Nevada RNformation - September 2021

September 2021 • Volume 30 • Number 4 

www.nvnurses.org 

Nevada 

RNFORMATION 

Inside 

articles 

3 From the Editor - In honor of 

Veteran’s Day 

5 Reflections and Lessons Learned 

from the COVID-19 Pandemic 

6 Using Holistic Modalities in the 

Hospital? You Bet! 

10 MINDBODYSTRONG 

12 A Resource to Remember! 

13 NVNSA: Up and Coming 

14 UNLV Nurse Camp Returns to 

Impacting Future Healthcare 

Heroes 

regular features 

4 Research & EBP Corner 

5 Nurses in the News 

8 NNA’s Current and New Members 

10 NNA Membership Application 

11 Antimicrobial Stewardship - 

Infection Prevention 

16 Nevada Nurses Foundation 

THE OFFICIAL PUBLICATION OF THE NEVADA NURSES ASSOCIATION 

The Nevada Nurses Association is a constituent member of the American Nurses Association 

Quarterly publication direct mailed to approximately 1,000 RNs and LPNs and 

delivered electronically via email to 40,000 RNs and LPNs in Nevada 

The President’s Message 

COVID-19 Vaccine Misinformation 

Mary Bondmass, Ph.D., RN, CNE, President, 

Nevada Nurses Association 

Mary.bondmass@unlv.edu 

Dear Colleagues, 

As of the writing of this message, Nevada has 

finally reached the 50% milestone for COVID-19 fully 

vaccinated persons (50.99% of eligible Nevadans, i.e., 

those 12 years of age and older, are reported to be 

fully vaccinated as of August 26, 2021) 1 . While this is 

a milestone for NV, this is still a low rate. Moreover, 

despite a mask mandate in effect, the risk level for 

COVID-19 infection is ‘high’ in all but three counties 

across our state. 

Multiple factors have been reported for Nevada’s 

slow pace of vaccination compliance; key among 

these factors is the plethora of misinformation 

about the safety of the available vaccines. Thanks 

to misinformation on the Internet, many laypersons, 

and even some healthcare professionals, viewed the 

available COVID-19 vaccines as experimental without 

proven efficacy and safety; therefore, they have not 

received a vaccine. This misinformation was primarily 

related to the Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) 

designation by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration 

(FDA) versus a full and final FDA approval. Some 

viewed the EUA designation somehow to mean still 

experimental and therefore questionable and unsafe. 

This perception of the available U.S. COVID-19 

vaccines as experimental and unsafe is just not 

factual. According to the FDA, “The Emergency Use 

Authorization authority allows FDA to help strengthen 

the nation’s public health protections against chemical, 

biological, radiological, and nuclear (CBRN) threats 

including infectious diseases, by facilitating the 

availability and use of medical countermeasures needed 

during public health emergencies”. 2 

Furthermore, on August 23, 2021, the FDA fully 

approved the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine for the 

prevention of COVID-19 disease for individuals 16 years 

of age and older. 3 The vaccine 

also continues to be available 

under EUA for individuals 12 

through 15 years of age and 

for administering a third dose 

in certain immunocompromised 

individuals (and most others 

beginning in September 2021). 

As posted on the FDA website: 

“The FDA’s approval of this 

vaccine is a milestone as 

we continue to battle the 

COVID-19 pandemic. While this and other vaccines 

have met the FDA’s rigorous, scientific standards 

for emergency use authorization, as the first FDAapproved 

COVID-19 vaccine, the public can be very 

confident that this vaccine meets the high standards 

for safety, effectiveness, and manufacturing quality 

the FDA requires of an approved product,” said 

Acting FDA Commissioner Janet Woodcock, M.D. 

“While millions of people have already safely 

received COVID-19 vaccines, we recognize that for 

some, the FDA approval of a vaccine may now instill 

additional confidence to get vaccinated. Today’s 

milestone puts us one step closer to altering the 

course of this pandemic in the U.S.” 3 

Nurses have been on the frontlines since the start 

of the pandemic, and we continue to be so with each 

unfortunate wave of this deadly and ever-mutating 

virus. While nurses probably can’t do anything about 

the misinformation about the actual existence of the 

COVID pandemic, even as we see it daily in patients 

filling up our Nevada hospitals, we can do something 

about the misinformation about the vaccines, especially 

armed with the full FDA approval of the Pfizer- 

BioNTech vaccine. 

The President’s Message continued on page 2 

current resident or 

Presort Standard 

US Postage 

PAID 

Permit #14 

Princeton, MN 

55371 

Mark Your Calendars 

November 6th - Annual NNA Membership Meeting 

(via Zoom) 

• All NNA members are invited! 

November 11th Veteran’s Day

Page 2 • Nevada RNformation September, October, November 2021 

NNA Mission Statement 

The Nevada Nurses Association promotes professional nursing practice through 

continuing education, community service, nursing leadership, and legislative 

activities to advocate for improved health and high quality health care for citizens of 

Nevada. 

NNA State Board of Directors 

Mary D. Bondmass, PhD, RN, CNE Mary.bondmass@unlv.edu ..............President 

Nicki Aaker, MSN, MPH, RN, CNOR, PHCNS-BC naaker@aol.com .......Vice President 

Glenn Hagerstrom, PhD, APRN, FNP-BC, CNE ghagersrom@unr.edu .........Treasurer 

Arvin Operario ...........................................Director at Large 

Christa Secord, MSN, FNP-BC cjsecord@gmail.com ................Director at Large 

Norman Wright, RN, BSN, MS info@f441.com ...................Director at Large 

Margaret Covelli, DPN, RN Margaret.covelli@umcsn.com ..........President, District 3 

Editorial Board 

Managing Editor, Linda Bowman, RN, lbowman@nvnurses.org 

Mary D. Bondmass, PhD, RN, CNE 

Tracey Long PhD, APRN-BC 

Lisa Pacheco, MSN, RN 

Bernadette Longo, PhD, RN, FAAN 

Vicki Walker DNP, BS RN 

The President’s Message continued from page 1 

First in the fight against misinformation is within each of us, and that is to be 

knowledgeable about the facts and any current updates related to the available 

vaccines in the U.S. If we utilize our official government websites (both federal and 

state), versus Facebook or other non-official websites, we have the best chance 

of obtaining accurate information on issues. I have found the CDC website 4 and 

official NV state website 5 to be very helpful for all things related to COVID. Although 

these websites are massive, you will find it easy to use their search functions to find 

exactly what you want. You can also set up alerts for your phone or email regarding 

new information. 

Second, we can lead by our example. We all know that nurses are the most 

trusted and ethical of all professions, and generally, our patients respect us and 

listen to what we tell them. If we encourage the vaccine for our patients, families, 

and friends, we might make a difference in dispelling some existing misinformation. 

Some will still refuse to get vaccinated, for whatever reason, no matter what we say 

or do, but others may be open to being influenced by the facts that we give. 

While I remain positive on nurses’ effort during the pandemic, it is disheartening 

to hear antidotal accounts that many nurses are still not vaccinated; however, the 

facts on nurse vaccination rates are not available, and with the formal FDA approval 

and some hospitals now mandating vaccines, if some nurses have been slow to get 

vaccinated, this will hopefully change. I would refer you to the article written in 

this RNFormation issue by my colleague and NNA Board member, Norman Wright. 

Norm surveyed Nevada nurses related to the vaccine. Over 500 nurses responded, 

and Norm reports on the interesting results in his article titled, The Greatest Medical 

Experiment Ever Done 

Lastly, if you are the ‘choir’ reading this and you already have the facts and 

accurately disseminate COVID-19 vaccine facts, I thank and appreciate you; please 

keep up the fight; Nevada and the rest of the country are counting on you. 

Best regards to all, 

Are you interested in submitting an article for publication in RNFormation? 

Please send it in a Word document to us at lbowman@nvnurses.org. Our 

Editorial Board will review the article and notify you whether it has been 

accepted for publication. 

If you wish to contact the author of an article published in RNFormation, 

please email us and we will be happy to forward your comments. 

www.nvnurses.org 

Mary Bondmass, Ph.D., RN, CNE 

President, Nevada Nurses Association 

References for Facts and Fact-Checking: 

1 https://nvhealthresponse.nv.gov/#covid-data-tracker 

2 https://www.fda.gov/emergency-preparedness-and-response/mcm-legal-regulatoryand-policy-framework/emergency-use-authorization#:~:text=The%20Emergency%20 

Use%20Authorization%20%28EUA%29%20authority%20allows%20 

FDA,medical%20countermeasures%20%28MCMs%29%20needed%20during%20 

public%20health%20emergencies 

3 https://www.fda.gov/news-events/press-announcements/fda-approves-first-covid-19- 

vaccine 

4 https://www.cdc.gov/ 

5 https://nvhealthresponse.nv.gov/ 

Published by: 

Arthur L. Davis 

Publishing Agency, Inc. 

Source: 

https://nvhealthresponse.nv.gov/current-status-mitigation-measures/

September, October, November 2021 Nevada RNformation • Page 3 

From the Editor – In honor of Veteran’s Day 

Linda Bowman, RN 

Editor, RNF 

Veterans Day is a time to pay our respects to those 

who have served. For one day, we stand united in 

respect for you, our veterans. The holiday began 

as a day to reflect upon the heroism of those who 

died in our country's service and was initially called 

Armistice Day. It fell on November 11 because that is 

the anniversary of the signing of the Armistice that 

ended World War I. However, in 1954, the holiday was 

changed to "Veterans Day" to account for all veterans 

in all wars. 

In honor of Veteran’s Day, I have included the 

following excerpts from my aunt, who served in the 

Navy as a nurse during WWII. She gave me this letter 

after I graduated from nursing school in 1996. She was 

born and raised in Nevada. I’ve also included some of 

her experiences in the early days of nursing. (I’ve edited 

some content for clarity for the reader.) Excerpts from 

Marion Kathryn Werner Challenger (1914-1999) 

February 15, 1933 “I 

entered nursing school at St. 

Francis Hospital School of 

Nursing in San Francisco. Our 

day started at 6 am – get up, 

make the bed and leave the 

room ready for inspection. 

Breakfast at 7, after we had 

passed the uniform inspection. 

Class at 8 am till 11 am and 

then go to our rooms. Change 

clothes and go out to the 

tennis court for about 45 

minutes. The outside time was 

called sunshine. We had to sign in and out. This was 

supposed to be a health measure as several previous 

students had contracted tuberculosis. After 28 months 

of grueling difficult work, long hours of classes, and 

hard work, I graduated. I was given my cap.” 

September 1935 “I entered postgraduate school 

of nursing at San Francisco General Hospital where I 

specialized in communicable disease and obstetrical 

outpatient nursing. In the OBS outpatient ward, we 

helped with home deliveries. The depression was still 

evident, and S.F. had been in the throes of a general 

strike, and most of our patients were in need of 

charitable help (no welfare or Medi-Cal in those days.) 

We went all over the S.F area – if the patient was in 

labor, an intern and student would go to the home for 

the delivery. Any mother who had previous successful 

deliveries was expected to have this baby at home. 

