As part of its routine evaluation process, the State Board conducts these surveys to assess nursing education programs and ensure they meet established standards for quality and compliance.

Members of the public who wish to submit comments regarding the Missouri State University Nursing Program are welcome to do so. The comments can be submitted electronically to Sarah.McKee@pr.mo.gov or amy.ackerson@pr.mo.gov or  via mail to:

Missouri State Board of Nursing
3605 Missouri Boulevard
P.O. Box 656
Jefferson City, MO 65102-0656

nursing@pr.mo.gov

All written comments should be received no later than July 11, 2025.

We appreciate your support and engagement in this important review process as we continue to provide high-quality nursing education.

Sincerely,

Kathryn Patterson, DNP, APRN, FNP-C
Associate Professor and School Director

Missouri State University School of Nursing
901 South National Avenue, Springfield, MO 65897
Phone: (417) 836-5310 • Fax: (417) 836-5484
www.missouristate.edu/nursing/• nursing@missouristate.edu

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Dr. Kathryn Patterson, director of MSU’s School of Nursing, spearheaded the effort to secure the grant.   

“This award is an honor and I’m ecstatic we were selected for this,” said Patterson. “The goal is to increase the number of qualified nursing faculty, which will allow us to educate more pre-licensure students to help with the current nursing shortage in our community.”  

Grant initiatives and impact  

The grant will provide funds for two new faculty members to teach in the accelerated Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) program.  

This accelerated option will focus on clinical practice leadership, with additional funds to provide partial scholarships or traineeships to students who complete the program with a commitment to teach in a Missouri Higher Education School of Nursing for a minimum of three years.   

“Our focus is on developing an accelerated MSN program, which reduces the time to complete the degree to increase the number of qualified nurse leaders,” Patterson said. “The program’s shorter structure will appeal to those seeking a quick turnaround.”  

Addressing educational gaps and community needs  

The School of Nursing’s proposal aligns with the pressing need to address gaps in nursing education. The shortage of qualified nursing faculty has led to the denial of admission to many eligible applicants.  

MSU’s undergraduate nursing program has denied admission to 286 eligible applicants since 2020. This is due to resource constraints, including faculty shortages and limited clinical placements.  

“We have a critical shortage of nursing faculty necessary to support applicants for our program,” Patterson said. “One-third of the current nursing faculty workforce in bachelor’s and graduate degree programs will retire by 2025.”  

Creating sustainability  

The grant marks a step in retaining nursing educators and addressing the retirement of a large part of the current nursing workforce.  

“Now that we have the funding, our work begins in earnest. We aim to exceed the expectations set by this grant,” Patterson said. “Our mission is to produce high-quality clinical nurse leaders to support the community’s health care needs.”  

Learn more about the School of Nursing 

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Where it all began

Jessica, Sheila, and Kristen all had the passion for nursing in their early years.

Jessica always knew she wanted to be in healthcare. She believes the love for nursing is something you are born with – “a deep desire to help someone beyond ourselves”. She recalls spending time in the hospital as a child and having lasting memories of how the nursing staff made her feel better in difficult times. Jessica also spent time shadowing medical professionals in her community and found their impact inspiring.

Jessica has close ties to West Plains as she participated in a dual enrollment program while in high school and then continued to the nursing program. In 2007, she started working in the local ICU and went on to completing her Bachelor of Science in Nursing years later. In 2019, she welcomed the opportunity to give back to her community as a clinical instructor for MSU-West Plains. Jessica enjoys being a part of the growth of nursing students and currently teaches in the clinical and classroom setting.

Kristen’s nursing path began when she found herself a parent at the age of 17. Always interested in medicine and realizing medical school wasn’t feasible, she chose the path of nursing to independently support her family.

Kristen has never second guessed her career choice and is confident she is exactly where she is supposed to be. “At the start of my nursing career, I never thought beyond being just a nurse. In 2005, I found myself as a nurse educator. Now I get to educate and inspire others to love nursing as much as I do.”

Shelia’s passion started when she was just 16 and started caring for her grandfather who was on hospice. Sheila recalls being scared at times and reaching out to her grandfather’s hospice nurse, Kim. Kim was calm and showed compassion for Sheila and her grandfather. As her grandfather passed away, Kim stayed as a pillar of strength and comfort for Sheila’s family. She showed encouragement, care, love, and grief.

