Not everyone can say they小蝌蚪APP檝e discussed community health issues over breakfast with their state legislator.
But that小蝌蚪APP檚 the position Karen Wyble found herself in because of her time in UL Lafayette小蝌蚪APP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.
小蝌蚪APP淚 said, 小蝌蚪APP極h my goodness, we can小蝌蚪APP檛 do this anymore. We have to make a difference for these families,小蝌蚪APP櫺◎蝌紸PP Wyble recalls. 小蝌蚪APP淒r. Lemoine looked at me and said, 小蝌蚪APP楽o do something about it.小蝌蚪APP So, I did.小蝌蚪APP
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.
小蝌蚪APP淚 am a healthcare advocate,小蝌蚪APP she says.
Throughout her career, Wyble小蝌蚪APP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小蝌蚪APP檛 until Wyble entered the DNP program that she realized that she could also make an impact through healthcare policy.
Wyble小蝌蚪APP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.
小蝌蚪APP淟ong story short, because I went to UL Lafayette to get my doctoral degree, I小蝌蚪APP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.小蝌蚪APP
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小蝌蚪APP檚 online course delivery but also in the responsiveness of the program小蝌蚪APP檚 faculty.
小蝌蚪APP淚t was tough,小蝌蚪APP she says. 小蝌蚪APP淎t one point, I went to Dr. Lemoine and said, 小蝌蚪APP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.小蝌蚪APP Dr. Lemoine thought for a second and said, 小蝌蚪APP極K, what time小蝌蚪APP檚 good for you?小蝌蚪APP櫺◎蝌紸PP
小蝌蚪APP淭hey treated me so special. And it wasn小蝌蚪APP檛 just me. That小蝌蚪APP檚 how they treated all their students. They wanted to ensure our success.小蝌蚪APP
During her third year in the program, Wyble小蝌蚪APP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.
小蝌蚪APP淚 started getting text messages and beautiful flowers from my classmates, and faculty showed up at his wake,小蝌蚪APP she says. 小蝌蚪APP淲hen you have that level of support from your team 小蝌蚪APP your faculty and your classmates 小蝌蚪APP how can you not finish?小蝌蚪APP
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.
小蝌蚪APP淗e小蝌蚪APP檚 here with you today,小蝌蚪APP 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小蝌蚪APP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 小蝌蚪APP and more of an impact to make 小蝌蚪APP as a nursing executive.
小蝌蚪APP淚 wanted to be at the height of my nursing profession,小蝌蚪APP she says. 小蝌蚪APP淚t小蝌蚪APP檚 my responsibility to ensure that I小蝌蚪APP檓 meeting all of the essentials of what it means to be a great nurse.小蝌蚪APP
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.
小蝌蚪APP淚t goes beyond just caring for one patient,小蝌蚪APP she says. 小蝌蚪APP淚t小蝌蚪APP檚 about looking out community-wide outcomes, identifying where the gaps are, understanding the demographics and care delivery models, and making appropriate decisions.小蝌蚪APP
小蝌蚪APP淚t小蝌蚪APP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.小蝌蚪APP
Her advice to nurses considering the program? Commit to it, and make sure you understand why you小蝌蚪APP檙e making that commitment.
小蝌蚪APP淗old on to why you小蝌蚪APP檙e doing this,小蝌蚪APP she says. 小蝌蚪APP淕o back to that when things get really difficult.小蝌蚪APP
Reach the height of your nursing profession and make an impact in healthcare by earning your Doctor of Nursing Practice.