Introducing the Incoming WFNN Executive Team

Last month, the WFNN undertook an election for a new President. We are pleased to introduce Cathy Cartwright to the post of President of the WFNN. As President, Cathy will be tasked with providing and supporting the development, implementation and direction of the ongoing activities of WFNN in collaboration with the Executive Committee and Board of Directors.

Cathy is the Director of Advanced Practice Professional Development at Children’s Mercy in Kansas City, Missouri, USA, with 20 years’ experience as a Pediatric Clinical Nurse Specialist in neurosurgery. She began her nursing career in the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit where she became interested in neuroscience nursing. She enjoys sharing her passion for pediatric neuroscience with other nurses and is a frequent conference speaker on pediatric neuroscience topics at the national and international level. She is on the nurses’ planning committee for the International Society for Pediatric Neurosurgery, where she assists in developing programs to increase neurosurgery nursing knowledge world-wide. She loves meeting neuro nurses around the world! She is also a past president of the American Association of Neuroscience Nursing (AANN), co-editor of the three editions of the book Nursing Care of the Pediatric Neurosurgery Patient, co-editor of chapters in the AANN Core Curriculum, a member of the Journal of Neuroscience Nursing editorial board, and a Fellow in the American Academy of Nursing. In 2015 she was the recipient of the ANCC National Magnet Nurse of the Year award for exemplary professional practice. An advocate of lifelong learning, she received her Doctorate in Nursing from the University of Missouri-Kansas City in May 2020, 40 years after earning her Masters degree.

We are also pleased to introduce our new Vice President, Linda Nichols. As well, our new Treasurer/Secretary, Charmaine Arulvarathan.

Linda is a Registered Nurse with nearly 25 years’ experience. She began her nursing career in aged and community care before moving to neurosurgery in 2008 working across general neurosurgery, high dependency and oncology. From 2012, Linda has worked for the University of Tasmania in an academic role and as Stream Coordinator for the Postgraduate Neuroscience Nursing Stream. Linda also has a passion for public health and is an Authorized Nurse Immunizer working as an independent practitioner and as part of previous pandemic responses (influenza H1N1) and now Covid-19. Linda has a passion for learning and holds a Clinical Masters in Neuroscience Nursing, Graduate Certificate in University Learning and Teaching, University of Tasmania, as well as postgraduate qualifications in Oncology and aged care nursing. Linda is currently completing her PhD in an epidemiological study of aneurysmal subarachnoid haemorrhages. Linda’s research field is epidemiologically focused on the determinants of health, rural vulnerability and translational research. Her international standing is growing and evidenced though her collaboration in a number of other projects across a range of fields. Her research experience is evidenced through her published manuscripts, with her ability to present work orally evidenced by her invited and keynote lectures and awarded conference presentations. Linda has been actively engaged as a committee member for the Australasian Neuroscience Nurses Association since 2010, fulfilling the role of Scientific Conference Convener from 2010-2016 and editor in chief of the Australasian Journal of Neuroscience (AJON) from 2016 to present.

Charmaine Arulvarathan is a Registered Nurse in Toronto, Canada with nearly 10 years of experience. The majority of her clinical experience has been in the adult population of neurosurgery and neurology with specialization in stroke, neurovascular surgeries and high acuity care. From 2012, she has worked for the University Health Network --ranked as the leading research hospital network in Canada. For the past 6 years, she has held the position of an Advanced Practice Nurse Educator within the Krembil Neuroscience Program. She is also a Neuroscience Educator within the Neuroscience Education Outreach Network (NEON) for Critical Care Services Ontario. Charmaine holds a Masters Degree in Nursing with a focus on Education and Health Policy. She is certified with the Canadian Nurses' Association in Neuroscience Nursing and has previously held the post of Councillor of the Ontario Central Chapter of the Canadian Association of Neuroscience Nurses. She maintains a keen interest in research and authorship and is a certified instructor in Emergency Neurological Life Support (ENLS) with the Neurocritical Care Society.

Your incoming Executive Team is very much looking forward to serving the interests of its membership and invites you to contact them with suggestions and feedback on future educational events or opportunities.

Thank You to the Outgoing WFNN Executive Team

The incoming Executive Team would like to thank the outgoing Executive for their excellent stewardship and leadership of this worthy organization. Here, we take a moment to reflect upon and celebrate their achievements as an Executive Board.

Christi has served 8 years as the WFNN President where she worked in collaboration with the board to spearhead conferences in Croatia, the United States, Canada and Australia. In 2017, she was recognized in the US as Magnet Nurse of the Year for technology and Innovation in nursing. She developed pediatric and adult neurological assessment teaching videos that were translated into 11 languages, a mobile application for neuroscience nursing and promoted the professional practice of neuroscience nursing worldwide as a guest lecturer. She also developed a collaborative relationship with the neurocritical care society to support worldwide adoption of emergency neurological life support (ENLS) certification.

