SNHCL Newsletter - Spring 2023, Issue 27

Message from the Dean

Greetings UW Tacoma School of Nursing & Healthcare Leadership community!

This is my first official message to you as Dean of SNHCL and I am so very excited to have been entrusted with stewarding our school’s vision and mission. As we approach the end of the academic year, I am keenly mindful and proud of the vitality of our school’s students, staff and faculty who have navigated the “re-entry” back to campus after these past three years of the COVID-19 pandemic. I know that this has not been easy for any of us, personally or professionally, for what we once knew and experienced as “normal” has been forever altered by the pandemic. Despite this, I have witnessed the incredible strength and resolve of our school community to support each other through often ambiguous and uncertain times. It is in times such as these that I believe we are tested to find the open opportunity to learn and grow together as a community and as leaders. This is central to our school’s mission and in our core values of equity, diversity, justice, and inclusion. As Dean, my commitment to you is to uphold these values as we forge together and envision the future of our school.

Recently, I attended a celebratory gathering where one of the speakers talked how the “past”, “present” and “future” might describe themselves. To paraphrase he said, the “past” is about learning from yesterday, the “present” is about actively engaging today in what we learned from the past, and the “future” is about imagining tomorrow.

We have much to learn from those who 30 years ago set in motion what has become the School of Nursing & Healthcare Leadership, and to learn from what has transpired during the pandemic. Today is the opportunity to reflect upon our past, and act upon what we’ve learned to imagine a tomorrow that honors that past, builds upon our aspirations and possibilities, and ensures the future success of our school, its students, faculty, staff, and alumni.

In community with you…David

David Reyes, DNP, RN

Dean, UW Tacoma School of Nursing and Healthcare Leadership

Juana Gallegos

Becoming a Voice, Innovator, and Leader in Nursing

Juana Gallegos chose to become a nurse because she wanted to be a voice for people who resembled her and whose native language was not English. At a young age, she accompanied her grandma to medical appointments and became her translator. Over the years, she saw the need for healthcare workers that speak more than one language. 

Juana decided to pursue a Master of Nursing (MN) degree at UW Tacoma’s School of Nursing and Healthcare Leadership (SNHCL) because her primary goal was to become a professor. She loves teaching and wants to reach a broader Black, Indigenous, and people of color (BIPOC) audience. She would like to help BIPOC students navigate through the educational system and healthcare sector. 

Last fall she began teaching as an adjunct clinical instructor at Green River College and is now a full-time adjunct nursing clinical instructor for both the full and part-time Licensed Practical Nursing programs at Green River College.

Juana also currently runs an adult family home in Vancouver, Washington where many of her patients have dementia. As a result of seeing confused and agitated patients daily, she came up with the idea of a smart video app to assist in providing care for patients with dementia. The smart app with an artificial intelligence (AI) interface would be installed on a phone or a tablet. It would be used with patients who have dementia. Since family members are not readily available, the AI would learn the family member’s voice and respond accordingly to frequently asked questions. When patients are upset, they would hear their family member’s voice via the smart app. Juana explained that hearing a family member’s voice automatically decreases their anxiety in a matter of seconds since the voice belongs to someone they trust. Consequently, they are more willing to cooperate with the caregivers at the adult family home but most importantly, the residents feel a sense of relief and assurance in regards to the care they receive. The purpose of this smart app is to be a calming solution for patients when they are in a state of anxiety and confusion but not as a replacement for physical visits.

For this innovative idea, Juana Gallegos was awarded the prestigious 2022 Queen Silvia Nursing Scholar Award (UWQSNA). The QSNA Award began in 2013 and is only available in seven countries: Sweden, Finland, Poland, Germany, Lithuania, Brazil, and the University of Washington School of Nursing. UW nursing students and alumni get to showcase their projects and go through a round of social media voting on their ideas. Then the top four candidates with the most votes in the United States are interviewed by a group of panelists. Juana went through this process and was selected as the U.S. awardee. She will participate in the grand ceremony this May with the award recipients from these seven countries in Sweden where she will have the opportunity to meet Queen Silvia and present her idea to the international audience.

The UWQSNA awards 6000 euros, approximately $6500 US dollars, to each awardee and expects them to further develop their ideas during the year. However, it is not expected to be viable within that timeframe. When Juana spoke to UW CoMotion about developing her idea, they presented her with resources geared for students in order to further develop the idea. She also continues to work alongside the QSNA UW committee to help further her own research.