When the time came, she called the hospital, and an 

intern and student nurse went to the home. After the 

delivery, the student nurse returned to check on the 

baby and mother. Our patients usually did very well, 

but at any sign of a problem, we would send them to 

the hospital by ambulance. We traveled by streetcar 

with our suitcases. 

and I had a job waiting with the State of Nevada as a 

Public Health Nurse. However, WWII came along, and 

Nevada wanted me to come to work immediately. They 

needed me. The US gov’t was starting a magnesium 

plant near Las Vegas, NV, (now Henderson) and 

required the state to have adequate health facilities 

and supervision for the thousands of workers that were 

coming to Clark Co. So I went.” 

1942 “The Nevada State Dept of Health decided 

to send me to Humboldt Co, NV as the Public Health 

Nurse. We conducted immunization clinics, wellbaby 

clinics, and home health care classes. Since gas 

rationing was in effect, I would go to the outlying 

schools and stay overnight with a ranch family. It was 

lonesome, and I felt the need for more professional 

support, so I left Humboldt Co. to enter the Navy Nurse 

Corps.” 

May 1943 “I entered the Navy Nurse Corps at US 

Naval Hospital Mare Island, California. Navy Nursing was 

quite a challenge as I had three wards of 50 patients, each 

awaiting discharge because of psychological problems. 

During this time, I was assigned with three other nurses to 

travel by train to St. Elizabeth Mental Hospital, Washington, 

DC. We went on the 2nd 

section of the Overland 

Limited. When we got to 

Winnemucca, the school band 

was out to salute us. They 

even held the train up for 10 

minutes so the kids could play. 

It was seven days and nights 

by train.” 

July 1944 “I was sent to 

U.S. Naval Hospital Oahu 

territory (Pearl Harbor) 

Hawaii. A permanent 

hospital with many 

temporary buildings. 

Capacity was 2,000- 

7,000. My first patients 

had malaria, which they 

Marion Werner, 

Registered Nurse, 

USN 

got while on Guadalcanal. The longest day in my 

naval career occurred when the Chief of Staff came 

down and said that we had to transfer our patients to 

another ward and to expect a draft of patients from 

the front (this meant Tarawa – an atoll and the capital 

of the Republic of Kiribati in the central Pacific Ocean). 

We were to make all the beds into bunk beds. There 

were about 40 beds to start with, and we had to strip 

them and remake the beds. Also had to make the top 

bunk bed. When the patients came about noon, we 

had to get them clean clothes, give them a shower, 

take all the personal information, and see that they had 

clean dressings since they all had soft tissue wounds. 

We had to get food for them too. Finally, we were 

about finished at 8 pm when the fire trucks arrived 

outside on the ramp. Seems it was on fire. We had no 

idea how it started but guessed someone had dropped 

a cigarette. What a day! 

I was head nurse and transferred to the burn ward. 

Many very badly burned men – Navy and Marines – 

were my patients. We got patients from the battle on 

Iwo Jima and from our naval ships that had been hit 

by Japanese Kamikaze pilots. There were about 50 

patients on the ward. Most came in with burned hands 

as well as burns and wounds elsewhere. These patients 

had such great morale because they thought they 

might be transferred to the states. And we also had 

ice cream (a real treat in the tropics). It was a privilege 

to take care of them as they were so cooperative and 

didn't complain about anything. They were terrifically 

brave men, and I admire everyone as they endured a 

great deal of suffering. These were the days before 

Penicillin and many wonder drugs. I was on duty when 

VJ Day came, and peace was declared. What a great 

sight to see all the ships in the harbor with their lights 

on and pointed up in the sky. I was one of our nurses 

chosen to march in the VJ Day parade in Honolulu." 

September 1945 “I was ordered to Bethesda Naval 

Hospital to work on Tower 14 – wounded officers. I 

took care of Cordell Hull, Secretary of State. (He was 

longest-serving U.S. Secretary of State 1871-1955). I 

met my husband there. I stayed till September 1946, 

when I requested retirement to Inactive U.S. Naval 

Reserve. I retired as a Lt. Senior grade. I hated to leave 

the Navy, but they would not permit nurses to remain if 

they were married.” 

Marion and her husband Harold Challenger (retired 

Rear Admiral) lived the rest of their lives in Palo Alto, 

California. 

1938 “I went to Reno and worked at the Washoe 

General Hospital as a surgical nurse. Had little 

experience in this and some of the doctors were very 

temperamental.” 

1940 “I was enrolled at U.C.L.A. in the public health 

nursing course. This was to be an 18-month course,


Research & EBP Corner 

Overcoming Nursing Barriers to Caring for Patients with 

Serious Mental Illness 

Submitted by 

Mary Bondmass, Ph.D., RN, CNE 

This RNF feature presents abstracts of research and 

evidence-based practice (EBP) projects completed or 

spear-headed by nurses or student nurses in Nevada. 

The focus is on new evidence (i.e., research) or the 

translation of evidence (i.e., EBP) in Practice, Education, 

or Research. Submissions are welcome and will be 

reviewed by the RNF editorial board for publication; 

send your abstract submission in a similar format used 

below to mary.bondmass@unlv.edu 

Erin A. Pate, RN, MSN, 

CCRN, received a BSN at 

California State University, 

Stanislaus, an MSN in 

Leadership and Administration 

from Ball State University. 

She is expected to complete 

her DNP at the University of 

Nevada, Reno, in December of 

2021. Erin started her career 

as a critical care nurse in 2012. 

She is a veteran and continues 

to serve in the United States Air Force; her current 

position is Chief, Extended Care Mental Health Nursing 

Service at the VA Sierra Nevada Healthcare Systems, in 

Reno, NV. In addition to her distinguished career, Erin is 

a wife and a mom of two beautiful daughters. 

Erin’s DNP project is described in the abstract below. 

Erin A. Pate, RN, MSN, CCRN 

Background: Mental illness will likely impact most 

individuals, with 20% of all people experiencing 

some form of mental illness in their lifetime and 4% 

being diagnosed with serious mental illness (SMI). 

With the prevalence of mental illness, nurses need to 

feel comfortable and competent in providing care to 

this population. Unfortunately, research reflects that 

nursing attitudes are in line with societies, such that 

many nurses agree there should be social restrictions 

and distance requirements (i.e., marriage, work, living 

location, etc.) on individuals with mental illness. 

Many nurses carry bias into the patient-care provider 

relationship when a psychiatric diagnosis is involved. 

When a patient has a mental health diagnosis, their 

medical conditions are up to 20% less likely to be 

correctly identified by nursing staff. The bias affects 

the identification of needs and where and how this 

population should be cared for, with 67% of nonpsychiatric 

nurses believing patients with mental illness 

should be separated from those without mental illness. 

Previous research has identified many barriers to 

non-bias care of patients with SMI by non-psychiatric 

nurses. For example, nurses identified a lack of 

knowledge related to mental health as one of the most 

significant barriers to effectively caring for patients 

requiring intervention for behavioral concerns. 

Purpose/Methods: This project aimed to explore 

barriers that mental health and non-mental nurses 

identify in providing care for patients with SMI 

diagnosis in acute and subacute settings. To this end, 

the following questions were addressed in this project. 

1. What are the barriers for a nurse in providing 

care for patients with an SMI diagnosis in the 

acute and subacute setting? 

2. Do Psychiatric and Non-Psychiatric Nurses 

experience different barriers to providing care 

for SMI patients? 

3. What interventions can be implemented to 

overcome the barriers to caring for a patient 

with an SMI diagnosis? 

4. How does an organization operationalize these 

interventions in a usable and cost-effective 

manner? 

A pre-post interventional design was utilized for this 

project. Three theoretical frameworks underpinned 

the project, including Leininger’s Cultural Care Theory, 

Spradley’s Change Model, and Benner’s Novice to 

Expert. The target population and setting respectively, 

included nurses with and without psychiatric training 

working in multiple practice areas at a major medical 

center. A previously validated instrument, the 

Behavioral Health Care Competency (BHCC), was 

used to collect data on the barriers to care. Based on 

an identified knowledge gap in the pre-interventional 

BHCC surveys, an intervention of an educational toolkit 

was developed and implemented. After that, a postintervention 

BHCC survey was conducted and data 

were analyzed to assess for change. 

Results: Post-intervention, the respondents showed 

an increased perception of their ability to provide care 

for patients with SMI in all practice areas. Statistically 

significant increases (p = < 0.05) were seen in four 

questions on the BHCC, and improvement, although 

not statically significant, was demonstrated across 

all other competency categories on the BHCC. Not 

surprisingly, those who self-identified specifically as 

mental healthcare unit (MHU) nurses scored higher on 

the BHCC pre-intervention survey. 

Conclusion: Based on the pre-post change 

demonstrated in this project, it was concluded that the 

developed tool kit improved this sample’s knowledge 

and perception in their abilities to assess patients for 

potential psychiatric problems, effectively manage 

conflicts triggered by patients who have a mental 

illness, effectively intervene with a hallucinating 

patient, and use de-escalation techniques and crisis 

communication to avert aggressive behaviors. 

The small sample size limited this project, and future 

work to validate similar findings is recommended to 

determine if results may be generalized to other staff 

and facilities. 

Abbreviated References: 

Bird, P. (2018). Generalist nurses caring for patients with 

mental illness in a non-psychiatric setting. [Doctoral 

Dissertation, The University of North Carolina at Chapel 

Hill]. https://doi.org/10.17615/5daq-dc80 

Burson, R., & Moran, K. (2020). Creating and developing 

the project plan. In K. Moran, R. Burson, & D. Conrad 

(Eds.), The doctor of nursing practice project: A 

framework of success (pp. 223-252). Burlington, MA: 

Jones & Bartlett Learning. 

Cecil-Riddle, K. (2014). Nurses’ Knowledge and Perceptions of 

Rapid Response Teams in a Psychiatric Facility (Doctoral 

dissertation, Walden University). https://search-ebscohostcom.unr.idm.oclc.org/login.aspx?direct=true&db=ccm&AN 

=109774669&site=ehost-live&scope=site 

Chaghari, M., Saffari, M., Ebadi, A., & Ameryoun, A. 

(2017). Empowering education: A new model for inservice 

training of nursing staff. Journal of Advances in 

Medical Education & Professionalism, 5(1), 26-32. 

de Jacq, K., Norful, A. A. & Larson, E. (2016). The variability 

of nursing attitudes toward mental illness: An integrative 

review. Archives of Psychiatric Nursing, 30(6), 788-796. 

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apnu.2016.07.004 

Department of Veteran Affairs. (2019). VA research on 

mental health. Office of Research and Development. 

https://www.research.va.gov/topics/mental_health.cfm 

Hoge, C. W., Grossman, S. H., Auchterlonie, J. L., Riviere, L. 

A., Milliken, C. S., & Wilk, J. E. (2014). PTSD treatment 

for soldiers after combat deployment: Low utilization 

of mental health care and reasons for dropout. 

Psychiatric Services, 65(8), 997-1004. https://doi. 

org/10.1176/appi.ps.201300307 

Horntvedt, M. E., Nordsteien, A., Fermann, T., & 

Severinsson, E. (2018). Strategies for teaching 

evidence-based practice in nursing education: A 

thematic literature review. BMC Medical Education, 18. 

https://doi.org/10.1186/s12909-018-1278-z 

King, B. M., Linette, D., Donohue-Smith, M., & Wolf, Z. R. 

