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Nurse Tierra Norman Helps Keep Pandemic Frontline Strong

LOS ANGELES SENTINEL — Born and raised in Los Angeles, CA, Tierra Norman spent her teens in Inglewood and attended George Hale Middle School and El Camino Real High School. She furthered her education at El Camino Community College and received her Bachelor of Science degree in nursing from Western Governors University. She shared how the nursing profession has always been an influence, as it runs in the family.

Published

4 years ago

May 7, 2020

Oakland Post

Tierra Norman, BSN, RN at Kaiser Permanente West Los Angeles Courtesy of Kaiser West Los Angeles

By Brian W. Carter, Contributing Writer, Los Angeles Sentinel

COVID-19 may have changed the landscape of how we move about our daily lives, but for many medical professionals, it’s a chance to put their expertise into action. Tierra Norman is a registered nurse and department administrator over the Critical Care Unit at Kaiser Permanente West Los Angeles. She spoke with the Sentinel about how she chose nursing as a profession, her daily routine and life after COVID-19.

Born and raised in Los Angeles, CA, Norman spent her teens in Inglewood and attended George Hale Middle School and El Camino Real High School. She furthered her education at El Camino Community College and received her Bachelor of Science degree in nursing from Western Governors University. She shared how the nursing profession has always been an influence, as it runs in the family.

“My mom’s a nurse, so it’s in my blood, in my veins,” said Norman.

“I remember everything about nursing; that was all I was around. My grandmother, even though she wasn’t a nurse, she was a psychiatric tech; so there’s always been someone in the healthcare field that I’ve been around.”

Nurses work long hours and have multiple tasks to perform throughout any given day. Norman shares what makes nursing worthwhile and what she likes most about her job.

“I really enjoy seeing people get better,” said Norman. “It’s really sad that sickness is something that we’re going to always have around, but to be a part of someone getting better, that gives an inner satisfaction.

“It gives you a sense of purpose when you’re able to participate in someone getting better especially seeing them at their worse state.”

She said, “when the patients don’t get better,” is the challenging part about her job. She shared that nurses hope for the best and to do the best of their ability, but sometimes the outcome isn’t positive.

“Sometimes it causes you to doubt—especially when you see young or old [patients]; the family is affected by that, you wonder if you’ve done enough.”

Norman is sure that by working together, we will all come through the COVID-19 tunnel. Courtesy of Kaiser West Los Angeles

The COVID-19 pandemic has taken its toll on medical professionals around the world. Nurses, who are the backbone of hospitals, clinics, and medical facilities, are essential. Norman shares her schedule before and after COVID-19.

“I come in, I huddle with my staff, day-and-night shift; we talk about the operation of the unit, any positives, any updates—the normal stuff.

She continued, “In between, we’re addressing the patient concerns that may come up, any employee concerns and of course, the meetings, scheduling, things of that sort—that was pre COVID-19.”

She shared that COVID-19 didn’t alter her daily schedule, but added more to it. Now, Norman must make sure she is applying day-to-day updates on procedure and protocol concerning the virus and make sure staff is aware.

“It’s all those things plus more,” said Norman.

“We’re making sure we’re implementing processes that are not only keeping the patients safe, [but] the family [and] staff safe. We want to make sure that any process that we’ve implemented are being followed through.

Norman continued, “Making sure I have more presence in the unit because, even though they’re a lot of processes we have in place, we also have to be concerned about the mental and emotional state of our staff, because this is hard for them too.

“They’re not only dealing with patients in the hospital, but they’re also dealing with their personal fears and anxieties that they’re trying to keep leveled out and also stay present for the patients they’re taking care of and their families.”

As nursing manager, Norman makes sure her staff and patients stay safe. Courtesy of Kaiser West Los Angeles

Norman said it’s “all-hands-on-deck” and making sure on a daily basis that she is working closely with infection prevention at Kaiser West L.A., the CDC and that staff are up-to-date on the latest information.

Recently, multiple states started to ease quarantine restrictions and many have begun to go back to work and play. Most of L.A. County is still under “shelter-at-home” even though some are foregoing the suggestion and even, rebuking, social distancing in some instances. Norman shared what people can do to remain safe if they choose to return to business as usual.