After Juana Gallegos graduates from the MN program at the end of March 2023, she plans on focusing her work to increase the BIPOC nursing population. She has been actively working with the Washington Center for Nurses (WCN) Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Associate Fawsi Belal and Rebecca Allen, an alumna of UW Tacoma’s MN program to hold the first ever WA BIPOC nursing conference for nurse leaders on April 1st. After the first year, she hopes to increase the size of this event and open it up to BIPOC nursing students.

Would you like to learn more about our MN student, Juana Gallegos? 

Listen to our Podcast:  SNHCL Meet & Greet on May 4, 2023! 

Dori Unterseher

Education Equals Endless Possibilities

Dori Unterseher was given a red nurse bag with a stethoscope when she was five or six years old for Christmas. Ever since then, she wanted to become a nurse. 

Dori had some exceptional nurse mentors who influenced her, in particular, the Director of Nurses, Marion Roos and the Charge Nurse, Karen Schmidt in her first job as a nurse on a floor with 60 beds in 1975. Their clinical expertise, leadership by example, communications and interactions with staff, organizational skills, and relationships they fostered made a lasting impression on her. It was a great environment to come into as a new nurse and it also gave her the foundation for leadership that she drew upon over the years. Dori was also influenced by chief nursing officers throughout her career who happened to be all women. Each woman brought different strengths. 

Since 1992, Dori has been working at Harbor Regional Health and has been in leadership roles throughout this time as supervisor, manager, director, and now the chief nursing officer (CNO). She has also been a nurse educator as onsite clinical faculty for a college in California, guest lecturer at Pacific Lutheran University, and an Advanced Cardiovascular Life Support (ACLS) instructor at multiple organizations. Dori has both chaired and been an active member of the leadership development team at Grays Harbor Hospital.

Dori, along with two clinical educators, implemented a Nursing Assistant-Certified (NA-C) program for high school students with a consortium of local high schools and Harbor Regional Health Community Hospital. Since it started 13 years ago, the NA-C program has grown to ten local high schools. High school students earn their NA-C throughout the school year as well as get credit for college level classes since it articulates with a local college. This program serves as a pipeline for Nursing and Medical Assistant programs at the local college.

Dori shared that the Master of Nursing degree that she earned from UW Tacoma’s School of Nursing and Healthcare Leadership has lent her a measure of credibility and it is a personal reminder of what she needs to live up to from acquiring the degree. It gives her both the provisional credentials to advance in her career and self-confidence.

From Dori’s personal experience of waiting thirty years to begin her MN program and earn her MN degree, her recommendation for all students is “Take one step at a time and set small goals. You will get there.”

Would you like to learn more about our MN alumna, Dori Unterseher? 

Listen to our Podcast:  SNHCL Meet & Greet on May 4, 2023! 

Dr. Gerianne Babbo

Continuous Educational Journey as an Educator, Regulator, and Student

Dr. Gerianne Babbo knew from a very young age that she wanted to become a nurse. She read all of the Sue Barton book series which were about different nursing roles. When Dr. Babbo was in fifth grade, her father was hospitalized for a month. She loved being at the hospital and observing everything that was occurring. At 16, she did a nursing assistant program at the local hospital. She loved this experience which gave her an appreciation for nursing and the different roles of the healthcare team. 

Dr. Babbo then went on to a diploma program for Nursing at St. Vincent’s College of Nursing. She was part of the last class admitted after 100 years of existence. Her nursing courses were concurrent with general education requirements at Loyola Marymount University. 

Dr. Babbo worked in direct patient care for many years in the intensive care, coronary care units, dialysis, and apheresis. However, she wanted to broaden her focus and decided to work in the emergency room which she ended up doing for over 20 years. Additionally, she had the opportunity to teach new graduates in the emergency room as well as create a residency program along with a colleague. 

AAlthough Dr. Babbo had always wanted to get her Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN), she did not have the opportunity to pursue it until she was in her mid-thirties. She applied to an RN to BSN to Master of Nursing (MN) program at UW Seattle. She was part of the first class of this program and graduated with both BSN and MN degrees in three years.

Since she loved teaching new nurses when she worked in the emergency room, she sought out a faculty position at Olympic College. Dr. Babbo became a tenured faculty member and eventually the Associate Dean of Nursing at Olympic College. Under her leadership, Olympic College became the first community college in WA State and the third in the U.S. to offer the RN to BSN program at the community college level. UW Tacoma guided and supported Olympic College in achieving this outcome.

The Doctorate in Education program started at UW Tacoma in 2013 with an emphasis in Nursing Education as an option. Since Dr. Babbo had been a Nurse Educator for over twenty years, this doctorate program was a perfect fit for her. She enjoyed the concurrent learning with K-12 and higher education learners in the program.

