Elida Mengelkamp

Q:  What motivated you to get into Nursing?
A:  I always believed everybody has a purpose in life.  My purpose is to be a Nurse.  Since I have memory I have always wanted to be a Nurse.  One day I was riding the bus from school to home and I was hesitating if I should become a Nurse then I asked God what should I do?  Then the bus stopped and a Nurse got in the bus.  Nothing could be more clear that day.  I knew it for sure that was my calling in life.
Q:  Why did you join NAHN?
A:  I joined because in the future I would like to be an active member in the community.  I believe there is a lot of work that needs to be done with the Hispanic community and we need to help our people and our Hispanic nurses as well.
Q:  Where do you plan to work or currently working?
A:  I am currently working at Maryvale Hospital as a PCA (Patient Care Associate).
Q:  Tell us something about yourself our membership should know about you either academically or professionally.
A:  I am a Nurse professionally educated in Mexico where I received a Diploma in Nursing.  I graduated from nursing school in 1994.  I worked as a nurse for four years in NICU.  I moved to the United States in 1998.  From 2007 to 2008 I participated in the Enfermeras en Escaleras program.  This program is a refresher course for foreign- educated Nurses.  I am part of the fourth cohort.  Presently I am working on meeting the requirements of the Arizona State Board of Nursing to obtain Registered Nurse licensure to practice in the United States.  In the future I would like to obtain my BSN as soon as I get my nursing license.  I am also interested in working as an Educator.  I would like to participate in programs that help foreign-educated nurses to prepare for the NCLEX exam.

VINCENT ALVA

Q:  What is your current position?
A:  I am currently working at Mercy Gilbert Medical Center as an RN in the ICU but soon will be going to Interventional Radiology.
Q:  What motivated you to get into nursing?
A:  I was motivated to get into nursing by the desire to help people out and encourage health promotion.
Q:  Why did you join NAHN?
A:  I joined NAHN to help better serve the Latino community, especially the youth and students who are wanting to better themselves through education.
Q:  Where did you receive your education?
A:  I graduated from Eastern Arizona College with a degree in nursing.