2026 Member Webinar - Advocacy Beyond the Bedside

3/25/2026

Event Details

Register for the first Member Webinar of 2026 ,  Advocacy Beyond the Bedside ! Join us virtually via Zoom 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. Content Advisory: The material in this session includes topics of violence and traumatic events. While these testimonials are an important tool for navigating and improving healthcare advocacy, we recognize they may be difficult for some individuals. Participants are encouraged to step away at any time and rejoin when ready. __________________________________________________________________________________________ Hampton Roads Chapter members have the opportunity to attend this program either in person or virtually. When registering, please select your preferred attendance option. Additional details for the in-person experience are outlined below.* __________________________________________________________________________________________ Moderated By: Dr. Halima Walker, DHA, MSN, RN, CCRN, NEA-BC VNA Commissioner on Government Relations and the Piedmont Chapter Government Relations Chair Dr. Halima Walker is a nurse leader, educator, and healthcare administrator with a strong commitment to equity, workforce development, and community centered care. She serves as Nursing Director at Region Ten Community Services Board in Charlottesville, Virginia, where she provides clinical and strategic oversight across behavioral health, crisis services, residential programs, and outpatient settings, leading nursing practice, policy development, regulatory compliance, and quality improvement initiatives. Dr. Walker holds a Doctorate in Healthcare Administration and brings a systems level perspective to nursing leadership, with expertise in nursing operations, workforce strategy, and interdisciplinary collaboration. Her scholarly and programmatic work has included the development of the Identity Empowerment RN Mentorship Program, a structured mentorship model focused on professional identity formation, self efficacy, and leadership development for nursing students and early career nurses. In addition to her administrative role, she is an experienced nursing educator teaching across secondary, community college, and university settings and is recognized for her ability to translate complex clinical and administrative concepts into practical learning experiences. Dr. Walker also serves as Commissioner on Government Relations for the Virginia Nurses Association, where she advocates for policies that strengthen the nursing workforce and improve access to care across the Commonwealth, while remaining deeply committed to mentorship, service, and community engagement.   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. __________________________________________________________________________________________ *HAMPTON ROADS CHAPTER MEMBERS IN-PERSON OPPORTUNITY: RSVP Deadline: March 23, 2026 Dinner Begins: 5:00 p.m.   Welcome and meet Jennifer Barthlome, the CNO at Riverside Doctors Hospital, as well as the Hampton Roads Chapter Leadership. Heavy hors d'oeuvres will be served. VNA Member Webinar: 5:30 p.m. - 6:30 p.m. Hampton Roads General Membership Collaborative Meeting: 6:30 p.m.  - 8:00 p.m. In-Person Location: Riverside Doctors' Hospital, A/B Conference Room 1500 Commonwealth Ave., Williamsburg, VA 23185 Visitors may park in the main parking lot in front of the hospital. ___________________________________________________________________________ The Virginia Nurses Association is accredited as a provider of nursing continuing professional development by the American Nurses Credentialing Center’s Commission on Accreditation. Participants of the 2026 VNA March Member Webinar can earn 1 contact hour for attending the webinar in its entirety and completing an online evaluation. __________________________________________________________________________________________ If you have any questions about this event, or are a prelicensure nursing student looking to attend, please contact Membership Manager MJ Gearles at mgearles@virginianurses.org. 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