Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this article are solely those of the contributor and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of ANPD.
 

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ANPD believes no matter your role in the practice of NPD, you belong in our community. That’s why our Specialty Spotlight series is highlighting members furthering NPD goals in unique and invaluable ways. Today, the spotlight is on an NPD focused on serving faith community nurses—called “Wesley nurses” at this health system—Laura Rivas, DNP, MSN, BSN, RN. Wesley nurses serve the mind, body, and spirit, and Rivas supports them in this work.

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Can you describe your career journey, and how you ended up in your current role?

My career journey began in 1994 when I graduated from the University of Texas Health Science Center San Antonio with my RN BSN. Early on I primarily worked in long term care acute units, primary care and preventive care where I found a passion for educating and learning. I was surprised to find a unique nursing opportunity in 1999 with Methodist Healthcare Ministries (MHM) in their Wesley Nurse program which is a Faith Community Nursing role. As described by MHM:

The professional practice of the Wesley Nurse falls within the specialty of faith community nursing which incorporates nursing with intentional care of the spirit. As registered nurses, Wesley Nurses address mind, body and spirit in a holistic approach to health. A key component of the work Wesley Nurses undertake in their communities is providing care coordination for uninsured patients, health education, health promotion and facilitation of resources (MHM, 2024).

Currently, the Wesley nurse program has 81 sites and covers 74 counties in Texas.

 I earned my Master of Science degree in nursing degree with a focus on nursing education in 2019, and completed my Doctor of Nursing Practice degree with a focus on executive leadership in 2023, both from Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi (TAMUCC). I had the privilege of serving as a Wesley Nurse in my community for 15 years cumulatively and, in 2023, the opportunity to apply for a nursing professional development role opened. The position was designed to focus on and serve the educational needs of the Wesley nurses. I was honored to be selected after two rounds of panel interviews.

Is this a new role?

This was a new role for me, and it was a new role for the Wesley Nurses to have an NPD practitioner dedicated to supporting their educational needs. In our department we also have individuals who focus on employee education and development, leadership development, and clinic nursing education and development.

Our organization measures improvement by establishing annual goals for all team members that are related to our overall organizational strategy. My specific goals include completing education modules on diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging as well as providing learning and development opportunities organizationally that result in 85% of participants reporting an increase in new knowledge.

What does an average day in your position look like?

An average day in my position includes designing, implementing, and evaluating multiple learning and professional development offerings/initiatives. I am also the primary nurse planner for the organization. Additional responsibilities include orientation, competency management, education, role development, collaboration, and bringing research-based practice to support quality improvement. One of my largest responsibilities is planning and executing two to three-day interprofessional learning conferences a year for about 200 team members including Wesley Nurses, clinic nurse leaders, community-based counselors, and community health workers.

How do you apply the NPD Scope & Standards of Practice in your role?

These are applied daily as I am performing environmental scanning, gap analysis, curating and/or developing content, providing or facilitating education and then evaluating outcomes on an ongoing basis. As an educator with a strong faith community Nursing background, serving a faith-based organization, the standards of professional practice such as ethics, respect, communication, collaboration, leadership are embedded in my work as they are also represented in our core values which are integrity, making a difference, teamwork, compassion, and spirituality.

What is a professional achievement you are proud of?

As a third-generation nurse, the achievement I am most proud of is earning my DNP in executive leadership and maintaining a 4.0 GPA.

What challenges do you navigate in this position?

I am a 100% remote employee. My organization learning and development teammates are three hours away in San Antonio, and the Wesely Nurses I support are spread out over 74 counties in Texas. I overcome the challenge of distance by being proactive in my communication, planning ahead, and using technology to bridge gaps when appropriate. I also travel on site to connect with the nurses in person throughout the year.

What advice do you have for NPD professionals looking to find a similar career path?

The best advice I have for any NPD professional is to get your education and/or certification and to embed yourself in the work of those you will support. With my years of experience in serving my own community as a Wesley Nurse and my educational training, I am prepared and knowledgeable of the day-to-day experience, benefits, and struggles of the nurses I serve in this role. The nurses know I have been in the field and faced what they face every day. This has built a level of trust and respect that allows for open communication and a pathway to pursue excellence.

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Reference

• Methodist Healthcare Ministries (MHM) (2024). Programs and services: Community health and wellness: Wesley Nurse. https://www.mhm.org/our-work/programs-services/