The Advanced Practice Initiatives & Certification Outreach Team
Celebrating Native American Heritage Month Featuring the Story of Brandi M. Payton, MHA, BSN, RN, NEA-BC, FACHE
Brandi M. Payton decided to pursue a career in nursing to fulfill her deep desire to make a meaningful impact on others. To her, nursing is about service and offers countless opportunities—from providing bedside care and comforting patients during their most difficult moments, to advocating for others at the boardroom table. As a proud citizen of the Cherokee Nation, and of Cheyenne, Arapaho, and Hopi descent, she is deeply supportive of her culture.
Brandi is deeply committed to becoming a leader and champion for health equity, drawing inspiration from her cultural heritage, which she sees as one of courageous and compassionate warriors. She believes that true strength lies in service, and that a warrior's power becomes sacred when devoted to helping others. Her heritage gives her resilience, courage, and a sense of identity rooted in her connection to her community. As a third-generation Cherokee born at Claremore Indian Hospital on the Cherokee Nation reservation, where she has lived her entire life, Brandi has relied on Indian Health Services as her primary healthcare provider. Her firsthand experience with the essential role and the challenges of the Indian health system drives her passion to continue her work as both a nurse and a leader, striving to improve healthcare for her community.
The profession of nursing runs in her family. Her great-great-grandmother was a trained nurse at an Indian boarding school near the location where Brandi later opened an Indian health center. Over 100 years ago, her great-great-grandmother provided healthcare during the Influenza pandemic, and just a few years ago, Brandi found herself in a similar role during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Brandi is the second generation in her family not to attend an Indian boarding school; her mother was the first. Her great-great-great-grandmother was the 35th Native child enrolled at the Carlisle Indian Boarding School, which operated from 1879 to 1918 as the first and most prominent Indian boarding school in the U.S.
Recently, Brandi was honored to be invited by the Atlantic Fellows for Health Equity (AFHE) to speak at the Library of Congress (LOC). She reflected on her Great-Great-Great Grandmother's story: at just 14 years old, her ancestor was forcibly taken from her reservation in what is now Oklahoma to attend a boarding school. Now, 144 years later, Brandi had the powerful opportunity to speak just 120 miles south of this boarding school, celebrating resilience and survival.
Brandi’s professional and cultural experiences have made certification especially important to her, as it represents her commitment not only to the nursing field but also to her community. As an ANCC certified clinician in Nurse Executive, Advanced (NEA-BC), Brandi is dedicated to demonstrating excellence in patient care and fostering community growth. Her goal is to continuously evolve as a leader, positioning herself to give back and make a meaningful difference.
Celebrating Alaska Native Heritage Month
Featuring the Story of Tia Hale, MSN, APRN, FNP-BC
Tia Hale was initially motivated to pursue nursing as a path to higher education. She had already earned an undergraduate degree in Exercise and Sport Science from Oregon State University and was working as a personal trainer. Through her work, she encountered clients with various health conditions, inspiring her to consider nursing due to its diverse career paths and opportunities. This ultimately led her to apply to George Fox University, where she was accepted in 2010.
Prior to becoming an ANCC certified Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP-BC), Tia worked as a registered nurse for nearly ten years. Her experience at the Alaska Native Medical Center, where she felt deeply connected to her Alaskan Native culture, motivated her to pursue a career as an Advanced Practice Registered Nurse (APRN). In 2017, she returned to her hometown of Anchorage, Alaska, from Oregon to be closer to family and to work as a Labor and Delivery nurse at the Alaska Native Medical Center.
Being back in Anchorage not only brought her joy but also introduced her to a hospital environment that had evolved since her memories of it in the 1980s and 1990s. She found the center’s collaborative efforts to empower Alaska Natives in managing their own healthcare to be both inspiring and impactful. This experience reconnected her with her community in meaningful ways she hadn’t anticipated.
She remembers her days as a young patient at the old Anchorage Medical Center and other Indian Health Service facilities, where it was rare to see a medical provider who shared her cultural background.
Tia graduated with her FNP degree in 2022 from the University of Alaska Anchorage and was chosen as the graduate speaker for her commencement ceremony. This was the first time she spoke publicly in her native Dena’ina language, while also wearing traditional regalia. In her speech, Tia shared her experience of delivering newborns during the pandemic while simultaneously completing her graduate studies. Despite feeling concerned about being judged for speaking in Dena’ina, a language she is not yet fluent in, Tia found comfort in the support of her tribal President, Aaron Leggett, who reassured her not to worry. He informed her that it was okay to make mistakes; what mattered most was that she was making an effort to speak the language.
In a dying language, the effort Tia put into her speech was the most important part, along with the fact that she gave it her all. With his guidance, she spoke with incredible confidence to the largest audience she had ever addressed. She felt immensely proud of herself and hoped her ancestors were too.
After graduating, Tia began working as a hospitalist in Inpatient Pediatrics at Southcentral Foundation, specifically in the newborn nursery. This role felt like a dream come true to her, as she had spent ten years working with families to help deliver babies. Now, as a Nurse Practitioner, she transitioned into a new role in the Mother-Baby Unit at the Alaska Native Medical Center. Shortly after starting her new position, she was also commissioned as an officer in the United States Public Health Service.
Through these experiences, she recognized the positive impact it had on her patients to see nurses and other healthcare providers who shared their cultural background. This inspired her to deepen her connection with her Dena'ina Athabascan Tribe, the Native Village of Eklutna.
This led to her position on the Health Board for the Eklutna Community Clinic, where she has served as Chairman for the past three years. Working alongside other Tribal Health Organizations across Alaska to discuss various aspects of healthcare has been an incredible experience. Now, as a Nurse Practitioner caring for patients, she brings a unique perspective to her work.
With the support of her family and elders, Tia gained a deep understanding of her culture, which continues to inspire her. She believes her culture drives her to advocate for better healthcare, stating, "As a culture, we find success in working together. I am proud to be home and part of something larger than myself!". These positive experiences have motivated her to serve others, particularly Alaska Natives and American Indians, with the goal of expanding her efforts to a national level. While she may be just one person, Tia hopes that by sharing her story, she can showcase both her own skills and the talents of those in her cultural community.
For Tia, earning her ANCC certification has unlocked opportunities she never imagined, allowing her to make a difference in her village, culture, and healthcare system. This achievement has given her the confidence to become a strong advocate for the healthcare of Alaska Natives and American Indians. She is deeply grateful to everyone who has supported her and shown interest in her journey, expressing her thanks with a heartfelt "Chin'an gheli," which means "thank you very much" in Dena’ina.
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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!
