May 2005

COVER STORY

Angels in New Mexico The Pride of Presbyterian


by Connie Thompson

 

 

 

 

 

 

FEATURES

Healing bodies and Spirits
by Sabra Brown Steinsiek

The Future of Nursing

  • Is There A Nurse Available? : The Nursing Shortage in New Mexico
  • Minorities in Nursing: The Increasing Need
  • New Mexico Center for Nursing: Excellence Encouragement, Advocacy, and Support
  • Nursing- One Family’s Legacy
  • Second Degree Program Offers First Class Career
  • A Lifetime of Career Opportunities: Advanced Practice Nurses

    • Angels in New Mexico
    The Pride of Presbyterian
    by Connie Thompson

    According to Mark Reifsteck, senior vice president and chief operating officer at Presbyterian Healthcare Services, the organization has been in operation longer than New Mexico has been a state. Over 96 years, Presbyterian has grown to become New Mexico’s second largest private employer and largest provider of health care. Altogether, more than 8,000 employees provide healthcare services to 585,000 New Mexicans through seven hospitals, 37 clinics, and the state’s largest health plan.

    Among the advantages of working at such a large organization are the opportunities for growth and variety. Many employees spend their entire working careers at “Pres,” which is almost unheard of in our generation.

    “We have a tremendous team with incredible depth of experience,” says Reifsteck. “Doctors, nurses, techs, aides, volunteers, administrators—everyone works together to deliver quality patient care.” Building that team, it turns out, is no small feat.

    “Nationwide, there is a staffing shortage,” says Renee Reimer, Presbyterian’s senior vice president of human resources. “With nurses especially, the vacancy rate at an average metropolitan hospital is 12-16 percent. We believe that nurses can’t do their best work in that kind of environment. One of our top priorities at Presbyterian is keeping nurse vacancies low, so that every nurse can deliver the best care.” At 6.1 percent, nurse vacancies are much lower at Presbyterian and Kaseman hospitals and would be even lower if not for the 50 newly created positions for which Presbyterian is now hiring. Later this year, Presbyterian will offer 25 additional new positions in Rio Rancho.

    Reimer attributes this success to the level of support that Presbyterian offers. “We tend to think of our nurses as angels,” she says, “because that’s what they can be to our patients.” We spoke with several angels at Presbyterian and asked them to share their experiences. We’d like to introduce them to you.

    Diane has been a nurse since 1970. Her career has consisted of public health, home health, and advanced practice nursing. Diane’s love of managing led her to population health management, which employs a proactive approach to treating broad health issues in a given community.

    “There’s a lot of emphasis on the skills of the nurse and what areas interest the nurse, whether they want to grow in management skills, or climb the clinical ladder. At Presbyterian, we are fortunate to be in an integrated system where these choices exist within.” Upon expressing her interest in executive management, Diane received the opportunity to attend the Kellogg School of Management in Chicago. When asked about the soft skills among managers at Presbyterian, she commented that input is welcomed at any level. “Ideas which increase efficiency and quality of care are welcomed. If you really want to grow and you are good at what you do, you will advance at Presbyterian.”

    Jennifer attended The Albuquerque Technical Vocational Institute (TVI) where she received her associate’s degree in nursing.     She recently received a bachelor’s degree in nursing from the University of Phoenix by attending night classes. Tuition assistance and support from Presbyterian helped her to achieve her goal. “My manager was constantly asking ‘Where do you want to be in a year? In five years?’” As a result, she now works in a highly specialized role as flight nurse, permanent charge nurse, and also in labor and delivery. Jennifer says, “Our unit is like a family. I find I spend my social time with the people I work with. When you become close in this field, you watch out for each other. When you are in a profession where you care for a living, you have to care for the people you work with.” At Presbyterian, angels make good friends.

    Manuel started as a chart rounder in cardiology in 1995 while attending nursing school. After graduating, he became a medical surgical nurse at Presbyterian and then a charge nurse. Manual received his MBA from the University of New Mexico while working at Presbyterian Kaseman Hospital. Manuel laughs as he says, “I submitted my final paper on Sunday and received a job offer for the position of director of gastroenterology lab services the following Monday.” Generally speaking, people who earn an MBA have positive career changes within six months of graduation. Manuel’s came in six hours.

    At one time, Manuel had a stereotypical idea of nursing. “The profession is no longer just a bedside profession or just a woman’s profession. It is a highly diverse profession for men and women with tremendous opportunity for growth.”

    “I’ve made many friends here and developed some long-lasting relationships. I was born at Presbyterian and Presbyterian cares for my family.” Manuel met his fiancée here, who is also a nurse. Apparently, angels also marry angels.

