Page 51 - Johns Hopkins Nursing Magazine Spring 2023 - Johns Hopkins School of Nursing

Spotlight on the Marginalized

Jeffrey Vu, DNP/MBA ’21, began his nursing practice As part of his efforts
as a bedside RN in intensive care, dialysis and to bring high-quality
informatics—in primary care, occupational health, health care to all
and telehealth—before shifting to an administrative groups in his home NEWS FROM JOHNS HOPKINS NURSING
role with the University of California Irvine Gender state, Vu also serves on
Diversity Program. Having cared for many individuals the State Board of the
from marginalized groups on his way up the ladder of California Association
leadership, Vu is determined to bring their concerns for Nurse Practitioners,
up with him. working to earn greater
practice autonomy
At UC Irvine, Vu works to shine a light on these for NPs working there.
populations and the obstacles they face, not always “As we know, nurse
apparent to the general public or even the providers practitioners have a
themselves. positive impact on
patient outcomes and
“This may be because of stigma, systematic barriers, can function in a high
or they do not want to be found,” Vu explains. “For level of autonomy.
example, for almost a decade I have worked in Through my work with this organization, we have
transgender health services as a nurse practitioner, reached a point in which we are very close to nurse
but it was not until I came to be in public health practitioners being able to practice independently in
leadership that I found there were pockets of the state of California.”
transgender individuals that weren’t being reached.”

Champion of the Nursing Workforce 49

Paula Nersesian, PhD, MPH, RN, CNE, are, and how important this institution is for
probably could not have picked a worse time the students and faculty.”
to move to Maine. Nersesian, whose research
has included the relationship between Even more, she sees an opportunity to make
loneliness, systemic inflammation, and a difference: “In 2012, I made a big change in
neighborhood quality as well as health care my life to help fill the need for nursing faculty.”
among refugee populations, suddenly felt The faculty shortage has limited how many
cut off as the COVID-19 pandemic intensified new nurses can be sent into the workforce.
in 2020. “That’s one of the reasons I went back to Johns
Hopkins for my PhD.”
“We were all locked up!” Separated from
her work and students at the University At Southern Maine, she focuses on another
of Southern Maine, “There were so many issue limiting the workforce as well as
roadblocks to becoming integrated with the existing nurses’ ability to do their jobs to
community.” And only recently is Nersesian their fullest abilities: diversity, equity, and
finally free to navigate—and marvel at—the inclusion (DEI). While Maine does have
culture shift. areas where refugees and asylum seekers
have settled over the years to escape war or
“I’ve never been any place like this,” she hardship in Africa or elsewhere, its population
explains of Southern Maine, where she is an is largely white and very spread out. Many of
assistant professor teaching prelicensure her students might not know their own blind
and graduate courses. Nersesian got her spots. “We’re trying to advance DEI so our
own education at places—the University of students at all levels will have the opportunity
Michigan, Johns Hopkins University—that to talk about and be taught about racial MAGAZINE.NURSING.JHU.EDU
are a world apart, in so many ways. “It inequalities and the importance of disparities
is humbling to see what a regional in their nursing practice. They otherwise
comprehensive university is like, how limited might not recognize how biases can impact
the resources are compared to an R1. At the their reactions as nurses.” ◼
same time, you see how resourceful people