(2019). Relationship between perceived nurse caring 

and patient satisfaction in patients in a psychiatric 

acute care setting. Journal of Psychological Nursing 

and Mental Health Services, 57(7), 29-38. https://doiorg.unr.idm.oclc.org/10.3928/02793695-20190225-01 

McDonald, D. D., Frakes, M., Apostolidis, B., Armstrong, 

B., Goldblatt, S., & Bernardo, D. (2003). Effect of 

a psychiatric diagnosis on nursing care for nonpsychiatric 

problems. Research in Nursing & Health, 26, 

225-232. doi: https://doi.org/10.1002/nur.10080 

National Alliance on Mental Illness. (2020). Understanding 

your diagnosis. National Alliance on Mental Illness. 

https://www.nami.org/Your-Journey/Individuals-with- 

Mental-Illness/Understanding-Your-Diagnosis 

National Association of State Mental Health Program 

Directors. (2017). Trend in psychiatric inpatient capacity, 

United States and each state, 1970-2014. National 

Association of State Mental Health Program Directors. 

https://www.nri-inc.org/media/1319/tac-paper-10- 

psychiatric-inpatient-capacity-final-09-05-2017.pdf 

Nursing Theory. (2011). From Novice to Expert. Current 

Nursing. http://currentnursing.com/nursing_theory/ 

Patricia_Benner_From_Novice_to_Expert.html 

Nursing Theory. (2016). Cultural Care Theory. Nursing 

Theory. https://nursing-theory.org/theories-andmodels/leininger-culture-care-theory.php 

Parant, R. L., Pingitore, F. R. B., & LaRose, J. A. (2014). An 

educational program to promote competency in 

pediatric psychiatric mental health nursing. The Journal 

of Continuing Education in Nursing, 45(7), 321-326. 

doi:10.3928/00220124-20140620-01 

Occupational Safety and Health Administration. (2018). 

Workplace violence in healthcare: Understanding the 

challenge. United States Department of Labor. https:// 

www.osha.gov/Publications/OSHA3826.pdf 

Rutledge, D. N., Wickman, M., Drake, D., Winokur, E., 

& Loucks, J. (2012). Instrument validation: Hospital 

nurse perceptions of their behavioral health care 

competency. Journal of Advanced Nursing, 68(12), 

2756-2765. doi: 10.1111/j.1365-2648.2012.06025.x 

Rutledge, D. N., Wickman, M., Cacciata, M., Winokur, E. 

J., Loucks, J., & Drake, D. (2013). Hospital staff nurse 

perceptions of competency to care for patients with 

psychiatric or behavioral health concerns. Journal for 

Nurses in Professional Development, 29(5), 255-262. 

doi: 10.1097/01.NND.0000433150.18384.1c 

Spradley, B. W. (1980). Managing change creatively. Journal 

of Nursing Administration, 10, 32-37. https://oce-ovidcom.unr.idm.oclc.org/searchResults?q=0002-0443. 

is%20and%20%2210%22.vo%20and%20%225%22. 

ip%20and%20%2232%22.pg&req=HTML 

Weare, R., Green, C., Olasoji, M., & Plummer, V. (2019). ICU 

nurses feel unprepared to care for patients with mental 

illness: A survey of nurses’ attitudes, knowledge, and 

skills. Intensive and Critical Care Nursing, 53, 37-42. 

https:// doi.org/10.1016/j.iccn.2019.03.001


Nurses in the News 

From the Bottom to Barbies 

By Tracey Long PhD, APRN-BC, CCRN 

“It’s like a war zone,” said 

a patient care coordinator 

in an emergency room in 

Alabama August 2021, who 

pointed to the crush of anxious 

people sprawled in the halls 

of an already full emergency 

department. Nevada has 

joined the new surge of COVID 

positive patients with a total 

379K new cases due to the 

new delta variant of the virus 

with most cases in Clark County reporting 297,000. 

The daily average is 1,013 interestingly like the peak 

last August 2020. For a daily report go to https:// 

nvhealthresponse.nv.gov/. The latest hospital challenges 

however aren’t from a larger number of Covid cases, 

but rather from nurses leaving bedside nursing after 

the challenging past 18 months during the worldwide 

pandemic. “Nurses are tired, overburdened, and they 

feel like forgotten soldiers” said Lee Bond, a Chief 

Executive of a rural hospital in Alabama echoing the 

sentiment of nurse administrators across the nation. 

The New York Times reported one in five ICUs are 

at least 95% capacity creating a bottleneck of sick 

patients. “When hospitals are understaffed, people 

die,” stated Patricia Pittman, director of the Health 

Workforce Research Center at George Washington 

University. Hospital beds are full of sicker patient and 

hospital nurses are overburdened and tired. A simple 

web search for nurses in the news reveals dozens and 

dozens of articles about exhausted nurses reaching 

their breaking point. Nurses continue to get national 

attention in the news, but it doesn’t make the work of 

serving sicker patients with fewer supplies any easier. 

The already existing nursing shortage has deepened. 

In 2019 there was an estimated three million nurses in 

the United States, but one third of those were born 

during the baby boom years meaning 640,000 of those 

will be retiring soon leaving a wider nursing shortage. 

In 2020 Nevada had over 22,000 nurses yet that was 

still less what was needed. Nurses are being recruited 

to Nevada. Nevada’s nurses earn 10% more than the 

national average of nurses, which is approximately 

$88,380 per year or $42/hour as of May 2020. The 

average annual salary for RNs in Las Vegas is $92,720/ 

year compared to RNs in Reno, NV who earn $80,310/ 

year. 

Travel nurse recruiters are enjoying lucrative results 

as they can offer higher wages and sign-on bonuses 

for nurses ready to leave their existing hospital jobs 

to respond to areas with higher need. Whereas a 

general floor nurse can make $42/hour, experienced 

emergency nurses are being offered $140/hour. The 

number of new graduate nurses doesn’t come close 

to filling the need as they’re inexperienced and can’t 

be used in the critical care units yet. There is also a 

shortage of qualified nursing instructors, which limits 

the number of nursing students a school can have 

based on the state board’s reasonable requirement 

of one instructor per eight students during a clinical 

rotation. 

Coming up with viable solutions to these challenges 

are testing the creative minds of hospital administrators 

and nurses, but the proposed answers so far are 

unpleasant, which includes rationing nursing care and 

supplies and lowering the standard of care just to keep 

the hospital doors open in an already strained system. 

The Delta surge has revealed an ugly truth-that COVID 

isn’t going away. Despite the rise in COVID cases, the 

public still has low percentages of vaccination and are 

still not wearing masks. 

Nurses can cling to hope and healing with the 

following strategies in their control: 

• Take oxygen breaks away from your mask during 

your shift in private areas to breathe. 

• Do something energizing that feeds your soul 

and personal dreams on your days off. 

• Keep perspective on the good work you’re 

doing even with suffering and death around 

you. 

• Control your own thoughts and emotions 

proactively rather than just responding to 

depressing news reports. 

• Guard your own health with adequate 

hydration, nutrition, and sleep. 

• Be kind and supportive of your nursing 

colleagues and healthcare workers as we’re all in 

this together. 

• Consider joining a free MINDBODYSTRONG 

program (see other article in this issue). 

One favorable result of COVID-19 has been the 

publicity and popularity of nurses worldwide. One 

special nurse received a surprise compliment when 

she was notified by the toy maker Mattel that she was 

chosen to be the model for one of six new new Barbie 

dolls in honor of female individuals leading the fight 

against the pandemic in the United States. 

Amy Sullivan treated the first COVID-19 patient in 

Brooklyn, New York and still returned to work after 

she became ill herself before the world knew how to 

protect against the virus. The “Thank You Heroes” 

program by Mattel also is making barbies in the 

likeness of other healthcare professionals including 

Dr. Audrey Sue Cruz, an Asian-American physician 

who helped fight racial bias; Professor Sarah Gilbert, 

who helped develop the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine, 

Dr. Jaqueline Goes de Jesus, who led the genome 

sequencing of Brazil’s COVID-19 variant; and Dr. Kirby 

White, who developed a doctor’s gown that could be 

laundered and reused. 

Time magazine also named nurse Amy Sullivan one 

of the 100 influential people in America as the first 

frontline COVID-19 workers. The nurse’s unique arms 

and neck tattoos have been meticulously duplicated on 

the Barbie doll along with her characteristic flamingo 

bandana and flower socks. Amy is amazed and 

honored and hopes the message of her unique look 

inspires others to know it’s ok to look different and still 

be a compassionate and competent nurse. 

Reflections and Lessons 

Learned from the 

COVID-19 Pandemic 

Susan S. VanBeuge, 

DNP, APRN, FNP-BC, FAANP 

Looking back to early 2020, 

hindsight is just that – 2020. 

I recall those early reports in 

January 2020 about a serious 

virus, but it was far away and 

didn’t register on my radar. 

These reports happen in our 

everyday life, a natural disaster 

that catches our eye but, in the 

end, doesn't have a significant 

impact on our daily activity. For 

me, COVID-19 was a bit like 

this – far away, but not likely to make an impact on my 

daily routine or practice. 

Fast forward 18 months, and this reflection takes on a 

different patina. As nurses, we have learned a lot about 

our profession. We are resilient, talented, innovative, 

professional, and never give up. As demonstrated by 

Gallup, nursing is the most trusted profession year 

after year, with 2021 being no different. In addition, 

for the 19th consecutive year, nursing has been ranked 

the most honest and ethical profession (Gallup, 2020). 

Having the designation of the most trusted is a source of 

pride and comes with a responsibility to our community 

of patients. This responsibility can be heavy at times, 

and COVID-19 has tested this to the maximum! Long 

work hours, extra shifts, increased patient loads, grief, 

and working through many unknowns created an 

environment of constant flux and uncertainty. 

As nurses, what have we learned through all of 

this? In a broad sense, I believe we've learned that 

we are an amazing group of professionals who, when 

called upon, can get the job done. As noted, we can 

be the innovators to find the best ways from triage to 

complex patient care adapting to situations we would 

have never dreamed of. From hospitals to outpatient to 

home health, we found ways to adapt and overcome 

the basics of patient assessment and care to deliver the 

vital role of a professional nurse. 

Looking at the big picture, I see many lessons learned 

that continue to evolve. First, the bigger picture is that we 

need never forget that we need each other. As a team, 

we work better together than fragmented. We all bring 

the knowledge and talent from our particular practice 

areas to make a collective of information to get the job 

done. Second, stop and take a moment to be present. 

Be in the moment and take inventory of our daily work, 

impacting patients and our communities as nurses. Third, 

be kind to yourself. This pandemic has been the long haul 

of all long hauls! Who didn't think that when COVID-19 

became a word in our vocabulary in March 2020 that 

"it would be over in a month or so" and not to 'sweat 

it'? That was me, for sure. The pandemic evolved into a 

marathon, not the expected sprint. Thus, we all need to 

employ the adaptive skills learned to pace and be in it for 

the long haul. It is okay to take time off, enjoy yourself, 

hold still and savor the moments of peace. It is also crucial 

that we support each other with kindness, empathy, and 

uplift as we navigate our journeys. 

Our world of professional nursing will not be the 

same again post-pandemic. And would we want to go 

back? The lessons learned in our clinical practice have 

been exponential and will be valuable forever. In our 

caring for others, we must also remember to care for the 

caregiver: ourselves. If nothing else, be kind to yourself. 

