Contact Us | Sign In
Member Spotlight
Member spotlight

The Society for Vascular Nursing (SVN) aims to highlight our members who are making a positive impact in their careers as vascular nurses. SVN members work hard every day advancing the care of individuals living with vascular disease and supporting the mission of the Society. Interested in being part of the member spotlight or nominating a peer? Email Moe at mmalek@vascularsociety.org or complete our survey for inclusion!

 
Neva White DNP, CRNP, CDCES
 SVN Member since February 2024
What is your personal background in vascular nursing (how long have you worked in the vascular field, did you practice something before, etc.)?

I have been a nurse for over 40 years, and worked at Jefferson Health as a Director and Nurse Practitioner for over 25 years. In  the past 5 years I have been the Executive Director of the Frazier Family Coalition for Stroke Education and Prevention (FFC). We are located in an area of Philadelphia with the highest rate of non-traumatic leg amputations.  As a result we assembled a team of providers that include vascular surgeons, podiatrists, nurses,  health educators, and a host of medical students to implement a peripheral artery disease screening initiative in local barbershops. Our community liaison and health education recruited seven barbershop owners to join the fight and allow us to do ankle branchial index (ABI) screening in their barbershop. 
 
We are grateful to have received funding from Vascular Cures to conduct this research.

Video Link: https://youtu.be/cCx374IDSXE

What is your favorite aspect of vascular nursing?

My favorite aspect of the work I am current doing is the ABI screening in the barbershops. I enjoy talking to the men, teaching them about vascular health and referring them to health education programs and other providers. So many of the people we screen di not connect their blood pressure of the fact that they are living with diabetes or that they smoke to their vascular health.
 
I also LOVE working with medical students.  Save Your Soles Foundation and Podiatry Practice under the leadership of Drs. Renzi and Marcelin have partnered with FFC to bring medical students from three local medical schools together to learn and volunteer for this project. They provide online and in person ABI screening training.  The next generation of medical students are learning more about culturally competent care in underserved communities.

What is the most challenging part of your job as a vascular nurse?

In my current role as a Center Director and wanting to reach as many people as we can in this community, our biggest challenge is getting men to trust their health care provider and seek addition health care services.

 Have there been changes in your work force? How so?

Our workforce is primarily volunteers.  Vascular surgeons, nurses, and podiatrists from Jefferson Health and Temple Health volunteer their time on Saturdays and twice a month at out Center to screen individuals. 

What are your personal goals within the vascular field (implement protocols, increase patient volume, research, societal involvement, etc.)?          Our goal is to complete our current research project Early Recognition of Peripheral Artery Disease in High-Risk Communities of Color and get our findings published.

What is a “fun fact” about yourself that you would like others to know? 

I love gardening. I enjoy growing a variety of herbs.

 

Address: 9400 W. Higgins Rd., Ste 315 Rosemont, Illinois 60018   |   Phone: 800-258-7188   |   Email: svs@svnnet.org   |   Sitemap