I have to say that as my family and friends celebrated Thanksgiving last week, I could not stop thinking about how difficult this past year has been for some of our community members. Many issues surrounding the economy and recession including societal issues such as Occupy Phoenix and the never ending Undocumented immigrant issue, this holiday was just different for us. I am not sure if it is the same for others. I do know one thing though....we are rapidly coming to the beginning of a new year...a new consciousness...a consciousness we should not take lightly.

Let us come together as a unified chapter for disseminating our collective chapter and national chapter philosophy of giving and empowerment to our fellow Hispanos y Latinos. 

Let us take care of ourselves, our families and others in order to pass forward positivity and good will. 

Let us fill our souls of spiritual enlightenment and renewal.

Let us reach out to our fellow community member.

Happy December and Christmas..love, peace and joy!

Elizabeth Plata MS MPH PHCNS-BC
Blog Manager, Valle del Sol Chapter member

I am thinking that my New Year's resolution is going to be something to this effect ---- do better at blogging!!!

Just kidding!

I have to say that this year has passed by very very quickly for me and I am sure it has for you. I mean just yesterday we were planning for this year's dance and now we are in the works for 2012's fundraiser dance! Additionally, it seems we were just recently discussing issues of hiring new grads and the difficulty in finding new jobs for this level. I pray all have found a position that is worthy of the success you deserve. The beauty is this ~~ that once graduated and passed NCLEX you wil be on your journey of caring for people - especially within la comunidad.

With that said, let's move into the purpose of this entry. While Thanksgiving holiday is not a traditional holiday celebrated in Mexico or Central/South America, Western infuence has encouraged the development of its own version of Dia de Gracias, Latino-style....so, my version of Thanksgiving feast Latino-style (or for me) Mexican-style is with the juiciest turkey (Butterball, of course), mole, tortillas, arroz con elote, and maybe mashed potatoes, stuffing, gravy, apple pie, pumpkin pie (are you hungry, yet?) and cranberry sauce...am I leaving anything out? Of course, the latter is for my children who(and, yes, I am guilty) grew up eating the traditional Thanskgiving meal where I grew up eating mole poblano for the holiday.

Sounds incredibly high in fat or incredibly good? Whichever, let us compare the nutritional value of some of stated menu. For a Mexican-style Thanksgiving feast, if we were to eat 1/2 cup of mole poblano as compared to a 1/4 cup of brown gravy (brand Heinz) then we would be eating 725 calories as compared to 30 calories. What???

I am stopping there because it will sadden me to know that the better choice is brown gravy for adding flavor and consistency to a meal...(sad face!)

Now that I have thoroughly laid our consciousness path toward healthful choice of food this coming holiday, remember this, it is still all about getting together with family, friends and others to remember and give thanks and gratitude. A word to the wise is to try this website for comparing calories in food - www.calorieking.com.

Blessings,
Elizabeth Plata MS MPH PHCNS-BC
Blog Manager

With Hispanic/Latino population in the US continuing to grow the proportion of Hispanic nurses to patient is considerably smaller than what we would like for it to be. According to statistics found on the Minority Nurse website (2010), Hispanic nurses comprise less than 2% of the total number of nurses in the US. That number is dismally low and needs to desperately improve. How....does mentoring one from the time they start high school to the time they graduate from a nursing program help? Does recruiting for nursing programs from areas of our communities heavily attended by Hispanics/Latinos help? Do media blitzes advertising the benefit of becoming a nurse in heavily populated Hispanic/Latino communities help? I am not sure. Though, of this I am sure - of the Hispanic nurses I do know I am proud to know their acquaintance because who better to help one recover from an ailment than one who will offer a warm blanket because its not good to experience un resfriado. Or what of the one who knows that un catarro means a cold rather than a car? Or what of the one who smiles and will dar gracias a Dios that all went well with your surgery?

See what I mean? I love my culture and ancestry. Now if only we can convince all of the Administrators in nursing schools and hospitals that Hispanic nurses are the best!

Elizabeth Plata MS MPH PHCNS-BC
Blog Manager

resource: Alloy Education (2010). Minority Nurse: Minority nurse statistics. Retrieved on October 6, 2011 from http://www.minoritynurse.com/minority-nursing-statistics

Recently, the Valle del Sol chapter held its September meeting. In it our dear Adriana announced there would be a survey posted for members to respond to as it was going to poll what members want from this blog. I have to say that I have been in a pickle as to what to post for students, current nurses working within the acute care setting, nurses working within the community health setting and any other setting for that matter! My political side wants to post so much politico upheaval experienced locally as well as throughout the state but, yet, the scholarly side of me wants to post educational, experiential posting so that we all benefit from the concept, theory or the issue discussed. Thus, the question posed to members.....will you benefit from this post and what is it we could discuss collectively for advancing our scholarly knowledge and increasing critical thought???

