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Nursing Appreciation Week: WNC students, instructors talk about selfless profession

Providing the selfless care of others on a daily basis warrants recognition. Through National Nurses Week, nurses are recognized for the significant contributions they make to improve the health and wellness of the nation.

The week of appreciation for nurses runs through Friday, May 12, which coincides with the birthdate of the founder of modern nursing, Florence Nightingale.

Western Nevada College’s Nursing Program instructors and students were asked: What does nursing mean to you?

Student Ariadna Valdez 
Nursing to me means life; it means to have a purpose, one that is always rewarding, because as a nurse you are putting the life and well-being of others before yours. In nursing you not only put your brain to work by critically thinking to provide the best care but your heart and soul as well to give compassionate care.
I love being a nurse because it teaches you every day; you learn from the bad and you learn from the good. In your hands you have the healing touch, either physically or emotionally, and nothing can be more rewarding for me than that.

Instructor Lisa Dunkelberg, MSN, RN
In looking back on my 34 years of nursing, the joy of helping people every day, even if it is only one person on any given day, is my proudest moment. I did not enter into nursing for the money or the prestige. I entered nursing for the love of helping and taking care of people. I am proud of the fact that I have the ability to work with confidence in multiple areas of nursing. That I can be a role model to other nurses and students. That I can pass on my knowledge to others is very satisfying. You have to be dedicated to the journey of becoming a nurse. To be a good nurse you have to love what you are doing. Nurses are amazing people.

Instructor Mary Foraker, MSN, CNL, RN
Nursing is not a career. It is an honor. Nurses serve their fellow human beings with compassion and courage to make critical, life-saving decisions on a daily basis. Nurses encounter the most beautiful, the most horrific and the most miraculous events that most people are never exposed to. And nurses do it with grace.
A recent example is the birth of Jimmy Kimmel's baby, who was born with a congenital heart defect. A nurse recognized the symptoms and was able to expedite immediate life-saving measures.

Professor Deborah Ingraffia-Strong, MSN, RN
I have been a nurse for 35 years and I still love every day of it. I love nursing and all that it has to offer. It has often been described as a “calling,” and it is, but it is so much more. It is a desire to help others, to give of oneself when another is at their worst and to give through empathy and caring. Your patients will turn to you as the nurse for questions, clarification and advice. It is not always an easy career, but the journey is worth it. It is both challenging and rewarding beyond words. It is a career that offers the ability to truly make a difference in a person’s life, even if it is just for a moment.

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Enjoy a movie classic on the big screen Tuesday, April 30 at A to Zen in Carson City. The featured movie is the Academy Award winning "Ordinary People," starring Mary Tyler Moore, Donald Sutherland, Timothy Hutton and Judd Hirsch.

Hello Northern Nevada Friends! Are you considering homeschooling? Please join us Saturday, May 4 at Shepherd of the Sierra Lutheran Church on 395 in Carson City as we gather to be inspired, uplifted, and gain the courage to homeschool. This conference is for anyone interested, whether you are a seasoned homeschooler or a newbie.
group photo

On Saturday, April 20, Carson City Community Gardeners and the UNR Extension Master Gardeners came together to get the Community Garden ready for the growing season. For two hours they removed weeds, spread mulch and prepped their garden beds for the season.

In collaboration with Chartwells, the Carson City School District foodservice partner, Culinary Arts students from Ms. Tammy Borreman’s class at Carson Middle School competed in a “Discovery Kitchen Cook Off.” Similar to a mini version of the Food Network’s Iron Chef, the timed cooking competition featured teams of three students who prepared succulent dishes for a judging panel.

Shoe Tree Brewing, with locations in Carson City and Minden, was recently awarded a Silver Award in the 2024 World Beer Cup, the most prestigious beer competition in the world.

Carson City Fire Department and sheriff's deputies were called late Monday morning to a crash in the 3900 block of US-50 and near the Maverik station on College Parkway.

Western Nevada College is presenting traditional commencement ceremonies for the Class of 2024 on May 20 in Carson City and May 23 in Fallon.

One month after Nevada DMV officials said that the long-awaited project to upgrade the agency’s antiquated computer systems was on track and within budget, the agency now says the plan will likely take three more fiscal years and cost $300 million more than originally anticipated.

