A Nurse First

From creating a groundbreaking peer mentoring program to navigating leadership roles with strategic focus, Benita Chatmon's story is a testament to the power of mentorship in achieving long-term goals. By prioritizing her time and commitments based on her professional goals and understanding the importance of saying "yes" to opportunities that align with her objectives, Benita exemplifies the value of mentorship in guiding career decisions and achieving long-term success. Connect with Sigma: @SigmaNursingFacebookInstagramLinkedInA Nurse First story

Jyu-Lin Chen began her nursing career with a passion for working with children, which led her to a pediatric ICU. Her curiosity and commitment to evidence-based practice shifted her focus to researching obesity trends among Chinese American immigrant children. Despite initial skepticism, she pursued her inquiry based on clinical observations and a need for data. Her pioneering research earned her induction into Sigma's 2023 International Nurse Researcher Hall of Fame. Connect with Sigma: @SigmaNursingFacebookInstagramLinkedInA Nurse First story

Out of 800 applicants, Jitana Benton-Lee was one of 30 selected to participate in a digital innovation boot camp, a collaboration between the American Association of Colleges of Nursing and Apple. The proposal? A visionary app to track nursing students' core competencies, moving away from archaic paper methods to a dynamic, digital solution. Connect with Sigma: @SigmaNursingFacebookInstagramLinkedInA Nurse First story

Allison Young’s diverse background in East Asian studies, the role she played translating Japanese news bulletins after the 2011 tsunami, and her doctoral study in thanatology unexpectedly converged when she discovered an article online about a gardener in Otsuchi, Japan, and an old British phone booth. Connect with Sigma: @SigmaNursingFacebookInstagramLinkedInA Nurse First story

Higinio Fernández-Sánchez's story begins in Tyler, Texas, where he migrated with his family from Mexico at a young age. Determined to pursue his dream of becoming a nurse despite being undocumented, Higinio made the difficult decision to return to Mexico, only to face a 10-year ban from re-entering the U.S. after being denied a study permit. His time there turned out to be a blessing in disguise though, as he embraced his culture, became fluent in Spanish, and discovered a passion for research. Connect with Sigma: @SigmaNursingFacebookInstagramLinkedInA Nurse First story

In this bonus episode of A Nurse First, Sigma president Sandra C. Garmon Bibb shares her incredible career journey and the many firsts she has experienced along the way. From making tremendous decisions to facing challenges head-on, Sandra's story is one of inspiration. Connect with Sigma: @SigmaNursingFacebookInstagramLinkedInA Nurse First story

Sigma's new president Sandra C. Garmon Bibb always knew she wanted to be a nurse. Finding out at a young age that her name meant "helper of mankind" solidified the decision for her. Little did she know then though how full circle it would all come as she put pen to paper to develop Sigma’s 2023-2025 organizational call to action. Connect with Sigma: @SigmaNursingFacebookInstagramLinkedInA Nurse First story

Katie Foster believes authenticity in healthcare goes beyond personal identity; it is about embodying professionalism, empathy, and dedication to patient well-being. When she reconnected with a patient who didn't recognize her after her transition, Katie was fervently hopeful that her belief would manifest in reality. Connect with Sigma: @SigmaNursingFacebookInstagramLinkedInA Nurse First story

Facing challenges and limited funding, Jerry John Nutor's determination and passion for improving healthcare led him to create the Africa Interdisciplinary Health Conference—a platform for healthcare professionals to come together, share ideas, and address the complex health problems facing his continent. Connect with Sigma: @SigmaNursingFacebookInstagramLinkedInA Nurse First story

In nursing, it's not just about being clinically smart, but also emotionally intelligent. The COVID-19 pandemic robbed countless nursing students of their clinical experience—and as an NCLEX tutor, Laura Habighorst has seen the impact on her students’ test scores. With the human element being the difference in exceptional patient care, she’s reworked her tutoring plans to add in the valuable lessons she’s learned both as a nurse and as a patient to help combat this missing piece. Connect with Sigma: @SigmaNursingFacebookInstagramLinkedInA Nurse First story

