Page 36 - SFHNMay2020finalUF.qxp_SFHN 0608 Friday 5.0

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

UHEALTH AMBULATORY OUTPATIENT CLINICS PALM BEACH CHILDREN’S SURGICAL SPECIALISTS

Lissett Zelaya-Manduley, RN Dayna Hagerty, APRN

As director of infection control and patient safety nursing Dayna Hagerty has always been interested in medicine,
administrator for the Ambulatory Outpatient Clinics at UHealth research and evidence based practice. During her time at the
– the University of Miami Health System, Lissett Zelaya- University of Florida, she volunteered on a psychiatric nursing
Manduley, RN, leads the nursing teams at 80+ outpatient clinics unit and saw firsthand the impact nursing has in uplifting the
– about 500 nurses and medical assistants in total. “My role is spirits of patients and their course of treatment for the better. It
to coordinate the nursing operations, and ensure everyone is was at that time Dayna realized that nursing was an art and a
following safety protocols and best practices,” she said. “That is science, the science of medicine plus the art of creativity and
essential during the COVID-19 epidemic.” human caring. Today, Dayna is a nurse practitioner in pediatric
Zelaya-Manduley was introduced to nursing as a high school neurosurgery at Palm Beach Children’s Surgical Specialists in
candy striper, trained at Jackson Memorial School of Nursing, West Palm Beach. Dayna’s favorite aspect of her career is spend-
and joined UHealth 23 years ago as a research nurse. Since then, she has been involved in ing the one on one time with patients and their families. She enjoys taking the time to con-
inpatient and oncology units, becoming a practice manager and helping to open new clin- nect and answer questions and in helping to alleviate any anxieties parents and children
ics. In April, she helped set up drive-up COVID-19 testing clinics in Miami and Deerfield may have with education and compassion. Most of Dayna’s career in pediatrics has been
Beach. spent with surgical patients and her scope of practice has evolved with advanced educa-
“Nurses throughout South Florida have really come together in this crisis,” she said. tion. Dayna has a Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) from the University of Miami, a
“Everyone is looking after each other. Nurses today are courageous leaders in this time of Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) from the University of Florida and is certified as a
need.” Family Nurse Practitioner.

UNIVERSITY OF MIAMI HOSPITAL AND CLINICS Roberta Torres, APRN

Roberta Torres always knew she wanted to work in medicine
with children and was inspired to attend nursing school by her
Elijah Virgin, BSN, RN, PMD mother, a licensed practical nurse (LPN). Roberta fell in love
with the art of nursing and the time she spent bonding with her
Elijah Virgin, BSN, RN, PMD, is on the front line of the patients. She looks forward to going to work because pediatrics
COVID-19 pandemic, delivering emergency care to seriously ill is her passion and she is thankful for this because every day
patients. “Right now, we are seeing about half the normal vol- there is something rewarding or positive to experience.
ume, but the patients who arrive here are twice as sick,” he said. Roberta’s specialty is in general pediatric surgery and she works
“Everyone is adapting to the new world we live in.” directly with the Palm Beach Children’s Surgical Specialists
Virgin was a firefighter paramedic and hazardous materials (PBCSS) surgeons and team to deliver care for a wide range of
technician in Central Florida before earning his nursing degree conditions varying from congenital, infectious, and traumatic to a myriad of other special-
and joining UHealth – the University of Miami Health System in ized surgical problems. She guides patients and their families through the surgical journey
2018. He started in interventional radiology seeing oncology which includes pre, intra and post-operative assessment and counseling. Roberta also leads
patients, before becoming emergency medical services liaison. “I the gastrostomy tube clinic. Dr. Anne Fischer, a pediatric general surgeon, and Roberta
love being part of the spectrum of care, from a patient pickup at home to hospital discharge have started a pectus bracing program to treat children with chest wall deformities non-
and follow-up,” he said. surgically. Roberta graduated nursing school in 2002, worked in adult medical surgical
Last November, Virgin attended FEMA’s Center for Domestic Preparedness training pro- ICU and general pediatrics before graduating with her Bachelor of Science in Nursing
gram on Ebola and other highly infectious diseases, and brought those lessons back to (BSN) in 2007. Roberta worked in neonatal intensive care for several years before earning
UHealth Tower. “We expanded our biocontainment area and mass casualty training,” he her Master of Science in Nursing from Seton Hall University in 2013. Roberta has worked
said. “Now, our bedside nurses offer comfort and companionship to isolated COVID-19 as a nurse practitioner for the past six-years and as a nurse for the previous 12-years. She
patients, while delivering the highest level of care.” joined Dr. Fischer and the Palm Beach Children’s Surgical Specialists practice in 2017.

CENTER FOR ADVANCED SURGICAL ONCOLOGY

HOLY CROSS HOSPITAL
Latoya Dotson, DNP, APRN, MSN, BSN,
RN, LPN

Latoya Dotson began her journey towards a nursing career Pauline Grant-Walters, MSN, RN, PCCN
during her junior year of high school learning at the time she
had a passion to help others in need. For the past five years, Pauline Grant-Walters began her 25-year career at Holy
Latoya has worked as a nurse practitioner specializing in inter- Cross Hospital as a unit secretary where she served for five
nal medicine, HIV/AIDS management, advanced wound care years. She went on to nursing school to become an MSN,
and surgical oncology. Working in surgical oncology helps RN and PCCN. Over the next 15 years, Pauline served as a
Latoya adapt to many different changes while building her self- nurse in the medical surgical unit, the step-down unit and
confidence to work independently as well as collectively in a the critical care unit. Today Pauline is part of the
team approach to deliver quality care at the Center for Advanced Surgical Oncology in Professional Practice Department as a Clinical Care
Hialeah. Latoya enjoys the many interactions with colleagues and patients where there are Specialist (2S/CVIMC) Simulation Coordinator in the
diverse cultures and languages she encounters while delivering care. She strives to build
strong relationships and trust with her patients connecting and communicating with a neuro-telemetry unit and cardio-vascular intermediate care
holistic, interdisciplinary manner. Latoya says nursing is so dynamic and ever changing unit. As part of the telemetry unit, her team received the Holy Cross Hospital Daisy
just like healthcare and that every day is a learning experience. Starting her career initially Award for their integrity and commitment to patients in that unit. Every day Pauline
as a licensed practical nurse (LPN), Latoya worked to gain the experience and knowledge embodies the core values of Holy Cross Hospital with her compassion, commitment
to become a long term care nurse manager and care plan coordinator. Latoya continued to clinical excellence and stewardship.
that role becoming a registered nurse (RN) in 2010, achieved her Bachelors of Science in
Nursing (BSN) in 2011, a Masters in Nursing (MSN) in 2014 and her Doctorate of Nursing
Practice (DNP) from Nova Southeastern University in 2017. She plans to pursue a PhD in
the near future to focus on research advancement for the HIV/AIDS population.

Subscribe to...

SOUTH FLORIDA HOSPITAL NEWS & HEALTHCARE REPORT today!
Subscribe online at www.southfloridahospitalnews.com or call 561-368-6950

36 May 2020 southfloridahospitalnews.com South Florida Hospital News