Stories of Community Engagement
Cynthia Samuel, PhD, RN, CSN-NJ, School Nurse
Irvington, NJ
We’re on the forefront in making schools safe for our children. School nurses make a difference ensuring that our families stay healthy and safe during this pandemic.
Theresa Bowick, BSN, RN, Radio Nursing
Rochester, NY
Also known as “Nurse Bowick”, in Rochester New York, where she hosts the popular radio show, “Health Beats” on WDKX 103.9 FM. There she uses the airwaves as a forum for community health. Using the tag line, “we’re gonna talk about it”, every Tuesday morning she engages the community in the most nontraditional and previously forbidden topics. Her approach to health education is quite unconventional. Her mammogram was videotaped and posted online to encourage women in her community to have the screening. Bowick’s courageousness inspired over 150 uninsured women to receive mammograms. She wears a dress made of real collard greens to promote her first book, Collard Green Curves-A Fat Girl’s Journey from Childhood Obesity to Healthy Living. The self-published memoir provides insight on the many factors beyond poor food choices and lack of exercise that contribute to childhood obesity, such as poverty, blended families, domestic violence, educational and religious institutions. In 2017, Collard Green Curves debuted as a stage play to a sold out crowd at Geva Theatre. Bowick’s other publications include; Sisters We Must Fight This, a Rally Cry for Women and Girls Living with HIV/AIDS, and My Brothers are Dying—a Nurse’s Plea for Black Men.
Hannah McConnell, RN, BSN, Community Health
Providence, RI
We are the two staff nurses at Rhode Island Free Clinic in Providence, RI, a clinic that provides preventative health services to uninsured people living in Rhode Island. In the past year, we have organized a holiday coat drive, holiday toy drive, donations for a local food bank, and other community-focused events. We held a influenza vaccine clinic for our patient population, some of the most vulnerable members of our state (pictured) in November 2021. Karen was employee of the month at the clinic in December. We see patients daily, either taking comprehensive health histories for new patients or checking blood pressures and providing diabetes education. We are both in the process of becoming CDOE educators in Rhode Island. We love the teamwork involved in working as a nurse and couldn’t do our job without the help of the other!
Lance Trevor, RN, Psychiatric and COVID19 Responder
A.D, AE
An experienced and qualified licensed Registered nurse with general experience, psychiatric & COVID 19 background.
Able to work with initiative for patients with various mental health illness and chronic medical conditions whilst ensuring that all health care procedures and practices are adhered to in collaboration with other healthcare. professional. I usually volunteered during my free time at my local community. There’s always a time in giving to others without expectations. That is one of my goals and that’s the value of volunteering.
Armando Martinez, MSN, RN, CMSRN, MEDSURG-BC, Medical Surgical
Elgin, IL
Giving back and living our mission.
Reimund Serafica, Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner
Las Vegas, NV
I’m the current president of Asian American Pacific Islander Nurses Association of Nevada. We as an organization recognized the impact of Anti Asian hate crimes in our profession and community. We reacted proactively by bringing awareness, education, and dialogue to our fellow nurses and the citizens of our community by providing critical resources how to safely intervene when experiencing or witnessing anti Asian hate crimes or harassments.
Connie Perkins, PhD, RN, CNE, Nursing Education
St. Bonaventure, NY
St. Bonaventure University RN-BS in Nursing Students volunteer at the Remote Area Medical clinic helping provide 279 patients receive $116,118 in free medical services!
Sheri Nater, RN, Emergency/Informatics
South Bend, IN
I have had the opportunity to travel all over the world doing medical missions. This was a trip a few years back where we held a clinic in a small town while hiking the Lares Trail in Peru. Able to meld two things I love — nursing and travel!
Reggie Cartnal, BSN, RN, Neuro Stepdown
Florissant, MO
Volunteering my free time to the community helping people get vaccinated against Covid during this pandemic.