    Doyle is one of 100 people responsible for the implementation of a multi-million dollar clinical information system that Presbyterian is installing. This computer-based networked system contains a nurse-friendly template that communicates physician and nursing orders. According to Doyle, having these orders online and networked for easy access will improve patient safety and the efficiency of patient management. When asked how he began his career in health care, Doyle said, “I wanted to work in a profession where I could help people.” He started right out of high school as a paramedic, but soon felt that there were more opportunities for him.

    After receiving a Bachelor of Science degree in Nursing, Doyle worked his way up from surgical intensive care, to emergency, to a flight nurse, and then to director of the emergency department. Working in the emergency department inspired him to get his master’s degree in administration and begin his work as a clinical project manager.

    Kathy is fairly new to Presbyterian, but she has been a nurse for 23 years. She graduated with a Bachelor’s of Science degree in Nursing at the age of 20 and her first position was working in emergency.

    She then became a flight nurse and was promoted to direct the lifeguard flight program. With the desire to learn more about the business aspects of healthcare, Kathy received her MBA in 1992. She accepted the position of vice president and chief nursing officer at Presbyterian in 2003. When asked about the culture at Presbyterian, Kathy described it as “fast paced, results oriented, compassionate, and focused.”

    One of the goals of Presbyterian is to become a Magnet organization. Magnet is a designation awarded by the American Nurses Credentialing Center and is basically the highest achievement that a nursing organization can receive. Kathy loves her job and is passionate about Presbyterian. Her goal is to make certain that Presbyterian is providing high quality care wherever angels are needed.

    Linda began her career in nursing 28 years ago on a general medical floor. She quickly moved into critical care and enjoyed the challenge involved in caring for heart patients. Now she enjoys providing preventative care. Teaching cardiac patients how to take care of their conditions has been equally as challenging and highly rewarding.
    The fact that Presbyterian is a leader in New Mexico in cardiac care was the determining factor for Linda in choosing where to practice her skills. She wanted to grow in an area of practice that held meaning for her. Initially, she was hired as an educator, but found she missed patient care. When the Presbyterian Heart Group formed in 1997, Linda advanced to become a clinical nurse specialist and was able to do both. According to Linda, a lot of angels out there are making a second career in healthcare.
    “As a nurse at Presbyterian, you have a unique opportunity to make a difference in other people’s lives and your own,” says Renee Reimer. “We offer purposeful work, support, and opportunities for nurses at all levels, from nursing school students to experienced nurses with advanced degrees.” At Presbyterian, angels are not only invited to stay, they are welcomed to make it their own.

    Connie Thompson is a writer, director, and producer of creative, corporate, and motivational scripts, articles, and press releases. Contact her at (505) 994-1977 or at multimediasavvy@ aol.com.

     

    		  

    Patricia Conkling, C.N.P.
    Healing Bodies and Spirits
    by Sabra Brown Steinsiek

    Patricia “Pat” Conkling has a vision—to promote lifelong health of the body, mind, and spirit. To that end, she operates Meadowlark Family Healthcare in Rio Rancho, a family practice office that offers house calls.

    Pat is a Certified Family Nurse Practitioner, defined as “a registered nurse with advanced education [a minimum of a master’s degree] and clinical training for a healthcare specialty.” In Pat’s case, that specialty is family practice. She is licensed by the Nursing Board in New Mexico and is nationally board certified.

    Pat grew up in a military family and describes her early life as “extremely transient.” She has now lived in New Mexico for more than thirty years. She attended the University of New Mexico and completed her Bachelor of Science degree in Biology at New
    Mexico Highlands University in Las Vegas.

    When asked why she chose nursing, Pat says, “I wanted to be a doctor and fully expected that would be my future. When my mother was diagnosed with terminal cancer, I left my undergraduate work in Boston and returned to New Mexico. Over the next couple of years, I finished my degree at Highlands, met my husband Mark, a teacher in the philosophy department at Highlands, and started a family. My goal was ‘on hold’ while we had the children. Along the way, I realized what I really wanted was to be a healer and the role of nurse practitioner was a better fit for my personality and temperament.” After her third child, she finished her degree at UNM.

    Pat’s advanced training was at the University of Wyoming with an emphasis in rural care. This further developed into an interest in medically underserved populations, not only rural, but inner city, and prison populations, as well as “the most medically underserved group, the forty-five million uninsured.” Pat says her mother beat cancer and remains well to this day, something she attributes to strong faith and the power of prayer. “Our spirituality is an important part of our lives,” she says. “We are mind, body, and spirit. That spiritual dimension is a major component in my approach to healing and wellness.”

    Pat’s husband, Mark, associate pastor at Albuquerque’s Asbury United Methodist Church, notes, “Her medicine is her ministry, her calling. I am very proud of her.” Interviewed in her office, Pat is passionate about her work, offering services to the whole family, regardless of background or insurance status. “One of the reasons I decided to open a practice was to have the freedom to practice differently. I don’t want to be on the treadmill of mass production medicine. I want to spend time with people and get to know them. Studies show that health care managed by a family practitioner provides ten times higher care, for one-tenth the cost of specialists.” She sees herself as the coordinator of all care for her patients.