Recently, Sheila had the opportunity to return that comfort to Kim as her nurse. Sheila did her best to be the same kind, compassionate nurse Kim was to her. Sheila holds on to that experience as one of her most memorable moments of her career.

“Ask anyone about a happy, tragic, joyful, scary time in their life and I would bet they will tell a story about a nurse who was there for them during that time.”

Plans as an MSN-Nurse Educator

Jessica, Kristen, and Sheila all plan to continue teaching at MSU-West Plains.

Jessica reflects on the impact she has as a nurse educator. A quote she recalls, “Save one life, and you are a hero. Save a thousand, and you are a nurse.” As a nurse educator, Jessica gets to impact students that will go out and impact thousands of people.

“You help mold and shape the future of nursing through the students who enter your classroom or clinical setting every day. As an educator, you are able to foster learning and watch the excitement in your students’ eyes as the pieces start to come together and all the lectures start to make sense. The lightbulb that comes on is truly magnificent to watch and can be quite an overwhelming experience to know you were part of that.”

Kristen currently works as a clinical nurse while educating future nurses. She is putting what she is learning to use in real-time and will use that knowledge to be a better educator and clinical nurse.

“Nursing is hard. Nothing worth it is easy. Some days it’s worth it, and some days it’s not, but many days you will get so much more from the individuals that you care for than you’re able to give to them.”

Sheila shares that she always wanted to be either a nurse or a teacher and was thrilled when she learned she could do both. Pursing her Master of Science in Nursing as a Nurse Educator will allow her to continue both her dreams. Sheila wants to remind all nursing students that taking on new things can be scary but hold on to your “why” and use it as motivation. “Working towards a goal requires hard work and stepping outside your comfort zone at times. But once you’ve achieved your goal, it’s the most rewarding feeling.”

For all three, a consistent theme in being a nurse and educator is being able to provide exceptional, compassionate care beyond the bedside -to teach and encourage future nurses that they are much more than “just a nurse”.

Missouri State University’s MSN-Nurse Educator program is 100% online and provides nurses with the skill to design curriculum and learn teaching strategies for academic, community and clinical settings.

The post Three Missouri State-West Plains Faculty continue education in Missouri State-Springfield’s MSN-Nurse Educator Program appeared first on Nursing Blog.

Dr. Dempsey spent more than a decade of her career at Press Ganey, serving as chief nursing officer (CNO), and most recently, as CNO emeritus. Initiatives she led as Press Ganey CNO helped transform the practice of nursing throughout the country by pioneering the concept of Compassionate Connected Care and educating organizations on the connection between patient outcomes and nurse engagement.

“Christy is the epitome of a strong, talented nurse leader who never stops working to make the healthcare system better for patients, families and caregivers,” said Patrick T. Ryan, chairman and chief executive officer, Press Ganey. “After more than three decades in healthcare, Christy is retiring from Press Ganey, but the impact of her work will be felt by patients and caregivers for generations to come.”

Joe Greskoviak, a longtime healthcare executive, joined Press Ganey in 2012 and held numerous executive positions of increasing scope and scale throughout his tenure. Under Greskoviak’s leadership, Press Ganey developed census-based surveying, enabling health systems with real-time, actionable insights that have reshaped the industry’s approach to patient experience. Additionally, Greskoviak helped close more than 15 acquisitions, propelling Press Ganey into rapid growth and enhancing its suite of solutions.

“Joe is remarkable leader, as well as a mentor to many,” Ryan said. “Anyone who has ever worked with him understands and appreciates his passion to make navigating healthcare simpler. His accomplishments are countless, and they have changed the way health systems operate for the better. I am personally grateful for his friendship and proud to have worked with him.”

Greskoviak currently serves as Operating Partner at Abundant Venture Partners and is on Press Ganey’s board of directors.

To learn more about Press Ganey’s Lifetime Achievement Award winners, please visit PressGaney.com.

Media Contact:

Ty Fiesel

MP&F Strategic Communications

TFiesel@mpf.com

615-259-4000

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There is a picture on the internet of Doña Ana from around 1936.  When I first laid eyes on the camp, time and progress had little influence on anything outside the New Mexico National Guard’s complex.  Asphalt and dry, tan buildings appear to be the only differences between 1936 and 2021.  It’s amazing how attention and toil over a month and a half can bring progress to this austere environment.