References: 

Gallup, 2020. Downloaded from https://news.gallup.com/ 

poll/328136/ethics-ratings-rise-medical-workersteachers.aspx 

The Carson City School District is looking 

for knowledgeable, caring nurses who 

are self-starters and enjoy working with 

school-aged children. 

Great benefits and excellent schedule. 

Northern Nevada is a wonderful place 

to live, within a short driving distance of 

Lake Tahoe, San Francisco, Napa Valley, 

and Yosemite. 

Apply online: 

www.carsoncityschools.com


Using Holistic Modalities in the Hospital? You Bet! 

by Deborah McKinney and 

Michelle McGrorey 

In 2010, the use of holistic 

modalities in healthcare 

elicited nothing but eye-rolling, 

smirks, condescension, and 

the question, "What the heck 

is that?" How can the use of 

"energy," nice fragrances, or 

breathing help people feel 

better? Frankly, holistic modalities were thought of 

as hokey, woo-woo, or coming from some religious 

practice. They all seemed silly and were without 

credible, rigorous research. 

Fast forward to present day, 2021: Research on 

holistic modalities has increased exponentially over the 

last 10 years. Why? Because it was becoming apparent 

that many of the modalities had proven to be clinically 

effective — and not as a placebo. People and patients 

who regularly used holistic modalities were showing 

faster healing times, shorter hospital lengths of stay, 

an increase in wellbeing, reduction in depression, 

pain, anxiety, stress, tension, nausea, and vomiting, 

lower blood pressure, preservation of cardiac function, 

changes in blood chemistry results, and better overall 

health. (The list could go on!) The demonstration of the 

effectiveness of these modalities, along with trying to 

understand why they work, has been at the forefront 

of ongoing research. 

Because of the work that we were doing with our 

oncology patients at University Medical Center of 

Southern Nevada, our Chief Nursing Officer (with 

knowledge of Healing Touch herself) asked us to start 

a hospital-wide integrative therapies program that 

included both patients and staff. As a result, we were 

both given full-time positions as integrative therapy 

nurses, and our “Tranquility at UMC" program was 

born. In building this new program, we were given 

two stipulations. First, each modality we incorporated 

into our program had to have clinical research 

demonstrating its effectiveness. Second, the modality 

had to be evidence-based; it had to show effectiveness 

for the population on whom it was used. 

We began by going to every single unit in our 

hospital and completing Healing Touch on patients 

with every diagnosis and condition common to the 

hospital setting. From our NICU babies to our pediatric 

patients, to cardiology, med-surg, oncology, trauma, 

burn, ICU, and labor and delivery patients — everyone 

benefited from Healing Touch. The effects that it had 

on them were really quite amazing! 

In order to determine if what we were doing had 

any merit at all, we kept data on the effects that 

Healing Touch had on patients’ pain, anxiety, nausea, 

tension, and stress. Using a simple 0 – 10 Likert scale, 

patients rated the severity of each symptom before 

versus after each Healing Touch session. What we 

found was surprising. Data collected from 157 patients 

demonstrated, on average, a 60% reduction in pain, an 

83% reduction in stress and tension, an 80% reduction 

in anxiety, and a 90% reduction in nausea. These 

reductions are clearly outside the realm of the placebo 

effect. Arguably, this is a low level of research; it does 

suggest the need for more study. However, it was 

clear that patients felt a significant reduction in their 

experience of adverse symptoms, and this reduction 

came about through the use of a holistic modality. 

Needless to say, we felt that we had justified the use of 

Healing Touch, and, as time went on, that justification 

would be borne out more and more. 

After exhaustive research on the use of essential 

oils, aromatherapy was the next modality added to 

our program. Before going any further, it must be 

clearly stated from the outset that aromatherapy must 

be used carefully and safely! Too many people use, 

distribute, sell, and advocate the use of essential oils 

without regard to their potential risks and dangers. 

All too often, it is thought that because essential oils 

are natural, they are safe. Nothing could be further 

from the truth. Essential oils are biologically active; 

they are not inert, and they can cause serious injuries. 

Therefore, take the time to learn the safety profiles for 

the essential oils you use or promote. 

Having said that, it is precisely because of the 

safe and proper use of each oil’s biologically active 

constituents that desired effects can be elicited in 

our bodies. Our most popular essential oil for our 

patients is lavender; its effects are well known. We 

use lavender in aroma sticks as well as lotion. Its 

two main constituents, linalool and linalyl acetate, 

produce feelings of calm and relaxation, often making 

it possible for patients to get some much-needed rest 

and sleep. Research studies have demonstrated that 

lavender has significant anxiolytic and sleep–improving 

properties which are not associated with sedation. This 

means that, while lavender is very useful in mitigating 

anxiety and promoting sleep, it does not produce the 

residual drowsiness and, subsequently, the fall risks 

associated with the use of commonly prescribed sleep 

medications. 

Did you know that lavender also helps mitigate 

pain? Who knew?! Research has shown that lavender 

is an effective analgesic and anti-inflammatory. As 

such, those who suffer with pain are able to enjoy the 

benefits of lavender's pain-relieving properties and 

with little to no adverse side–effects. Because lavender 

helps to promote sleep, calm and relax the body, and 

mitigate pain and inflammation, it's no wonder that it 

is the most requested essential oil in our hospital! 

While it would take books to cover all the essential 

oils and everything they have to offer, suffice it to say 

that the use of aromatherapy in our hospital has been 

nothing short of revolutionary. We have literally gone 

through gallons of essential oils with incredible results 

that we never thought possible! Many of our physicians 

are so impressed with what essential oils can do that 

not only are they consulting us to see their patients, 

they are now using the oils themselves. 

One of the best investments our hospital has made 

was in purchasing the Continuous Ambient Relaxation 

Environment (C.A.R.E.) Channel. The creators of 

this channel have made it their mission to provide 

exceptionally beautiful natural scenery, along with soft, 

ethereal, relaxing music, specifically for the benefit of 

patients. Their whole purpose is to help [hospitalized] 

patients feel better by creating a healing environment 

through the use of music and imagery. It’s truly 

amazing how effective this simple modality is with 

reducing stress, tension, and even pain by providing a 

wonderful and calming distraction. 

After looking at the research, we spearheaded 

the purchase of this channel. Interestingly, we each 

had the opportunity to test it out for ourselves. At 

different times, we were both hospitalized. We took 

full advantage of the C.A.R.E. Channel to see if it really 

helped us feel better during our hospital stays. We 

were truly amazed at how well it worked! 

This channel is available on every patient's television. 

As we go throughout the hospital, it can be seen and 

heard playing in many patients' rooms. Our ICU units 

have the C.A.R.E. Channel on extensively for their 

patients who are intubated, sedated, or agitated. The 

nurses find that patients respond positively to the music 

and imagery. They have even told us that it has been 

effective in helping patients wean off their ventilators. 

Additionally, there have been numerous times when 

less sedation was required because of the calming 

effects of the channel. Nurses in our Trauma ICU 

have reported similar experiences with their patients 

as well. The positive feedback we have received has 

been overwhelming. The healing power of music with 

imagery must not be underestimated. It most definitely 

makes a difference! 

The next modality we introduced was breath work, 

breathing, but with a purpose. 

If you thought you knew how to breathe, you were 

[likely] wrong. To make my point, think of the last 

time you were stressed... (Which was what, about 

15 minutes ago?) Remember how you felt? Your 

breathing became shallower and more rapid; your 

neck and shoulder muscles tightened; your thinking 

started to cloud; maybe your mind was racing. You 

got impatient, irritable. You might have noticed you 

were getting a headache or felt your heart pounding. 

Perhaps you wished you had a nitroglycerine tablet to 

take care of that chest tightness you felt. Whatever the 

case, your pattern of breathing only lent to the stress 

you felt instead of relieving it. With simple breath 

work techniques, you can significantly calm your stress 

response (sympathetic nervous system) and more fully 

engage your relaxation response (parasympathetic 

nervous system). 

Here’s how it works: 

By taking slow, deep breaths, you contract your 

diaphragm more profoundly than with normal or 

stressful breathing. This deep breathing activates 

specific neurons that detect blood pressure. These 

neurons then send signals to the vagus nerve that 

blood pressure is becoming too high. The vagus 

nerve, in turn, responds by lowering your heart rate. 

Additionally, by stimulating the vagus nerve, your 

body's relaxation response is triggered, and the stress 

response is quieted. 

The result: you feel calmer, you can think more 

clearly, your reasoning improves, you work more 

efficiently, and your problem-solving abilities increase. 

Plus, you decrease your blood pressure, cortisol levels, 

heart rate, adrenaline output, and inflammation 

response. Remember, chronic stress leads to chronic 

inflammation, and chronic inflammation leads to 

chronic illness. Deep breathing helps put the brakes on 

your body’s stress response. 

We primarily use two breathing exercises. 

The first was developed by the HeartMath Institute 

as a way to improve cardiac coherence (the heart-brain 

connection), called the "Heart–Focused Breathing (HFB) 

Technique.” You focus your attention in the area of 

your heart. Imagine your breath is flowing in and out of 

your heart or chest area, breathing a little slower and 

deeper than usual. Inhale for five seconds, and exhale 

for five seconds (or whatever rhythm is comfortable). By 

taking a few minutes to do HFB, you create significantly 

more coherence between your heart and your brain, 

enabling you to function better and improve your 

health. 

The second technique we use is called, 

“4–7–8 breathing.” Place the tip of your tongue 

against the ridge of tissue just behind your upper front 

teeth, and keep it there through the entire exercise. 

You will be exhaling through your mouth around 

your tongue; try pursing your lips slightly if this seems 

awkward. 

Exhale completely through your mouth, 

making a whoosh sound. 

Close your mouth and inhale quietly through your 

nose to a mental count of 4. 

Hold your breath for a count of 7. 

Exhale completely through your mouth, 

making a whoosh sound to a count of 8. This is one 

breath. 

Now inhale again and repeat the cycle three more 

times for a total of four breaths. 

Note that you always inhale quietly through 

your nose and exhale audibly through your mouth. 

The tip of your tongue stays in position the whole 

time. Exhalation takes twice as long as inhalation. 

The absolute time you spend on each phase is not 

important; the ratio of 4:7:8 is important. If you have 

trouble holding your breath, speed up the exercise but 

keep to the ratio of 4:7:8 for the three phases. With 

practice, you can slow it all down and get used to 

inhaling and exhaling more and more deeply. 

Believe it or not, these simple breathing techniques 

help immensely with anxiety, pain, stress, and tension 

— and with practice and continued use, they will help 

with overall health and wellness. 

Lastly, we have “Tranquility Rooms,” for our staff. 

These are quiet, reflective rooms to retreat to during 

the workday for staff members to reconnect with Self, 

to be still, close their eyes, and refresh and re-energize. 

Each Tranquility Room is decorated as a home-like 

room, offering the C.A.R.E. Channel, an essential oil 

diffuser, ambient lighting, a comfortable recliner, and 

several modalities known for their calming effects. 

When able to take a few minutes after a particularly 

stressful time or incident, staff are given the ability to 

regain enough resilience to effectively finish their shifts. 

