Delivering Excellence

Top spinal-cord-injury researchers gather for inaugural PVA Summit, discuss the advancement of spinal-cord medicine and healthcare.

Early in my nursing career I was recruited to work in a spinal-cord injury (SCI) unit for the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). Being a new nurse in spinal-cord injury was a challenge. Nursing school didn’t prepare me for the uniqueness of caring for patients with SCI.

During my time at the SCI unit, I received a scholarship from Paralyzed Veterans of America (PVA) to attend a conference for the Association of Spinal Cord Injury Nurses. I learned valuable evidence-based knowledge I was able to take back to the bedside to care for SCI veterans.

The conference also provided me a group of professionals I could network with who shared my common interest. I was so appreciative of the funding PVA invested in me that it motivated me to pay it forward. A proverb that inspired me was, “Remember who planted the tree when you eat the fruit” (anonymous). I am passionate about wanting to make a difference for the spinal-cord injury/disorder population.

Coming Together

Currently my role at PVA is to lead a team that advocates for people with spinal-cord injury/disorders to ensure the quality delivery of healthcare services for veterans. I was appointed to lead the planning for the inaugural Summit 2011: Delivering Excellence, Achieving State-of-the-Art Health Care, which took place September 16–18, 2011, at Orlando Renaissance Resort at SeaWorld. PVA was able to offer 600 scholarships to physicians, nurses, therapists, social workers, and psychologists to attend the Summit. 

During the Summit many positive comments were received, such as “What a great idea to have multiple sclerosis clinicians present about patient outcomes in a spinal-cord injury conference.” Another comment was, “As a neurologist treating patients with multiple sclerosis, it is very beneficial to network with spinal-cord injury clinicians and share ideas and practice.” 

 

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