Now: white tents, tan military vehicles marked 1^st AD or Armored Division, diesel powered portable lighting, camouflage netting, pallets of blue bottled water, and contractor equipment litters the complex at regular intervals.  A peak under the netting often reveals a few Soldiers seated in regulated military relaxation posture while wearing black masks.  The children speak with the Soldiers in their universal language.  The children speak all the time and I find this beautiful.

The most important things to communicate here are put on paper, but what is written is not for the military.  It is for the Guests in preparation for their mission.  It tells their stories and demonstrates their needs.  The paper flows through our work area and goes to the decision-makers who need this communication.  It is important to be fastidious when handling the paper and their folders.

Disorganization affects lives, and miscommunication is concerning.  Luckily, we are fastidious and dedicated to the mission.  The military rewards attention to detail and facilitates work under pressure.  In true military fashion, we complain, but we meet our objectives when the bullet hits the chamber.  I wish I knew more about working humanitarian missions

A year of graduate school during a pandemic taught me the importance of self-study, and I am currently a student of Doña Ana.  The lessons include Dari, how to conduct a humanitarian mission, a brief overview into lucratively complex military contracting, how to work with non-governmental organizations (NGOs), my nurse practitioner residency, how to be a father via Facetime and Nintendo Switch, mental wellness, gender equality trans-culture, theology (Islam, Christianity, Atheism, etc.) and intelligence gathering.  Remember how paper is not for the military?  My advice on intelligence gathering is to walk through all the doors and meet all the people, as little is written at Doña Ana to guide our operation.  Take this advice for what it’s worth, it hasn’t failed me.  The best laid orders are written after the mission, I assume.

In addition to Icadosh: the Mailman, Summit, Gory, Engine, Lincoln, Vitamin E, Festival, Carnival and the Man are teaching me Dari.  It’s not all informal; I’m also taking a real course through the Defense Language Institute (a true gem).  I make attempts with the guests in various phrases, but my American accent does not bring justice to the language.  The two responses I often get from Guests are puzzlement or elation.  Dari is deep in the throat and English is always on the tip of the tongue, about to fall out.

*The views expressed are those of the author and do not reflect official policy or positions of the U.S. Army, Department of State, Department of Homeland Security or any other official agency of the U.S. government. 

Submitted by Josh Lawler DNP, APRN, FNP-C, CEN

Dr. Josh Lawler will be presenting on Operation Allies Welcome next week at the Association of Military Surgeons of the United States Conference.

The post Life at Doña Ana appeared first on Nursing Blog.

The opportunity to be a scribe in the ER presented itself and Spoor took it as her chance to see if she could handle the world of health care. It was just the validity she needed to solidify her dreams of becoming a nurse.

A few months down the road, her father was diagnosed with cancer and his prognosis was not good. He was given a few short months to live, and Spoor stepped in to care for him and get him to his treatments. The care the nurses provided for her father made her want to be a nurse even more and shortly after his passing, she applied to nursing school at Missouri State-West Plains.

The first time Spoor applied, she did not get in. Devasted, she applied the following semester and was denied again. Confidence was dwindling quickly. That is when Spoor and her husband decided to join the army.

In 2016, Spoor when to basic training and became a military police officer in the Army National Guard. She came out a new person and was determined to get into nursing school. For the third time, she was denied, however, this letdown wasn’t as disappointing when Spoor soon found out she was pregnant with their third child.

The excitement of a third child soon turned to devastation when they could not find a heartbeat at her 20-week ultrasound. Spoor was induced and their baby girl was delivered the next day. Spoor recalls the nurses who took care of her and showed her compassion and love during a difficult time. She longed to be that shoulder to cry on.

Seven months passed and the Spoors were blessed with another pregnancy. Excited and nervous, they went to the ultrasound. They not only found one heartbeat, but two. Twins were on the way!

Once again, adversity stepped in and a month later, Spoor lost her husband in a tragic accident. She was 16 weeks pregnant with twins and left alone to care for their 5- and 10-year-old children. Her faith pulled her through, and Spoor carried on.

“You do not realize now what I am doing, but later you will understand – John 13:7. This is a daily reminder that God has a plan for you. You may not understand it or see the why, but he does. It brings hope and gives me a purpose,” Spoor said.