    The elderly are a perfect example of the importance of the coordinator position. “The older population tends to have fragmented care,” she says. “It helps to have someone oversee their total care, especially medications. Since they see many specialists, there are often duplications or conflicts that are not only dangerous but an added expense.”

    Care for the elderly leads her to make house calls to see patients in their home settings. The contact is helpful since she can see problems that might not be apparent in an office visit. At the moment, house calls are only a small percentage of her practice. “Ironically, many of my patients don’t want to trouble me.” She hopes to increase the calls soon by taking on a partner to help with office visits. “It’s part of my philosophy. Work and home environments, family, recreation, and relaxation are all important factors in overall wellness.”

    “Our medical system focuses on illness, high tech interventions, and high ticket procedures. That’s not bad in itself, but it is unbalanced to use all of our resources to intervene with complex problems instead of encouraging and maintaining wellness. The ideal form of treatment is prevention.” She goes on to note, “Estimates of stress and lifestyle-related illness are 80 percent or higher. Of course genetics play a major role, but we can control many medical problems by taking care of ourselves and our environment.”

    Environmental causes are close to Pat’s heart, and she supports several organizations, including the Natural Resources Defense Council, the World Wildlife Fund, and the Sierra Club. “Our global environment affects our health. An example is air quality and the skyrocketing asthma rates in children and adults.” She also supports Covenant House, various rescue missions, and the United Methodist Committee on Relief.

    With office hours that include Saturdays, Pat doesn’t have much spare time. She enjoys sewing and makes porcelain dolls, but much of her time is devoted to prison ministry and grief counseling, two causes very close to her heart.

    She has been active in prison ministry at the Women’s Prison in Grants in the past and hopes to return when she takes on a partner. This is strictly a personal volunteer activity. She points out that health care for exfelons is a real problem. “Most of them can’t get a job with benefits and can’t afford care.”

    Pat has worked in several areas of nursing, including pediatric and cardiac care. While she was involved in intensive care and hospice, she became interested in grief counseling. Her master’s thesis was titled Complicated and Chronic Grief in HIV and AIDS.

    “Grief is something we all experience, and appropriate management is support and care, not medication. When people experience loss, they are often treated as if they are depressed, when in fact they need bereavement support. The time and process around a terminal event requires a lot of attention and a team approach to face the end of a physical life. Hospice care gives patients and families time to prepare. Grief requires empathy and compassion. It is often ignored and can be mistaken for a medical problem,” she says.

    Some of her grief work revolves around women who have miscarried, something close to her heart. When she speaks to these women, “Molly,” her first porcelain doll, often accompanies her. “In every loss there is a gift,” she says. “Discovering the gift can be difficult. I had to learn to understand the transformation of the loss into a celebration of life. For example, in the process of making dolls, I began to understand that rejuvenating my spirit through this creative process was possible. The gift of a creativity I didn’t know I had became evident. It challenged me to develop skills and confidence and grow as a person.”

    Pat leads a bereavement support group in Rio Rancho. She also serves on the board and volunteers at the Children’s Grief Center of New Mexico (505) 323-0478, a nonprofit organization that offers grieving children and families “caring support they need to foster hope in the future.”

    When asked about advice for young women considering the medical fields Pat says, “Nursing has a broad range of specialties and a breadth and depth from routine to independent practice. If your gifts include compassion, critical thinking, humility, and problem solving, becoming a Certified Nurse Practitioner can hold tremendous promise and a challenge personally and professionally. To give of oneself is meaningful and gratifying.”

    As for Pat, she considers this her “life-work, not just a job, not just a career. It’s who I am and who I am always going to be.”
    Pat Conkling can be reached at Meadowlark Family Healthcare, 4200 Meadowlark Lane SE, Suite 2, Rio Rancho, NM 87124 (505) 891-9990.

    Sabra Brown Steinsiek is a regular contributor to New Mexico WOMAN and is author of the prize-winning novel, Timing Is Everything. Her first book of poetry, Red Velvet Shoes: Contemporary Haiku, will be released in May 2005. She can be reached through her website at     http://www.sabrasteinsiek.com
    Is There A Nurse Available ?
    The Nursing Shortage in New Mexico

    Perhaps you’ve read about the nursing shortage. Does it resonate as a real issue in your life? Let’s put the problem in perspective. A lack of nurses has caused 72 percent of hospitals to reduce services, 38 percent of home care agencies to refuse referrals, and 15 percent of long-term care facilities to refuse admissions; and public health offices are cutting vital services.

    Get the picture? During the last year, in New Mexico, emergency room patients have been turned away, fewer hospital beds are available, clinic hours have been shortened, and some intensive care units have closed, despite the fact that there are 14,400 RNs and 3,000 LPNs.