Vicki has been involved with the WFNN for the past 25 years in a variety of positions and is the longest serving executive member. Having started this collaboration in 1997 as Local Chair for the Sydney 2001 Congress, she then stepped into the role of Secretary. As Vice President, she was Scientific Chair for Spain 2005, Toronto 2009, Gifu 2013, Opatija 2017 and Darwin 2021 (now 2025). Vicki was acknowledged in the 2021 Queen's Birthday Honours List with an Order of Australia for her service to "Neuroscience nursing and professional associations".

Dawn Tymianski NP, PhD served 8 years as secretary treasurer for the World Federation of Neuroscience Nursing. During her board tenure, she was instrumental in modernizing WFNN by laws, authoring neuroscience textbooks, hosting an international conference and improving our website presence. Dawn was a true advocate for neuroscience nursing and cultivated global partnerships with our member nations. She also actively supported the awards process for nursing scholarships to further neuroscience nursing knowledge.

Neuro Nurse Spotlight: Zeliha (Turkey)

In this quarter’s Neuro Nurse Spotlight, we’re chatting with Zeliha from Turkey to find out what a typical day-in-her-life looks like, and to find out what she most enjoys about her work.

Zeliha Tulek is an associate professor and neuroscience nurse based in Istanbul, Turkey. She is widely published and is a frequent conference speaker. Her primary focus is on stroke and multiple sclerosis, as well as dementia and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. Earning her PhD in 2006 from the Istanbul University Florence Nightingale School of Nursing with a dissertation focused on, “Quality of Life in Patients with Multiple Sclerosis”, her previous research interest has centred on quality of life, caregiver burden, nutrition, quality indicators and scale validity.

What does a typical day in your life look like, pre-COVID?

My work is quite flexible and my schedule depends largely on whether I have to teach courses that day or attend meetings. My morning commute is by car and is roughly 20-30 minutes from my home. Normally I go to the University for four days and to the hospital for one day. I typically arrive at 8:15am if I have an 8:30am class or lab--if I don’t have a morning class or lab, my arrival time is flexible.

One day each week I accompany my 2nd year students to the clinic. I am responsible (with 2 assistants) for about 50 students and I have 5 other PhD-level faculty members in the Medical Nursing department with 4 assistants. This day at the hospital is very busy because you need to teach and also to take care of very inexperienced students. I have some interns also (about 4-5)--they are 4th year students and they typically have a mentor nurse in the clinic who is precepting them, but my role is more supervisory.

Between these days, I participate in various committees and academic activities for the University. For example, I’m involved in an International Relations committee, a grant committee, and an accreditation committee. In addition, I provide active mentorship and oversight of our graduate students for their dissertations and conduct my own research and projects in collaboration with some of the clinics with which I am connected. Between these responsibilities, I’m also preparing conference presentations and material for meetings.

The end of my day varies--officially it is over at 5pm (1700 hrs), however, I often find myself working on projects and tasks until 8pm (2000 hrs). There are the occasional “all-nighters” required to prepare a speech or meet a deadline to produce a book chapter, manuscript or a project proposal.

What is the most rewarding part of your job? What about the most difficult aspect?

To me, the most rewarding part of this position is that it allows me to pursue my interest in life-long learning. Also, I’m always surrounded by young people which gives me energy and motivation--especially when they are eager to learn. It's also very rewarding to see the success of the graduate students--it makes me feel very proud. Finally, there’s nothing quite like the relief of completing a research study or receiving a message about the acceptance of your manuscript!

Long and flexible working hours are--what I find to be--the most difficult part of the role. Sometimes there are sacrifices that have to be made, for example, in your social life, in order to achieve your professional goals. The deadlines can prove stressful and sometimes it's difficult to stay motivated. A significant amount of organization and self-discipline is required much of the time to stay on track.
Thank you, Zeliha, for this peek into your life and work!

Stay tuned for future spotlights from other neuro nurses working and studying internationally.

Dr. Daiwai Olsen presents grand rounds on Pupillometry

If you are looking to learn the latest in pupillometry, join Dr. Daiwai Olsen as he presents grand rounds at University of Texas Southwestern. The talk is virtual and free of charge! US Central time, Wednesday January 13th, 2021 from 12:00-1:00PM click the link below to join the webinar:

https://utsouthwestern-edu.zoom.us/j/95139821654?pwd=eWRmc0tudlJOVzRmN2twQlpjSU8xUT09 If you have heard Daiwai speak, then you know that you are in for an outstanding lecture. Hope you can join!

Think Brain Health

The WFNN is committed to partnering with other national and international organizations to improve neurological health. Think Brain Health is an international initiative aimed at reducing the burden of degenerative neurological disease through education and sharing best practices in well researched recommendations. To learn more, visit their site at https://www.thinkbrainhealth.org