To see just how effective these rooms are, staff was 

asked to rate their stress on a 0–10 Likert scale, going 

into the room versus after using the room. The results 

were impressive. 132 staff had an average stress level 

of 6.83 going into the rooms and an average stress 

level of 2.43 on leaving the rooms. By using the rooms 

as a brief respite from the stresses of their jobs, staff 

was able to bring down their stress level by 4.4 points 

and continue working effectively for the rest of the 

day! In a large academic medical center where staff 

has to continuously work at a high level, that's no small 

thing! The feedback from staff has been incredibly 

positive, so much so that our administration is looking 

to create more rooms for more staff members to have 

the opportunity to take advantage of their benefits. 

Holistic modalities are not new; they’re just not 

mainstream. In a culture where western medicine and 

western medicine practices prevail, holistic modalities 

are not especially popular or used as they should be. 

However, things are changing. Skeptics are being faced 

with continuously mounting research and outcomes 

that are compelling, even irrefutable, to say the least. 

It's now clear that many of these modalities have 

health-promoting and illness prevention advantages, 

even though western medicine typically does not mark 

them significantly beneficial for our health and well– 

being. More and more physicians are realizing their 

benefits; they are not only offering these alternative 

options to their patients but also using them for their


own sake! In fact, functional medicine is a developing specialty across the country 

as physicians incorporate natural and holistic practices into patient care. 

Hospitals would do well to incorporate integrative therapies as active treatment 

interventions into their patients' documented plans of care, as the evidence of their 

effectiveness is clearly undeniable. We have found that our patient satisfaction 

scores have definitely increased! Integrative therapies provide a distinct patientcentered 

aspect to their care, the opportunity for more rest and relaxation, and 

give patients more control over their environment. We've seen instances of cost 

reductions, less medications used, decreased lengths of stay, and faster healing. 

Nurses are given additional "tools" to use in providing care, giving them an added 

level of effectiveness and compassion to their practice. Patients feel like they matter 

and not merely the recipients of medical attention. That means everything…and on 

every level! 

To date, the University Medical Center of Southern Nevada remains the first 

and only hospital in the state of Nevada to have a full–time integrative therapies 

program. Frankly, what started out as something of an experiment by our CNO 

has exploded into a program that has touched every unit and every department in 

our hospital and remains available to our patients, families, staff, and physicians. 

The benefits that holistic modalities have given are immeasurable. Because of the 

tremendous vision of our nursing leadership and our commitment to caring for all 

our customers, holistic modalities are a regular part of our care and our culture. 

They are here to stay! 

References 

1. Allred KD, Byers JF, Sole ML. The effect of music on postoperative pain and anxiety. 

Pain Management Nursing. 2010 Mar: 11(1):15-25. 

2. Buckle, J. (2003). Clinical aromatherapy; essential oils in practice (2nd Ed.). NY: 

Churchill Livingstone. Page 30. 

3. Cohen, S., Janicki-Deverts, D., & Miller, G. E. (2007). Psychological stress and disease, 

JAMA: Journal of the American Medical Association, 298(14),1685-1687.doi:10.1001/ 

jama.298.14.1685. 

4. Good M, Albert JM, Anderson GC, Wotman S, Cong X, Lane D, Ahn S. 

Supplementing relaxation and music for pain 

5. after surgery. Nursing Resources. 2010 Jul-Aug: 59(4):259-69. 

6. HeartMath. Retrieved from https://www.heartmath.org/ May 2020. 

7. Johnson JR, Rivard RL, et al. The effectiveness of nurse-delivered aromatherapy in an 

acute care setting. Complement Ther in Med 25(2016) 164-169. 

8. Kasper S, Gastpar M, Muller WE, Volz HP, Moller HJ, Dienel A, Schlafke S. Silexan, 

an orally administered Lavandula oil preparation, is effective in the treatment of 

`subsyndromal` anxiety disorder: a randomized, double-blind, placebo controlled trial. 

Int Clin Psychopharmacol. 2010;25(5):277- 287. 

9. Lee, K.S., Jeong, H.C., Yim, J.E., & Jeon, M.Y. (2016). “Effects of Music Therapy on the 

Cardiovascular and Autonomic Nervous System in Stress-Induced University Students: 

A Randomized Controlled Trial.” The Journal of Alternative and Complementary 

Medicine, 22(1), 59–65. doi: 10.1089/ acm.2015.0079. 

10. Lehrer P. M., Gevirtz R. (2014). Heart rate variability biofeedback: how and why does it 

work? Front. Psychol. 5:756 10.3389/fpsyg.2014.00756 

11. Mofredj A, Alaya S, Tassaioust K, Bahloul H, Mrabet A. J Crit. Care. Music therapy, a 

review of the potential benefits for the critically ill. 2016 May 28;35:195-199. 

12. Relaxation Techniques. https://nccih.nih.gov/health/relaxation-techniques-for-health. 

13. Sayorwan, W.,Siripornpanich, T.,Hongratanaworakit, T., Kotchabhakdi, N.,and 

Ruangrungsi,. N. (2012). The effects of lavender oil inhalation on emotional states, 

autonomic nervous system, and brain electrical activity. The Journal of the Medical 

Association of Thailand,95 (4), 598-606. 

14. Wang S.-Z., Li S., Xu X.-Y., Lin G.-P., Shao L., Zhao Y., et al. (2010). Effect of slow 

abdominal breathing combined with biofeedback on blood pressure and heart rate 

variability in prehypertension. J. Altern. Complement. Med. 16 1039–1045. 10.1089/ 

acm.2009.0577 

15. Whitaker, MH. Sounds soothing: music therapy for postoperative pain. Nursing. 2010 

Dec: Volume 40 - Issue 12 - p53–54. 

16. Woelk H, Schlafke S. A multi-center, double-blind, randomized study of the Lavender 

oil preparation Silexan in comparison to Lorazepam for generalized anxiety disorder. 

Phytomedicine. 2010;17(2):94-99. 

17. Xiao Ma, Zi-Qi Yue, Zhu-Qing Gong, Hong Zhang, Nai-Yue Duan, Yu-Tong Shi, Gao- 

Xia Wei, and You-Fa Li. The Effect of Diaphragmatic Breathing on Attention, Negative 

Affect and Stress in Healthy Adults. Frontiers in Psychology. 2017; 8: 874. 

West Hills Hospital located in Reno, NV, a leader in the treatment 

of behavioral, mental health care and substance abuse treatment is 

seeking FT/PT/PRN Registered Nurses to implement the nursing 

process as it relates to our programs. 

We are currently offering sign-on bonuses 

up to $10,000. 

Visit www.westhillshospital.net 

and click on CAREERS to apply. 

Truckee Meadows Community College is a comprehensive educational institution located in Reno, Nevada 

and is part of the Nevada System of Higher Education. TMCC’s five instructional sites and numerous 

community locations serves an increasingly diverse population of more than 11,000 students each semester. 

TMCC, an HSI (Hispanic Serving Institution), is a progressive institution that celebrates inclusion and diversity 

while supporting core themes of academic excellence, student success, and access to lifelong learning. 

Nursing Instructor, Tenure Track (Multiple Openings) 

Truckee Meadows Community College (TMCC), located in Reno, Nevada is 

seeking applicants for multiple full-time, tenure track, Nursing Instructors. 

The primary responsibility of Nursing Instructors is to facilitate student learning in 

the classroom and clinical settings. Teaching and workload assignments are scheduled 

throughout the calendar year, including summer. May require evening and weekend 

obligations at the Redfield campus and at off-campus clinical settings. 

Minimum Qualifications 

1. Bachelor’s degree or higher in Nursing from a regionally accredited institution. 

2. Master’s degree in a related field from a regionally accredited institution. 

3. Current unencumbered Nursing License in Nevada or other state and the ability to 

obtain a Nevada License upon hire. 

Preferred Qualifications 

1. Master’s degree in Nursing from a regionally accredited institution 

2. Terminal nursing degree from a regionally accredited institution 

3. Certification in a specialty area of nursing. 

4. Experience in higher education including teaching, simulation instruction, accreditation, 

program review or assessment. 

Responsibilities 

Candidates must exhibit an appreciation of, a sensitivity to, and respect for a diverse 

academic environment, inclusive of students, faculty, and staff of varying social, economic, 

cultural, ideological and ethnic backgrounds. 

Visit tmcc.edu for more information and to apply. 

If you need assistance or have questions regarding the application process, please 

contact Human Resources at (775) 673-7168 or humanresources@tmcc.edu.


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Chelsea Takara 

Chere Gooch-Martin 

Cherie Dimaguila 

Cherilyn Campbell 

Cherry Grace Daelto 

Cheryl Martin 

Cheryl Lake 

Cheryl Dela Cruz 

Cheryl Shipske 

Cheryl Broussard 

Christa Secord 

Christal Kercheval 

Christelle Tchouanang 

Christi Keliipio 

Christina Weinrick 

Christine Obregon 

Christine Brunet 

Christine Windle 

Christine Sterrett 

Christine Pebbles 

Christine Barnett 

Christopher Rice 

Christy Raynes 

Christy Pacini 

Chrystine Revelli 

Chukwuemeka Obilor 

Chyann Porterfield 

Ciara Richman 

Cindi Freeborn 

Cindy Merkley 

Cindy Ramiscal 

Clarisse Clutario 

Clarizza Tamayo 

Claudia Buco 

Clem Victor Manrique 

Codie Glass 

Connie Evans 

Connie Ngo 

Constance Petronella 

Constanza Bridges 

Corine Watson 

Corrine Pace 

Cory Frey 

Courtney Lambdin 

Crishiell Calina 

Crista Mae Therese Yamomo 

Cristina Mosqueda 

Cristy Thomas 

Crystal Martinez 

Cynthia Sitar 

Cynthia Fuentes 

Cynthia Brandt 

Cynthia Morris 

Cynthia Gorham 

Cynthia Privitera 

Cynthia Veal 

Cynthia Repella-Allen 

Cynthia Parker 

Cynthia Lewis 

Czarina Perello 

Dahlia Dixon 

Damaris Pinto-Florez 

Dana Soma 

Dana Julian 

Dana Nelson 

Danielle McVickers 

Danielle Smith 

Danielle Mathews 

Danielle Planas 

Danielle Norris 

Dao Huynh 

Darius Thompson 

Darla Brightmon 

Darlene Salvo 

Darnell Caldwell 

Dat Nguyen 

Dave Tyrell 

David Alvarez 

David Troy 

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Dawn Lipkin 

Dawn Cook 

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Deborah Ain 

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demetria smith-jordan 

Denis Williams 

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Deshawn Bryant 

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Zhuoya Mai


MINDBODYSTRONG 

By Tracey Long PhD, APRN-BC, CCRN, CDE 

Should nurses be the epitome of good health? Ideally, 

that would be nice, but reality reveals that nurses struggle 

with the same health challenges as the general population 

including mental health crisis, obesity, chronic conditions 

and even disabilities. In the hallmark Nurses’ Health Study 

of 1976, which was a longitudinal study investigating risk 

factors for major chronic diseases in women, over 121,700 

nurses participated. In the past 40 years, the original study 

has grown to include the Nurses’ Health Study II and now 

is recruiting for NHS III. The findings of these studies from 

1976-2016 have influenced public health policy, guidelines, 

and added insights on how to prevent many chronic disease 

conditions including identifying associations between smoking and type 2 diabetes, 

cardiovascular diseases, cancer, psoriasis, sleep and shift work and chronic diseases 

and more (Graham et al, 2016). Studying the health of nurses has helped identify 

what behaviors are associated with disease among people who care about health 

and wellness. If nurses are having struggles, by inference we know the general 

population does too. 

