A 2014 graduate of Duquesne’s BSN program, Skinner recently started a new position as Associate Director of Health Care Informatics with a government contract group. She works with clinicians throughout the United States at VA and military hospitals as they work to deploy a new EHR system.
My favorite part about my profession is that I can impact quality outcomes and improve patient outcomes with informatics and technology. My career has been a whirlwind to say the least. I started out in the ICU as a new graduate with a timeline to go to CRNA school. I then grew to love informatics and knew it was my calling. I had such a great experience at Duquesne that I could not completely step away from the bedside. So, while working as an informatics nurse full time I still found time to pick up shifts. When COVID happened, I began to spend more time at the bedside. I would work in an office during the week and on the weekends, I was on the frontline. Fast forward to today, I am still doing that as well as teaching as an Adjunct Faculty member and completing my DNP.
Advocacy is very important in my career. I have realized that the care we give our patients does not stop once they leave the hospital. I recently took a policy course that has driven me to work with local representatives around issues such as the maternal mortality rate in African American women and equal access to healthcare. As an African American woman, this hits home, and I hope to continue this important work.
To future generations of Black nurses, I say: Push through even when school/classes are hard and never give up on yourself or your goals. You can do anything you put your mind to.
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