Angela Vasa holds a Master’s of Science in Nursing and she is a 2016 alumni of the Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security Emerging Leaders for Biosecurity Initiative (ELBI) fellowship.
Currently, she is the Director of Quarantine and Isolation Services at the National Quarantine Unit (NQU), a nurse manager for the Nebraska Biocontainment Unit (NBU), and the Director of Readiness Consultations and Metrics Development for the National Emerging Special Pathogens Training and Education Center (NETEC). She is also NETEC faculty, contributing subject matter expertise to training and education initiatives as well as technical consultations for healthcare entities across the country.
Her grant work includes leading a team for the National Infection Control Strengthening program funded by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and developing readiness metrics for healthcare coalitions in response to the Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response grant for Regional Disaster Healthcare Response System strengthening.
Ms. Vasa joined Nebraska Medicine in 2008, and her nursing experience includes delivery of care for patients with highly infectious diseases, solid organ transplant and critical care, as well as education, infection control, and leadership positions. She provided direct patient care for patients with Ebola virus diseases admitted to the BU in 2014-15 and COVID-19 positive patients admitted for care at UNMC/Nebraska medicine in 2020.
Ms. Vasa led the team that activated the NQU for the first time and ultimately admitted 16 individuals for both quarantine and isolation services. The NQU and the NBU were simultaneously activated and required complex logistical and practical coordination to provide seamless care for all individuals. This was accomplished by a cohesive team of leaders from across Nebraska Medicine and UNMC. Angela worked closely with the NBU nurse leaders to ensure Just-In-Time refresher training and education for all rostered staff, EMS, and ancillary support personnel was completed so all staff could respond safely and effectively upon activation.
Upon deactivation of the NQU and NBU, Ms. Vasa shifted the focus to enhance the knowledge and preparedness of all hospital employees who would be providing care for the surge of patients that were anticipated. To support this transition, Ms. Vasa and the NBU nurse leaders partnered with the Nursing Professional Development specialist, the Infection Prevention and Control department and Critical Care Medicine to develop and deliver training on the use of personal protective equipment, infection control processes and zoning for special pathogens.
Ms. Vasa also leads the team collaborating with Nebraska ICAP to provide on-site technical response consultation services to long term care and assisted living facilities across the state. To date, the team has completed more than 50 visits which include evaluation of current procedures, real time education and coaching and follow up assistance to better respond and prepare to provide safe care to geriatric residents in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Ms. Vasa is mom to a sweet, curious, and energetic 4-year-old boy named Miles, and she also serves as the co-chair of the UNMC and Nebraska Medicine LGBTQ+ Employee Alliance group which strives to promote an accepting and diverse culture across the enterprise for all LGBTQ+ employees and allies by organizing social networking and educational events as well as supporting advocacy and activism efforts in the community.
GCHS Spotlight: Angela Vasa, MSN, RN