At 22 weeks pregnant, Spoor was diagnosed with placenta previa, later hemorrhaged and was flown via Air Evac to Cox Hospital – Springfield where she was placed on bedrest the remainder of her pregnancy. She credits the nurses for keeping her grounded and sane during the entire experience. They went above and beyond to make the most of the situation. The nurses brought her favorite snacks, books, and crafts. During the height of flu season, they even managed to get Spoor weekly visits with her children. Overwhelmed by the nurses’ love and compassion, Spoor expressed her own desire to be a nurse.

That is when her nursing education truly began. The nurses would teach her the foundations and later quiz her as they made their rounds. Spoor was with them for six weeks and gained a wealth of knowledge.

At 30 weeks pregnant, she was rushed to the operating room for an emergency c-section. It was at shift change and as the nurses who cared for her clocked out, they continued to the operating room to be by her side. They held her hand, took pictures, and offered support. Spoor says they were the definition of caring, compassionate, and kind nurses. They stepped in, even when she didn’t ask them to.

The twins were born, weighing just 3lbs each, and stayed in the NICU for two months. Spoor met more amazing nurses in the NICU who comforted her through every breakdown and assisted with every diaper change.

Soon after being discharged, Spoor once again applied to nursing school.

Sitting in her car, Spoor received the news that she was accepted. Her eyes filled with tears of joy. She ugly cried all the feelings of excitement, hope, and relief. This was the next step in fulfilling her dream.

Spoor struggled in her first semester at Missouri State-West Plains and didn’t think she was going to make it through, but she didn’t give up. She studied harder and welcomed the encouragement of her instructors.

After two years, the hard work paid off. Spoor made it through clinicals, took on the COVID-19 pandemic, and successfully graduated in May 2021. Spoor went on to pass the NCLEX the following month and started a residency program at Ozarks Healthcare where she is now an emergency room nurse.

All the trials and hardships tried to knock me down, but instead I became more resilient. Every day I go to work, I think of all the nurses who took care of me and my family.

Spoor didn’t stop there. She is currently in Missouri State – Springfield’s RN to BSN Completion program and was recently awarded the Citizen Scholar Award. The Citizen Scholar Award recognizes students with achievements in academics, community engagement, and leadership.

BSN-C Coordinator and Professor, Dr. Kathy Adams, describes Morgan as an amazing student, kind, and considerate to all. “She consistently works above and beyond expectations. She’s dedicated to doing her best, always! She openly and willingly assists her classmates with understanding difficult assignments and has faced every challenge with a positive attitude. Morgan is a true inspiration to everyone that has the pleasure of knowing her and I am very grateful to be one of those.”

Spoor plans to finish her BSN, build on her experience as an ER nurse, and hopes to become a flight nurse. Eventually, she plans to continue her education in graduate school.

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A partnership between the MSU Care Clinic and The O’Reilly Center for Hope offered several nursing students an opportunity to host a senior event day at the O’Reilly Center of Hope.

Michelle Garand, Vice President of Affordable Housing and Homeless Prevention at the center, wanted to offer an event to lower-income seniors from the surrounding area. This was a perfect chance for the students to jump in and learn more about the community surrounding the old Pepperdine school and how they could make a positive impact on this vulnerable population. The Pepperdine school has been renovated and offers a host of service agencies to tackle homelessness in this region.

The students coordinated the event and reached out to the MSU audiology department, the Vision Rehab Center of the Ozarks, Empower Abilities, and Convoy of Hope to participate and provide information, services and two bags of free grocery items per participant. The nursing students staffed their own Wellness Table where they took blood pressures, educated participants on healthy food choices, and how to use easy strength training and stretching exercises to maintain their agility.

BSN Senior, Andie Myers, shared on her experience at O’Reilly Center for Hope.

“Working at the O’Reilly Center for Hope has been a unique clinical experience. Getting to serve a different patient population, from what we are used to in the hospital, and connecting them with various resources within our community has been extremely rewarding.”

Northview Senior Center

Seniors from the Northview Senior Center were treated November 10th to an event hosted by BSN seniors. The students are learning how nurses can have a positive impact on their community by developing relationships, lending a listening ear, and offering wellness advice to those in their community who may live alone. It is a well-known fact that socialization helps seniors stay emotionally, mentally, and physically fit and prevents social isolation.

BSN Senior, Claire Harter, said she really enjoyed talking with all the members and hearing their life stories.

“It was nice to be able to help them in all different aspects from technology to blood pressure to new exercises, they were always appreciative of our help. I’m going to miss going there every week!”

