Diverse Backgrounds, Growing Together

By Daphne Sashin

Nursing leaders at Penn Medicine know it’s critical to have a culturally diverse workforce – all the way up to the executive suite – that mirrors the patient population. That’s why the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania (HUP), in partnership with the Abramson Family Center for Nursing Excellence, this year launched the Diversity Nurse Leader Fellowship (DNLF), a one-year program for nurses who are committed to promoting diversity, either as a member of a historically underrepresented group or as an ally, to gain the skills to take on leadership roles.

Each at different points in their career, the six fellows share a goal of taking their nursing careers to the next level.

“It has been an incredibly humbling experience to watch the clinical nurses participate in the leadership development program,” said Barbara A. Todd, DNP, CRNP, HUP’s director of Practice and Education–Advanced Practice and director of the DNLF. “I have seen trepidation of the unknown turn to joy in the possibilities. I am excited for their futures in nursing.”

Meet three of the fellows, in their own words:

Madonna Ramzey, BSN, RN, Intensive Care Unit Resource Nurse, Staffing for All Seasons

“As a member of the critical-care float pool, I can be a critical-care, medical-surgical, or emergency department bedside nurse; fill in as a coordinator; or assist in acclimating a whole new unit to HUP, such as when HUP Cedar nurses moved to Founders 8 to staff HUP's third medical intensive care unit. My role has been equally versatile, engaging, challenging, and without a doubt, humbling.

Communication is very important to me. I grew up in Egypt and came to the U.S. when I was 10, barely speaking English. I witnessed how frustrated some people were in attempting to communicate with me, if they tried at all. At the time, it led to a lot of shame and feelings of inadequacy. When I became a nurse, I swore that I would never make someone feel that way, especially in a moment where they are so vulnerable as a patient. Whether someone speaks a different language, or is intubated and unable to physically speak, I do what I can to find different modalities of communication and the patience to help them get their message across.

I applied to the nursing leadership fellowship program because I initially didn’t dream big enough. My goal – to have a respectable career that I enjoyed and become financially independent – was met by age 30. I had so much more motivation, effort, and ideas I want to bring forth for an institution that I am so proud to be a part of.”

Takeria Ford, BSN, RN, Emergency Department Nurse, HUP Cedar

“My mother was in the hospital a lot when I was younger and I was always there with her. I remember the nurses being nice and kind to me, and I wanted to be just like them. She passed when I was 20 years old, and I took custody of my four sisters. I had to drop out of nursing school to take care of them. It was the most difficult time in my life, but I learned patience, compassion, and trust. Teenagers can bring that out of you.

I returned to nursing school eight years later and am currently a nurse in the HUP Cedar Emergency Department. It has been a wonderful journey since we transitioned into a HUP facility in 2021. I had been there for two years prior, when it was Mercy Catholic Medical Center. Since the transition, I have learned a lot and have been able to take on more responsibility. I was excited to be trained as one of the charge nurses.

Diversity in nursing leadership is needed because we all come from different backgrounds, and we can share our ideas with one another so everyone can be included. The other nursing fellows have been with Penn longer than I have, and to hear their accomplishments has been a motivation for me.”

Nyree Lyons, MSN, RN, CMSRN, Clinical Nurse 4, Bariatric, Gastrointestinal and Ortho-Oncology Surgery

“One of my proudest experiences at HUP began when I attended a presentation about lateral violence, a form of psychological harassment between co-workers at the same level that can affect morale and patient care. It helped me recognize areas in my own communication style where I could improve so that all staff felt supported. Because of the feedback from my unit about my bringing the topic to light, and changes in my behavior and communication that were noticed, I was able to do a podium presentation about the topic at an acute and critical care nursing conference in 2019.

One thing that has made me a better nurse is my diagnosis of type 1 diabetes as a 7-year-old. Prior to the Pavilion being built, my unit (Rhoads 4) included transplant patients, some who had been newly diagnosed with steroid-induced diabetes. I would give them information to better understand their diagnosis, and later reveal that I was a diabetic and explain how long I have managed with the disease. I told patients that we control diabetes, diabetes doesn't control us.

It’s so important for HUP to have more diversity in its nursing leadership. First, it demonstrates that there are opportunities for all staff. It encourages clinical nurses from underrepresented backgrounds to apply for advancement opportunities and not be intimidated or fearful they will not be accepted. In addition, the community we serve deserves to see leadership that looks similar to them. This builds trust within the community and may decrease fears that they are not understood or heard.”