Save the Date for the first Member Webinar of 2026, Advocacy Beyond the Bedside!

Join us virtually on Wednesday, March 25, 2026 from 5:30 p.m. - 6:30 p.m. for an exclusive VNA member-only event.

This webinar will spotlight real-world examples of how nurses advocate for their patients, peers, and within their organization. Presented in a panel discussion format, it will highlight practical, situational advocacy and timely issues, reinforcing VNA’s ongoing commitment to empowering nurses of all generations and specialties to use their voices to drive meaningful change.

Panel Speakers:

Speaker 1:

Angela Romero, MBA, BSN, RN
Nurse Manager at Riverside Health
Advocacy Focus: Workplace violence prevention, internal policy change, and legislative advocacy

Angela Romero, a lifelong Virginia resident, is the Nurse Manager of a 24-bed Medical-Surgical unit at Riverside Health. With 13 years of nursing experience—6½ of those in leadership—she led her team to earn the system’s first PRISM Award in 2023. Her unit also recently marked an impressive milestone: ten years with zero CAUTIs.

Angela holds a BSN and an MBA, chairs Riverside Regional’s Evidence-Based Professional Advancement Council, and is an active member of multiple nursing organizations. She currently serves as President of the AMSN Hampton Roads Chapter, following four years as President-Elect.

Beyond infrastructure and outcomes, Angela is a fierce advocate for workplace safety and psychological well-being. When a violent incident impacted her team, she stood by her nurses for six months of court proceedings—until justice was served.

Her advocacy extends to the policy arena. Angela participated in the Virginia Nurses Association’s Lobby Day to support House Bill 2269 and later represented nursing at the national level during AONL’s Day on Capitol Hill. There, she met directly with U.S. Senators and Members of Congress to champion the SAVE Healthcare Workers Act, embracing the vital role nurses play in shaping healthcare policy.

Speaker 2:

Dr. Holly Wirth, DNP, RN, NE-BC, CNE, SCRN, PMGT-BC
Clinical Nurse Educator, Neuroscience Service Line at Inova Health
Advocacy Focus: Supporting nurses experiencing abuse outside the workplace, building internal support systems, and fostering organizational culture change after workplace tragedies

Dr. Holly Wirth is dedicated nursing leader with 25 years of healthcare experience, specializing in neurology and stroke care. Dr. Wirth is a Clinical Nurse Educator for the Neuroscience Service Line at Inova Health System, overseeing educational programs across multiple care sites. She has also created innovative training pathways and led her team through comprehensive education programs, improving patient outcomes in epilepsy, stroke and neurosurgery. In addition to her clinical expertise, Dr. Wirth enjoys speaking on epilepsy care and neuroscience nursing education, with podium presentations at local, regional and national conferences.

Speaker 3:

Dr. Kellie Bryant, DNP, WHNP, CHSE, FSSH, FADLN, FAAN
Director for the Center for Innovation in Education Excellence at the National League for Nursing
Advocacy Focus: Advancing equity, diversity, and inclusion in nursing education and practice through innovative strategies, such as simulation, that enhance patient care, promote workplace inclusivity, and drive systemic change

Dr. Kellie Bryant is the Director of the Center for Innovation in Education Excellence at the National League for Nursing, with over 20 years of teaching experience, including 15 years specializing in simulation. In her role, she leads the development of innovative programs and services to advance nursing education. As a consultant for Advancing Health Equity, Dr. Bryant trains organizations on delivering equitable care and fostering inclusive workplaces.

Her expertise includes leveraging simulation to improve patient safety and creating nursing pathway programs for historically marginalized students. A prolific author and presenter, Dr. Bryant has delivered national and international presentations and secured grants from organizations such as Johnson & Johnson.

She serves on several committees, including as vice chair of the DEI Committee for the Society for Simulation in Healthcare, and as an elected board member of the International Nursing Association of Clinical Simulation and Learning.  

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