Celebrating Brazil Independence Day (September 7) & CNS Week (September 1-7)
Featuring the Story of Jackeline Iseler, DNP, MSN, RN, ACNS-BC, CNE, FCNS
Dr. Jackeline Iseler considers her passion for nursing a true calling. Although no one in her family was a nurse or physician, she was deeply influenced by her parents. Her father’s dedication to the technology that supported patient care and her mother’s everyday compassion and kindness each played an important role in shaping her path to the nursing profession.
Jackeline grew up in Itaquera, São Paulo, Brazil. Her father worked as a field service engineer, installing and repairing X-ray machines, CT scanners, and other large medical equipment in hospitals. Her mother regularly shared meals and showed kindness to a neighbor who was raising several children while living in deep poverty and in an abusive relationship. Watching her mother treat this woman with dignity helped shape Jackeline’s own perspective on caring for others.
Coming from Brazil, Jackeline embraces a culture deeply rooted in family, community, and celebration, with food often at the heart of bringing people together around the table. For her, that includes traditional Brazilian favorites such as coxinhas, pastéis, feijoada, and guaraná. When her family moved to the United States, her mother learned to prepare these dishes, keeping a piece of home alive at their table while sharing them with friends and neighbors. Jackeline continues this tradition by preparing and sharing Brazilian cuisine, especially coxinhas, with family and friends. Growing up, she also learned that family extends beyond blood relatives, as close family friends became “tias e tios” — “aunts and uncles” who were family in every way that mattered. This strong sense of community and looking out for one another continues to shape Jackeline’s nursing practice and the care she provides to patients and their families.
In her profession, Jackeline takes great pride in being an ANCC board certified Adult Health Clinical Nurse Specialist (ACNS-BC). At the first hospital where she worked as a CNS (Clinical Nurse Specialist), she was the first person in that role to hold the certification. She views certification as more than a credential. It demonstrates to patients, colleagues, and leaders that she is an educated and competent CNS who is committed to the specialty standards.
Being the first certified CNS at her hospital inspired Jackeline to represent the role with dedication and set an example for those who would follow. Her experience as a certified CNS, combined with her fluency in both English and Portuguese, has also strengthened her commitment to helping patients and their families understand and navigate their care. As a bilingual professional, Jackeline is well-versed in medical terminology and understands the importance of translating complex healthcare information into language that patients and families can easily understand. She works to make healthcare information clear and accessible so patients can feel more confident managing their care after leaving the hospital. As an immigrant and now a U.S. citizen, Jackeline understands the challenges of navigating healthcare in a language that is not your own. She recalls speaking Portuguese to a confused patient who immediately smiled when he realized she understood him. The moment reinforced for her the importance of clear, compassionate communication and helping patients feel understood, supported, and protected during vulnerable times.
Serving as President of the National Association of Clinical Nurse Specialists (NACNS), an ANCC collaborative organization, has been a meaningful part of Jackeline’s nursing journey. Her leadership began with Michigan CNS, where she helped protect the CNS title in Michigan. This work led her to NACNS, where she joined the Graduate Education Committee, served on the Board of Directors, and now serves as President.
Through NACNS, Jackeline has had the opportunity to advocate for CNSs nationally, teach and mentor future CNSs, and collaborate with colleagues who are committed to advancing the role. She hopes to continue amplifying the voice of CNSs and highlighting their impact on patients and families, nursing practice, and healthcare organizations and systems. To current and future CNSs, Jackeline encourages them to embrace opportunities to learn, lead, and use their voices. When she became a CNS, she never imagined where the journey would take her. She is grateful for the experiences and opportunities along the way and takes great pride in being a CNS. She extends her warmest wishes to all CNSs during CNS Week!
Celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month (September 15 - October 15)
Featuring the Story of Dahlia Maldonado, MSN, RN, MEDSURG-BC, NEA-BC, NPD-BC
Dahlia Maldonado’s first inspiration for nursing grew from her early experiences with the healthcare system and the challenges her family encountered when seeking medical services. Born in Veracruz, Mexico, Dahlia recalls that, as a child growing up in the United States, her family’s primary access to healthcare came through volunteer clinics that offered discounted services to low-income families. When her family needed vaccinations or treatment for an illness, they often waited in lines for up to eight hours to receive the services they needed.
Her mother would take the day off from work, and they would arrive early in the morning to wait for treatment. At the time, Dahlia believed this was a typical healthcare experience. It was not until her family became permanent residents and gained health coverage that she realized how different their experiences had been. These early experiences with limited access to healthcare became an important influence in her decision to pursue nursing.