“If you’re not feeling well, you need to stay indoors, stay home, take care of yourself, take care of your family and cardinal rule of nursing: washing your hands—you can never do enough hand washing.”

She added,” Educating yourself [and] staying up-to-date with information, so even if the guidelines, the shelter-in orders are lifted, we still want to wear our masks, if that’s still the direction from the CDC, you still want to do those basic things—covering your mouth when you cough, cover your nose and mouth when you’re sneezing, things like that.”

Norman and countless nurses around the world are working hard to keep people alive, safe and healthy during this pandemic. Thank you is almost an understatement for the sacrifices they’re making, but it’s part of the job and Norman has chosen that responsibility. She wanted to share some advice with the community during this unsettling time.

“We’ll all get through this together,” said Norman. “It’s been a while since we’ve had a pandemic of this kind, but I think that as long as we stay abreast of the situation, as long as we are following guidelines and caring enough about each other as a community to contribute to not spreading [COVID-19], I think we’ll definitely get through this together.”

The post Nurse Tierra Norman Helps Keep Pandemic Frontline Strong appeared first on Los Angeles Sentinel.

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IN MEMORIAM: Ramona Edelin, Influential Activist and Education Advocate, Dies at 78

NNPA NEWSWIRE — Born on September 4, 1945, in Los Angeles, California, activist Ramona Edelin’s early years were marked by a commitment to education and social justice. According to her HistoryMakers biography, after graduating from Fisk University with a Bachelor’s degree in 1967, she pursued further studies at the University of East Anglia in England. She earned her master’s degree before completing her Ph.D. at Boston University in 1981.
The post IN MEMORIAM: Ramona Edelin, Influential Activist and Education Advocate, Dies at 78 first appeared on BlackPressUSA.

Published

4 weeks ago

April 3, 2024

Stacy M. Brown

By Stacy M. Brown, NNPA Newswire Senior National Correspondent
@StacyBrownMedia

Once upon a time, Black Americans were simply known as colored people, or Negroes. That is until Ramona Edelin came along. The activist, renowned for her pivotal roles in advancing civil rights, education reform, and community empowerment, died at her D.C. residence last month at the age of 78. Her death, finally confirmed this week by Barnaby Towns, a communications strategist who collaborated with Dr. Edelin, was attributed to cancer.

Born on September 4, 1945, in Los Angeles, California, Edelin’s early years were marked by a commitment to education and social justice. According to her HistoryMakers biography, after graduating from Fisk University with a Bachelor’s degree in 1967, she pursued further studies at the University of East Anglia in England. She earned her master’s degree before completing her Ph.D. at Boston University in 1981.

Edelin’s contributions to academia and activism were manifold. She was pivotal in popularizing the term “African American” alongside Rev. Jesse L. Jackson in the late 1980s.

Jackson had announced the preference for “African American,” speaking for summit organizers that included Dr. Edelin. “Just as we were called Colored, but were not that, and then Negro, but not that, to be called Black is just as baseless,” he said, adding that “African American” “has cultural integrity” and “puts us in our proper historical context.”

Later, Edelin told Ebony magazine, “Calling ourselves African Americans is the first step in the cultural offensive,” while linking the name change to a “cultural renaissance” in which Black Americans reconnected with their history and heritage.

“Who are we if we don’t acknowledge our motherland?” she asked later. “When a child in a ghetto calls himself African American, immediately he’s international. You’ve taken him from the ghetto and put him on the globe.”

The HistoryMakers bio noted that Edelin’s academic pursuits led her to found and chair the Department of African American Studies at Northeastern University, where she established herself as a leading voice.

Transitioning from academia to advocacy, Edelin joined the National Urban Coalition in 1977, eventually ascending to president and CEO. During her tenure, she spearheaded initiatives such as the “Say Yes to a Youngster’s Future” program, which provided crucial support in math, science, and technology to youth and teachers of color in urban areas. Her biography noted that Edelin’s efforts extended nationwide through partnerships with organizations like the National Science Foundation and the United States Department of Education.

President Bill Clinton recognized Edelin’s expertise by appointing her to the Presidential Board on Historically Black Colleges and Universities in 1998. She also co-founded and served as treasurer of the Black Leadership Forum, solidifying her standing as a respected leader in African American communities.

