PRESQUE ISLE – Northern Maine Community College nursing instructor Dr. Kimberly Esquibel has been appointed by the National League for Nursing to serve as an NLN Ambassador. As a participant in this elite corps, Esquibel will help keep faculty and administration informed about the NLN’s initiatives, grant opportunities, conferences, publications, workshops, and other benefits available to NLN members.
“We created this selective program to make it as easy as possible for nurse faculty and nursing programs at all levels of academia to understand what the NLN has to offer to enhance professional development and status,” said NLN Chief Executive Officer Dr. Beverly Malone. “At the same time, we expect the ambassadors to communicate to NLN professional staff and the board what issues and challenges are of greatest concern to nurse educators in the field so that we can maximize the effectiveness of our programming and services. The ambassadors are, in effect, the NLN’s ‘eyes and ears’ on campus.”
Esquibel has been on the faculty in the nursing and allied health department at NMCC since 2000. She also serves as an adjunct faculty member for St. Joseph’s College in Standish.
“I am honored to have been appointed by the National League for Nursing to serve as a liaison between them and the nursing faculty here at NMCC,” said Esquibel. “The NLN has so much to offer in regards to professional development, workshops, and grant opportunities. I hope to keep the faculty informed of these, as well as current NLN initiatives in the field of nursing.”
In addition to her work as a nursing instructor, Esquibel has considerable experience as a practicing nurse. She worked for eight years as a per diem staff nurse in the inpatient psychiatric unit at The Aroostook Medical Center and has held several nursing positions at Cary Medical Center including emergency room/phone triage nurse manager, staff educator, nurse manager in the medical/surgical, oncology and specialty clinics unit, and senior nursing supervisor/intensive care unit charge nurse.
Esquibel recently earned her doctor of philosophy in psychology from Capella University in Minneapolis. She also holds a master of science degree in nursing education from St. Joseph’s College of Maine, a master of public administration with an emphasis in health services management from Auburn University in Auburn, Ala., and a bachelor of science in nursing from Auburn University, as well.
She belongs to a number of professional organizations, including the NLN, Maine State Nurses’ Association, American Nurses’ Association, Sigma Theta Tau International Honor Society of Nursing, Northern Maine Health Care Coalition and the County Health Education Resources group.
It is anticipated that, as do all NLN Ambassadors, Esquibel will encourage colleagues at NMCC to participate in NLN professional development programs, apply for research grants, submit abstracts for the annual Education Summit and manuscripts to the NLN’s peer-reviewed journal, “Nursing Education Perspectives,” volunteer for task groups and special committees, run for elected office, nominate colleagues for awards, and complete research surveys. She will be prepared to answer any questions other faculty or administrators have about the NLN and, when necessary, refer them to the appropriate NLN staff person.
The NLN Ambassador Program was established in the fall of 2006 with an initial cadre of 126 members who teach in all types of nursing programs – practical nurse, associate degree, diploma, baccalaureate, master’s and doctoral. Today there are over 700 ambassadors representing schools of nursing in 50 states and five countries. New ones are appointed twice a year to meet the goal of having one NLN Ambassador in every school of nursing. Observed Dr. Malone, “We are confident that the insights gained through this valuable relationship will help make the NLN more responsive to the needs of our dedicated nurse educators.”
Dr. Kimberly Esquibel