Another significant influence was the birth of Dahlia’s half-sister, who was born with a rare genetic disorder at University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) Health. At 13, Dahlia began translating complex medical documents for her parents, who did not speak English, as they navigated decisions about her sister’s treatment. Watching her mother struggle to communicate with the healthcare team showed Dahlia the importance of advocacy and having someone who could serve as a voice for families. As her sister gradually lost abilities such as walking, speaking, and eating, frequent hospital visits became part of their lives. Dahlia observed many healthcare professionals, but the nurses stood out for the way they advocated for her family, listened to their concerns, and took the time to build trust. Years later, Dahlia’s first nursing clinical took place at the same hospital where her sister was born, creating a full-circle moment. As the first in her family to graduate from college, she eventually joined the same hospital system as a nurse. Today, she continues that legacy of advocacy by helping patients and families navigate healthcare in a language they understand while honoring their cultural backgrounds.
Dahlia’s childhood experiences inspired her to make a meaningful impact through nursing—not only by providing exceptional patient care, but also by supporting fellow nurses and strengthening her organization. She takes pride in being triple ANCC board certified in Medical-Surgical Nursing (MEDSURG-BC), Nursing Professional Development (NPD-BC), and Nurse Executive, Advanced (NEA-BC). Each certification represents an important part of her career and supports her work in the following ways:
MEDSURG-BC: Represents the foundation of Dahlia’s nursing career. Her bedside experience strengthened her skills in communication, advocacy, teamwork, problem-solving, and identifying gaps in care, helping shape her growth as a nurse and leader.
NPD-BC: Reflects her work as a Magnet Program Coordinator, where she mentors nurses and students, supports their professional growth, and develops engaging educational programs that address organizational needs.
NEA-BC: Represents her organizational leadership within Magnet. Dahlia examines complex challenges, identifies opportunities for improvement, and elevates frontline nurses’ voices to help drive meaningful change across the organization.
Together, Dahlia’s three ANCC certifications reflect who she is as a nurse, leader, colleague, and advocate. Her commitment to nursing extends beyond her own professional development, as she encourages nurses across her organization to pursue certification. She appreciates that her organization participates in the ANCC Success Pays® program, which gives nurses two opportunities to take the certification exam and helps ease the stress and uncertainty that can come with testing.
Dahlia currently serves as a Nursing Practice Outcomes and Magnet Program Coordinator and will soon transition to the role of Nursing Excellence Lead. Her journey into nursing excellence began at the bedside, where she engaged in professional governance, addressed workflow gaps, and helped colleagues pursue professional growth. Encouraged by colleagues to step into her current role, she discovered how closely her passion for collaboration, problem-solving, professional development, and amplifying frontline nurses’ voices aligned with the ANCC Magnet Model:
For Dahlia, the ANCC Magnet Recognition Program® is a roadmap that represents a framework for achieving and sustaining nursing excellence. She believes that exceptional patient outcomes are driven by strong nursing leadership, empowered nurses, and a culture that supports professional practice, innovation, and continuous improvement. Dahlia describes the Magnet Model as an interconnected framework in which each component reinforces and strengthens the others:
Transformational Leadership establishes the vision for nursing excellence.
Structural Empowerment creates the structures to bring that vision to life.
Exemplary Professional Practice creates a professional practice environment where nurses have a voice in clinical and operational decisions.
New Knowledge, Innovations, and Improvements emerge as empowered nurses identify challenges, apply evidence-based practices, and share what they learn.
Empirical Outcomes demonstrates the impact for patients, nursing practice, and nurse satisfaction.
Having also experienced care within the same Magnet health system where she works, Dahlia has seen how this culture can influence both nurses and patients. She believes Magnet empowers nurses to find their voices, embrace leadership, and help shape the future of nursing.
Dahlia’s ability to communicate in Spanish allows her to provide language-concordant care, support patients and colleagues, and promote health literacy. Her experiences as a patient, family member, and caregiver continue to shape her commitment to equitable communication. Inspired by her mother’s words, “Sigue volando, porque ni las estrellas son el final”—“Keep flying because not even the stars are the end,” Dahlia carries her mother’s legacy by encouraging others to embrace their experiences, pursue opportunities, and make a difference in healthcare. For Dahlia, leadership is ultimately about service. She continues to strive for excellence in her profession and sends well wishes for Hispanic Heritage Month!
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