and Addiction Curriculum.  The approach represents a large-scale culture shift in the education of the next generation of prescribers by redefining pain and addiction as interlinked, complex, public health processes requiring interprofessional care and involvement of the community. Although use of the curriculum is optional, it is nonetheless part of a bold move to make a wide-sweeping change to pain and addiction education. The final document, which rolled out this summer, is a standardized educational tool for all medical prescriber schools in the state.

Thanks to Drs. Brown and Gregg, the UA College of Nursing has already implemented the new curriculum into its Doctor of Nursing Practice Family Nurse Practitioner program. This summer the clinical management course, Advanced Primary Care (620B), featured two weeks of instruction focused on chronic pain. One week zeroed in on the relation between chronic pain and substance abuse and the second highlighted integrative interventions for chronic pain.

“We taught 10 integrative interventions, some in a hands-on immersion that students could try, and we also implemented a hands-on effective communication through a Zoom small-group case study,” says Dr. Gregg, who found that students are more likely to utilize integrative interventions for chronic pain or stress management if they’ve actually experienced the interventions themselves. Students gained knowledge of such therapies as massage, acupuncture, yoga, mindfulness, guided imagery and Tai Chi.

“That changed the way that we teach students,” elaborates Dr. Brown. “If they’re more likely to experience these techniques, then they’re apt to utilize them when they’re out there in practice.”

Drs. Brown and Gregg give credit to their INF experience for giving them a broader frame of reference for their integrative knowledge. “A great thing that happened with the INFF was each of us focused on different techniques,” says Dr. Brown. “Instead of learning about yoga, we learned about different therapies, and really incorporated some diversity there, teaching different modalities. The INFF gave us permission to pursue these other things, and find people that are thinking likewise in relationship to education for nurse practitioners.”

That wide body of knowledge came in handy when the pair was enmeshed in drafting the statewide curriculum – and gave them a unique perspective when it came to understanding the connection between pain and addiction. Opioids misuse, points out Dr. Gregg, trigger a dopamine response that mirrors the feel-good response to chocolate or exercise. “But you have to work for it more than just popping a pill,” she says.

“Another important piece about integrative interventions is they help with the mind-body experience,” says Dr. Brown. “Pain is mind-body experience and so is addiction. So if we’re teaching people to have coping mechanism and deal with stress effectively and deal with issues like depression and anxiety, then they’re less likely to grab that drug to help alleviate those situations.”

The statewide curriculum is an important first step in proactively combating Arizona’s opioid epidemic, but Drs. Brown and Gregg see opportunity for growth. In the future, they envision integrative therapies being taught in other DNP courses and eventually becoming a thread through every course in the program. But for now, the upshot is simple. “I really hope that we’re preparing the future generation of nurse practitioners to be leaders and strong providers in response to chronic pain,” says Dr. Brown. “We want people to have positive outcomes rather than the negative outcomes associated with the opioid crisis.”

UA Nursing Clinical Instructor Awarded Pediatric Nurse Practitioner of the Year award

Nov. 21, 2018

On November 4, UA College of Nursing Clinical Instructor Sheri Carson, DNP, RN, was awarded the Pediatric Nurse Practitioner of the Year award by the Arizona National Association of Nurse Practitioners (NAPNAP).  The award is intended to recognize a Pediatric Nurse Practitioner who exceeds expectations as a professional in the field.

Dr. Carson was chosen because of her admirable character, selfless dedication and outstanding efforts in elevating her profession in the community. Her dedication to providing exceptional care for children leaves a legacy for other Pediatric Nurse Practitioners who follow in her footsteps.


“I am truly humbled. I absolutely love being a Pediatric Nurse Practitioner, and having the chance to advocate for children, provide quality care for them and their families, and help educate future nurse practitioners and physicians about pediatric health care." ~ Sheri Carson, DNP, RN, CPN, CPNP 


Dr. Carson has demonstrated her passion for improving health care of infants, children and adolescents in various ways. She serves on a Child Abuse Review Education Committee, which investigates abuse cases and provides education to successfully prosecute perpetrators. She has contributed to the scholarship needed to arm parents with the skills necessary to raise healthy children through numerous journal publications and conference presentations. Her dedication to the Tucson community is evidenced by her spearheading a team to walk and raise funds to support melanoma research. Additionally, Dr. Carson volunteers for Pueblo High School’s annual sports physicals clinics and for the UA College of Medicine’s Commitment to Underserved People (CUP) Tot Shots Program, which provides free vaccinations and sports physicals to underserved children. Dr. Carson also regularly mentors local and rural high school students who are interested in pursuing a degree in nursing and/or pediatrics.