    New Mexico’s healthcare facilities report vacancies they cannot fill. Each year nursing programs in the state graduate approximately 650 nurses. With 1,244 vacant positions, more than 550 nurses are needed, and the gap is widening.

    To further exacerbate the situation, nearly 43 percent of New Mexico’s nurses are over 50 years of age. Some experts estimate that 50 percent of the nurses will retire within three years. The pipeline of new nurses entering the profession is not large enough to replace retiring nurses.

    Workplace injury and the stresses of a physically, emotionally, and mentally demanding job present a dilemma for aging nurses, “Do I stay or do I go?” According to the New Mexico Center for Nursing Excellence (NMCNE) nursing workforce demand must address three factors: current vacancies, the number of new nurses needed, and new demands for nurses based on population growth and the aging population.

    Every nursing program in the state has a waiting list, yet nursing faculty positions remain vacant because average faculty salaries are about half of those for comparable clinical nurses. National accreditation standards require that faculty in associate degree programs have a Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) degree; MSN students must be taught by PhD nurses. The numbers do not add up. This is a crisis.

    In response, the New Mexico Commission on Higher Education (NMCHE) and the UNM Health Sciences Center launched a planning process in July 2002 to examine these issues. The result is known as NS4, “Report from the New Mexico Nursing Shortage Statewide Strategy Sessions.” NMCNE, NS4, and others agree that the number one priority is to double the number of licensed nursing graduates each year, and to sustain this effort for at least 15-20 years and probably beyond.

    To achieve this, the capacity of nursing schools must be expanded. NMCNE and NS4 indicate this can be done in a variety of ways. Addressing the nursing shortage: For fiscal years 2003 and 2004, the Legislature allocated $2 million for programs focusing on NS4 priorities.

    Funds were distributed statewide. This funding has almost doubled the number of nursing student slots from 559 to 1,115. However, the full impact on graduation and licensure pass rates will not be evident until later this year.

    Increasing and improving clinical education: Creative methods are being developed to accommodate the need for clinical site rotations. The search for acceptable clinical rotation sites is an ongoing process.

    Expanding enrollments in nursing education programs: Some programs report between six and 75 qualified applicants who cannot be enrolled because of the lack of qualified faculty, classrooms, and lab space, and the scarcity of clinical sites. For programs providing basic nursing education, enrollment has increased by 18 percent. But the shortfall persists.

    Developing nursing programs to accelerate second baccalaureate degree students through nursing and attracting students from other fields: Some nursing programs fast track students with degrees from other disciplines, such as biology or chemistry, into intensive nursing programs. NMCNE is developing a list of mentors to help these students and nurses transition into their new roles. Scholarships are also available to reduce the financial burden.

    Creating seamless articulation across nursing programs: NS4 indicates the state is losing nursing students because transfer between programs (articulation) is difficult. Recommendations for a statewide articulation plan include mapping baseline nursing curriculum instruction and content on a statewide basis and identifying minimum nursing content and competency.

    Direct support for nursing students is a vital component of these strategies. The NMCNE website posts an extensive list of loan-for-services programs and financial assistance for all levels of nursing education.

    Addressing the nursing shortage requires a multi-faceted approach. The New Mexico Center for Nursing Excellence, the New Mexico Commission on Higher Education, and other public and private agencies are working within local communities to address these complex questions.

    Minorities in Nursing
    The Increasing Need

    The diverse multicultural landscape of New Mexico presents unique challenges for nurses. Chief among these is the nationwide nursing shortage, which has a significant impact on communities of color as well as nurses of color. By 2020, the nursing shortage is projected to grow to over 800,000 nurses or approximately 29 percent, according to Eileen Thomas, PhD, RN, and Assistant Professor at UNM’s College of Nursing. “From my perspective as an African American nurse scientist … it is essential to increase efforts not only to recruit and support nursing students in general but particularly minority students entering nursing programs at the graduate and undergraduate level.” Dr. Thomas contends, “The lack of cultural sensitivity can result in negative health outcomes among ethnic minorities and increased healthcare costs, which is a burden for all of us.”

    Minorities in the health professions are “missing persons,” according to a report by the Sullivan Commission. Named for former U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services, Louis W. Sullivan, the commission, established in 2003, is charged with making policy recommendations to address the scarcity of minorities in health professions. As a group, African Americans, Hispanic Americans, and Native Americans comprise nearly 25 percent of the population, yet these three groups account for less than nine percent of nurses.

    University of Utah faculty member and 2003 UNM College of Nursing graduate, Felina Ortiz, MSN, CNM, notes, “The increasing number of minority patients has influenced schools to recruit more nursing students of color. Nurses who share the same cultural values, beliefs, and language often have a greater understanding of a patient’s needs.”

