Johnson & Johnson Nursing Notes

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Share Your Story and Passion for Nursing

You may have seen the Johnson & Johnson Campaign for Nursing's Future television commercials, print brochures and Web sites, but did you know that we feature real nurses in those materials? We do, and we're currently casting nurses in the New York and New Jersey areas for several new projects, including a recruitment brochure and video.

We're seeking nurse educators, long term care nurses, visiting nurses, school nurses and public health nurses who would like to appear in our recruitment brochures.

Additionally, if you're a nurse with a unique story that you'd like to share with others, we want to know more about you, too! Maybe a life-changing experience turned you on to nursing? Or maybe you're a soccer mom or dad juggling a career and a family? We know that nurses lead interesting lives on and off the job, and we would like to videotape a day in your life and share your story with people interested in nursing.

If you're interested in either opportunity, please send a note that includes your nursing story to nursing@its.jnj.com.

Your e-mail will allow you to be considered to attend a casting call being held July 27th in New Brunswick, N.J. If selected during the casting call, you will need to return to New Jersey for a photo and video shoot on August 11. You must be available to attend both the casting call and the photo shoot. If you are cast for either project you will receive a stipend at a later date to cover your time on August 11.

Questions? Need more information? Contact us by e-mail at nursing@its.jnj.com.

2009-10 FNSNA Scholarship Winners Announced

The Foundation of the National Student Nurses' Association (FNSNA) recently awarded the 2009-10 Promise of Nursing scholarships to 122 undergraduate nursing students in the following regions: Central Florida, Dallas/Ft. Worth, Georgia, Houston/Galveston, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Mississippi, New Jersey, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Southern California, South Florida, Tennessee and Washington. Promise of Nursing regional fundraising events, sponsored by the Johnson & Johnson Campaign for Nursing's Future, have raised more than $15 million since 2002 to help fund scholarships for undergraduate nursing students, faculty fellowships for RN's looking to pursue a career in nursing education, and nursing school grants to increase the capacity of schools to graduate more nurses. The funds are administered by the FNSNA.

Additionally, the FNSNA General Scholarship Program, sponsored in part by the Johnson & Johnson Campaign for Nursing's Future, awarded 90 scholarships for the 2009-10 academic year and recognized scholarship recipients at the National Student Nurses' Association 57th Annual Convention in Nashville, Tenn.

For more information on the recent scholarship awards, visit www.nsna.org.

New Jersey Nursing Initiative Launch

In an effort to address the acute nursing shortage, specifically the shortage of qualified nursing educators, the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and the New Jersey Chamber of Commerce recently launched "The New Jersey Nursing Initiative," a five-year, $22 million-program to transform nursing education in the state.

The initiative will offer selected individuals interested in becoming nurse faculty a $50,000 annual stipend, a laptop computer and full tuition and fees to complete their graduate and doctoral studies, in exchange for the commitment to teach in the state for at least three years.

For more information on the initiative, visit www.njni.org.

Do you know an extraordinary nurse who has made a difference and should be honored for years of care and service to his or her patients, the community or the country?

Nominate a selfless and dedicated nursing hero for the 2009 CNN Heroes award and highlight his or her commitment to the nursing profession. Eligible nominees include everyday people accomplishing extraordinary things in their community and beyond.

The call for nominations will close on August 1, 2009. To nominate a hero for the 2009 CNN Heroes award, go to www.cnn.com.

The three-generation family of nurses - Lynette Wagner Sralla, Lindsey Sralla and Lonita Schlaudt Wagner (pictured left to right) – was honored at Lindsey's pinning ceremony in December where Lonita received a standing ovation for her 62 years in nursing.

Passing on the Nursing Tradition

Many families have traditions, customs and practices that are passed down from one generation to the next. Eighty-two-year-old retired registered nurse Lonita Schlaudt Wagner had a clear vision early on of the legacy she hoped to pass along and keep in her family - the gift of helping others through nursing.

Influenced by her mother who spent her life caring for others through hard times, Lonita aspired to do the very same. After graduating from Christus Santa Rosa Nursing School in 1946, Lonita spent 62 years of her life as a registered nurse, caring for others the way her mother first showed her how to do.

"Growing up I remember family and friends coming to my mother for her advice when they were sick and some even referring to her as a nurse," said Lonita. "She had an innate passion for helping others and very few people have that. I think she passed it along to me, and I wanted to share it with my daughter, Lynette, and granddaughter, Lindsey, too."

