DNP students in N962 have released a set of op-eds:

Therese Bernstein: "The consequences of touch starvation," "Stamford Advocate"

Samantha Sassone: "Keeping nursing students engaged during a pandemic," "Daily Messenger" 

AJ Cruz: "Contraception: It’s the 21st century, not the 19th century," "Medium"

Excerpt: What do weasel testicles, crocodile poop, animal intestines, mercury, and lead have in common? They were all forms of contraceptives women in history had to endure just to have a little bit of autonomy in their lives. Science and technological advancement led to the invention of modern, convenient, and safe contraceptives for women. In this day and age, patients making appointments to see their healthcare provider for contraceptives is a routine visit. It is baffling to learn that it wasn’t always “routine” back then. I find it difficult to comprehend that two centuries ago, it was illegal to even talk about birth control. Politicians, who were mostly men, dictated when and whether women could have access to contraceptives. We have come a long way since then. After centuries of suppression, the Supreme Court finally stepped in and has since been integral in preserving women’s reproductive rights.

Lisa Kelly (MSN alum): “So now you’re scared? Here’s what to do,” "Independent Tribune" 

Currently, it is safe to insinuate, most people are more conscious of hand hygiene, personal protective equipment (PPE), and social distancing. Where was all this awareness prior to COVID-19? The mainstream media and social media have created a paralyzing fear in people about COVID-19 by reporting the increased positive cases in the US along with the number of deaths but fail to mention the number of people who have contracted the disease and survived. I contracted COVID-19, thankfully it was a mild case. Each day in medicine, we are learning the proper precautions to take and what medicines to use for treatment not just for COVID-19 but other viruses as well.

Sherri McDonald, “Hiding in Plain Sight: My Autistic Daughter,” "Autism Parenting Magazine," Published in March 2021

Lauren Kearney, “Plant-based lifestyles can be good for young athletes,” "Orlando Sentinel" 

Danielle Trigg, “As schools reopen during COVID-19, we need a nurse in every school," "The Fayetteville Observer" 

Excerpt: The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic has disrupted our schools, students, families and communities. Now, with the plan to reopen schools amid the pandemic, we need a nurse in every school.

Less than half of North Carolina school districts have a nurse in their school every day. Reopening schools with the appropriate mitigation strategies, like having one nurse in every school, can help protect our students and staff, and slow the spread of COVID-19. We are putting our children’s health in jeopardy by not implementing one nurse per school. Are you willing to risk our children’s health and safety?

Bobbi Pino-y-Torres, “Managing growing issue of obesity not an easy task," "The Mining Journal" 

Excerpt: We have all heard the rapidly changing messages. Don’t wear a mask. Wear a mask. Social distance. Stay sex feet apart. Stay 12 feet apart. Stay home, stay safe. Go outside. Despite the confusion, one aspect of the pandemic that has not changed is the pre-existing conditions that increase the risk of severe illness and poor outcomes from COVID-19. Obesity is a medical condition that can increase your risk of developing type 2 diabetes, hypertension and cardiovascular disease. All conditions that lead to high risk of severe illness and poor outcomes.

Kristen Baker, “Addressing the Youth Vaping Epidemic,” "Winston-Salem Journal"

Excerpt: A few years ago, my high schooler taught me a new verb, “Juuling.” At that time, I had heard of Juul but really didn’t appreciate how popular vaping had become among teens. As a pediatric nurse practitioner and mother of four children, three of whom are currently in high school, I considered myself informed about adolescent high-risk behaviors. Apparently not in this case. It became clear that many parents, me included, had a lot to learn about this new teenage craze. Schools need to be proactive in providing anti-vaping education for students and parents alike to combat this new public health crisis.

Despite increasing the tobacco age to 21 in 2019 and recent legislation by the FDA banning unauthorized flavored cartridge-based electronic cigarettes, the youth vaping epidemic continues. According to the 2020 National Youth Tobacco Survey, more than 3 million high school students reported current e-cigarette use. In addition, disposable e-cigarette use in the U.S. increased 1,000% over the past year. Savvy teens looking for flavored e-cigarettes such as Puff Bar and Stig are much to blame for the explosion in disposable vaping product use. These products managed to evade the initial flavor restrictions until July, when the FDA further banned unauthorized flavored disposable e-cigarettes. In addition, teens can easily skirt the tobacco age laws when buying their e-cigarette products online. Current legislation does not require age verification for online purchases — another loophole that needs to be closed. 

Jodi Matthews, “Vaccines” in "The News & Observer" 

Excerpt: We live in a polarized society, and it seems the people and institutions we once trusted to give us the information we need have their own agendas. As a nurse, I implore everyone to take the time to educate themselves on on public policy and vaccine development through peer-reviewed journals and scientific publications.