American Nurses Association

With support from the American Nurses Foundation’s (ANF) Reimagining Nursing Initiative grant, Carolyn Clevenger, DNP, RN, GNP-BC, FAANP, FGSA, FAAN, expanded her nurse-led Integrated Memory Care (IMC) model, showing how nurses can transform care on a national scale.

Carolyn's path began in rural West Virginia, where nursing became the vehicle that allowed her to combine a love for her grandparents and other older adults with meaningful, relationship-centered care and to build the ongoing relationships needed to influence health outcomes and improve lives.

"I wanted to know people as a family unit, not just as an individual. I want to know them as part of their community," Carolyn says.

As her nursing research focused on Alzheimer's disease and dementia, Carolyn recognized a critical gap. After years of seeing fragmented care and "small band-aid fixes" applied to a system never designed for these patients, she decided something entirely new was needed.

"Let's just start over. Let's design something new and fresh."

The IMC model brought geriatric primary care, dementia specialty care, and caregiver services together under one roof, creating a comprehensive support system for patients and families.

The results were extraordinary. IMC demonstrated improved outcomes thanks to reduced emergency department visits and more coordinated care for families. Through relationships with patients and caregivers, her team helps families make informed decisions and move forward with confidence.

By the end of the ANF grant, the program had expanded from a single senior living community partnership to 25 community contracts, growing a nurse-led team that included nurse practitioners, registered nurses, and dementia care assistants.

Recently, Carolyn was selected as the founding dean of the University of Georgia School of Nursing. She continues to lead dementia care research and national implementation efforts.

"The profession of nursing has this very unique perspective on care and on the human experience. Nursing is powerful because of its close connection to humanity."

How has a nurse impacted your life? Share your story at ThePowerOfNurses.org.

Nursing is a team effort, and sometimes the smallest things can make a big difference.

Support doesn’t always require a big gesture. Sometimes, it starts with simply looking out for the person working beside you.

Julia Catherine Stimson served as president of the American Nurses Association from 1938 to 1944.

Stimson was the first woman to receive the rank of major in the United States Army, earning this distinction in 1920 while serving as superintendent of the Army Nurse Corps.

She left behind a legacy of nursing education, writing, and research, and helped pave the way for women in military medicine.

Join us in looking back on 130 years of ANA and celebrating The Power of Nurses™—then and now:
https://www.nursingworld.org/ana/about-ana/history/

What you get from an ANA membership can look different depending on where you are in your nursing career.

New to the profession? Connect with other nurses, build your network, and find resources to help you get started.

Looking to grow? Access education and professional development to keep building your expertise.

Ready to have a bigger voice? Stay informed on the issues affecting nursing and advocate for the profession.

Leadership, learning, connection, and advocacy are all part of the value of ANA membership.

One membership. More ways to support the work you’re already doing as a nurse.

Learn more about ANA membership. https://american-nurses-association.visitlink.me/jMwaQA

You’re already investing in your nursing career every day, but opportunities and resources can be easy to miss when you’re navigating it on your own.

You may not need everything today, but your career won’t always look the same. Having a professional community in your corner can make a difference when your next opportunity comes along.

Learn more at the link: https://american-nurses-association.visitlink.me/7U5vq7

No matter where your nursing career takes you, you shouldn’t have to navigate it alone.

ANA membership connects you with resources, professional development, advocacy, and a community of nurses who understand what it means to grow in this profession.

Find the ANA membership option that’s right for you at the link: https://american-nurses-association.visitlink.me/9KzrqN

Sepsis can escalate quickly. Nurses are often the ones standing between a subtle change and a full-blown emergency.

Through continuous assessment, clinical judgment, and timely intervention, nurses can recognize when a patient is starting to deteriorate and take action before the situation escalates.

This Sepsis Awareness Month, we’re recognizing the nurses whose vigilance, expertise, and quick action can make all the difference.

Some bonds last a lifetime.

When Susan Drogos, RN, BSN, MPA, CDE, was told as a young girl that her leg would be amputated because of osteosarcoma, the kindness and empathy of a student nurse set her life on a path she never expected.

It was 1963, and for an 11-year-old girl who had just lost her leg, the attention and encouragement of a 20-year-old student nurse felt more like time spent with a big sister than medical care. Before long, student nurse Sherri Rosine formed a close bond not only with Susan, but also with her parents and grandfather. She soon became more like a member of the family than a caregiver.

That relationship remained strong as Sherri graduated from nursing school and, years later, as Susan chose to pursue nursing herself.

“We just communicated so well together, and we knew our philosophies were very much the same.”

Susan went on to establish the first diabetes department at Northwest Community Hospital in Arlington Heights, Illinois. She led the department for the next 25 years, earned a master’s degree in public administration with an emphasis in healthcare, and became a certified diabetes educator.

Now retired, Susan’s legacy, along with Sherri’s, lives on through the many nurses she has mentored and through her granddaughter’s aspirations to join the profession.
“The Power of Nurses is finding your niche, knowing where you belong, making a legacy, and inspiring others to carry on your legacy.”

How has a nurse impacted your life? Share your story at ThePowerOfNurses.org.

During five consecutive night shifts in the ICU, Amanda Nguyen, BSN, RN, became much more than a nurse to a 62-year-old patient facing the devastating reality that no further cancer treatments were available.

The patient was three hours away from home and far away from his wife. The couple had no children, and he was deeply worried about what his decline would mean for his recently retired wife. During this difficult time, Amanda became a consistent source of comfort and support.

On her second night caring for him, just hours after he received his prognosis, the patient’s fear and isolation were clear. Amanda immediately recognized that he needed more than clinical care. She made time to sit with him, listen, and give him space to talk openly about his fears, his mortality, and what the future might hold.

Amanda created a safe, judgment-free space where the patient could share his regrets, hopes, and concerns for his wife. Through thoughtful questions and compassionate listening, she helped him focus on the things he could still control, including documenting his wishes, writing letters and messages to loved ones, and choosing music that brought him comfort. When he had difficult medical or ethical questions, Amanda answered honestly or connected him with the appropriate members of his care team, finding meaningful ways to support both his emotional needs and daily care.

Amanda Nguyen’s exceptional clinical care, compassionate listening, and unwavering commitment to her patient embody the very spirit of the The DAISY Foundation. Her ability to care for both the patient’s physical and emotional needs made a lasting difference during one of the most difficult moments of his life. It is with deep gratitude and respect that Amanda is nominated for this recognition.

How has a nurse impacted your life? Share your story at ThePowerOfNurses.org.