Nursing

About 250 nurse practitioners and physician associates nationwide gathered over Zoom recently for Vanderbilt's annual ACNP/PA Critical Care Boot Camp.

Brandon Cochran, a 39-year-old real estate agent in Louisville, Kentucky, was at home with his family in October 2020 when he went into cardiac arrest. His implanted defibrillator shocked him back to life, and he was hospitalized for seven months.

All Coleen Leszczynski ever wanted was to be normal. Born with a congenital heart disease (CHD), she labored to breathe, having only three-quarters the oxygen capacity of a healthy person. Still, she fought to live, serving as a cardiac nurse in her native Philadelphia area for more than 16 years. She wanted to help people like her.

Sabrina Downs, MSN, MBA, RN, NE-BC, is retiring as senior director of Nursing Professional Practice and Magnet Recognition, effective Sept. 3.

Coleen Leszczynski's family dedicated the bell, to be rung every time a transplant patient leaves the hospital

Heather Jackson, PhD, APRN, administrative director of Advanced Practice for Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center, has been elected a fellow of the American Association of Nurse Practitioners.

Chandler Miniat, MMHC, has been named director of Nursing Support Services at Vanderbilt University Medical Center. Miniat will report to Marilyn Dubree, MSN, RN, Executive Chief Nursing Officer.