ONE NURSE AT A TIME

Sunday, May 12, 2013

NURSES for EDNA -- Kim Law

Kimberly Law graduated from University of Northern British Columbia in 2009 and began her nursing career at Penticton Regional Hospital in the areas of obstetrics and pediatrics. In the fall of 2012 she completed her Nursing Specialty in Perinatal Nursing through the British Columbia Institute of Technology, as well as certificates in Contraception Management and Sexually Transmitted Infections Management. These certificates allowed Kimberly to obtain certified practice in reproductive health. She utilizes the advanced practice in providing reproductive health care at the Kelowna Women’s Services Clinic as and Options for Sexual Health. She is currently in training for the Penticton Regional Hospital’s Sexual Assault Response Team. There seems to be a women’s health theme running through most everything I do, eh?” Kimberly noted.

She became an active volunteer while in nursing school. She took an active part in the Community Health Initiative by Northern University and College Students (CHINUCS), a student run organization that developed outreach programs for marginalized populations in Prince George. Kimberly also travelled with International Student Volunteers to Thailand, and worked in an animal rehabilitation and community education center.

In 2012 Kimberly traveled to Liverpool, United Kingdom to obtain a professional certificate in Emergency Obstetrical Care and Newborn Care, as well as her Diploma in Tropical Nursing, taking a step towards her long standing goal of contributing to global healthcare.

When asked to speak about her upcoming medical mission, Nurses for Edna, in Somaliland Kimberly said, “I appreciate the support from both Barcos Nightingales Foundation and One Nurse At A Ttime. I see this first trip to Somaliland as one of personal growth. I want this project to be long term. I’m passionate about women’s health and global health. The way I see it, what we need to do first, is see what they are doing there and what they need done. I believe you can’t do short term solutions for long term goals and I see this medical mission of Nurses for Edna to be a long term project,”

The first Nurses for Edna is being assisted by the generous support of Barcos Nightingale’s Foundation as well as many others.

Barco’s Nightingales Foundation, operating as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, was founded by Michael and Frida Donner on behalf of Barco Uniforms. The Foundation serves to advance the nursing profession and honor those women and men who devote their lives to serving others through nursing. The Foundation supports the vitality and courageous heart of nursing, while dedicating itself to honoring the spirit of those women and men who choose nursing by focusing its philanthropic efforts on helping to mend lives. For information, follow us on Facebook, contact Barco’s Nightingales Foundation headquarters at 310.719.2108 or email info@barcosnightingales.org

Thursday, May 9, 2013

NURSES for EDNA -- Bethany Langlais

Beth Langlais, RN, BSN graduated from Seattle Pacific University in 2005. She is an accomplished nurse with clinical experience working in diverse populations in Maternal Child Health.

Beth has worked at Swedish Edmonds Hospital in Labor &Delivery and has served as lead preceptor for new staff members. She is described by fellow staff members as a nurse with many strengths, among them her ability to advocate for her patients and her desire to learn. She continually seeks new learning opportunities in the field of nursing.

In June 201, Beth will complete her Masters degree in nursing from University of Washington, School of Nursing, Bothel with an emphasis in global health. “While working on this degree, I have learned a lot about injustice, suffering, and lack of adequate medical care globally. I have become very passionate about these issues and want to do everything I can to change them,” Beth says. Her long term career goals include working in global health for women and children.

Beth has served on medical missions both at home and abroad. In 2001 she volunteered in New York City in a medical clinic that served the homeless. In 2005 she served for 10 weeks in a Medical clinic in Costa Rico. She has volunteered with Girls on the Run of Puget Sound providing a healthy living program for local youth. And, she presently volunteers with the Aurora Mobile Clinic startup, a medical clinic that serves the homeless of Seattle. In March 2012 Beth completed a medical mission to Haiti with Global Health Outreach.

In August, this year, Beth will travel with a team of nurses, Nurses for Edna, to volunteer at the Edna Adan Maternity Hospital in Hegesia, Somaliland. Anticipating this experience Beth says, “While completing my Master of Nursing degree I was shocked to learn about the state of healthcare for women in developing nations. Women are dying every day. It has become my life's goal to improve the health of women around the globe and without the support of ONE NURSE AT A TIME and Barcos Nightingales Foundation I would not be able to participate in serving and partnering with women Somaliland. Their support means we can start making sustainable change in women’s health now. It is a dream come true for me.”

The first Nurses for Edna team is being assisted by the generous support of Barcos Nightingale’s Foundation as well as many others.

Wednesday, May 8, 2013

Sarah David -- NURSES for EDNA

Born and raised in California Sarah David’s first degree was in Early Childhood Development from San Jose University. After a year in teaching preschool she realized she needed more of a challenge. She moved to New York City to attend NYU and completed her BSN through an accelerated track in ----. She is committed to lifelong learning and her long term education goals include obtaining a Master’s in Public Health and a doctorate degree in nursing.

She has volunteered in several different settings fulfilling various tasks and taking on new roles. From soup kitchen server for the homeless, to leading sexual health group sessions for Liberian female adolescents, to conducting home health visits for new mother’s, Sarah found her passion: providing nursing care for populations in need. This passion took her to serve in the Dominican Republic teaching English in the rural town of Montecristi and to Freetown, Sierra Leone where she focused on maternal health in the city’s maternity hospital.

Currently she lives in New York City and works in the Emergency Department in the Bronx, NY. This challenging work atmosphere has taught her to multi-task, prioritize and think critically on her feet. Sarah loves working in a fast paced environment that serves the needs of a diverse population - consisting largely of non-English speaking patients, undocumented individuals, and families living at or below the poverty line.

Her immediate career goals include becoming a Travel Nurse. This will allow her to experience not only different areas of nursing, but living in different parts of the United States as well. It also will provide the work schedule flexible she needs to allow time for her passion: international volunteering. Long term, Sarah plans to take her career into working long term in sustainable, humanitarian programs, at the global level.

Sarah feels it is a privilege to be involved with this first partnership with The Edna Adan Maternity Hospital and fully expects it will be the beginning of a long term relationship. She appreciates the generous support from The Barcos Nightingales Foundation. With great conviction Sarah says, “All the nurses involved are really strong women. It's an honor to work alongside such passionate nurses. One Nurse At A Time and Nurses for Edna have shown me what amazing things can happen when ambitious women join forces and work towards something they believe in.”