Nurse Narrative

January is Cervical Cancer Awareness Month, so we want to highlight women’s health.  In this episode we interview Mrs. Rachel Brown, a Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP), who works at a local OBGYN office and happens to be one of our dear friends!  We cover lots of ground including the distinctive role of a Nurse Practitioner and ways to prevent Cervical Cancer.  We also discuss the unique joys (and difficulties) of night shift, a rainy trip to clinical that birthed a decade of friendship, and Meghan’s brand new family member! 

Nursing school interviews are right around the corner for us and we wanted to help prepare prospective students!  We interview Mrs. Pam Hennessey and Mrs. Stephanie Wood, two of our academic advisors, and they have some excellent advice for anyone seeking more information about applying to nursing schools.  We discuss the different pathways to nursing, and chat about what to keep in mind if you think nursing might be the profession for you. 

World AIDS Day is December 1st, and we thought we’d observe it by interviewing Mr. Keith Matthews and Mrs. Sandy Fagen of the Unity Wellness Center, a local AIDS Service Organization (ASO).  In this episode we cover a lot of ground.  We talk about treatment options for individuals living with HIV/AIDS.  We expose myths about the chronic condition.  We discuss how to support individuals living with the disease, and we even talk about steps for getting help if you think you might’ve been exposed to the virus.  The prognosis of people living with HIV/AIDS has changed a lot since the 1980’s, and we want to celebrate that!  We hope you enjoy this episode. 

Helpful Links:

Visit https://www.cdc.gov/hiv/ for more information and to find an ASO near you!

Visit https://www.eamc.org/find-a-service/hiv-care-counseling/ for more information on the Unity Wellness Center!

Dr. Libba McMillan is an Associate Professor in the School of Nursing.  She is also a military spouse, which allowed her to practice as a registered nurse in a variety of settings across the globe.  Dr. McMillan’s program of research is focused on increasing the quality of lives of veterans.  In this episode we learn some practical ways communities can support our veterans.

Commander David Crumbley didn’t expect to join the military, become a nurse, or enter academia.  Here at Auburn University School of Nursing, we are certainly glad he did all of the above.  Currently, he serves the school as an Associate Clinical Professor teaching upper level courses focused on critical care and leadership, but we aren’t here to talk much about his teaching assignment.  In this episode we dive into his extensive military background, hear stories of innovation and resourcefulness, and listen to meaningful ways we can honor the veterans in our own communities.    

November is National Diabetes Awareness Month.  We thought we’d celebrate by interviewing our resident expert on diabetes!  Dr. Caralise Hunt is an Associate Professor and our Associate Dean for Academic Affairs.  Prior to entering academia, she practiced as a registered nurse in a variety of settings.  Dr. Hunt’s program of research is focused on self-management behaviors of people living with type 2 diabetes mellitus.  In this episode we dive in to some very practical ways to stay healthy even after you’ve been diagnosed with diabetes.  

You can visit www.diabetes.org for more information and resources in English and Spanish!

Gabriela (Brie) Diaz loves her home.  She loves her family.  She loves her dog, Kirby.  She loves kids.  What she didn’t expect to love, is Auburn University.  Raised in Hawaii, Brie jumped out of her comfort zone and traveled to the other side of the States to obtain her college degree.  She is far away from home, but she says she has found another home right here, through the Auburn family.  

Dean Gregg Newschwander has been a nurse for over four decades and in that time he’s served as a clinician, teacher, and an administrator.  In 2009 he joined the faculty at Auburn University where he came to serve as the Dean of the School of Nursing.  He’s published in nursing and educational journals, presented scholarly work at national and international conferences, remained active in nursing organizations, and been elected into multiple honor societies.  In this week’s episode our hosts, Kelly Strickland and Meghan Jones, sit down with Dean Gregg Newschwander to discuss the past, present, and future of the Auburn University School of Nursing. 

Welcome to the Auburn School of Nursing's very first podcast series entitled Nurse Narrative! We're excited to have you join us as we share our story. In this week's episode, our hosts Kelly Strickland and Meghan Jones discuss the purpose and direction of the podcast.