Helping the helpers
Many people choose nursing as a career to help the sick; few choose the same career to help the helpers. Mordecai scholar and 2010 DNP graduate Amanda Jojola, FNP-C, aspires to do both. Jojola is a nursing director and assistant professor of nursing at Adams State College in Alamosa, Colo., and in January 2011, will begin working one day per week as a certified family nurse practitioner at the San Luis Valley Regional Medical Center.
“Working in nursing education and rural health is where I am happiest,” she says. “I will remain in the San Luis Valley and plan on being in a leadership role in these areas so I can make the greatest impact.”
Jojola grew up in the valley and, after practicing as a nurse in Denver, chose to move back to the area to live near her family. She began working as an educator at Adams State in the RN-to-BS program and was an integral part of setting up their traditional BSN program, which launched in January 2010.
Taking DNP classes online
The Mordecai scholarship and family leave from the college to take care of her ailing mother converged at the right time for Jojola. She was able to start DNP classes online. “Once my mother improved, I was granted a leave of absence from work so I could completely focus on my degree without having to worry about working at the same time. Without Mordecai funds, I would not have been able to do this.”
During the program, she met another Mordecai scholar who was equally committed to rural nurse education but hadn’t had as much experience. “We both attended the Bighorn Leadership Development Program in fall 2008. We carpooled to the program events for four months and had great conversations about nursing education, rural health, leadership, and nursing in general. She asked me to be her mentor during our first trip. ” says Jojola. “I was shocked, yet honored. We never developed any formal plan, it just happened.”
Jojola, who was chosen by her DNP class to represent them at convocation, encouraged all nursing students to “give someone the gift of knowledge, friendship, encouragement, joy, self-confidence, and selflessness so they, too, can inspire others. I guarantee it will bring you great fulfillment.”
With an educator’s heart, Jojola will always have people around to mentor. “I guess its part of my nature and overall character. I find this very rewarding as I love to see individuals grow as professionals, especially if they had any doubt that it was possible. Seeing this growth makes me a much stronger professional as well. Nurses don’t simply care for patients; we also care for our colleagues.”