Dr. Babbo then became a Nursing Care Quality Assurance Commission (NCQAC) pro tem and commission member before becoming their Director of Education. As Director of Education at NCQAC, Dr. Babbo’s position involves regulation of pre and post nursing education programs in Washington, out--of-state programs seeking clinical site approvals in Washington state, supporting nursing education program’s alignment with the Washington administrative codes for nursing education, assessment of education preparation of foreign educated nurses for licensure and the newly developed Washington state student nurse preceptorship grant program. The education unit investigates complaints regarding nursing education and submits approvals to the NCQAC for initial nursing education programs as well as changes to existing nursing education programs. Dr. Babbo enjoys her role which supports quality nursing education so graduates are prepared to deliver excellent nursing care to the clients they care for which meets the mission of the NCQAC to protect the residents of Washington state.

Dr. Babbo, a lifelong learner, continues to educate herself. Most recently, she took classes at the International Center for Regulatory Scholarship (ICRS) after she received an email from the organization about graduate level classes that were specific to the regulatory role. She started taking one course at a time which she loved because each course was immediately applicable to her role. ICRS is a development of the National Council State Board of Nursing. She encourages people to take courses with them.

As Director of Nursing Education at NCQAC, she hopes to increase support for nursing education: deans, associate deans, faculty, directors with educational material and resources as well as support nurses who do not have an educational background.

She advises the following for nurses who would like to take on leadership or educator roles:

• Prepare themselves with both education and experiential education
• Surround themselves with a team or develop a team that can be a support in reaching the common goals
• Continue to learn and grow
• Never be afraid to make mistakes and learn from them instead

Would you like to learn more about our Doctorate in Education alumna, Dr. Gerianne Babbo? 

Listen to our Podcast:  SNHCL Meet & Greet on May 4, 2023! 

Dr. Lisa Davidson

A Journey as a Learner and Educator

Dr. Lisa Davidson’s educational journey in Nursing began when she decided to pursue an Associate Degree in Nursing at Highline College. She was not sure at first if she was even suited for higher education. However, she loved learning and the nursing program. Dr. Davidson worked at the Children’s Hospital in the Intensive Care Units (ICU) for about 25 years and intermittently working as an Airlift Flight Nurse at Airlift Northwest for 15 years during that same time. While working, she pursued her Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) and Master of Nursing (MN) with a focus in Education and Ethics at UW Tacoma. She then went on to earn her Doctorate of Nursing Practice (DNP) in Pediatric Nurse Practitioner Primary Care (PNP-PC) track at UW Seattle School of Nursing. 

Currently, Dr. Davidson works as a nurse practitioner at Mary Bridge Children’s Hospital in the Emergency Department and Urgent Care. When she started working there, she noticed there were no physicians assistants nor nurse practitioners working in the emergency department. Under her leadership, she helped start the Advanced Practitioner Provider (APP) program which is similar to a fellowship or residency. This is a year-long program for new physicians assistants and nurse practitioners that is comprised of paid didactic training for six months, training and working alongside physicians for two months, shadowing other healthcare team members, and participating in procedure days. Dr. Davidson has led the didactic portion of the APP program and have included guest speakers such as medical specialists and nurse practitioners. 

Although Dr. Davidson was working full-time as a nurse practitioner, when she found out about a part-time teaching opportunity at SNHCL, she decided to apply. Dr. Davidson was passionate about teaching ever since she was a nurse educator at Airlift Northwest. Also, Dr. Davidson completed both the BSN and MN programs at UW Tacoma and had such a positive and impactful experience that she wanted to be part of the caring and supportive faculty. Since she is a Tacoma resident, she wanted to be involved and give back to the community that she lives in. As a practicing nurse practitioner, her experience and specializations in pediatric emergency medicine, pre-hospital care, critical care, education and ethics have benefited her students since she can identify with and relate to her students’ experiences.

Dr. Davidson is excited to teach Global Health in Spring Quarter 2023. This will be an opportunity for her to share her insights gained from her volunteer work treating patients and/or training locals in Haiti with Global Healthcare International, in Ecuador and Honduras with The International Children’s Heart Foundation, and in Kenya with Pronto International.

Dr. Davidson’s advice to her students is to be strategic with the numerous assigned readings when time is limited but save all the reading material for later since they will need to refer to them in the future when they are working. She also recommends to students to always say yes if asked to be part of a committee, program, podcast, etc.

Would you like to learn more about Dr. Lisa Davidson? 

Listen to our Podcast:  SNHCL Meet & Greet on May 4, 2023! 

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