Preparing for Disaster: UNM Hospital Participates in Region-Wide Emergency Training
By Kayleen Schenk
UNM College of Nursing: Celebrating our Nurses
Every year from May 6-12, the world of health care celebrates National Nurses Week. During this time nurses are recognized for their service and dedication to all aspects of nursing, including patient care, education and research.
“Nurses are foundational to health care in both New Mexico and beyond. I encourage people to recognize the nurses in their lives and communities this week, as well as year-round.”
“Nurses are foundational to health care in both New Mexico and beyond. I encourage people to recognize the nurses in their lives and communities this week, as well as year-round,” said University of New Mexico College of Nursing Dean Carolyn Montoya, PhD, RN, CPNP. “It is vital that we support those dedicated to this field, whether they be active professionals, students, educators, retired or a combination thereof.”
As the state continues to grow, it’s more important than ever to raise up the next generation of nurses with new, innovative educational approaches. The College of Nursing offers several programs, including a bachelor of science in nursing (BSN), a doctor of nursing practice (DNP), a post-graduate certificates, and a doctor of philosophy (PhD).
“Our state needs nurses that are prepared to provide care to both the rural and the underserved, which is what all UNM College of Nursing programs are designed to do,” says Montoya.
In celebration of National Nurses Week, below are three stories that highlight different facets of the nursing profession all from the UNM College of Nursing.
Sharia Betsoi, UNM College of Nursing Accelerated 2nd Bachelor’s of Science in Nursing Degree student
Sharia Betsoi is a natural advocate. She wishes to use her quickly developing nursing skills to serve rural and underserved communities like the Navajo Reservation where she grew up. Originally a community health worker, she noticed the overlap the profession has with nursing in the areas of advocacy, the desire to help others and a curiosity for health care advancement.
“I want to bring my personal perspective and everything I’m learning in the ABSN (Accelerated Bachelor of Science in Nursing) program to the patients I treat and make sure they get the help they really need and have a positive experience.”
“Growing up in a rural place without basic things like running water, you get a different idea of what people need when they seek out health care. I want to bring my personal perspective and everything I’m learning in the ABSN (Accelerated Bachelor of Science in Nursing) program to the patients I treat and make sure they get the help they really need and have a positive experience,” Betsoi says.
Along with nursing she wishes to develop and facilitate youth educational activities for communities like the Navajo Reservation so that young people of various ages can have a safe, resourced place to go to experience togetherness and learn new skills.
She says, “youth need the opportunity to learn new skills and have positive influences in their lives so they do not end up falling into cycles like addiction or other negative health disparities. It’s also important for young people to learn about career opportunities so they can dream big and not feel limited.”
Katherine DiBella Seluja, MSN, CPNP
Katherine Seluja, MSN, CPNP, is a pediatric nurse practitioner with over 40 years of experience in pediatrics. She loves her longstanding role as a preceptor for UNM College of Nursing students because she gets to promote student learning by asking fair, challenging questions and encouraging their own research to better understand a diagnosis or a treatment and management plan.
“Nursing is a profession of lifelong learning and professional development and my students keep me excited to keep growing and developing.”
“I’ve been precepting – mentoring nursing students – since 1991, and I still learn something new every time. Nursing is a profession of lifelong learning and professional development and my students keep me excited to keep growing and developing,” says Seluja.
Along with her many years of impactful nursing practice, Seluja is also a poet, showing that our nurses have eclectic lives filled with both responsibilities and accomplishments in the health care field as well as in other endeavors.
Krista Scorsone, PhD, RN, PMHNP-BC
Krista Scorsone, PhD, RN, PMHNP-BC, loves how innovative nursing allows her to be. In her current role as an Associate Professor at Regis University in Colorado, she draws on the skills and knowledge she developed in the College of Nursing’s PhD program.
“I love the role that I have now. It’s a nice mix of doing some teaching, clinical work and staying immersed in research,” Scorsone says.
Her own research focuses on understanding barriers and facilitators to accessing substance use treatment for those living with opioid use.
“Nursing research allows us to ask compelling questions and carry our meaningful projects that fill gaps in health care policies and practice.”
She continues, “nursing research allows us to ask compelling questions and carry our meaningful projects that fill gaps in health care policies and practice. I’m very grateful for the mentorship I received during my time in the College of Nursing’s PhD program because it allows students to have autonomy and shape their studies based on what they want their future as a nurse to look like.”
If you are interested in becoming a nurse for advancing your nursing career, explore the programs at the UNM College of Nursing HERE