At both events, there was a raffle for participants to enter a chance to win prizes such as personal automatic blood pressure cuffs, pill organizers, and journals among other items. These items were purchased through a gift from one of the student’s churches that provides donations to organizations that improve communities.

Contributions by: Stephanie Nikbakht, DNP, PPCNP-BC (Assistant Professor, School of Nursing), Andie Myers (BSN Student), and Claire Harter (BSN Student)

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The DAISY Foundation expanded its’ flagship brand The DAISY Award for Extraordinary Nurses to Academic Institutions in order to recognize the faculty who inspire compassionate care in their students and the students who demonstrate it during their education. “We honor faculty who inspire nurses to care like Patrick’s nurses cared for him and for our family. Recognizing and celebrating nursing students for the above-and-beyond care and compassion they show to patients and their families will be a strong reminder that nursing is not all about tasks and technology,” said Bonnie Barnes, CEO and Co-Founder of The DAISY Foundation.

Nursing Faculty and Nursing Students may be nominated by colleagues, peers, patients, families, or alumni.  The award recipients are chosen by a committee at Missouri State’s School of Nursing to receive The DAISY Award which will be presented each semester at the BSN Pinning Ceremony.  Each Honoree receives a certificate, a DAISY Award pin and a beautiful and meaningful sculpture called A Healer’s Touch, hand-carved by artists of the Shona Tribe in Zimbabwe.

About The DAISY Foundation

The DAISY Foundation is a not-for-profit organization, established in memory of J. Patrick Barnes, by members of his family.  Patrick died at the age of 33 in late 1999 from complications of Idiopathic Thrombocytopenic Purpura (ITP), a little known but not uncommon auto-immune disease. (DAISY is an acronym for Diseases Attacking the Immune System.)  The care Patrick and his family received from Nurses while he was ill inspired the creation of The DAISY Award for Extraordinary Nurses, an evidenced-based means of providing Nurse recognition and thanking Nurses for making a profound difference in the lives of their patients and patient families.

In addition to The DAISY Award for Extraordinary Nursing Faculty and The DAISY Award for Extraordinary Students, the Foundation expresses gratitude to the nursing profession internationally in over 3,600 healthcare facilities and schools of nursing with recognition of direct care Nurses, Nurse-led Teams, Nurse Leaders, Lifetime Achievement in Nursing, and through the J. Patrick Barnes Grants for Nursing Research and Evidence-Based Practice Projects. More information is available at http://DAISYfoundation.org.

The School of Nursing will award one DAISY Award® to a BSN senior graduating this December and one BSN senior graduation in May 2022. You may start nominating students for this award by filling out the student nomination form.

We will also be awarding one undergraduate faculty award per semester. Please fill out the faculty nomination form for those nominations.

Deadline to submit a nomination for Class of December 2021 is Sunday, November 28. 

Deadline to submit a nomination for Class of May 2022 is Sunday, May 1. 

Link for the Nursing Student form: https://forms.gle/8DyMQRF9w6TvV6ve8

Link for the Faculty form: https://forms.gle/9xScvfV4PLb16BYZ6

Questions? Email Gabby Lampe at GabbyLampe@missouristate.edu

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Haley Allard, Jamelah Bailey, Samantha Boyer, Megan Bruch, Anna Chapman, Peyton Claypool, Alison Coleman, Madelyne Conn, Emily Decker, Destri Dungan, Mallari Flaugher, Elissa Giles, Morgan Gillick, Rylan Grimes, Madison Harris, Camryn Hartmayer, Clare Henry, Madison Hiley, Elizabeth Houchin, Caleb Huettenmeyer, Kyla Jenkins, Emily Jones, Madison Juncker, Karli Kempf, Adam Khan, Morgan Laux, Alaina Lee, William Martin, Kelsi Menzie, Patrick Mullen, Anna Niebrugge, Madiah Parker, Erin Pearson, Caleb Peckover, Emma Pritchard, Lexie Reim, Bernice Rubio, Skylar Schafer, Gabrielle Shull, Maggie Skeen, Brittany Skinner, Caden Smith, Sonya Timchenko, Ava Trevarthan, Emma Watson, Shelby Weihe, Trevor Whittington, and Taylor Willett (names not in order as pictured).

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An experience that I have both honorably and sadly taken great part in is COVID-19. My unit, Medical ICU, has once again (after last year and the onset of COVID) become the dedicated ICU for COVID + patients in need of critical care.