Carson City Sheriff's Office reports three arrests from Friday until early Monday.

"Look for Something Good," a novel written by Carson City author Robert Drews, is available locally and online.

Proscenium Players Inc. presents Fools by Neil Simon, winner of the Mark Twain Prize for American Humor.

CARSON CITY — Since the early 1980s, May has held special significance in Nevada as a month dedicated to honoring and celebrating the state's rich history through historic preservation and archaeology.

Carson City Fire Department and multiple agencies will host Tuesday the 2nd annual wildfire education and preparedness workshop for the community Tuesday, April 30.

Carson City is a Bee City USA affiliate, the first in the state of Nevada. Bee Cities are a part of The Xerces Society for Invertebrate Conservation. "Bee City USA’s mission is to galvanize communities to sustain pollinators by providing them with healthy habitat, rich in a variety of native plants and free to nearly free of pesticides.”

In recognition of Historic Preservation and Archeological Awareness Month, the City’s Historic Resources Commission has organized the 2024 Scavenger Hunt.

picture of Hall of Fame inductees.

Six local bowlers were inducted in the third class of the Carson Country Bowling Association Hall of Fame at their annual meeting on Saturday, April 27, at HomeGrown Bowl. Carson Country is the local association of the U.S. Bowling Congress.

Carson City Parks, Recreation and Open Space will hold a "Sheep Talk" this Monday, April 29 from noon to 1 p.m. so residents can learn from Carson City staff about the popular fuel reduction program used annually with the use of "firefighting" sheep.

Two Carson City residents who hiked C-Hill recently returned Sunday morning with a message: The flag that graces the hillside is in need of repair.

Here is the Carson City area road report for the week of April 29 through May 5, 2024. Closures are expected at the following locations due to road and utility work:

Camp GOTR (Girls on the Run) is coming to Carson City for the second year in a row! Camp GOTR will be a week-long, half-day summer camp from 8 AM- 12 PM at the Carson City Community Center the week of August 5th- August 9th.

Girls on the Run Sierras is a character-building program for girls in 3rd through 8th grade operating in the Reno-Tahoe area.

A number of new Junior Park Rangers received their badges as they were sworn in as part of the annual Junior Park Rangers Day in Carson City.

The next Carson City Board of Supervisors meeting will be held on Thursday, May 2, 2024 beginning at 8:30 a.m. in the Bob Crowell Boardroom of the Community Center, located at 851 E. William Street.

For many students at Carson High, Monica Weaver serves as a counselor who is dedicated to helping students navigate the challenges that could alter one’s four years of high school. But in the spring, Weaver also stands poolside, coaching the Senators swim team.

Meet Ricky and Reba, a sweet bonded pair who are waiting for their forever home. Sometimes bad things happen to good cats. Nobody knows this better than Ricky and Reba. Approximately 3 years old, they were abandoned when their owner moved, leaving them to fend for themselves on the streets of Reno. It wasn’t easy.

The 120 pounds of litter collected during the inaugural Shoreline Sweep Volunteer Cleanup at Sand Harbor State Park will be used in an innovative art installation in the park's visitor center.

Over 80 dedicated volunteers joined forces to comb the park's picturesque shores on Monday, April 22, 2024.

Warmer weather is upon us – finally – which also means so is the ever popular and very educational ComputerCorps TechCamp Summer Series! Yes, summer is just a few months off and ComputerCorps TechCamp 2K24 is now accepting applicants.


On April 24, 2024, at approximately 4:48 a.m., the Nevada State Police responded to a crash at the location of IR580 southbound near mile marker CC01 in Carson City, Nevada. (Near the Snyder Ave. overpass).

Each year, the Carson City Sheriff’s Office hosts an open house event as a way to connect families, deputies, non-profits and more. This year the event takes place May 11 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Douglas County officials have announced that construction will begin soon on the first phase of the Muller Parkway Project. The project aims to alleviate traffic congestion in Minden and Gardnerville, offering an alternative route to the main U.S. Route 395 through town. The decision comes as the County moves to fill its requirement to construct 2.4 miles of two-lane road by 2025.

Carson High School is pleased to announce Katarina Klatt and Brynn Russell will carry their academic and athletic talents on to the next level with Division 1 Scholarships. A short signing ceremony was held at the Carson Aquatic Center Wednesday, April 24, 2024.