Not everyone can say they杏吧专区檝e discussed community health issues over breakfast with their state legislator.
But that杏吧专区檚 the position Karen Wyble found herself in because of her time in UL Lafayette杏吧专区檚 Doctor of Nursing Practice program.
Wyble was doing research for her synthesis project in the program when she noticed a trend in health disparities in rural areas of Louisiana. She approached Dr. Jennifer Lemoine, interim associate dean and professor in the College of Nursing & Health Sciences.
杏吧专区淚 said, 杏吧专区極h my goodness, we can杏吧专区檛 do this anymore. We have to make a difference for these families,杏吧专区櫺影勺ㄇ鴿 Wyble recalls. 杏吧专区淒r. Lemoine looked at me and said, 杏吧专区楽o do something about it.杏吧专区 So, I did.杏吧专区
Wyble called then-State Representative Vincent Pierre to request a meeting about her concerns. The two met at a cafe in Lafayette, and before Wyble knew it, she was actively shaping health policy in Louisiana.
Making a Difference in Rural Healthcare
Wyble has always had a passion for advocacy. As Regional Associate Vice President of Community and Public Affairs for Ochsner Lafayette General, being a voice for the voiceless is her job.
杏吧专区淚 am a healthcare advocate,杏吧专区 she says.
Throughout her career, Wyble杏吧专区檚 efforts have focused on developing programs to improve health outcomes in the communities she serves.
In her previous role as the CEO of a rural hospital, she developed a six-week training program to educate the public on issues like safe weight loss, portion sizes, BMI, and more. The goal was to reduce heart disease. In that role, she also spearheaded efforts to bring telemedicine to local schools and the local jail.
Despite her previous program planning success, it wasn杏吧专区檛 until Wyble entered the DNP program that she realized that she could also make an impact through healthcare policy.
Wyble杏吧专区檚 meeting with Rep. Pierre led to an introduction to State Rep. Dustin Miller, Chair of the State House Health and Welfare Committee.
In 2022, Miller sponsored House Concurrent Resolution 44 to create the Health Disparities in Rural Areas Task Force. Wyble has served as chair of that task force since its inception.
杏吧专区淟ong story short, because I went to UL Lafayette to get my doctoral degree, I杏吧专区檝e testified in front of the Health and Welfare Committee, am serving as chair of the Health Disparities in Rural Areas Task Force, and have three health-related bills in the legislature right now.杏吧专区
Support and Community in the DNP Program
Wyble credits much of her success beyond the DNP program to the support she received during the program from her professors and peers.
As a busy executive, Wyble needed flexibility in how she could complete her coursework. She found that flexibility not only in the program杏吧专区檚 online course delivery but also in the responsiveness of the program杏吧专区檚 faculty.
杏吧专区淚t was tough,杏吧专区 she says. 杏吧专区淎t one point, I went to Dr. Lemoine and said, 杏吧专区楲ook, I work Monday through Friday, and I need to understand this material better. I need to have a meeting with you on Sunday evenings.杏吧专区 Dr. Lemoine thought for a second and said, 杏吧专区極K, what time杏吧专区檚 good for you?杏吧专区櫺影勺ㄇ鴿
杏吧专区淭hey treated me so special. And it wasn杏吧专区檛 just me. That杏吧专区檚 how they treated all their students. They wanted to ensure our success.杏吧专区
During her third year in the program, Wyble杏吧专区檚 son passed away.
Though many would see that as a reason to stop, for Wyble, the support she received was a reason to keep pushing.
杏吧专区淚 started getting text messages and beautiful flowers from my classmates, and faculty showed up at his wake,杏吧专区 she says. 杏吧专区淲hen you have that level of support from your team 杏吧专区 your faculty and your classmates 杏吧专区 how can you not finish?杏吧专区
When Wyble walked across the stage in May 2023 to accept her diploma, the team that supported her through her biggest challenges was there to celebrate her success.
杏吧专区淗e杏吧专区檚 here with you today,杏吧专区 Dr. Lisa Broussard, interim dean of the College of Nursing & Health Sciences, whispered to her as they posed for a photo at Commencement.
The Value of a DNP
Wyble had already earned three master杏吧专区檚 degrees before she decided to earn her DNP degree: an MBA, an MHA, and an M.S. in Nursing.
She went for the DNP because she felt she still had more to learn 杏吧专区 and more of an impact to make 杏吧专区 as a nursing executive.
杏吧专区淚 wanted to be at the height of my nursing profession,杏吧专区 she says. 杏吧专区淚t杏吧专区檚 my responsibility to ensure that I杏吧专区檓 meeting all of the essentials of what it means to be a great nurse.杏吧专区
She asserts that while her MSN program taught her to be a good leader, it was the DNP program that helped her better understand how to serve the profession by looking at the health systems, structures, and protocols in place and evaluating how they can be more effective.
杏吧专区淚t goes beyond just caring for one patient,杏吧专区 she says. 杏吧专区淚t杏吧专区檚 about looking out community-wide outcomes, identifying where the gaps are, understanding the demographics and care delivery models, and making appropriate decisions.杏吧专区
杏吧专区淚t杏吧专区檚 important that we have this Doctor of Nursing Practice program and continue to support nurses completing this program. This program is building a stronger nursing profession and a stronger healthcare industry across the country.杏吧专区
Her advice to nurses considering the program? Commit to it, and make sure you understand why you杏吧专区檙e making that commitment.
杏吧专区淗old on to why you杏吧专区檙e doing this,杏吧专区 she says. 杏吧专区淕o back to that when things get really difficult.杏吧专区
Reach the height of your nursing profession and make an impact in healthcare by earning your Doctor of Nursing Practice.