    Newly appointed dean of the Georgetown University School of Nursing, Bette Keltner, PhD, RN, in a MinorityNurse.Com article observes, “Recruiting more minorities into the nursing profession presents a threefold challenge for nurse educators.”

    “First, it isn’t just a nursing problem,” she asserts. “Increasing diversity has become a challenge for all professions. Historically, when minorities have been barred from participation, there is no pipeline established to lead students into the field.”

    Aimed at opening the pipeline, a recent fourweek Summer Internship Program sponsored by the University of Texas School of Nursing and New Mexico State University was designed to promote research in minority health issues. Recruiting Hispanic and Native American students into careers in nursing is a major objective. “Second,” Keltner says, “although we still primarily recruit women, in medical schools around the country enrollment is now approximately 50 percent men and 50 percent women. It’s hard to recruit minority students when you’re ignoring 50 percent of the minority population.”

    There are several male nursing faculty members in programs around the state. Paul Clements, PhD, APRN, BC, DF-IAFN, is an assistant professor at UNM College of Nursing and has found his nursing niche. At a recent recruitment and information forum, Clements mentions the many programs that are reaching out to men for careers in nursing, such as one sponsored by healthcare giant, Johnson and Johnson.

    Keltner’s third concern is the large number of minority nurses who stop their professional education at the vocational school or associate degree level. “While vocational schools and junior colleges are doing a good job of attracting minorities, those degrees do not lead to leadership positions,” she says. “This keeps minority nurses who do not go on to baccalaureate or advanced degree programs at the low end of the career ladder.”

    This is a very real concern, and New Mexico’s multicultural population pinpoints the need for increased diversity among the ranks of nursing professionals. To this end, the UNM College of Nursing received a $150,000 Hearst Foundation grant aimed at increasing the number of Navajo persons entering the nursing profession and advancing to higher levels of leadership in clinical and academic settings. The project will support the creation of the Navajo Nursing Consortium for Higher Education, which includes Navajo-area Native American nursing professionals.

    Our communities are distinct, as are the challenges they face. A unique view of history, culture, language, and often location is desirable when attempting to mitigate the needs of a specific community. Finding the appropriate answers to complicated questions calls for patience, care, and respect … sounds like a job for a nurse.

    New Mexico Center for Nursing
    Excellence Encouragement, Advocacy, and Support

    Do you want a career that makes a difference in the lives of others while offering you personal growth and professional development? Have you considered nursing? The rewards are great and the career paths are virtually limitless. Incentives to assist students pursue and advance their careers in nursing and to help others considering a career change make it the perfect time to explore nursing programs in New Mexico.

    The New Mexico Center for Nursing Excellence (NMCNE) is a nonprofit organization and a leader in recruitment, retention, and recognition of nurses. NMCNE was created in 2002 with funding from the State Board of Nursing and is working tirelessly on behalf of nurses and nursing students in New Mexico. Through collaborative partnerships, NMCNE advocates for resources to meet the healthcare needs of the people of New Mexico. Fran A’Hern Smith, president of NMCNE, says, “Workforce development and continuous quality improvement are high priorities.”

    The nursing profession faces a myriad of challenges, foremost among them the nationwide nursing shortage and the recruitment and retention of qualified faculty members. Some nursing programs in New Mexico have waiting lists of up to two years. Determined to quell this nursing shortage, NMCNE seeks viable ways to recruit and retain nurses. The organization’s efforts in this regard are diverse, focused, and include:

    Educating middle and high school students on the options and benefits a career in nursing offers:

    NMCNE has developed recruiting brochures, posters, and t-shirts, in both Spanish and English, aimed at middle and high school students.

    Highlighting the career opportunities available, nursing is the recruitment campaign’s focus.

    School nurses and health educators throughout the state distribute the materials.

    Helping students find a school of nursing and explore available financial aid:

    The NMCNE website has links to all nursing programs in the state as well as to scholarship information. Prospective students can contact NMCNE to discuss career choices and other aspects of the nursing profession.

    Assisting nurses who are returning to school for advanced training and degrees:

    In the last legislative session, several appropriation bills were passed to provide funding for graduate education to expand nursing faculty and to study workforce retention issues.

    Matching nurses with mentors who will offer information, advice, and encouragement:

    The Clinical Teaching Institute, which will establish training for nurses to mentor students and staff nurses, is in the planning stages. A’Hern Smith contends that retention is vital. “We’ve done a lot of good work recruiting, but we need to find creative ways to keep nurses.” In New Mexico, approximately 30 nurses a year leave the profession. Informing students and out-of-state nurses of professional standards and licensing requirements:

    A partnership with New Mexico Health Resources was developed to identify specific populations who may qualify for licensure. Career days and job fairs in Arizona, Utah, Texas, and throughout New Mexico were widely attended, and more than 240 nurses have received information about New Mexico’s professional standards and licensing requirements.

