All nurses are leaders who influence care at every step along a patient’s journey. At SHC, clinical nurses are provided a platform to be deeply involved, serving as inspirational influencers of patient care and the larger healthcare system.
SHC Nursing Advocacy & Influence
A nurse advocate for
professional involvement in health care policies and legislation
The importance of advocacy, shared leadership, and engagement with professional organizations was evident since the beginning of Tamara AL-Yassin’s career. Tamara had been drawn by several nursing advocacy initiatives as a nursing student. Becoming a registered nurse afforded her with a stronger voice and empowerment to stand up for her beliefs and advocacy to elevate the nursing profession.
"While serving as an elected Californian Voting Delegate for the 2018 and 2019 American Nurses Association (ANA) Membership Assembly, I have found support through the leaders of SHC as I advocate for nursing involvement and influence in healthcare policies. My Stanford nursing role models have motivated and empowered me to draw upon my creativity to overcome obstacles while promoting change in the nursing profession.” --- Tamara AL-Yassin
A nurse advocate for sexual assault victims
Nancy went above and beyond in her role and, with the support of SHC, she completed additional training as a Sexual Assault Forensic Nurse Examiner, with additional education in sex-trafficking, strangulation, domestic violence, and victims' rights. This training has allowed Nancy to provide specialized education for victims of sexual assault at Stanford Health Care. Her advocacy in this arena has strengthened the organization’s ability to meet the healthcare needs of the community it serves.
Nancy’s leadership has been instrumental in supporting the community needs of SHC. Her commitment to excellence and empathy is depicted through her own words:
“I believe that we must be the voice and model for our profession in those moments with our patients, in our communication with each other, through mentorship, leadership, community and global influence. We are scientists. We are evidence-based practitioners who care and advocate for our patients and each other to bring forward positive changes in the world.”
– Nancy Anderson
A nurse advocate for community service
supporting the elderly population with cognitive delays
Avani Rakholia, RN, BSN, received training with the Opening Minds through Art (OMA) program in Miami University, Ohio, and has been successfully coordinating and volunteering with OMA for the past 8 months.
Opening Minds through Art (OMA) is an evidence-based program that forms intergenerational and cognitive connections through creative expression in the form of art. In this program, elderly people with dementia, Alzheimer's, or cognitive delays are paired with volunteers who are trained to draw on one’s imagination to create healing artwork. These creative expressions are used to improve physical and psychological well-being, establish social bonds, and strengthen the remaining skills an artist may have, as well as increase self-esteem and one’s sense of autonomy. The OMA program enables people with cognitive impairment to assume a new role as an artist and empower them to form a compelling legacy of artwork.
A nurse advocate for nurse leaders
Anita is a visionary leader whose advocacy focuses on promoting nursing as a profession of leaders with a powerful voice. She believes that all nurses are leaders who can shape the future of healthcare.
As an inspirational leader to all nurses at SHC, Dr. Anita Girard, DNP, RN, CNL, CPHQ, NEA-BC, Associate Chief Nursing Officer for Inpatient Services at Stanford Health Care, served as the Association of California Nurse Leaders (ACNL) South Bay Chapter.
In 2019, Dr. Girard was elected as the Californian American Nurses Association (ANA\C) President. ANA\C is the "Voice of Professional Nursing in California," and the organization represents all registered nurses in the state of California, encompassing all specialty and practice setting.
As nurses advocate for the best interests of the patients in the realm of the healthcare environment, Anita is committed to uplift and advance the nursing profession as a whole, expanding the scope and enthusiastically challenging the limit of nursing influence.