As research studies are still in progress or just being published about the impact 

of COVID-19 on nurse’s health, many programs and facilities are already developing 

and using programs to help combat the emotional and physical stress on nurses 

during the pandemic. One proactive program developed by Ohio State University 

to help strengthen nurses against depression, burn-out, anxiety and stress is called 

MINDBODYSTRONG. The Governor’s Office of Workforce Innovation (OWINN), 

College of Southern Nevada (CSN) and the Nevada Action Coalition, in partnership 

with MINDBODYSTRONG program, trained 25 facilitators to provide a seven- week 

training program for 100 healthcare participants, including health profession and 

nursing students. The Nevada Mind Strong Project’s goal is to improve resilience 

and self-protective factors for the overall wellbeing of healthcare professionals and 

students in Nevada. 

“OWINN is thrilled to be able to fund and support the MINDBODYSTRONG 

program in partnership with the College of Southern Nevada and the Nevada Action 

Coalition. As we begin to move forward, making sure our healthcare heroes are 

honored and cared for is incredibly important. We send our gratitude to all Nevada 

healthcare workers. Thank you for all you have done to keep Nevadans healthy over 

the last year!” said Isla Young, OWINN Executive Director. 

This volunteer 7–8-week interventional group program has been used on newly 

licensed registered nurses in many states and research results are very promising. 

Results show statistically significant improvement by participants in job satisfaction, 

healthy lifestyle beliefs and behaviors, and a decrease in perceived stress, anxiety, 

and depressive symptoms (Sampson, et al (2019). The creation and use of the 

program are a response to the call to action against clinician stress and burn-out by 

the National Academy of Medicine’s Action Collaborative on Clinical Well-being and 

Resilience. 

Several nursing programs within Nevada have offered the MINDBODYSTRONG 

program to nurses and nursing students through the College of Southern Nevada, 

Chamberlain College, Arizona College of Nursing and UNLV. Nursing instructors and 

leaders were trained this year to offer and moderate the seven sessions, which were 

offered free to nursing students. Each student received a workbook that guided 

them in cognitive behavior therapy strategies to improve mental and physical health. 

Each session provides students an opportunity to return and report their progress 

in using strategies to combat anxiety and stress and improve their habits of health 

for nutrition, sleep, and exercise. One third semester nursing student JQ. remarked 

“I really looked forward to each session because I knew I would be supported and 

applauded for my progress, which made me work harder during the week.” ZL, a 

second semester nursing student stated, “This program helped me identify that I 

can control my own emotions, which impacts my thoughts and behaviors and 

that’s up to me. It’s a powerful insight for me.” Participants are volunteers and each 

session is confidential. LK, a 4th semester nursing student stated “This program is so 

essential in developing the important life skills of stress management and habits of 

health that nurses need. I loved the program.” 

To find more about this program or offer it to your nursing school, facility or 

group, contact Kimberly Nguyen at Nevada Nursing and Healthcare Workforce 

Center at 702-889-8426. 

WE’RE HIRING! 

RNs, LPNs AND CNAs 

We will work with your schedule • Tuition reimbursement available 

We welcome new GRADS! 

Offering Sign On Bonuses! 

SILVER HILLS HEALTH CARE CENTER 

Paul Kim, Administrator 702-952-2273 

3450 N. Buffalo Dr. • Las Vegas, NV 89129 

www.covenantcare.com 

SILVER RIDGE HEALTHCARE CENTER 

Misty Harvey, Administrator 702-938-8333 

1151 S. Torrey Pines Dr. • Las Vegas, NV 89146 

www.silverridgehealthcarecenter.com 

References and Resources 

Graham A. Colditz, Sydney E. Philpott, and Susan E. Hankinson, 2016: The Impact of 

the Nurses’ Health Study on Population Health: Prevention, Translation, and Control 

American Journal of Public Health 106, 1540_1545, https://doi.org/10.2105/ 

AJPH.2016.303343 

Sampson M, Melnyk BM, Hoying J. Intervention Effects of the MINDBODYSTRONG 

Cognitive Behavioral Skills Building Program on Newly Licensed Registered Nurses' 

Mental Health, Healthy Lifestyle Behaviors, and Job Satisfaction. J Nurs Adm. 2019 

Oct;49(10):487-495. doi: 10.1097/NNA.0000000000000792. PMID: 31517756. 

Sampson M, Melnyk BM, Hoying J. The MINDBODYSTRONG Intervention for New Nurse 

Residents: 6-Month Effects on Mental Health Outcomes, Healthy Lifestyle Behaviors, 

and Job Satisfaction. Worldviews Evid Based Nurs. 2020 Feb;17(1):16-23. doi: 10.1111/ 

wvn.12411. Epub 2019 Nov 12. PMID: 31721425. 

Nevada Action Coalition (NAC). NAC is part of the Future of Nursing: Campaign for Action, 

a nationwide movement to improve health and health care through nursing. An 

initiative of AARP and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, the Campaign includes 

Action Coalitions in 50 states and the District of Columbia working to implement the 

Institute of Medicine’s Future of Nursing recommendations. 

The Future of Nursing: Campaign for Action is centered on the evidence-based 

recommendations from the Institute of Medicine’s (IOM) report: The Future of 

Nursing: Leading Change, Advancing Health. 

CARSON NURSING & REHABILITATION CENTER 

Janee Flanders, Administrator 775-882-3301 

2898 US Hwy 50 East • Carson City, NV 89701 

www.covenantcare.com


Antimicrobial Stewardship – Infection Prevention 

The Greatest Medical Experiment Ever Done 

By Norman Wright, RN, BSN, MS 

Last May and June, I heard many people say, “I’M DONE 

WITH COVID!” - and after being vaccinated, I too felt a 

sense of freedom and even traveled to New Jersey to visit 

my daughter and granddaughter for the first time in two 

years. 

Many share similar experiences when, in May and June, 

we believed we were free from COVID and could begin to 

resume our social lives safely with friends and family. Finally, 

I felt the freedom to participate in a large social gathering 

without a mask. On July 13 & 14th, I attended a multi-hour 

community event held in a crowded enclosed room that 

many from my community also attended. 

My sense of COVID security abruptly ended on July 23rd when I was informed 

that I tested positive for COVID and was quarantined. Unfortunately, I was just one 

of 26 people from my community who self-reported they also tested positive in 

the two weeks following the Mid-July community event. Twenty-three (23) of the 

26 who tested positive also attended this event. Fortunately, my symptoms were 

minimal, my wife was not infected, and I have no residual effects. In addition, all 

26 who reported they were Sars-Cov-2 positive were also vaccinated, and all have 

recovered with no serious complications. 

The community’s rapid response to be proactive and transparent by not hiding 

the reality of the rapid spread of the Delta COVID strain alerted our community of 

the danger. In addition, it documented the places where those who were infected 

went. This surprising development encouraged others to take precautions, get 

tested, and quarantine themselves, if necessary. These contact tracing actions 

prevented infected individuals from infecting countless others, and the community’s 

efforts to prevent infection must be commended because the rapid spread of Delta 

COVID was averted. 

The above situation brings me to the topic of this article, “The Greatest 

Medical Experiment,” which was briefly reviewed in my previous article, “Have 

Shot Will Travel,” on pages 12 & 13 in the June RNformation found at this link: 

https://www.nursingald.com/publications/2267 

Any medical experiment minimally requires two cohorts; one receives the 

treatment, the other a placebo. All who participate must agree to willingly and 

knowingly participate in the experiment, and once that happens, the experiment 

can begin. 

Between August 12-22, 2021, the NNA conducted a survey asking if nurses and 

other healthcare workers should be mandated to be vaccinated, and 527 responded. 

However, it should be noted that the results are not scientifically valid and cannot be 

generalized to all who received the questionnaire because the responses were not 

random, and most of those who did respond appear to have very strong feelings, 

one way or the other regarding mandating COVID vaccinations. 

The survey showed 231 (44%) strongly agreed vaccinations should be 

mandated, and 151 (30%) strongly disagreed. An additional 60 (11%) agreed 

with mandating vaccinations, 49 (9%) neither disagreed nor agreed, and 28 (5%) 

disagreed. 

Regarding vaccination status, 402 (76%) reported being vaccinated with at least 

one shot, and 124 (24%) reported not being vaccinated. 

Some reported they would not be vaccinated because no vaccine has received 

full FDA approval. However, that barrier was removed on August 23rd when the 

Pfizer vaccine received full FDA approval for anyone 16 or older. 

Many refusing to be vaccinated use Constitutional, freedom/liberty, and “my 

body my choice” statements. Others refuse to be vaccinated, saying the vaccine still 

has not been tested enough, and also argue that the vaccines do not work because 

breakthrough infections are occurring. However, the facts are overwhelming that 

fully vaccinated people are 90 to 99 percent less likely to be hospitalized or die from 

COVID. 

The August 24th, 2021 MMWR reported that unvaccinated people in Los 

Angeles are five times more likely to become infected and are 29 times more likely 

to be hospitalized. https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/volumes/70/wr/mm7034e5.htm?s_ 

cid=mm7034e5_w 

In Texas, it was reported that out of the 8,787 people who have died due to 

COVID-19 from February 8th to July 14th, only 43 were fully vaccinated, meaning 

that 99.5% of deaths due to COVID-19 were unvaccinated people. https://www. 

texastribune.org/2021/07/21/coronavirus-texas-vaccinated-deaths/ 

Similar results are reported in Wisconsin: https://www.dhs.wisconsin.gov/ 

covid-19/vaccine-status.htm#summary 

And in South Carolina: https://scdhec.gov/covid19/covid-19-vaccine/ 

breakthrough-cases-tracking-disease-infection-after-vaccination 

And Minnesota: https://www.health.state.mn.us/diseases/coronavirus/stats/vbt. 

html 

And in Nevada https://thenevadaindependent.com/article/even-with-deltavariant-covid-19-vaccines-substantially-reduce-chances-of-hospitalization-time-anddeath 

NOTE: The data from Wisconsin, South Carolina, Minnesota, and Nevada 

is not summarized. You are encouraged to independently research how 

effective the COVID-19 vaccines are in preventing hospitalizations and 

deaths in these and other states. 

This list shows there is indisputable proof that COVID vaccines effectively prevent 

hospitalizations and deaths, which brings us to the Greatest Medical Experiment 

that we are all participating in. 

From comments submitted in the survey, many unvaccinated persons are firm 

in their conviction to remain unvaccinated. Be aware; if you choose to remain 

unvaccinated, you are willingly and knowingly putting yourself into the placebo or 

untreated cohort. 

CONCLUSION 

This column will not argue for, or against, mandating vaccinations, and no 

matter what side you are on, or if you are undecided, discuss the issues with your 

colleagues and try to understand their position and reasoning. Education, sorting 

fact from fiction, and accurate information from fake news is essential to achieve 

understanding. 

Lastly, one of the survey questions asked, “If unvaccinated, do you intend 

on being vaccinated within the next 21 days?” Many who are not yet vaccinated 

reported that they did intend to get vaccinated within the next 21 days. It is my 

hope that all who answered “yes” follow through and, by the time you read 

this, you have been fully vaccinated and have removed yourself from being in the 

placebo cohort.


A Resource to Remember! 