In one vein, all COVID ICU patients are the same. They report to the ER with dyspnea after classic symptoms usually occurring for 7-10 days before breathing became difficult enough to cause alarm. They are then found to have low oxygen saturation, usually in the 80’s at that point, and are put on a nasal cannula at 2-6 liters, pending their needs to reach at least 90%. They are typically placed on a floor, where their oxygen requirements increase, eventually reaching Airvo which is a high-flow humidified nasal cannula for patients that can breathe spontaneously. This is also the last stop of oxygen assistance that allows patients to eat and drink on their own safely. Once they reach 60 liters of oxygen, their requirements exceed what Airvo can provide, and they are placed on bi-pap. This is a high-flow, pressurized mask that forces air into the lungs of a patient, covering their entire mouth and nose. At first, patients are able to swap out for Airvo for meals and drinks. Eventually, even 1 minute on Airvo alone causes dangerous desaturation, causing them to be bi-pap dependent. At this time, they are usually either given an NG or OG tube to supplement nutrition and IV fluids become continuous. They continue to evolve, and as their bi-pap oxygen needs become maxed out, they are sent to us.

It is at this critical point where; you meet a patient. Whom, while exhausted and hungry for oxygen, are still awake. They are still able to talk to you, however taxed, grasp your hand. Smile at you. Tell you about their spouse, their kids, their grandkids, their dreams, their goals. Their individual, unique, beautiful lives as humans on this journey through space and time with the rest of us. This is where all COVID ICU patients are dichotomously NOT the same. You see each of them as the brilliant unique flame in this universe that they are.

Then, we intubate them.

They have one last phone call. We have to tell them their chances of coming off of the ventilator, ever, are small. We have to tell them this might be the last time they ever speak to their family members and loved ones. We have to tell them it is now or never, they make this decision, or they will not survive, even if their chances of survival after choosing mechanical ventilation are small. We have to tell them that it is greater than certain death without it. I have watched and listened to so many patients saying goodbye to their crying families, unable to say everything they wanted to or needed to, because of the huge force of air being blown into their lungs from the bi-pap machine. I’ve watched their noses turn blue and their fingers turn black as they wave goodbye in tears. As soon as this happens, things move forward quickly.

A sedative, Etomidate, is pushed. The patient becomes somnolent and unconscious, within a few seconds. Rocuronium (or Succinylcholine, pending their medical histories, as they have opposing neuromuscular blocking mechanisms) are then pushed, which paralyzes every muscle in their body. All respiratory drive is lost, and their breathing is 1000% the responsibility of the team intubating them. They are then intubated and in rapid succession I personally place a foley, NG, and 2-3 IVs because of the 8-12 drips they will need while intubated, with varying compatibilities. Eventually, over days, the ventilator becomes maxed out, and their saturations are still falling. Nearly everyone develops an acute kidney injury (AKI) because of the clotting cascade influence of COVID-19, and we then set up CRRT (continuous renal replacement therapy) which is essentially bedside dialysis. I have become very adept at these machines, which is both fortunate and unfortunate. I have come to learn that once this occurs, or becomes necessary, survival is nearly impossible. I visit the morgue 2 or 3 times per shift. I hold the hands of patients while they take their last, horrible, exhausted breaths. I watch nurses and doctors exhaust themselves doing everything humanly possible knowing it is statistically fruitless, but fighting just as hard, just the same.

I have seen one successful extubation. A woman was on the vent for 31 days. She had a white-out CXR and eventually, over time, she was able to have her forced inspiratory oxygen (FiO2) reduced, her pressure to force her alveoli open (PEEP) reduced, to where we could wake her up and trial oxygen requirement reduction. She succeeded, with flying colors, despite several comorbidities (which I should add – this surge, our patients are nearly all between 20 and 50 years old, many with NO comorbidities at all), and was extubated. When orienting her, all of us ready to celebrate, we told her she was in ICU from COVID-19 and had been on the vent x number of days, and was successful enough to have her tube removed, and would likely recover and go home, how rare and beautiful this was for us and most importantly for her. She kept shaking her head no, which perplexed us. Once she could finally say some words, she told us, “Covid isn’t real. You did this to me.”

I was a special sort of sad that day. I hope for more success stories, I hope for better education for the public, I hope for higher vaccination rates, I hope for misinformation to decline with numbers of active cases.

I hope for many things.

Story by: Christina, BSN student

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