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Linda Jensen, Ph.D. |
Linda Jensen, Ph.D., assistant professor, UNMC College of Nursing Kearney Division, was awarded Nurse of the Year for her impact on the nursing profession as an educator, a researcher and an advocate.
As chairman of NNA’s Commission on Advocacy and Representation, Dr. Jensen was an activist for nursing and health care issues, developed strong ties with state legislators, testified at Legislative hearings around the state and kept the NNA membership updated about legislative activities impacting Nebraska nurses, nominators said.
Her active advocacy for mental health consumers was particularly noteworthy. “She has worked to secure the rights of the mentally ill, to develop parity in insurance benefits and to educate nurses and the public about mental health and mental illness including developing various reference proposals supported by NNA,” said one nominator.
As a result of her activism and work on behalf of NNA, Dr. Jensen recently was appointed to the state’s Behavioral Health Reform Commission.
“I had a family experience with serious mental illness and then realized how devastating the illness was, the pervasive stigma surrounding mental illnesses, and the extreme lack of rehabilitative recovery-oriented resources in Nebraska at that time,” Dr. Jensen said. “I took on improvement of care, resources and fighting stigma as my way to find meaning in all my frustration and sorrow.”
The NNA award is special because one of the nominees was the late Pat Saylor, a Kearney nursing faculty member, longtime friend and mental health instructor. “The award is special because it brings attention to the problems I am working on to improve this part of the world,” Dr. Jensen said.
Dr. Jensen earned a diploma in nursing from Lincoln General School of Nursing in 1966, bachelor’s degree in psychology in 1997 from Kearney State College in Kearney, a master’s degree in 1982 from Wichita State University, Kan., in nursing administration and maternal-child care. She earned her doctoral degree in 1997 from UNMC with an emphasis on family care.
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Rosalee Yeaworth, Ph.D. |
Additionally, she oversaw the implementation of a doctoral program and a distance learning program, which allowed nurses to earn their master’s and doctoral degrees in nursing. Under her leadership, a nurse practitioner (NP) program was launched in Kearney, and several faculty were assisted in obtaining NP certification.
“I was taken completely by surprise, both because I had received the Outstanding Achievement Award from NNA in 1985 and because I have been out of the dean position for 11 years,” she said. “I never even thought about someone nominating me.”
Dr. Yeaworth continues to guest teach, has served on the Nebraska Center for Nursing Board since its inception, has been state coordinator of health advocacy services of the American Association of Retired Persons, and is serving in her fifth year as a member of the Health and Long-Term Care Committee of AARP’s National Legislative Council, a 25-member, all volunteer, policy analysis and advisory body to AARP’s Board of Directors.
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Carol Wilson |
Wilson has been a delegate, held office and worked on various membership committees at both the district and state levels. She also put herself forward as a national candidate for office at the American Nurses Association.
“I was stunned to have received the award,” Wilson said. “I’ve been retired from the hospital for 13 years.” But, she said she volunteers her time and effort to the NNA because she believes in the nursing profession and the organization.
Wilson said many strides have been made in nursing since the time she entered the profession. “I think nurses are recognized more as professionals and their certainly paid better now,” she said. “The future is bright.”
NNA, the professional organization for nurses in Nebraska, is gearing up to celebrate its 100th anniversary in 2006. NNA’s vision is to be an effective voice for nurses and an advocate for Nebraska consumers on issues relating to health.
In addition to the NNA award, Dr. Jensen received the Rural Health Achievement Excellence Award for promoting the development of community oriented rural health care delivery. She was cited for her leadership and advocacy for community-based, mental health services in Central and South Central Nebraska. She helped organize the Drop-In Center, as well as Psychiatric Day Rehabilitation Services in Kearney.
In addition to advocating more services to persons with serious mental illnesses, she serves as an advisory council member of South Central Behavioral Health. She also works with the Buffalo County Community Partners’ Mental Health and Suicide Prevention Task Force and the Housing and Homeless Coalition.