Are you aware that a support organization 

exists in both Northern and Southern Nevada for 

individuals who are dealing with the immediate 

aftermath of a tragedy or crisis? 

At the request of local fire and/or police 

departments, the Trauma Intervention Program 

(TIP) of Southern Nevada Inc. and TIP of Northern 

Nevada, Inc. send volunteers out to scenes of death 

and other tragic occurrences. On these active scenes, 

volunteers provide emotional and practical support 

to victims, family members, friends, witnesses and/or 

bystanders who are usually in shock and attempting 

to process the crisis they are encountering. The TIP 

volunteers are trained to provide emotional first aid 

and to also assist with supplying further resources 

that individuals may need. They typically are on 

scene for the duration of the investigation and can 

not only explain the process of what's taking place 

but most importantly, can be the calming presence 

that most people truly need. YOU can also request a 

TIP volunteer to respond out to your hospital, office, 

or clinic. Examples of when you might ask for TIP 

support include after the death of a patient, in the 

midst of a fetal demise, while an individual is waiting 

for their loved one to come out of a critical surgery, 

or even after the devastating diagnosis of a terminal 

illness. Volunteers will respond to your location and 

spend time with the person or people who need 

emotional and/or practical support. A TIP volunteer’s 

presence will not only help the person in crisis but 

can also help YOU as you can confidently return to 

your nursing duties knowing that your patient or 

patient’s loved one(s) are not alone during a tragic 

time. 

For further information and online resources, 

please contact: 

TIP of Southern Nevada: 

www.tipoflasvegas.org 

702-229-0426 (office number for information) 

702-425-2277 (24-hour dispatch number) 

TIP of Northern Nevada: 

www.tipnnv.org 

775-337-2112 (office number for information) 

775-745-5514 (24-hour dispatch number) 

• Completely online 

• No out-of-state tuition 

• Finish in as little as 2 semesters 

• Part-time and full-time enrollment available 

• Admission available twice each fall, spring and summer semesters 

• DSU has low costs for the students 

• Ranked as the 12th most affordable and 16th best 

quality RN-BSN online program in the nation 

For more information and to apply, visit https://dxl.dixie.edu/rn-bsn/ 

Program questions, call 435.879.4519 or email dru.bottoms@dixie.edu 

10” ads 

OPEN


NVNSA: Up and Coming 

Kassandra Wong 

Hello everyone! I am 

Kassandra Wong, the new 

President of the Nevada 

Student Nurses Association 

(NVNSA) for the Summer 2021 

to Spring 2022 term. I am a 

nursing student enrolled at 

the University of Nevada – Las 

Vegas School of Nursing and 

will graduate in Spring 2022. I 

would also like to take this time 

to introduce our current board 

on NVNSA: 

Vice President: Nika Jenabi 

Treasurer: Megan Gouveia 

Secretary: Amber Manig 

Communications Director: Mary Quilter 

Southern Regional Director: Laurel Schultz 

Breakthrough to Nursing Director: Alyssa Chavez 

Community Outreach Director: Aleisha Wellman 

We are all very excited to be on the NVNSA Board 

and can't wait to see where it will take us. I hope 

these roles bring us many opportunities to develop 

and demonstrate our leadership within the nursing 

profession in general and service events and activities 

in particular. 

The first event that NVNSA has planned is the first 

seminar in our Work of Heart series. In this series, 

speakers are invited to inform students about their 

nursing specialty or a topic they want to increase 

awareness about. Our first guest speaker is Robert 

Erickson, MSN, APRN, CRNA. He will be presenting 

on Saturday, September 11, at 1 PM. The NVNSA's 

hope with this series is to help students find their 

interests in the vast nursing field and open their eyes to 

specialties they might not have thought of previously. 

The second event that NVNSA has planned is a 

student-oriented event before Nevada Nurses 

Foundation’s (NNF) Shining Star Gala. This event 

will occur at the Aliante Hotel in North Las Vegas 

on Saturday, October 2, from 8 AM to 12 PM. 

We are excited to announce that American Nurses 

Association's President Ernest Grant will be the keynote 

speaker at this event. In addition, we will have vendors 

available for students to network with and an NCLEX 

review session for interested students. On behalf of 

the entire NVNSA, I would like to thank the Boards of 

the NNF and the Nevada Nurses Association (NNA) for 

supports us in hosting this event. 

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UNLV Nurse Camp Returns to Impacting Future Healthcare Heroes 

Jenna Le Piere and 

Minnie Wood, MS, APRN, ANP-BC 

The University of Nevada Las Vegas (UNLV) Nurse 

Camp isn't like most summer camps. Instead, the 

program exposes campers to the nursing profession 

through hands-on experiences and interactions with 

nursing professionals. In this case, hands-on means 

CPR training, Stop the Bleed training, and more 

informal education like simple first aid, vital signs, and 

medication administration. It's also a fun, engaging 

way for teens to socialize and form bonds with 

other teens with similar interests. Nurse Camp 2021 

welcomed 43 rising juniors, seniors, and recent high 

school graduates for the return of our one-week day 

camp in July. This program is the second summer for 

the UNLV Nurse Camp, which debuted in 2019 and 

was canceled in 2020 due to COVID-19. One Nurse 

Camper in particular and co-author of this article, 

Jenna Le Piere was so profoundly moved by her 

experience, it changed the way she looked at nurses. 

She shares the impact camp had on her below: 

I sat there empty-minded with a piece of paper 

reading "Nursing is … " in front of me. We were told 

we had to make a poster of what we believe nursing 

to be. Some people put down "a work of the heart" or 

"love." I sat there not knowing what to write because, 

before UNLV's nursing camp, I didn't honestly know 

what nursing was. 

When I first stepped on UNLV's campus, I had 

no idea what to expect. I couldn't tell if this nursing 

camp would be hours of lectures and challenging 

quizzes or one of the highlights of my summer. So as 

I approached the classroom where all the campers and 

staff were to meet on the first day of camp, I felt a 

mixture of nervousness and excitement in the pit of my 

stomach. After receiving my welcome bag and camp 

t-shirts, I sat down next to a girl with blonde curly hair. 

I didn't know it then, but I had just met a friend who 

would likely be in my life far beyond just this summer 

camp. 

We introduced ourselves to each other, and all my 

nerves quickly went away. The welcoming energy from 

all the nursing student volunteers and staff made me 

feel at home in this unfamiliar place. Minnie and Jill, 

the camp leaders, went over everything we'd be doing 

for the week. From CPR to Stop the Bleed, and even 

a trip to University Medical Center (UMC) to visit their 

simulation center, our week looked exciting, to say the 

least. I realized this camp wasn't going to be hours 

of lectures and quizzes, but hands-on activities and 

bonding with the people around me. Being surrounded 

by like-minded people, attracted to a similar career 

lighted a fire within me. It made me even more 

passionate about going into the nursing profession. 

One of the main things I learned at camp is that 

nursing is more than meets the eye. Through talking 

to the campers around me, the UNLV students, and 

current working nurses, I was introduced to areas of 

nursing I had never considered before. For instance, 

one day, there was a panel with seven nurses working 

in different hospital areas. We broke out into groups 

and could ask the nurses any questions we had. We 

heard about the work-life balance nurses have, what 

a nurse's daily routine looks like, how difficult nursing 

school might be, and so much more. My group first 

paired up with this lovely nurse who specialized in HIV 

care. She discussed her life and passions, and while she 

talked, I saw myself in her. She loved to write just like 

me and enjoyed helping people in their times of need. I 

had never been interested in HIV care before talking to 

her, but after listening to her, I realized HIV care was so 

much more than I could've imagined. 

Learning what you don't want to do is just as 

important as figuring out what you do want to do, 

in my opinion. This camp gave me the amazing 

opportunity to tour UMC Hospital and visit a variety 

of different units. I saw different camp participants 

light up with each unit tour when they found one that 

resonated with them. For some, it was the trauma 

center; for others, it was pediatrics. For me, it was the 

labor and delivery unit. I instantly gravitated towards 

the environment and how dedicated all the nurses 

were. We even saw the NICU where a baby with 

jaundice was being cared for. It was an experience I'll 

truly never forget and made me realize how much I'd 

love to pursue labor and delivery one day. 

The UNLV nurse camp provided me with so much 

more than just knowledge about nursing. I came out 

with new friendships, a better understanding of myself, 

and a newfound passion for becoming a labor and 

delivery nurse. Once the camp was over, I researched 

any volunteer work or internships that could help me 

start my nursing journey. I looked into Summerlin’s 

Hospital teen volunteer program for a while and 

decided to call them finally. I got the volunteer position 

and now get to hold babies in the NICU and help out 

in the hospital! Since the start of camp, neighbors and 

even teachers who knew I was attending continued 

to ask me how the nursing camp was going and went 

overall. It was amazing to see this camp make further 

ripples in my community, and it was an honor to be a 

part of it. Coming out of UNLV's nursing camp, I now 

know what nursing is. Nursing is a community of love, 

healing, and discovery. 

At every stage, nursing students supported campers 

through volunteering and activities developed and led 

by the UNLV Student Nurses Association. 

The camp was split between UNLV's main campus 

and our Shadow Lane campus, the Clinical Simulation 

Center of Las Vegas. During our time there, campers 

had the opportunity to see nursing simulation in realtime 

and practice a huge variety of simulated activities 

in the safety of this supportive learning environment. 

Here the campers practiced using lifts and ambulations 

devices, assessing the respiratory and cardiovascular 

system, removing sutures and staples, donning and 

doffing PPE, and so much more. These skills activities 

are always a favorite day for campers and volunteers 

alike. 

The UNLV Nurse Camp was also fortunate to have 

the partnership and collaboration of UMC, who took 

campers on a VIP tour of the hospital and exposed 

students to different types of nursing, including 

perinatal, pediatric, trauma, and perioperative. This 

incredibly impactful experience was reported as one 

of the highlights of camp. Our week culminated in 

learning experiences to help campers ace the ACT and 

prepare to apply to college and complete prerequisite 

nursing courses for admission into nursing programs. 

We topped it off with a vision board activity and 

special recognition ceremony and reception with family 

and friends included. 

Feedback from our campers and the community 

was excellent, and we look forward to another vibrant 

camp experience in 2022. 

About the authors: 

Jenna Le Piere is a 17 year old rising senior at West 

Career and Technical Academy in the Nursing Program. 

She enjoys creative writing and regularly volunteers at 

the Summerlin Hospital NICU. 

Minnie Wood, MS, APRN, ANP-BC, is a Lecturer at 

the UNLV School of Nursing and the Director of Clinical 

and Community Partnerships. In addition, she codirects 

UNLV Nurse Camp.


Nevada Nurses Foundation EST 2014 

Happy Year of the Nurse in 2020-2021! 

Thank you to all of our healthcare providers, first responders, support staff, and 

their family. We appreciate you and thank you for being a nurse who provides safe, 

competent, and compassionate care. 

Since 2014, I have had the privilege and honor of being a co-founder and to 

serve as the president and CEO for the Nevada Nurses Foundation (NNF). Awarding 

scholarships and grants and recognizing individuals and organizations, is by far the 

best part of my role. The NNF proudly reports awarding over $140K in scholarships 

and grants since its fruition in 2014. By the end of 2021, we hope to surpass $160K. 

