National Nurses Week Events at University of Phoenix Feature College of Nursing Dean Raelene Brooks

Brooks leads in-person panel event May 7 at Southern California Campus and online event May 12

The University of Phoenix College of Nursing Dean Raelene Brooks, Ph.D., RN, led a panel event hosted by the university’s Southern California Campus on Saturday, May 7, in collaboration with the university’s Workforce Solutions team. The event, “Inspired by You,” held to honor and recognize nursing and healthcare professionals from the community and their life-saving contributions during the COVID-19 pandemic, welcomed nurses from area healthcare organizations and featured a networking reception, inspiring stories, and panel discussion.

“National Nurses Week is an opportunity to bring more visibility to nurses for their leadership abilities, their highly specialized knowledge and critical thinking skills - and their compassion,” shares Brooks. “University of Phoenix supports and celebrates the tired and tireless efforts of our nation’s nurses at this event. We honor their contributions and the opportunity to explore what we can do to support and grow our extraordinary nursing talent.”   

The event also provided each recognized nurse with a platform to highlight someone within their nursing community who has inspired them during their professional journey, and to discuss how things have changed in the nursing field due to the pandemic.

The panel discussion moderated by Brooks included nursing and healthcare leaders:

• Barbara Barney-Knox, Deputy Director Nursing, Statewide Chief Nursing Executive at California Corrections Healthcare Services;
• Joanelle Adajar, MSN, RN, PHN, Director of Nursing Professional Practice Magnet Program & Clinical Informatics at Kaiser Permanente Riverside Service Area - Riverside & Moreno Valley Medical Centers; and
• Pamela Bryant DNP, RN, MSN, FNP-C, PHN, Master of Science in Nursing and Family Nurse Practitioner Program Chair at University of Phoenix College of Nursing.

Their discussion centered on the National Nurses' Week theme “Nurses: A Voice to Lead - Investing in nursing and respect rights to secure global health,” and explored topics of resiliency and self-care, creating a culture of nursing excellence, and how diversity, equity, and inclusion in healthcare can be led by nurses.

Brooks will also be keynote speaker at a live webinar hosted Thursday, May 12, at 2:00pm ET, “The History of Nursing, Current Healthcare Education, and Career Opportunities.” Registration for this live webinar event is available here.

A registered nurse for over 25 years, Brooks has practiced extensively in the areas of intensive care, trauma, and critical care in the UC Healthcare System. Completing a master’s in science of nursing education in 2000, she went on to complete her doctorate in Nursing Science with the University of San Diego in 2018. She is a Doris Howell Scholar and an active member of several professional nursing associations including American Association of Colleges of Nursing, National League of Nursing, and Association for Critical Care Nursing.

Learn more about the university’s College of Nursing programs here.

About University of Phoenix

University of Phoenix is continually innovating to help working adults enhance their careers in a rapidly changing world. Flexible schedules, relevant courses, interactive learning, and Career Services for Life® help students more effectively pursue career and personal aspirations while balancing their busy lives. For more information, visit phoenix.edu.