Sheila Vang, MSN, RN, PHN

HNA MN Twin Cities Chapter President 2021-2023

My name is Sheila Vang, MSN, RN, PHN, Director of Nursing at Sunlight Services LLC. I have
been a nurse for almost 3 years with experience as a neuroscience nurse, charge nurse, clinical
instructor, and most recently a director of nursing.

Our HNA Twin Cities Chapter was inducted in 2019, and I have been a member of HNA since. I previously served as the co-chairperson for the HNA Nominating and Election Committee, so I have read and know the HNA bylaws. To avoid any conflict of interest, I resigned my position on the Nominating and Election committee to accept my nomination for the president position of the Twin Cities Chapter. I understand that there are a number of duties and responsibilities in this president position, however, I feel confident in my ability to help lead and represent our HNA Twin Cities Chapter. During my undergraduate years, I served as the president of a student organization, Minority Association of Pre-Medical Students and recognized what it takes to oversee a chapter.  Additionally, I have experience in developing my own blood pressure project to reach out and educate the Hmong community about the risks of hypertension and ways to prevent it. My leadership experiences as a nurse in a short timespan since receiving my RN licensure shows that I am dedicated to the nursing profession and a “go getter,” which is important for this position.

My intentions as President of the HNA MN Twin Cities Chapter is to support and help carry out HNA’s mission of empowering Hmong nurses to reach their fullest potential and improving the health of our Hmong Community. Because our Twin Cities Chapter is fairly new, I would also like to help expand our chapter and make the community aware of our organization. To do this, I have plans to collaborate with other Hmong healthcare organizations in our community on projects and events. Currently, I am facilitating the partnership with Hmong Health Care Professionals Coalition to administer the COVID-19 vaccine in the Hmong community once the vaccine becomes available. I would also like to recruit more nurses and nursing students to become members of HNA by setting up booths at colleges or Hmong community events.

Another idea I would like to make happen is to set up a mentorship program for Hmong nursing students. I have had many Hmong nursing students reach out to me for questions and advice during nursing school. Not only should we empower current nurses, but we should also be that extra support system and motivation for our fellow Hmong nursing students. Lastly, I would love to create outreach projects to educate our Hmong community about wellness management, with the hopes to eliminate any health disparities within our community.

I will take this responsibility seriously and help lead our HNA Twin Cities Chapter with honesty,
integrity, and transparency.

Mai Pa Tao Vang, MSN, RN, CCRN

HNA MN Twin Cities Chapter Vice President 2021-2023

Since I was a nursing student at Saint Catherine’s University, I knew I wanted to be a part of an
organization that empowers Hmong nursing students and nurses. Nursing school wasn’t easy, usually stressful and chaotic, but I was fortunate to have a group of Hmong nursing friends that guided and supported me. With the help of these wonderful individuals, I graduated and started my nursing career in 2018.

My success in becoming a nurse is one of my proudest moments. Due to this, I want to empower others to achieve their nursing goals as well. Currently, I network with nursing students from Saint Catherine University, Metro State University, and North Dakota State University. My goal is to build upon this networking and mentorship to strengthen nursing knowledge and clinical practice. As a Hmong Nurses Association officer, I can reach out to nursing students and initiate the mentorship between a nursing student and a nurse. Hmong Nurses Association members and officers can give insights into the nursing career by conducting panels for prospective nursing students. Through persistent reminders that attaining a nursing license is possible, as I am a survivor of the rigor study, we can add more Hmong nurses to the community.

Also, I am deeply interested in promoting and sustaining a healthy lifestyle in the Hmong community. My goal is to expose and educate the Hmong community about illnesses we see growing. We can conduct health screenings, offer information on risk factors, and advise when appropriate to seek medical care. Creating a positive partnership with the community will lead to a trusting relationship with nurses. As the vice president of Hmong Nurses Association and a nursing leader, I commit myself to uphold the mission, vision, and values of Hmong Nurses Association and nursing. I will use my knowledge and expertise to assist others and grow and learn from those surrounding me. Together, we can guide each other and learn from one another.