It’s a beautiful thing when a career and a passion come together. For many members of the Walden community, that intersection happens to be nursing. As more and more nurses step out of their comfort zones and becoming active contributors and innovators in the healthcare system, they are leading the way in an ever-changing and evolving field. In recognition of National Nurses Week, Spotlight on Walden wants to share some of our graduates’ insights on how they are changing their profession and inspiring others to make a difference.
How have you translated your Walden education into action in your community?
“I work in a hospital in Nassau, Bahamas, and I plan to use my Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) degree from Walden University to provide high-quality continuing education for our staff. I want to focus on introducing the use of technology or enhancing technology to deliver our educational offerings for nurses,” said Persephone Munnings, a 2010 graduate. “Walden University’s mission of social change motivated me to run for a position as president of our nurses association. Now that I’m in a more strategic position, I don’t wait for the next social change campaign. We launch our own initiatives for health lectures and public screenings to improve our country.”
“I specialized in Nursing Informatics because the information age has globally influenced the way in which healthcare is delivered,” said Lisa D. Stovel-Rolle, a 2012 MSN graduate. “As a registered nurse, I recognized an opportunity to collaborate with political, organizational, and nursing leaders to introduce and utilize technology in nursing administration, education, research, and clinical practice to improve the delivery of safe, efficient, and evidence-based care in the Bahamas. As the Bahamas’s first nurse Informatician, I am in a strategic position to encourage other nurses to pursue studies in this field of nursing and develop the roles of nursing informatics.”
What kind of impact have you seen?
“My hospital’s staff has even benefited from what I’ve learned,” said Robert McWhirt, a 2013 Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) graduate. “When a classmate shared research she conducted on reducing falls, I applied it to my hospital and saw a 22% reduction in bed falls. The research showed that moving certain items closer to the bed and installing bed alarms and new beds that are closer to the floors have contributed to the reduction. This had a huge positive impact on patient care as well as the hospital’s bottom line.”
“My education at Walden provided me with the tools to feel confident that I can make a difference to raise awareness about post-traumatic stress disorder and be credible in my efforts to bring attention to the needs of the community I serve,” added Myra Vizier, a 2008 MSN graduate.
How important is it to inspire nursing colleagues?
“Someone took the time to help me when I was transitioning into school nursing,” said Tia Campbell, a 2008 MSN graduate. “If we want to be recognized as experts, we have to take the time to groom the leaders who are coming behind us.”
“I’ve been a registered nurse for more than 15 years. I’m currently working as a nuclear stress nurse and with a special procedures group in St. Augustine, Florida,” said Richard Denelle, a 2010 MSN graduate. “My MSN degree will allow me to start to pass on my knowledge, skill, and expertise to a new generation of nurses.”
To celebrate National Nurses Week, the School of Nursing is offering four full-tuition and eight $10,000 Nurses of the Year scholarships for new students enrolling in the Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN), Master of Science in Nursing (MSN), or Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) program. Visit www.WaldenU.edu/nursesoftheyear for detailed scholarship entry requirements. Learn more about Walden's online nursing degrees.