Lynette Wagner Sralla remembers very well the two years she volunteered at the nursing home where her mother worked as a nurse. "I was only 14 and hadn't yet thought about a career," said Lynette. "I watched the way my mom interacted with her patients, and I loved to hear them talk about my mom, some even calling her an angel."

Lynette quickly decided she wanted to follow in her mother's footsteps and was determined to do so, and even considered joining the Navy to pay her way through nursing school. With help from relatives and scholarship funds, Lynette graduated from Baptist Nursing School in 1974 and has been a nurse for 35 years, now working for Christus Santa Rosa Rehab Hospital in San Antonio.

In the spirit of tradition, Lynette also passed the family passion for nursing on to her daughter Lindsey who became interested in nursing while volunteering at the hospital where her mother worked. Lindsey recently graduated from the same nursing school as her mother and now works at Christus Santa Rosa Children’s Hospital in San Antonio.

"We all three think it is pretty special when patients and families of patients come up to us to thank us for being their nurse," said Lynette. "What a rewarding career – nursing is our calling."

Nurses specializing in camp nursing provide care for both campers and staffers and often have the opportunity to teach campers about first aid and safety.

Camp Nursing Specialty Offers Unique Opportunities

This summer, more than 10 million children will pack up their suitcases and head off to camp. While safety of campers is a priority for both camp staffers and parents, most camps do not have physicians on site. Fortunately, parents can rest easy knowing their son or daughter is being cared for by a qualified nurse who is focused on the health and well-being of both campers and staffers.

It is common for nurses to work at a camp for six to 12 weeks during the summer. While some camps may have a consistent nursing staff for the entire summer, others provide coverage using a string of nurses working for short periods of time. Camp nursing can even become a full-time job. Year-round camps are one of the fastest growing types of camps, and directors at these particular camps are always in need of full-time nurses.

"Camp nursing is one of the best kept secrets in the profession," said Linda Ebner Erceg, RN, MS, PHN and executive director of the Association of Camp Nurses. "It is one of the few nursing specialties that gives nurses the opportunity to use their nursing skills and visibly see the direct impact of their work." According to Erceg, camp nursing is often referred to as a 'nurse-managed health service' because it is a profession that allows nurses to use their whole repertoire of skills – from putting on bandages to dealing with emergencies to teaching campers about first aid.

Within the camp nursing specialty, there are a variety of options to suit each nurse's interests. From health-focused camps for children suffering from chronic conditions, like diabetes and asthma, to remote wilderness camps packed with incredible wildlife encounters, the many camp choices are sure to keep camp nurses from experiencing the burnout that other nurses often face.

"This is the perfect specialty for nurses who are passionate about working with children and energized by the outdoors, and who don't mind the occasional chipmunk as a roommate," said Erceg.

For more information on camp nursing, visit www.discovernursing.com or www.acn.org.

Lynda Lankford, RN, BSN, PHN, District Nurse and Camp Nurse

Q: Why did you decide to pursue a career in nursing?

A: Growing up, I was always drawn to anything medical. My favorite course in school was biology and I loved dissection and learning what made things work. As a college student, I worked part time in the University of Maryland trauma unit for a couple of years and continued on after graduation. I loved working in the ER because nothing was ever typical and every day brought a unique experience with a lot of excitement.

Q: What inspired you to specialize in camp nursing?

A: I stayed in trauma and the ER for awhile, but started to get burned out and began looking at other opportunities within the profession. That is the beauty of nursing, the profession grows as you grow, and there is always something new to perk your interest. As my kids got older and went to camp, the camp nursing opportunity presented itself. One summer a friend asked me to help out for two weeks as a camp nurse and I was immediately hooked. I've been in camp nursing ever since.

Q: What advice would you offer to individuals interested in this specialty?

A: Camp nursing is often a forgotten specialty, but every camp needs a qualified nurse. This is the ideal specialty for nurses who are looking for something that is not permanent, because you can take a couple weeks out of the summer and work at a local camp in your neighborhood. If nurses are looking to spend time with kids in the outdoors, then this is the specialty for them. There are also year-round camps for nurses who want to work at a camp longer than the summer months.

Q: How has nursing impacted your life?

A: I have stayed in nursing this long because it is a flexible profession. The ability to move within different specialties and not be locked into one specific role has been a real plus for me. I have tried many different areas and that has allowed me to grow within the profession. All my experiences have really shaped the nurse I have become today. In addition to my role as a camp nurse, I am also a district nurse in a progressive Minnesota school district. I'm faced with a variety of challenges each day, but I feel equipped to handle anything that comes my way from each of my past roles, from working in the ER to being a camp nurse.


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