Beyond her professional achievements, Edelin dedicated herself to numerous boards and committees, including chairing the District of Columbia Educational Goals 2000 Panel and contributing to the Federal Advisory Committee for the Black Community Crusade for Children.

Throughout her life, Edelin received widespread recognition for her contributions. Ebony magazine honored her as one of the 100 Most Influential Black Americans, and she received prestigious awards such as the Southern Christian Leadership Award for Progressive Leadership and the IBM Community Executive Program Award.

The post IN MEMORIAM: Ramona Edelin, Influential Activist and Education Advocate, Dies at 78 first appeared on BlackPressUSA.

Stacy M. Brown

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Tennessee State University Board Disbanded by MAGA Loyalists as Assault on DE&I Continues

NNPA NEWSWIRE — Recent legislative actions in Tennessee, such as repealing police reform measures enacted after the killing of Tyre Nichols, underscore a troubling trend of undermining local control and perpetuating racist agendas. The new law preventing local governments from restricting police officers’ authority disregards community efforts to address systemic issues of police violence and racial profiling.
The post Tennessee State University Board Disbanded by MAGA Loyalists as Assault on DE&I Continues first appeared on BlackPressUSA.

Published

4 weeks ago

April 3, 2024

Stacy M. Brown

By Stacy M. Brown, NNPA Newswire Senior National Correspondent
@StacyBrownMedia

Tennessee State University (TSU), the state’s only public historically Black college and university (HBCU), faces a tumultuous future as Gov. Bill Lee dissolved its board, a move supported by racist conservatives and MAGA Republicans in the Tennessee General Assembly, who follow the lead of the twice-impeached, four-times indicted, alleged sexual predator former President Donald Trump. Educators and others have denounced the move as an attack on diversity, equity, and inclusion (DE&I) and a grave setback for higher education.

Critics argue that TSU’s purported financial mismanagement is a manufactured crisis rooted in decades of underinvestment by the state government. They’ve noted that it continues a trend by conservatives and the racist MAGA movement to eliminate opportunities for Blacks in education, corporate America, and the public sector.

Gevin Reynolds, a former speechwriter for Vice President Kamala Harris, emphasizes in an op-ed that TSU’s financial difficulties are not the result of university leadership because a recent audit found no evidence of fraud or malfeasance.

Reynolds noted that the disbanding of TSU’s board is not an isolated incident but part of a broader assault on DE&I initiatives nationwide. Ten states, including Tennessee, have enacted laws banning DE&I policies on college campuses, while governors appointing MAGA loyalists to university trustee positions further undermine efforts to promote inclusivity and equality.

Moreover, recent legislative actions in Tennessee, such as repealing police reform measures enacted after the killing of Tyre Nichols, underscore a troubling trend of undermining local control and perpetuating racist agendas. The new law preventing local governments from restricting police officers’ authority disregards community efforts to address systemic issues of police violence and racial profiling.

The actions echo historical efforts to suppress Black progress, reminiscent of the violent backlash against gains made during the Reconstruction era. President Joe Biden warned during an appearance in New York last month that Trump desires to bring the nation back to the 18th and 19th centuries – in other words, to see, among other things, African Americans back in the chains of slavery, women subservient to men without any say over their bodies, and all voting rights restricted to white men.

The parallels are stark, with white supremacist ideologies used to justify attacks on Black institutions and disenfranchise marginalized communities, Reynolds argued.

In response to these challenges, advocates stress the urgency of collective action to defend democracy and combat systemic racism. Understanding that attacks on institutions like TSU are symptomatic of broader threats to democratic norms, they call for increased civic engagement and voting at all levels of government.

The actions of people dedicated to upholding the principles of inclusivity, equity, and justice for all will determine the outcome of the ongoing fight for democracy, Reynolds noted. “We are in a war for our democracy, one whose outcome will be determined by every line on every ballot at every precinct,” he stated.

The post Tennessee State University Board Disbanded by MAGA Loyalists as Assault on DE&I Continues first appeared on BlackPressUSA.

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Braxton Haulcy and the Expansion of Walker|West Music Academy

May 24, 2023 – Walker West Music Academy gets an early start on expansion. Join us for a Wednesday episode of The …
The post Braxton Haulcy and the Expansion of Walker|West Music Academy first appeared on BlackPressUSA.