Responding to crises and navigating the unknown are par for the course in nursing. Flexibility and determination are two of the most important qualities nurses can have to meet these challenges. As we continue to navigate the COVID-19 pandemic, we have seen the backbone of our medical educational community tested, and we have held strong because of the character and hard work demonstrated by every member of our team.
Here is a glimpse of a few of our standout faculty efforts.
Sherry Rivera, DNP, APRN, ANP-C, Assistant Professor of Clinical Nursing
Dr. Rivera was instrumental in establishing a pop-up clinic to administer COVID-19 vaccines and was dedicated to ensuring availability of vaccines for every person who wanted one. She tapped into LSU Health New Orleans School of Nursing resources, coordinating training for several hundred undergraduate students so they were prepared to administer the shots. These students cycled through the clinic, volunteering their time to administer vaccines and get practical experience in patient contact. An LSU Health New Orleans School of Nursing alumna as well as a faculty member, Dr. Rivera graduated in 2015 with her Doctor of Nursing Practice degree.
Gwendolyn Stewart-Woods, RN, MSN, Instructor of Clinical Nursing
An enthusiastic instructor of clinical nursing, Stewart-Woods also proved a ready volunteer during the COVID-19 crisis. She was one of the first to offer to execute the School of Nursing’s COVID-19 testing protocols, and she later contributed the most time of all volunteers help run COVID-19 vaccine pop-up clinics.
Linda Ledet, DNS, APRN, PMHCNS-BC, Assistant Professor of Clinical Nursing
Board-certified in adult psychiatric and mental health nursing, Dr. Ledet recognized early that the pandemic was subjecting nursing students and faculty to extra stress and anxiety. She demonstrated patient and calm leadership while advocating for extra mental health support wherever possible. Her counsel to students who were questioning their decisions about entering nursing included lessons on dealing with anxiety that will benefit them for the rest of their careers. Dr. Ledet is also a Louisiana State University alumna, having earned a Bachelor of Nursing Science and a Master of Nursing from the Louisiana State University Medical Center, and a Doctor of Nursing Science degree from Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center.