There has to be something...hay que aver algo...! So, what is it.....I ask you all...what would you like to see or read??? I could invite others to post here at...I could invite seemingly meaningless mumbo jumbo but .....hmmmm,,,,maybe this does classify as mumbo jumbo!

Just kidding...on the serious side....please let me know what you would like to read, say maybe an issue a month and I can see about inviting experts to comment here.

All, let me know...diganme!

Elizabeth Plata MS MPH PHCNS-BC
Valle del Sol Chapter, Blog Manager

Last week's annual NAHN conference was a blast! Many chapters were present in support of NAHN's vision to assess and advocate for equality and quality for Hispanic health care from healthcare reform. Topics presented included roles of nurses as advocates, lived experiences of Hispanic nursing students and indicators for successfully graduating nursing school, to name a few. Other topics included nursing research targeting Hispanic populations by top nursing researchers. The exhibit hall and its vendors were once again a hit with all of the information and goodies. The poster presentations were very scholarly. Last, the demonstration and exhibit of the nursing students involved in the Muevete USA Program funded by the Coca Cola Foundation targeting obese Hispanic youth was fabulous. Of note, our own chapter was very successful in getting all of us to muevense as a demonstration of the leadership exhibited with youth in learning food choices, exercise and a sound mind help combat obesity! I am sure those who had planned to go to this year's conference but couldn't will make all attempts to attend next year because it's in Puerto Rico (again!).  

As a way to see the who and what, here are a few choice places you can visit to view the fun time had by all:
http://www.nahn-phx.org/Home_Page.php
facebook page under Valle del Sol Phoenix

Elizabeth

Hello! It's nearly July and we are getting closer to National NAHN's annual conference. This year it will be held in Las Vegas, NV (ka ching!) from July 19 - 22, 2011. The host hotel is the Flamingo/Harrah's Casino Hotel. I know this experience has been invaluable in building lasting friendships and business relationships among other chapters throughout the country and Puerto Rico. Valle de Sol chapter members attending usually meet as a group opening day wearing our Chapter tshirts and shouting "Presente!" So, if you haven't registered yet please do so...today...here is the website for your convenience to click. Oh and there will be a Career Fair!!!!


http://nahnnet.org/NAHNMeetings.html


Elizabeth Plata MS MPH PHCNS-BC
Blog Manager

As we all know, the Arizona economy was hit hard by the recent recession. Housing prices began to fall, people are keeping a closer eye on their budgets, and new positions have not filtered out as they have in the past. To add to that, our current federal administration has had to tackle with the high cost of healthcare thus sending most hospital care systems into a staff retention focus. Thus, fewer opportunities for New grad RNs to hire and gain needed experience within the profession. What a catch 22!

I have to say that even for an experienced RN, the opportunity for work is bright but competitve. Employers are very choosy with who they hire. Yes, it is tough. But, I did find these websites helpful:

www.monster.com
www.indeed.com
www.careerbuilders.com

So, fear not new grads, keep your chin up and maybe in this new posting there will be opportunities that open for you to take advantage of. Use this link to post your frustrations, your successes, or your insight into prospective chances!

Respectully submitted,

Elizabeth Plata MS MPH PHCNS-BC
Valle del Sol Chapter, Blog Manager

Just as our President, Tony Ornelas described in his recent post on The Future of Nursing, this note is posted to allow all VDS member post, discuss, reflect on scholarly discussion, personal account or just to talk. My name is Elizabeth Plata, former VDS President as well as member since the early 1990s and an RN since 1991. I am here to initiate discussion, announcement or ...anything...of course, keeping it legit! So, this is my inaugural post and more to come! Please, I invite all comments, suggestions or statements (keep it clean!)....

 

Elizabeth Plata MS MPH PHCNS-BC
Member, VDS Chapter

The Future of Nursing

When the Institute of Medicine decided to examine the way healthcare delivery in the United States would change in the future they did not leave out the Nursing profession as part of the changes that must take place to redesign and restructure the future of healthcare. 

The Robert Wood Johnson Initiative in partnership with the IOM developed four key messages for the future of nursing:

• Nurses should practice to the full extent of their education and training.
• Nurses should achieve higher levels of education and training through an improved education system that promotes seamless academic progression.
• Nurses should be full partners, with physicians and other health care professionals, in redesigning health care in the United States.
• Effective workforce planning and policy making require better data collection and information infrastructure.

This gives us in the nursing profession a greater responsibility than merely seeking employment as a nurse.  It tells us that we must work in partnership with organizations, associations, committees, task forces and other administrative decision-makers to offer our insight to shape and mold how we will develop nursing in the future. 

What ideas do you have for the future of nursing?  How do you visualize the future of nursing?  How can we challenge ourselves to be part of the change instead of waiting for the change to effect us?

Give us your feedback.  We are excited to introduce the blog from the National Association of Hispanic Nurses Valle del Sol Chapter in Phoenix Arizona!  We hope you will return and share your thoughts with us.

Tony Ornelas, RN
President
National Association of Hispanic Nurses
Valle del Sol Chapter

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