    Linking nurses with employers and information on job openings: NMCNE has hosted two job fairs and has links to employers and career avenues listed on their website.

    Forming community partnerships to promote nursing as an exciting, viable career:

    Presbyterian Healthcare Services and the University of Phoenix are collaborating on a public- private, partnership-training program to develop nursing leadership skills. NMCNE is working with the Health Policy Commission, the New Mexico Organization of Nurse Executives, and others to develop and report measures for recruitment, retention, and consumer satisfaction.

    The New Mexico Center for Nursing Excellence can help at any stage in a nursing career:

    NMCNE will:

  • provide information to find the school best suited for your needs
  • help you locate and apply for local, regional, and national scholarships and grants
  • help you choose an appropriate nursing field to fit your interests and goals
  • match you with a mentor to give you information, advice, and encouragement
  • offer a wide range of resources to start—or enhance—your nursing career
  • work to find the job that matches your interests and background

    Whether you are considering a career in nursing, are looking to augment your nursing skills, are interested in a graduate degree, or are changing careers, NMCNE can link you with resources and provide support to help you realize your personal and professional goals.

    		•   Nursing-
    One Family’s Legacy

    Some people know what they want to do with their lives; others must follow the inevitable twists and turns in the road on their journey to discovery. Such is the story of student nurse Gretchen Rice, her mother, Melanie Mayo (a nurse practitioner), and grandmother, Alice Bodnarczuk (a retired nurse).

    As an undergraduate with a double major, Rice received a BA in Philosophy and French. “After graduating I did a lot of traveling and reevaluating. The things I had planned on doing before didn’t seem to fit,” says Rice. “My mother influenced my decision. She saw a description of the accelerated nursing degree program on the UNM College of Nursing website. I had never considered nursing, but after reading about the second degree opportunity and thinking about it, I realized it was something I wanted to do.”

    Rice’s mother, Melanie Mayo, a nurse practitioner, also had twists and turns on her way to becoming a nurse. “I worked as a nurse’s aide in college and was very familiar with the profession. I had my BA from the University of Arizona in English and entered a master’s program in English. I quickly decided that might ruin my love of reading. Because my mom was a nurse, nursing was the last thing I ever thought I’d do. But, I got my BSN from UNM and MSN from the University of Texas at Austin.”

    In the case of Alice Bodnarczuk, a bit of serendipity helped her navigate the road to nursing. “I worked in a chemical lab for General Electric. It was fun and I learned a lot about chemistry.” When the plant closed after the war, Bodnarczuk parlayed her interest in and aptitude for science into opportunity and gained admission to the nursing program at Mt. Sinai Hospital in New York City. She worked at Mt. Sinai for 14 years. Bodnarczuk retired before moving to Albuquerque.

    Why did Bodnarczuk, Mayo, and now Rice choose nursing? In light of the curves in their road to nursing and their rather unique interests, these women could have gone in many different directions. Evidently, nursing touches them in very genuine ways.

    A student nurse in the UNM Second Degree Program, Rice wanted the opportunity to do something valuable, for herself and others. “I like the close contact nurses have with patients and the opportunities for communication and growth.”

    Grandmother Alice Bodnarczuk says, “Nursing was a good job for me because I got to interact with people. I worked the medical surgery floor and, after I became pregnant, they moved me to the nursery. I also worked in the delivery room. I liked it there, so I stayed.”

    A nurse for 20 years, Melanie Mayo has worked at the men’s prison in Grants for four years. “I’ve worked AIDS, AIDS hospice, and general surgery.” Mayo finds many rewards in her work. “I absolutely love what I do. It’s a wonderful experience. I’m so fortunate to have reluctantly become a nurse.”

    Despite her family history, Rice has faced many challenges in the UNM nursing program. Perhaps the biggest was getting used to the “culture” of nursing. Rice contends, “I had no background in science, and hospitals were completely foreign to me. It took a lot of ‘extra thinking’ to put things into perspective.” She recalls, “It was a bit of a shock to sit at home plodding through a med-surg textbook, feeling frustrated and incompetent.”

    She’s happy to say things have gotten better. “I’m back on a more community-oriented track.” The profession of nursing continues to evolve; both new and experienced nurses must keep pace and adjust. Though retired, Bodnarczuk sees many changes. “It’s a lot more technical than in my day. The nurses work with lots of machines. I did more direct patient care. We did everything … all the nursing duties, and we even served and picked up trays.”

    “To stay abreast,” Mayo observes, “nurses today must absorb an enormous amount of information. There are always medications and safety concerns. Most new medications are being used to treat lifestyle conditions. These issues get a person thinking about what’s important.” Gretchen Rice has worked out most of the twists and turns on the road to her nursing career.

    She knows where she’s headed. “I want to work with underserved populations in New Mexico. I’m interested in working with Latin American immigrants and hope that I can impact the delivery of quality healthcare in these communities.” Rice wants to pursue a graduate degree in nursing, to get a master’s in community health or work as a nurse practitioner.