What does it mean to you to receive the PNP of the Year award?

It is an incredible honor for me not only to have been nominated for the PNP of the Year award but also to be the selected recipient.  I am truly humbled.  I absolutely love being a Pediatric Nurse Practitioner, and having the chance to advocate for children, provide quality care for them and their families, and help educate future nurses, nurse practitioners and physicians about pediatric health care.  To receive an award that recognizes my hard work and passion solidifies for me that I chose the right path and that I really am making a difference in the lives of children and their families.  

What drew you to/makes you most passionate about being in pediatric nursing?

When I was completing my pediatric rotation in nursing school, I had a very special experience caring for a young girl who was from Mexico and did not speak any English.  I didn't speak any Spanish, and since we did not have translator phones back then, I knew I had to find some way to communicate with her.  Each day I would teach her a new word in English, and she would teach me a new Spanish word.  We used a lot of pictures and gestures to communicate, and by the end of my rotation, I knew pediatrics was where I wanted to practice.  It wasn't just about providing quality nursing care to the children and their families; it was also about walking with them during a difficult time in their lives and helping ensure they had all the tools they needed to properly care for themselves after discharge.  Once I became a Pediatric Nurse Practitioner, I translated my passion for education and advocacy into the primary care setting, and I was amazed to find how much I loved caring for children outside of the hospital.  Having parents entrust the care of their children to me is truly a privilege, and I always want my patients and families to feel like they are getting the best care possible.  Whether caring for a newborn, a toddler, a school-ager, or an adolescent, I have been so blessed to watch my patients grow and develop into amazing young men and women.  And having the opportunity to share my knowledge and love for pediatrics with students only fuels my passion for the field.  It is a gift to be in this profession, and it's what keeps me coming back day after day.

What is the importance of being a member of the AZ NAPNAP?

The National Association of Pediatric Nurse Practitioners is the professional association for advanced practice nurses whose focus is in pediatrics.  As such, the organization aims to improve the quality of healthcare provided to infants, children, and adolescents.  The organization also works to advance the role of pediatric advanced practice nurses in providing quality care to children across the lifespan.  By being a member of the Arizona Chapter of NAPNAP, I am afforded opportunities to network with other pediatric nurse practitioners, as well as attend educational symposia and seminars that keep me current in evidence-based pediatric health care.  I have had the opportunity to assist with free sports physical clinics and other local events that are sponsored by the Arizona chapter, which helps ensure quality health care and outreach to the children and families across our state.  Finally, I have been able to share my doctoral work on creating a comprehensive child physical abuse screening program in the emergency department, which has allowed other PNPs to take this information to their respective organizations and expand the number of facilities who are actively screening children for physical abuse.

Aside from the honor of receiving his award from your colleagues, will being PNP of the Year open any doors for further research/career opportunities?

I am not sure if receiving this award will open any new doors for me, but my hope is that it will.  Recently, my focus has been on disseminating the work from my doctoral project on implementing comprehensive child physical abuse screening programs in all emergency departments across Arizona, and I would love to see this award elevate people's awareness of who I am and the work that I am doing.  I have had the chance to present my work at both local and national conferences, and I am actively working to improve healthcare providers' screening for and recognition of child physical abuse.  This information was shared as part of my award nomination, which was read during the award presentation, so it is possible that my receipt of this award could support new research and/or career opportunities, especially with regard to child physical abuse screening and recognition.

PhD Student Awarded Johnson & Johnson/American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN) scholarship

Nov. 15, 2018

UA College of Nursing Doctoral student Angelina Nguyen was one of six graduate students from across the country to be awarded a scholarship funded by the Johnson & Johnson/American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN) Campaign for Nursing’s Future program. Developed to help address the current faculty shortage while enhancing diversity among nurse educators, the program provides financial support to graduate nursing students from minority backgrounds who agree to teach in a school of nursing after graduation.

Nguyen, a Vietnamese-American distance student based in Henderson, NV, chose UA Nursing’s PhD program because of the ease of its online access and for the esteemed faculty who would mentor her. “I feel very fortunate to have been chosen,” she said. “It attests to the fact that the work that I do is important. This award is geared not only toward those who can have an impact on improving health in general but also toward mentoring minority nurses with the goal of a more diverse nursing faculty workforce. I definitely feel a calling to give back to the community, and to the nursing profession.”


