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Salute to Nursing... Salute to Nursing... Salute to Nursing... Salute to Nursing... Salute to

PLAZA HEALTH NETWORK FLORIDA MEDICAL CENTER

Alvaro Garcia, RN
UNIVERSITY PLAZA REHABILITATION
& NURSING CENTER Alvaro Garcia started working at Florida Medical
Center as a transporter ten years ago. He quickly realized
that he wanted to become a nurse to help people. Alvaro
Ileana Gonzalez, LPN is now a monitor tech. He always gives of himself to his
peers, and most of all, to the patients he serves. His goal
Ileana Gonzalez is a Licensed Practical Nurse at is to grow with the company and work in critical care.
University Plaza Rehabilitation and Nursing Center He has a bachelor’s degree in psychology from the
located in Miami, FL. She received her nursing degree at University of Miami. He is working on getting his bach-
the University Pelegrina Sarda Sarda in Havana, Cuba. elor’s degree in nursing from the University of Central
She then worked for four years as a pediatric nurse in Florida. In his spare time, he likes to travel and spend
Juan Manuel Marquez Pediatric Teaching Hospital. time with his family.
Upon moving to Florida, Ileana applied her nursing
skills here and had been working as a registered nurse in Chrystal Hadaway, RN, BS, MSN
the home health arena for 14 years before joining the
team at University Plaza, where she has been caring for Chrystal Hadaway has been a nurse for over twenty
patients for the last three years. years. She is currently the nursing educator at Florida
Medical Center. She received her Bachelors in Nursing
Mirta Reyes, RN and her Masters in Nursing Leadership from the
University of Phoenix. What she says she likes most
Mirta Reyes is a Registered Nurse at University Plaza about her job, is the ability to help others. Chrystal
Rehabilitation and Nursing Center. Mirta has over 38 brings her wealth of experience to educating the nurses
years of nursing experience having received her nursing at Florida Medical Center. She has held many different
degree in 1980 from Livia Gouverner Paseo Marti in positions at the hospital as she has been there for twen-
Matanzas, Cuba. She joined University Plaza in 2015 ty-five years. In her spare time, she enjoys traveling,
and is currently a unit charge nurse in the center’s reha- going to the theatre, enjoying the art scene and working
bilitation wing, helping patients return to optimal health out.
and back to their normal lives as quickly as possible.
Mirta’s extensive nursing experience is a benefit not only
to the patients she helps each day, but to her colleagues
who look to her as a nursing resource.

Nursing Can Change the World and Your Future

South Florida is blooming with opportunities for nurses! My own journey as a nurse educator began in Pennsylvania when I
This region boasts Florida International University, a top started teaching as an adjunct clinical professor for a private university. I
ranked Carnegie research classified university. Situated in went on to teach at an allopathic (MD) medical college for a few years
gorgeous Miami, FIU is one of the largest universities in the before finally becoming a part of Florida International University.
country. After years of working clinically as a registered nurse, nurse practition-
South Florida is also home to the U.S. Army Trauma er, and administrator, teaching gave me new hope for the future of nursing
Training Center (ATTC) at the renowned Ryder Trauma and the power behind shaping the minds of those who will carry the torch
Center, the Nicklaus Children’s Hospital, the Miami VA forward. It has been so inspiring to think of all the lives touched by the
Healthcare System, and many other world class hospitals and young nurses I have worked with.
healthcare systems. FIU collaborates with the majority, if not Watching student nurses grow and develop throughout the curriculum,
all, healthcare delivery systems and professionals throughout seeing the light bulbs go off and the “aha” moments of sudden insight in
South Florida. We are continually striving to improve patient hospital hallways and classrooms, see them get past the exhaustion and
care and outcomes. the sweat and tears is incredibly gratifying. Obtaining a nursing degree is
The FIU College of Nursing and Health Sciences’ Bachelor BY MARIA OLENICK no small feat. It requires great courage, precision in skill sets, critical
of Science in Nursing (BSN) program is an amazing place to PHD, FNP, RN thinking, and remarkable senses of confidence and critical thinking.
be. The program is accredited by the Commission on Teaching in nursing is most certainly one of my proudest achievements.
Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE) and has several distinctive track options Contributing to passing on a lifetime of knowledge and experience to a new gen-
that are designed to meet the needs of different types of students: (a) the Generic eration of nursing is a privilege. There is no greater feeling than watching former
BSN track (for the traditional college student), (b) the RN-to-BSN track (for RNs students become successful in their careers. It is fulfilling to see former students
who are returning to complete their BSN), (c) the Combined BSN and MSN return to graduate school to seek advanced nursing degrees and potentially
(Master of Science in Nursing) for Foreign-Educated Physicians (FEP) track (for research nursing careers.
foreign educated physicians who wish to return to healthcare in the United Nurses’ Week is a wonderful time to celebrate the nurses who work tirelessly
States), (d) the Accelerated Option (AO) track (for students who completed a from the classrooms to the clinical settings to the board room chairs. Nurses are
degree in another major and have chosen nursing as a second career/degree), and the backbone of healthcare. We are the 24/7 boots on the ground. I am eternally
(e) the Veteran Bachelor of Science in Nursing (VBSN) track (for military medics grateful to be a nurse and encourage anyone thinking about a healthcare career to
and corpsmen). consider nursing. In this profession, you can change the world! Thank you to all
Our BSN program tracks are highly competitive. Classes and clinical experi- nurses for your contributions and caring.
ences are rigorous, but undoubtedly rewarding. Our BSN students and graduates
are committed to becoming leaders in the nursing profession and have demon- Dr. Maria Olenick, Chair Undergraduate Nursing, Florida International University –
strated substantial contributions throughout South Florida and beyond. Courses Nicole Wertheim College of Nursing & Health Sciences, can be reached at
are taught by expert nursing faculty who bring extensive experience as clinicians, (305) 348-7757 or molenick@fiu.edu.
educators, and scholars.

“Obtaining a nursing degree is no small feat. It requires great courage, precision in skill sets,
critical thinking, and remarkable senses of confidence and critical thinking.”

South Florida Hospital News southfloridahospitalnews.com May 2018 39