To address the mental health crisis head-on, Greg Jones opened the first mental health peer respite center in the Pacific Northwest. His theory is this: If as nurses we have the opportunity to make a difference, we are obliged to because nursing is not just a profession. It’s a calling to advocate for those in need and be a beacon of healing and justice. Connect with Sigma: @SigmaNursingFacebookInstagramLinkedInA Nurse First story

Anthony Silva dropped out of high school to help his mother pay bills and worked various jobs, including being a medical assistant, before finding a mentor in Dr. Richard de Asla, a foot and ankle surgeon. He offered Anthony a full-time job—and changed his life. Driven by his mentor's encouragement, Anthony became the first registered orthopedic technician in his healthcare system and is now training and inspiring others to do the same. Connect with Sigma: @SigmaNursingFacebookInstagramLinkedInA Nurse First story

Catch up on seasons 1 and 2 while we take a break to work on season 3. See you back here in August 2023! Connect with Sigma: @SigmaNursingFacebookInstagramLinkedInA Nurse First story

During the pandemic, Terri Ann Parnell pivoted her career to launch TAP Wellness Coaching, a program designed to specifically address the unique challenges nurses face in taking care of themselves. With the goal of helping nurses create long-lasting healthy habits, Terri's program focuses not on finding work-life balance but on building resilience and instead, achieving work-life harmony. Connect with Sigma: @SigmaNursingFacebookInstagramLinkedInA Nurse First story

Admittedly, Imelda Reyes' path to nursing followed a non-traditional route, joining the Navy and starting in healthcare finance. Now a nurse practitioner and faculty member at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, it was also rather unconventional for her to volunteer as a graduation marshal just a few months after starting her new role. Following the "norm" wasn't what was important. Being there for her students—being part of something bigger—that's what Imelda cares about. Connect with Sigma: @SigmaNursingFacebookInstagramLinkedInA Nurse First story

Linda Casale spent 25+ years as a psychiatric mental health nurse serving the Veteran's Association. She witnessed the struggles veterans faced, especially once the VA recognized the additive effects of opioids and benzodiazepines and aggressively worked to reduce their use. Despite her understanding, Linda felt like it left her toolbox empty. Though retirement was in sight, she kept hearing about the many benefits of medical cannabis from her patients, and she decided to embark on a new mission to deliver integrative holistic care to veterans. Connect with Sigma: @SigmaNursingFacebookInstagramLinkedInA Nurse First story

Throughout her life, Mar'yana Fisher has turned to poetry to express her feelings creatively and fearlessly. Before leaving Ukraine and immigrating to Canada, she even published a short collection. Her muse struck again when she started graduate school in Canada after immigrating from Ukraine. Poetry helped Mar’yana process her fear and anxiety during this time and became a powerful tool for self-expression and advocacy in her nursing career. Connect with Sigma: @SigmaNursingFacebookInstagramLinkedInA Nurse First story

Daniel Suárez-Baquero is the person he is today because of his abuela. She inspired his dream to work in women's health, and modeling her courage, he became the first male nurse in birth and labor rooms in Colombia. Now his research focuses on reproductive justice in order to pay tribute and give back to the many women who built him. Connect with Sigma: @SigmaNursingFacebookInstagramLinkedInA Nurse First story

Cora O'Leary's research study on the challenges faced by nurses caring solo for children with complex healthcare needs led to recommendations for improvements in support and governance. With her study's findings in hand and national policy changes on the horizon, she crafted a new nursing role for herself as Ireland's first Clinical Practice Specialist. Connect with Sigma: @SigmaNursingFacebookInstagramLinkedInA Nurse First story

Though still very much a new member of Gamma Tau at-Large Chapter, Trish Eusala went all in, volunteering to lead as the chapter's Community Outreach Chair. The outcome? New connections, invaluable experiences, and unshakeable friendships across the nursing continuum. Connect with Sigma: @SigmaNursingFacebookInstagramLinkedInA Nurse First story