“I feel very fortunate to have been chosen. It attests to the fact that the work I do is important." ~ Angelina Nguyen, UA Nursing Doctoral Student


The Johnson & Johnson/AACN scholarship will aid Nguyen in her final year in her PhD program. Currently in the final stages of her dissertation study, she is examining mixed methods to explore the risk perception of developing diabetes in Vietnamese Americans with prediabetes. She was inspired to pursue her topic after being diagnosed with pre-diabetes herself. “I was interested because I see that it’s a problem, but also the personal agenda of needing to learn about this for myself so I can figure out how to prevent or at least delay diabetes,” she said.

Asian-Americans, says Nguyen, are at higher risk for developing diabetes at younger ages, and at a lower BMI compared to non-Hispanic whites, which is the reference group that most studies meet. “When they think about diabetes, most people think about someone that’s really overweight or obese,” she said, pointing out that most Asian Americans don’t necessarily fall into that category. “In the last four or five years, there’s been a push for us to use a different classification scale to determine who is overweight and obese,” she said. “So you see increased risk, and then we’re an understudied population. All Asian-Americans, whether they’re Vietnamese, Chinese, Japanese or Pilipino, are lumped together data-wise, so that was another push for me to carefully look at a specific ethnic group.”

Nguyen realizes that her research is just scratching the surface of the problem of diabetes in Vietnamese-Americans, but she thinks she’s off to a good start. “I believe it will raise more awareness of the problem,” she said. “Through studying their risk perceptions, I’ll be able to culturally tailor interventions that are known to be effective in the general population, but make it specific so that it’s more effective in preventing or delaying diabetes.”

When she graduates in 2019, Nguyen plans on looking for a tenure-track position at a tier-one nursing institution, and to continue her diabetes research. “I can see so many ways that the research will grow and the impact that I can make on health outcomes for Asian-Americans, and potentially different ethnic groups later on,” she said.

She has high praise for her dissertation committee, which includes Drs. Lois Loescher, Barbara Brewer and her dissertation chair, Marylyn McEwen. “She is inspirational and motivational, not just because she’s a diabetes guru but because she’s also a qualitative researcher in that expertise,” Nguyen said. “I am doing a mixed method study, so Dr. McEwen had been the qualitative expert for me, Dr. Brewer has been the quantitative expert, and Dr. Loescher has been ‘risk perception’ expert.”

“As Lina’s academic advisor in the doctoral program, I have been impressed by her intellectual curiosity and commitment to contributing to a gap in the science -- promoting the health and reducing diabetes risk for adults of Vietnamese origin,” said Dr. McEwen. “It has been a pleasure mentoring this exemplary doctoral student who has demonstrated commitment to nursing education. Upon completion of the doctoral program she will be a stronger role-model and mentor for future underrepresented minority nursing students.”

The need for more nursing faculty from ethnically diverse populations is particularly acute since only 16 percent of full-time nursing faculty are from groups under-represented in the profession.  A national faculty shortage also hinders the ability to enroll qualified nursing applicants and therefore impacts the nursing shortage. Through the AACN/Johnson & Johnson program, scholarship recipients receive financial assistance to help with the completion of their doctoral or master's degree in nursing. Scholars receive $18,000 in funding support for a maximum 2 years. Recipients must establish a mentoring relationship with a seasoned faculty member and attend a leadership development program as part of AACN's annual Faculty Development Conference. Scholars also must agree to teach in a U.S. school of nursing after graduation for at least one year for every year funding was received. 

Student Spotlight: Shaju Francis

Nov. 1, 2018

Second-year Doctorate of Nursing Practice (DNP) student with Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist specialty, from Ernakulum, Kerala State, India.

Why did you decide to pursue a career in nursing?

When I moved to the US in 2010, I set a career goal to become a doctoral prepared CRNA by 2020 and nursing was a stepping stone towards that goal.

What drew you to the UA College of Nursing?

The UA DNP Anesthesia program is unique with its hybrid nature of academia and is the best fit for my life stage and ambition. The testimony by one of my friends and a senior student in the program was motivating and reassuring.

Why did you choose to pursue anesthesia in particular?

Patience, hypervigilance, and compulsive attention to detail are some of my personal attributes that I cherish and are essential for an anesthesia provider. I understand that it is quite challenging and demanding program and profession, however, as a believer of servant leadership, I take it as a call to service.

