Politics and policy: A role for nurses

Kelly Nestor, MSN, ANP-BC knows the importance of nursing having a seat at the policy table. And yes, politics does have a role in nursing. She is “walking her talk” – most recently as the College of Nursing’s delegate to the Pennsylvania State Nurses Association’s Congress in Harrisburg on April 16th and, several days before, presenting a poster “Political Participation of Registered Nurses: Development of the Concept” at the Western Institute of Nursing Conference held in Anaheim, Calif., April 10-13th.

Nestor is a clinical instructor in the Adult-Geriatric Nurse Practitioner Program and is pursuing her doctorate in health policy at the University of New Mexico. She lectures on palliative care and health policy issues. Nestor is an experienced adult nurse practitioner who sees patients in her long term care setting practice where she has been practicing for the last four years in conjunction with Western Mainline Medical Associates.

Students learn legislative process

On Tuesday, March 12th, the state Student Nurses’ Association of Pennsylvania (SNAP) held their biannual Capitol Hill Step by Step program in Harrisburg. This day served to educate student nurses about healthcare policy and the importance of being informed about guidelines that shape the future of nursing practice. This year’s program featured Attorney General Kathleen Kane who spoke about her experience with nursing and her support for SNAP’s involvement in government policies.


Sophomore Liz Long, Legislative Coordinator for both the SNAP-Villanova chapter and the state SNAP, was one of the coordinators. Liz, shown above (left) with Kane and Ranck, is also a member of the chapter’s Resolutions Committee. 

Liz strongly believes in the need for student and professional nurses to be active participants in healthcare policy; she feels that nurses bring a unique, holistic perspective that must be present in order to create the best policies for the profession and its patients. With the current dynamic and progressive healthcare climate, this unique opportunity provided Liz and other student nurses with a more intimate education of the importance of healthcare policy and how as future nurses they have the power to impact such decisions.

Liz also served as a featured speaker at the first SNAP-Villanova meeting this semester and discussed nursing students' roles in legislative issues. She has formed and headed an enormously successful Resolutions Committee for SNAP-Villanova. Villanova's "Joining Forces...." resolution was passed by the House of Delegates at the state SNAP convention in November and will be presented at the upcoming NSNA convention in Charlotte, NC.

On March 16 and 17, SNAP-Villanova's Freshmen Representatives, Marianna Cesareo and Meghan Long attended the state SNAP's special LEAD workshop for freshmen/sophomore rising leaders. Liz Long, as state Legislative Coordinator, was one of the student leaders.

Bone marrow BASH

SNAP-Villanova members Erica Peters (front left) and Shannon Markert (second row left) volunteered with football Coach Andy Talley and members of Villanova's football team and cheerleading squad at the sold-out March 2nd Bone Marrow Donor Bash held at the Connelly Center. Members of Villanova's chapter of the Student Nurses' Association of Pennsylvania have been volunteering with Coach Talley and the football team for years at the Bone Marrow Donor Drive.

Dr. Carol Weingarten, SNAP-Villanova advisor notes, "Do consider volunteering at the upcoming event, Tuesday, April 9, Connelly Center. The Bone Marrow Donor Drive will take place from 9-5:00. It's a great day of painless (simple cheek swab) screening for potential donors and a great opportunity to be part of an awesome event for an important cause."

Learn more about Coach Talley's foundation and its endeavors here: http://www.talleybonemarrow.org .

Dominican Republic experience brings together students from different disciplines

During the Fall Break international nursing clinical experience in the Dominican Republic (DR), junior and senior nursing students partnered with six students from Campus Ministry to provide care, education, and service to Haitian immigrants living in the sugar cane fields. The nursing students were joined by four students majoring in biology/science as a pathway to medical school and two students from the Villanova School of Business. During their time in the DR, the students majoring in the biology, chemistry, physics, and business had the opportunity to see nursing care in action and learn skills alongside the nursing students. In this picture, senior nursing student Samantha Cembrook (center) and junior nursing student Rachel Seggel (left), teach Ben Kramer, a student majoring in physics and chemistry how to take a blood pressure.

After working with the nursing students in rural, mobile healthcare clinics all week, business major Lupe Mata exclaimed that he “loves nurses.” Assistant Professor Tamara Kear, PhD, RN, CNN, who guided the nursing students along with adjunct faculty Cathy McDonald, MSN, RN, notes, "It was an excellent opportunity for the students majoring in nursing, science, and business to learn more about the disciplines of other students at Villanova University and find that we all share common links in our professions."

Kelly Nestor to join board of local long term care facilities

Kelly Ann P. Nestor, ‘96, BSN, ‘08 MSN, ANP-BC, was notified on July 31, 2012 by Kevin Ross, NHA, MPH, president and CEO that she was unanimously elected to the Board of Directors for Saunders House (Wynnewood, Pa.) and Bryn Mawr Terrace (Bryn Mawr, Pa.). She begins her three year term at the end of September. Nestor is a clinical instructor in the nurse practitioner track of the Graduate Program at Villanova University College of Nursing. Nestor is an experienced adult nurse practitioner who sees patients in her long term care setting practice where she has been practicing for the last four years in conjunction with Western Mainline Medical Associates. She teaches adult and gerontology content for advanced practice nurses in the College of Nursing and lectures on palliative care and health policy issues. Additionally, Nestor is pursuing her doctorate in health policy at The University of New Mexico.

Rappelling with the Army

You never know where Nursing faculty might be or what they might be doing to enhance the education of our students. Here, Dr. Carol Weingarten, 2nd from right, rappels down a wall with the aid of a trustworthy member of the United States Army. She and alumna Christa Gardner-director of recruitment and admissions- are at Fort Lewis, WA for an educator conference learning more about Army ROTC and LDAC, the summer Leadership Development and Assessment Course for rising seniors. Dr. Weingarten also gave a presentation at the meeting.

Sophomores begin clinical experience

The College of Nursing sophomore clinical group at Bryn Mawr Terrace included (left to right) Makenzie Lannon, Meghan Linnehan, Kelly Mahn, Ann Scheve (Adjunct Clinical Faculty), Abby Kent, Alyssa Lodato, Stephanie Luff, Kristin O’Hara, and Lisa Novak.

Villanova nursing students begin clinical experience in sophomore year. One of the clinical sites used by them is local Bryn Mawr Terrace. Bryn Mawr Terrace is certified as a continuing care retirement community, providing long-term care and short-term rehabilitative services to older adults, as well as personal care, respite care, dementia care, and independent living. Adjunct Clinical Professor Ann Scheve, MSN, RN is leading the clinical rotation of sophomore nursing students from Villanova as they come to Bryn Mawr Terrace to learn. She is bringing several groups of nursing students there to observe the practices of the nursing staff and to begin to use their own clinical skills and knowledge in the care of patients. In the sophomore year, the clinical rotation focuses on learning fundamental nursing skills. The nurses and the care staff at the Terrace welcome the students as they provide additional compassionate and caring assistance that is always appreciated.