    Alice Bodnarczuk proudly states that she has another daughter, Martha Snow, who is a nurse in the UNM Hospital psychiatric clinic. Another daughter works in the microelectronics field in the Washington D.C. area and is a volunteer paramedic. Nursing really is all in the family. “My daughters are very good nurses and I think my granddaughter, Gretchen, will also be a fine nurse.”

    The roads in life are never straight. There are twists, turns, bumps, and detours. The important thing is to finish the journey, regardless of how long it takes. Melanie Mayo and her mother Alice Bodnarczuk, with nearly 50 years of nursing experience between them, have been frequent travelers on the road to nursing. Gretchen Rice continues her journey. And up ahead, just around the next turn, she can see the end of one journey and the beginning of her new career.

    Second Degree Program Offers First Class Career

    Worlds apart, two very different students— one African, one North American—find themselves sharing the same career path … studying to become nurses. Enrolled in the University of New Mexico’s College of Nursing Second Degree Program, each has her own reasons for being there.

    Mary Kaemper, a clinical lab specialist, found her knowledge of medicine was a natural step to nursing. “I love medicine and thought I could take what I had learned and apply it to my nursing studies.”

    Jeanne Falabi-Bakinde’s background in biology and water science laid the groundwork for her interest in nursing. “I have always wanted to help people. Public health was a keen interest of mine, but once I married and started a family, my life changed.”

    According to the American Association of Colleges of Nursing, the typical second-degree nursing student is motivated, older, and has higher academic expectations than traditional entry-level nursing students. These students, who must have a bachelor’s degree in another area to gain admittance to the program, are valued for the many layers of skill and education they bring to the classroom and the workplace. Mary Kaemper and Jeanne Falabi-Bakinde fit the description perfectly. Falabi-Bakinde holds multiple degrees, while Kaemper, whose degree is in biology, left a promising career in cytogenetics to pursue her degree in nursing.

    Originally from Benin in West Africa, Falabi- Bakinde received a scholarship to study in the former Soviet Union. “I have a BS and MS from Donesk State University in the Ukraine. While living in Tucson, I received another master’s degree from the University of Arizona in soil and water science. I came to Albuquerque with my husband so he could further his studies at UNM.” Native New Mexican Kaemper says, “I’ve worked in a variety of jobs. I even worked with a graduate student from UNM, trapping bats in Bandelier National Monument. It was great, but you can’t have much of a family life when trapping bats for a week at a time.”

    Why would someone leave a successful career, or return to school in pursuit of another degree? The answers are extremely personal. “As a clinical lab specialist, I analyzed people’s chromosomes. I conducted genetic tests such as amniocentesis. I like cytogenetics, but I wanted to work with people. I missed the personal interaction,” says Kaemper.

    Falabi-Bakinde’s interest in clean water issues grew from observations in her country. “Children in Benin are dying from water-borne diseases. I wanted to do something to stop this, hence my interest in public health. I began to explore nursing because I like taking care of people.”

    UNM’s accelerated baccalaureate program began two years ago. Falabi-Bakinde and Kaemper are two of sixteen students in this year’s program, set to graduate in July 2005.

    UNM’s program, like many around the country, is relatively new. The program is committed to addressing the needs of students and the demand for skilled nurses. “We’re the second group of students.” Kaemper explains, “They made some adjustments after the first year, and I’m sure they’ll continue to change things as they go.” Aside from the rigors of the program itself, paying for an education can be the greatest obstacle. Fortunately, financial incentives are in place in New Mexico to offset the costs of obtaining a degree in nursing.

    Presbyterian’s Nursing Second Degree Stipend Program provides financial assistance to students enrolled in the UNM Second Degree Nursing program. Falabi-Bakinde took advantage of the program. In exchange for two years of full-time employment, UNM provides scholarships to nursing students. Interest-free loans of up to $6,500 are also available, depending upon the specific program of study.

    “I’m interested in either pediatric or geriatric nursing.” Jeanne Falabi-Bakinde says she’s considering advanced practice nursing, but admits her immediate plans are to simply enjoy working as a nurse. Mary Kaemper, who plans to focus on either oncology or hospice care, has some advice for students considering an accelerated program. “Be prepared to take a break from your normal life. You must give this program 100 percent. It’s difficult, but if you get through it, you can do anything.”

    Despite the diverse backgrounds of Mary Kaemper and Jeanne Falabi-Bakinde, they have much in common. A desire to work with people and make a difference in the lives of others has brought them both to the UNM College of Nursing Second Degree Program. In light of their individual interests and sensibilities, they’ll likely work in different areas of nursing. However, their professionalism, exceptional skills, and dedication to the profession of nursing will be evident on the pediatric floor or in the cancer unit.

