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The Advanced Practice Initiatives & Certification Outreach Team

Celebrating Back to School Month 
Debora La Torre, DNP, APRN, FNP-BC
and Her Journey of Going Back to School to Pursue her DNP

Believe it or not, becoming a nurse was not Dr. Debora La Torre's first intention. Her journey differs from most others who aspire to the nursing profession. As a child, she initially wanted to become a pediatrician. Born to Peruvian immigrant parents, she witnessed a lack of healthcare providers who resembled her community and was determined to help her parents and others like them navigate the healthcare system.

When it came to college, her realization of the financial burden that medical school entailed drove her to seek other options, such as the U.S. military. She joined the U.S. Army after high school as a Combat Medic. While stationed in Hawaii, the implications of war became apparent after September 11th, and her unit was deployed overseas the following year. In Afghanistan, there were several types of missions to support Operation Enduring Freedom.

Completing a rotation at a combat support hospital in the middle of a "war zone" is where nursing “found” her. Debora saw the need to be at the bedside as the “eyes and ears” of medicine as she witnessed military nurses caring for a multitude of injured and mentally ill patients. Observing these nurses manage their responsibilities while remaining compassionate during patients' most vulnerable moments awakened her calling to the nursing profession. Being a healing hand became her inspiration.

Working as an Emergency Department nurse in both the civilian and military sectors, Debora experienced many life-changing events and became an advocate for her patients and communities. Unfortunately, caring for individuals for a short time did not fulfill her overall goal. She credits becoming a Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP-BC) to her “familia,” which means both family members and nursing colleagues who feel like family. Being part of multiple nursing organizations helped her understand the “big picture” regarding the healthcare system and how to overcome some of the obstacles and healthcare disparities that communities face. Through organizations like the National Association of Hispanic Nurses (NAHN), she witnessed the power of the “masses,” seeing not only Hispanic/Latinx nurses effecting change at the local level but at the federal level as well. Knowing that this nursing “familia” shared very similar stories to her own and remained committed to making changes in their communities encouraged her to pursue her advanced degree. With the support and guidance from NAHN mentors, she completed her MSN from Walden University and practiced family medicine within her community.

As a FNP, Debora was determined to help not only her community but surrounding areas as well. Serving as part of NAHN’s local chapter leadership, she recognized the need to become a doctoral-prepared nurse and sought out the essential tools to create significant change within her community. Witnessing other doctoral-prepared nurses within the NAHN organization making an impact in their communities motivated her to pursue her DNP/Executive program with Johns Hopkins during the pandemic.

Though the program was challenging, the support of her “familia” was constant throughout her journey. Gaining skills to pursue grants, manage budgets for large community programs, and address healthcare disparities within her state was vital in becoming a better provider, leader, nurse, and advocate for the patients and communities she serves. She attests that she could not effectively pursue her doctorate degree without her NAHN “familia.”

Debora is very proud to be certified, knowing she has met the rigorous standards and possesses the knowledge and expertise recognized by the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC). She hopes this inspires her students to continue learning and become role models for those within their communities. 

For individuals contemplating going back to school to advance their nursing careers, she recommends surrounding themselves with “familia”—people who are willing to support them throughout this academic journey.

Debora states, "Remember that time will pass (sometimes like a kidney stone) regardless of whether you take that step or not. If you find yourself beginning a doctoral journey, make sure to take it day by day and avoid comparing yourself to others as you work toward your goal. Everyone’s journey looks different. Focus on accomplishing your goal."

1. Define your organization’s success.
2. The nurse takes the initial certification test or completes renewal requirements with zero out of pocket cost
3. Your organization increases its number of board-certified nurses, with no financial risk.

Success Pays^® is Here to Help You! 

Steven Niewiedzial, MSN, RN, NPD-BC, PCCN-K, GERO-BC and His Experience in Becoming ANCC Certified through the Success Pays Program 

Steven's motivation to become a nurse stems from his early childhood interest in sciences and helping people. During high school, when trying to decide on a career, his grandfather was diagnosed with stage 4 pancreatic cancer. During this time, Steven traveled with his family to help care for his grandfather and realized that his passion for helping people blended perfectly with the world of nursing.

Steven never thought that when he started his nursing career, he would end up with three certifications, but he always had an itch to learn more and acquire new skills. He chose the Gerontological Nursing (GERO-BC) certification because the population in the ICU where he worked was predominantly geriatric; what better way to help patients live well than to be certified in the population he cared for most often!

Fast forward a few years, Steven found himself in the Nursing Professional Development department at Aurora Health Care. Knowing that his impact had shifted from direct patient care to professionally developing the nurses providing care, obtaining the Nursing Professional Development (NPD-BC) certification seemed like a natural next step. He wanted to impact the nursing profession and become an expert in these specialties through certification to prepare himself for future challenges.

Being ANCC certified means a great deal to Steven and how he views nursing as a whole. He believes that holding an ANCC certification not only demonstrates his commitment to the growth of his career but also allows him to align his specific passions within the broader scope of the profession.

To Steven, the Success Pays program is transformational, as he has benefited from it two times. The ability for a bedside nurse to pursue their passions and demonstrate their knowledge through certification—without the added stress of financing this goal—is remarkable. Steven is thankful for the program and the strong partnerships it fosters overall with Advocate Health. He will continue to advocate for the advancement of nursing practice for future generations.

Interested in Success Pays^®? 

Learn how this Program can Support Your Organization

Lourdes B. Careaga, MSN, RN, NE-BC
Certification Outreach Program Manager 
successpays@ana.org

nursingworld.org/certification/success-pays/

Meet Lourdes B. Careaga, MSN, RN, NE-BC, who manages our ANCC Success Pays^® program. She is here to help support your nurses with their professional journey through ANCC certification. 

Program FAQs:

• Launched in 2013
• Over 500 Success Pays Partners
• Monthly Townhalls, hosted by Lourdes to stay connected. 

Benefits:

• Nurses are given two (2) opportunities to pass.
• The organization only pays for the nurses who pass.
• Reduces anxiety and financial barriers for nurses.
• No minimum or maximum limit for number of certification renewals.

Structure:

• A signed agreement between the organization and ANCC to promote nursing excellence through certification among clinicians.

Qualifying Programs:

• Initial Certifications
• Certification Renewals
• Retired Certified Nurses Recognition Program

Share Your Story with Us! 

Connect With Us if you are Interested in Providing a Testimonial

Meet Katelyn Bern, MA, who manages customer engagement through social media and at ANCC tradeshows. Reach out to her if you would like to share your motivational story with us and what being ANCC certified means to you.
We would be honored to share your story!

Follow us & Get Helpful Resources:

• ANCC Certification Facebook
• Meet the Team

Katelyn Bern, MA
Outreach Engagement Manager &
Tradeshow Liaison 
certificationoutreach@ana.org

Please enjoy our previous Monthly Stories of Inspiration from ANCC Certified Nurses:

1. May Edition: Celebrating Asian American, Native Hawaiian, & Pacific Islander Heritage Month 
2. June Edition: Celebrating 2024 Graduates
3. July Edition: Celebrating French American Heritage Month