What features of your program/specialty are you especially passionate about?

Being from Arizona, it is a dream doctoral program that offers most of the clinical rotations in AZ, and I was fortunate to be one of the 11 students for the Class of 2020. Very experienced faculty, flexibility with the combination of in-class and online didactic, and the state-of-art simulation labs are the highlights.

Share your favorite memory from your time at the CON

When I was a child, I was scared of dead people and couldn’t sleep for a couple of days if I happened to see a dead body or attend a funeral. My first six weeks of learning at the CON involved cadavers in the Tucson anatomy lab, which included dissecting every muscle, organ, vessel, and nerve! The scare has been replaced with respect and a salute to those souls for the whole body donation.

What are your goals/plans for the future?

After the successful completion of the program, I would like to practice in Arizona. Advocating for this profession to bridge the shortage of anesthesia providers coupled with international health mission work is my dream. For example, India’s population (1.35 billion) is more than four times that of the United States. However, with the absence of CRNAs, the anesthesia providers in India are less than half the providers in the USA!

Do you hold any other degrees?

 I have an MBA from Symbiosis, Pune, India.

Lessons in Leadership from a Wildcat Nurse: Marla Weston, 2018 College of Nursing Alumnus of the Year

Oct. 29, 2018

For a picture-perfect portrait of Wildcat Nurse success, look to Marla Weston, who earned her Doctoral nursing degree from the University of Arizona College of Nursing in 2006. Throughout her productive career, Dr. Weston has been a transformational health care leader, a nursing advocate and a consummate Wildcat for Life. Those are just a few of the reasons why she was honored with the UA Alumni Association’s 2018 Alumna of the Year award for the College of Nursing during Homecoming.

Dr. Weston has spent nearly 20 years in executive positions with major health systems and professional organizations. She was the executive director of the Arizona Nurses Association (AzNA), where she increased membership and more than doubled revenue.

Marla Weston
Dr. Marla Weston receives her 2019 Alumna of the Year Award

Later, Dr. Weston joined the Veterans Health Administration in Washington D.C. Among her activities and achievements there, she disseminated best nursing practices nationwide and launched a program to improve nurse retention. “I was rapidly promoted to a department called Workforce Management and Consulting in a position that a nurse had never held before,” she said.

Most recently, Dr. Weston spent nearly nine years as the CEO of the American Nurses Association (ANA), one of the largest professional nursing organizations, with nearly 200,000 members. Besides spearheading membership and revenue growth, she led the ANA to refine the standards of nursing practice, expand recognition for nursing practice excellence, improve the support for professional nursing practice, and enhance the quality of care for patients.


“I feel very proud to have been a Wildcat and I feel very proud that the work I have done in partnership with my many colleagues is being ackolwledged and recognized this way." ~ Dr. Marla Weston, 2018 College of Nursing Alumna of the Year 


Most recently, Dr. Weston started her own consulting business, Weston Consulting, where she facilitates strategic planning to help associations strengthen the functioning of their boards of directors. “At this stage of my career, I’m thinking a lot about two things,” she said. “One is positioning nurses in leadership positions to influence public policy. The other is developing leadership in the next generation of nurses who already have demonstrated great leadership at the local or state level. I feel a real obligation to mentor and guide that cadre of leaders.”

Her interest in fostering leadership with a sense of community dates back to her time at the UA, when Dr. Weston and fellow doctoral students established an informal support group known as the Ducks. “We met every Saturday morning at a restaurant called the Duck and Decanter in Phoenix,” she said. “We would have coffee and help each other wherever we were stuck in our studies. It became a group that was supportive not only in our doctoral studies but all the complexities of working and being a mother and going to school at the same time.” Today, those students have become leaders in the field and have established an endowment to support future doctoral students by funding doctoral dissertations.

Marla Weston
Dr. Marla Weston at the podium during Homecoming 2018 Alumnus Awards Breakfast

Reflecting back on her time at UA Nursing, Dr. Weston notes that in addition to helping her form lifetime bonds with her fellow students, her studies gave her the opportunity to do in-depth research around topics she cared profoundly about. “I was very fortunate at the CON in that there were a lot of faculty who had deep expertise in health systems research and deep expertise in control over nursing practice and deep expertise in multi-level research, which is very complicated and very difficult. I could have studied anywhere and had one of those three, but the fact that I had all three was remarkable. There was also a lot of value placed on the fact that we need doctorally prepared nurses not only in academia but also in practice and policy.”