    A Lifetime of Career Opportunities
    Advanced Practice Nurses

    Think of the places you’ve encountered a nurse. Perhaps it was in a hospital or doctor’s office. If you look more closely, you’ll find nurses in the community conducting research, in universities as faculty members, in boardrooms as policy makers, and in cabinet-level government positions. Many of these nurses hold graduate degrees and have received specialized training and education to become advanced practice nurses (APNs).

    A recent article in the eJournal, Topics in Advanced Practical Nursing, asserts that in addition to health promotion and disease prevention, “The advanced practice nurse has further functions in policy making, leadership, and responsibility at the organizational level.”

    Executive Director of the New Mexico Center for Nursing Excellence, Patricia Boyle, MSN, RN, contends, “Advanced practice nurses define nursing in a non-traditional way and are responsible for educating the public about their roles in health care.” According to Boyle, also a health policy instructor in the University of Phoenix BSN Program, APNs are healthcare providers that broaden the scope of practice within communities. In New Mexico, the clinical skills and leadership APNs provide are essential.

    Advanced practice nurses improve standards of care and patient outcomes by ensuring practices are based on sound scientific rationale and research. APNs specialize in many areas. Community Practitioners

    Kathleen Matta, MSN, RNC, IBCLC, works as a clinical instructor with the UNM College of Nursing and recruits nurses at the community college level for UNM’s BSN completion program. “It’s an on-the-ground program that allows nurses to stay in their local communities and pursue their BSN. With the exception of one course, the program is on the Internet.”

    Matta’s initial interest was in psychology and psychiatric nursing. However, the lure of mothers and babies was hard to resist, and she’s worked in obstetrics for 25 years. As a board certified lactation consultant, Matta was instrumental in starting the lactation clinic and doula program at St. Vincent’s Hospital in Santa Fe. Matta, along with members of the New Mexico Breastfeeding Task Force, were advisors to the newly opened UNM Lactation Clinic. Matta states, “Nurses with advanced training improve the depth of our ability and knowledge. We can offer wider care and services to clients in hospitals or communities.”

    Hilary Schlinger, Certified Nurse Midwife CNM, is an independent advanced practitioner with Sage Femme Midwifery. A licensed midwife in New Mexico for 23 years, Schlinger has been a certified nurse midwife for three years and has attended over 700 births.

    “In New Mexico, midwives are recognized as independent practitioners. Midwives have worked diligently to preserve this designation.” Schlinger adds that another benefit to the larger community is their ability to promote a “midwifery” point of view about women’s health and birthing.

    There is an incredible respect for midwifery in New Mexico. The first meeting of what will become the American College of Nurse Midwifery was recently held in Santa Fe. And as a badge of distinction, New Mexico has the highest percentage of midwife-attended births in the nation.

    Mark Edwards, Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist, CRNA is part of the anesthesia team at Lovelace Sandia’s West Mesa Hospital. Edwards, who received his BSN from UNM and his nurse anesthetist training at the University of Nebraska Medical Center, says he enjoys his profession more today than when he began in 1979.

    “It’s a constant learning environment.” Nurse anesthetists combine physiology and pharmacology. “It’s fascinating,” says Edwards, “and the advances in technology make it so interesting; 65 to 75 percent of anesthesia is administered by nurse anesthetists.” Inspired by his mother, who is also a nurse, Edwards began his healthcare career at Los Alamos Hospital. “I observed an appendectomy and was mesmerized by the whole process, especially the anesthesia.”

    Edwards says, “My patient may be an injured child, a senior having hip replacement surgery, or a woman in labor. It’s a collaborative effort, and a good and safe outcome is the goal.”

    Carolyn Roberts, MSN, RN, APRN-BC, FNP, is the Executive Director of the New Mexico Nurses Association (NMNA). A love of science, math, and a desire to help people made nursing an easy choice for Roberts. As an advanced practice nurse, Roberts declares, “Advanced degrees give me legitimacy for my career goals, provide depth of knowledge for nursing instructors, and improve the outcomes of patient care.”

    According to Roberts, APNs work as primary care providers for clients with or without insurance, Medicaid, or Medicare for a variety of practices and clinics. APNs provide valuable services for all segments of society.

    The New Mexico Nursing Association and Roberts have long recognized the vital role of the legislative process in advancing nursing. For more than 20 years, NMNA has held legislative workshops for nursing students. Teaching students, nurses, and instructors about legislative practice, key legislative issues, and reinforcing the importance of being involved has been the focus of these workshops. Nurses are now guiding care, based on nursing and biological sciences, and are legally and ethically accountable for the care they provide.

    Whether training the next generation of nurses, providing leadership for the state’s professional association, or gently guiding the next generation into the world, advanced practice nurses develop policy, improve standards of care, and have a positive impact on the lives in their communities. With great power comes great responsibility. The advanced practice nurse is accountable and responsible to the profession and the community.