With a combined effort from nurses throughout Nevada and engaged community 

members, the NNF has hosted virtual and face-to-face fundraising events during the 

pandemic. The success of the NNF is completely due to the generosity of others. I 

am grateful for the outpouring of support. Thank you to our amazing and dedicated 

Board, outstanding volunteers and donors, and extremely supportive community 

partners. 

Broeder, Darcy & Frank, Darlene Bujold Salvo, Martin Salvo, Robert Miller, and Sean 

Lacsamana (videographer), Erika Manasewitsch, Shelby Pauletto, and Robert Branda. 

On June 26th, 2021, the Big Hat High Tea on the Comstock was held at the 

infamous Piper’s Opera House in Virginia City. Just like 2018 and 2019, the Tea was 

sold out! 

It was unexpected to hold the Tea in Virginia City at the Piper’s Opera House 

because we have always held the Tea at the Nevada Governor’s Mansion. Because 

of the restrictions in place due to the pandemic, we had to find a new venue. I 

cannot think of a more fitting place to hold the 7th annual Big Hat High Tea on the 

Comstock! 

The 2020 Big Hat High Tea, although it was virtual, was a huge success! Thank 

you to Kelly Farley, of Farley Photography and NNF Advisory Board member for 

being the backbone to the virtual event! Thank you, Nicki Aaker, Karen Bearer, Mary 

Bondmass, Darlene Bujold Salvo, Kelly Farley, Glenn Hagerstrom, Caren Jaggers, 

Heidi Johnston, Vicky Lang Catlin, Shelley Martin, Scott Norris, Denise Ogletree 

McGuinn, Alyx Olguin, Arvin Operario, Lyle Pritchett, Martin Salvo, Dawn Taylor, 

Dave Tyrell, Julie Wagner, Vicki Walker, and Val Wedler for your contributions to the 

2020 Big Hat High Tea. Thank you, Carson Tahoe Health, Chamberlain University, 

Orvis School of Nursing, Touro University Nevada, and University of Nevada, Las 

Vegas for your continued support. Thank you to all of our entertainers, Marsh 

Thank you to all our wonderful entertainers! Michelle Garthe, (photographed) 

a recent Licensed Practical Nurse graduate and Valedictorian, turned everyone’s 

brown eyes blue with songs from Crystal Gayle and Patsy Cline, to name a few. 

Rock and Roller Michael Furlong previously performed on the American Band Stand 

and continues to perform as a Tom Petty tribute band, rocked our boots off with 

classic rock and roll songs. We were unable to play the three amazing videos created 

by Lyric and performed by Darlene Bujold Salvo, Martin Salvo, and Rhianna Temple. 

Hopefully, these video will soon be uploaded to our Facebook page. 

Thank you to Carson Tahoe Health, Chamberlain University, Maria Constantino- 

Roelandts, Ian Curley, Vicky Lang-Catlin, Northern Nevada Medical Center, Orvis 

School of Nursing, Renown Regional Medical Center, Touro University Nevada, 

Unitek College, University of Nevada, Las Vegas, and the Nevada Nurses Association 

for being an event sponsor, purchasing an advertisement, and or sponsoring a table.



The 6th Awards Gala, Shining Stars of Nursing in Nevada, will be held on 

Saturday, October 2nd at the beautiful Aliante Casino, Hotel, and Resort in North 

Las Vegas, Nevada. Thank you, American Nurses Association (ANA), for sharing Dr. 

Ernest J. Grant, PhD, RN, FAAN, ANA President with us on Saturday, October 2nd, 

2021 at the Aliante Hotel, Casino, & Spa. We are excited and honored to have Dr. 

Grant as our Shining Stars of Nursing in Nevada Keynote Speaker. 

recipient of the 2021 Distinguished Nurse Award, based on lifetime achievement 

and service, will be honored. The previous winners, selected judges who live outside 

of Nevada, and Ian Curley, on behalf of 2018’s recipient Margaret Curley, will score 

the nominations. 

People’s Choice Chief Nursing Officer, Dean/Director of Nursing (CNO/DON) 

of the Year Award – All nominees of the 2021 top-rated People’s Choice CNO/ 

DNO in Nevada will be honored. Nominations are open through September 15, 

2021. Visit the NNF Website to nominate or vote for your favorite CNO/DON. 

Dr. Grant will have a full itinerary while in Nevada, including meeting with the 

Nevada Nurses Association and Nevada Nurses Foundation. On October 2nd, 

he will begin his day attending the Shining Stars of Nursing Student Event held 

at the Aliante Hotel, Casino, & Spa. Thank you, Dr. Grant, for spending time with 

our Nevada nursing students and sharing your wisdom. We appreciate and value 

your commitment to all nurses and student nurses. We hope you enjoy Nevada, Dr. 

Grant! 

Have you ever worked for an organization who never says thank you or let 

you know how invaluable you are to them, your institution, your community, or 

your profession? On behalf of the NNF, thank you for being a nurse or pursuing 

nursing. Thank you for practicing nursing in Nevada. You are valuable, needed, and 

necessary. Your contributions 

directly impact Nevada citizens’ 

access to quality healthcare. Let 

us always elevate and lift our 

colleagues. Let your colleagues 

know you care about them. 

The Shining Stars of Nursing in 

Nevada is a wonderful platform 

for letting nurses know how 

much we value them. Visit https:// 

NVNursesFoundation.org to 

nominate yourself or someone 

else. 

Distinguished Nurse Leader 

with Lifetime Achievement 

Award – the nominees and



Nevada Rising Stars: Student Nurse Leader Awards – the recipients of 

the Student Nurse Leader Awards will be honored. These student nurses are 

selected by their respective schools, institutions, and organizations based on their 

involvement in the nursing profession, demonstration of leadership skills, effective 

communication, and promoting quality care in their community. The Foundation 

also recognizes student volunteers who helps at our fundraising events. Schools 

wishing to have their outstanding student nurses recognized at the event should 

submit those names and a few word about them to Stars@NVNursesFoundation.org 

by September 10, 2021. 

“50 Under 50” Awards – The 

average age of a nurse leader is 50 

years of age. Nominate nurses who 

are leading change and making a 

difference in Nevada. Let us know 

the names and contact information 

of the nurses who have demonstrated 

excellence in practice and leadership 

and are providing safe quality 

healthcare. Nominations are accepted 

through September 10, 2021. 

Shooting Stars: Professional 

Progression Awards – Recognizing 

nurses who advance their nursing 

degree and obtaining certification 

in their practice aligns with the 

Foundation’s mission to increase access to quality healthcare for Nevada citizens. All 

nurses who have completed advanced degrees and specialty certifications in 2020 

and 2021 will be honored. Submissions accepted through September 19, 2021. 

Nurses on Boards – All nurses who served on governing or advisory boards 

local, state, regional, or national level, representing the nursing occupation or 

healthcare issues and concerns during 2020 and 2021, will be honored. If you know 

of a colleague who should be recognized, please submit a nomination. 

Partnering Professional Nursing Organizations’ Stellar Nurses – Many 

professional nursing organizations do not have a venue to recognize their stars. 

For all of the professional nursing organizations supporting the Nevada Nurses 

Foundation, we offer an opportunity for them to select a stellar nurse to be 

recognized at the NNF’s Shining Stars of Nursing in Nevada Awards Gala. The 

criteria and selection of the stellar nurse are determined by each professional 

nursing organization. Please submit the nurse’s name, a profile picture, the name of 

the organization, and contact information to Stars@NVNursesFoundation.org



The NNF has been hosting nursing dinner and awards galas since 2016. Because 

the Foundation serves all of Nevada, the gala rotates locations from the south to the 

north. The Shining Stars of Nursing in Nevada Awards Gala was held at the Nugget 

Hotel and Casino in Sparks, Nevada in 2018 and 2020. In 2022, we anticipate 

returning to the Nugget Hotel and Casino inside the Celebrity Showroom. 

Recognition of Nevada Nurses Foundation Scholarship Recipients & 

Donors – We honor individual and corporate donors who have set aside funds from 

their charitable giving to create personal/professional legacy scholarships in their 

individual/corporate name or after someone they wish to honor. With this naming 

opportunity comes the privilege of deciding the scholarship criteria. Legacy donors 

will be recognized. 

The following Legacy Scholarships are open for individuals to donate specifically 

to that fund. 

• From 1 Nurse to Another “Eminence” Scholarship – sponsored by the 

From 1 Nurse to Another organization to be awarded to a minority single 

parent nurse pursuing an advanced degree. 

• Margaret Hatton Legacy Scholarship – sponsored in memory of Margaret 

L. Hatton. 

• Yvette Wintermute Endowed Legacy Scholarship – sponsored in 

memory of Yvette Wintermute. 

• Frontline Heroes Endowment Fund – a endowment specifically for 

funding scholarships to frontline acute care nurses. 

• Greg Peistrup Endowed Legacy Scholarship – sponsored by family and 

friends in memory of Greg Peistrup, APRN. 

• Erick Christopherson Endowed Legacy Scholarship – sponsored by the 

Christopherson Family and Friends in memory of Erick Christopherson, Orvis 

School of Nursing Student Nurse. 

• Linda Beck Platz Memorial Fund – in memory of Linda Platz, RN. 

• Lauren Nicole Delameter Nursing Scholarship – in memory of Lauren 

Delameter, RN. 

• Patricia Herlihy Alfonso Nursing Scholarship – in memory of Patricia 

Herlihy Alfonso, RN and past instructor at a number of northern Nevada 

schools and colleges. 

• Margaret and Ian Curley Endowed Nursing Scholarship – in memory of 

Margaret Curley, who among many other achievements was past Executive 

Director of the Nevada Nurses Association and the 2018 recipient of the 

Distinguished Nurse Leader with Lifetime Achievement Award. 

• Jami-Sue Coleman Scholarship – this scholarship will be awarded to a 

Nevada nurse pursuing a PhD from an accredited college. 

• Dr. Deloris Middlebrooks Legacy of Nursing Scholars Fund 

• Nevada Rural & Frontier Scholarship Fund 

• Betty Razor Scholarship 

Get your outfits and Big Hats ready for the 2022 8th Annual Big Hat “Kentucky 

Derby” High Tea in the spring. We plan to return to the Nevada Governor’s 

Mansion! The Big Hat High Tea has sold out within a week of advertising. Follow us 

on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and LinkedIn. We will be sharing the flier on social 

media. 

The Nevada Nurses Foundation is a federally recognized 501(c)(3) non-profit 

organization. We have an all-nurse executive board and the advisory board is 

made up of nurses and non-nurses. If you would like to help raise funds for 

scholarships and grants by donating your time, services, or resources, please let us 

know at Stars@NVNursesFoundation.org. All gifts, no matter the size, are always 

appreciated. 

Thank you and have great days, 

Sandra Olguin, DNP, MSN, RN 

President, CEO 

Nevada Nurses Foundation 

If you are interested in creating a Legacy Scholarship or an Endowment but you 

have questions, please let us know at scholarships@NVNursesFoundation.org. 

Forever Stars – All our recent (2020-2021) fallen nursing stars will be recognized 

in memoriam in the souvenir program and slide show. A paragraph about the fallen 

nursing star and a picture would be appreciated, but they will be recognized with 

or without a brief bio or picture. Please submit names and supporting material to 

Stars@NVNursesFoundation.org.

Nevada RNformation - September 2021

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