The UA College of Nursing is proud to recognize Dr. Weston for her important achievements in the field of nursing and celebrate her tenure as a high-achieving Wildcat Nurse. “Dr. Weston has had an exemplary career as a nurse leader and representative of the University of Arizona,” said UA College of Nursing Professor Jane Carrington, PhD, RN. “She is not just a nurse leader, she is also a leader of nurses.  As CEO of the ANA, Dr. Weston has shaped the organization and working with the ANA President, has moved the ANA forward.” 

 

Funding Unites UA College of Nursing and MHC Healthcare to Battle Arizona Opioid Crisis

Oct. 16, 2018

University of Arizona College of Nursing Clinical Associate Professor Rene Love, PhD, DNP, long has had a passion for bringing health care to rural and medically underserved communities.

Her latest funding, an $821,171 grant from the Health Resources and Service Administration (HRSA) for her Behavioral Health Workforce Education and Training (BHWET) program, takes that passion to the next level by partnering UA researchers and students with MHC Healthcare (MHC) in Marana, Ariz. The College of Nursing and MHC will pool their resources to increase the number of psychiatric mental health nurse practitioners (PMHNP) Doctor of Nursing Practice graduates prepared to meet the needs of Opioid Use Disorder (OUD), a problematic pattern of opioid use that causes significant impairment or distress.


“Until now, our students have lacked access to directed clinical experiences with opioid addiction. Once these students graduate they will be ready to provide services wherever they practice." ~ Rene Love, PhD, DNP


Considering the Pima County overdose rate in 2016 was 21.9 per 100,000 population, an urgent need exists to address the problem. The fact that overdose rates have increased 18 percent from 2010-2016, with fatal overdoses making up 13 percent of total cases handled by the medical examiner, only underscores the need for action. The partnership with MHC will enhance the battle against Arizona’s opioid crisis in several ways.

“We’re not only going to train our students but we’ve got some funding to help train more of MHC’s staff in medication-assisted treatment,” Dr. Love said. “MHC will get some funding to hire a nurse practitioner to help provide services for patients, and oversee these students and partner with us to help develop educational components for the students and faculty.”

UA College of Nursing students have been placed at MHC for several years, but until now it always has been a sporadic “one-student-at-a-time” situation. Thanks to the HRSA funding, a total of eight UA nursing students – four per year for two years – will receive their critical training in substance abuse and opioid addiction at MHC.

“The partnership with the University of Arizona College of Nursing is a very special opportunity to simultaneously achieve multiple shared aims through collaboration,” said Jon Reardon, MHC chief of clinical behavioral health, and Avni Patel Shridharani, MHC chief strategy officer, in a joint statement. “First, we will be able to offer more Medication Assisted Treatment (MAT) services for people in our community who are battling Opioid Use Disorder. 

“These grants targeted opioid use disorder high-needs communities, including Pima County,” the statement continues. “What makes the project unique is that MHC Healthcare will be able to offer medication assisted treatment services within our whole-person model of compassionate, high-quality care that includes medical, behavioral health, lab, pharmacy, physical therapy and dental services.

“We believe that this ‘one-stop-shop’ approach will ensure that patients have the best chance of a meaningful recovery. Second, the program will enable MHC to serve as a training site for UA DNP psychiatric mental nurse practitioner (PMHNP) students.  The PMHNP students will serve patients alongside teaching faculty at MHC in an integrated team-based model that will prepare them for today’s health-care delivery model upon graduation. Lastly, MHC hopes to meet its own future clinical staffing needs by being able to recruit graduates of the program to become primary care providers at MHC Healthcare.”

Dr. Love’s project has three goals: To improve access to care in rural and medically underserved communities in Arizona through new and enhanced partnerships that integrate primary and behavioral health care to educate psychiatric mental nurse practitioner students in opioid and substance abuse treatment during their clinical training; to improve behavioral health treatment techniques through education and clinical training with new partnerships; and to increase the number of psychiatric mental nurse practitioner graduates trained in opioid and substance abuse treatment by providing behavioral health workforce education and training to students who will practice in rural, border and medically unserved communities.

Dr. Love said the impact of the training will have swift and far-reaching effects. “Until now, our students have lacked access to directed clinical experiences with opioid addiction,” she said. “Once these students graduate they will be ready to provide services wherever they practice. This also impacts patient care for the community because MHC will be able to train more of its staff from the grant funding we’ve secured. Our students receive training and more patients will have access to these services in the Tucson area.”