National Nurses United

Profile:FINAL 7/3/08 1:27 PM Page 19 Francisco rally. "There were so many people, such a great atmosdeserved in exchange for their years of dedication and hard work. Webb originally hails from Arizona, where she earned a degree in phere. It was wonderful." That's not to say Webb isn't enjoying CNA/NNOC's current cameducational rehabilitation and had designs on becoming a pediatric physical therapist. Stanford University had just such a program, but paign for single-payer healthcare. "It's going to be a long haul, like would not hire Webb for her lack of previous medical experience. "So anything we're doing," she says. "But I think it's the right thing to do." I thought, 'Where can I get medical experience, for free?'" says Webb. UCSD, as a publicly run facility, is designated by the state to care for a She signed up with the Navy and spent the next four years as a disproportionate number of uninsured patients, and Webb sees the corpsman on the east coast, working in the Navy hospital as a unit effects of the for-profit healthcare industry every day in her worksecretary. Webb enjoyed the setting and her dealings with patients, place. "It's not only the uninsured, but the underinsured," she stressand with a shortage of doctors at that time, she was gaining more es. "UCSD is close to downtown San Diego, and we see a lot of people who are suffering because of the medical experience than she had insurance industry." These complioriginally imagined. However, she cations often mean that Webb has says, "I didn't want to do that the "Single-payer is going to be a long haul, trouble administering the highest rest of my life." Having completed like anything we're doing. But I think it's quality care of which she knows she all coursework necessary to enter the right thing to do." is capable. "It's frustrating—somenursing school, and taking cues from her enjoyment of the medical setting, Webb became a registered times you know people aren't coming in for follow-up care, because nurse. She feels confident that she made the right decision: "I like they can't afford it." Webb easily connects how national policy affects her scope of working out a care plan for helping the patients recover, and coordipractice, which explains why she enjoys being involved in political nating with doctors on the patients' progress." A year after becoming an RN, Webb's husband at the time, also in processes and thrives in a leadership role within CNA/NNOC. "I the Navy, was transferred to San Diego. The family moved west, and think CNA/NNOC is a great organization," she says in closing. ExecuWebb began working at the University of California San Diego Med- tive Director Rose Ann DeMoro is "a great motivator and organizer ical Center, where she has remained for 22 years of her 23-year career who moves the nurses to lead the organization, and that's precisely as a nurse. "I love working in my unit," Webb says. "I love working what we need. We have a great deal." with and teaching the new nurses." Webb's desire to help and lead eventually got channeled into a Erika Larson is associate editor of Registered Nurse. position with CNA/NNOC's nurse leadership. Webb's UCSD colleague and member of the CNA/NNOC Council of Presidents Geri Jenkins, RN first invited Webb to attend a CNA/NNOC continuing education class several years ago. "Next thing I knew," she explains, "I was getting more involved. They were doing contract negotiations, and I volunteered to be unit contact. I had no idea what I was getting into!" She punctuates her reflections with an infectious laugh, saying, "We joke that we're misplaced 60s activists." When asked how she became a board member, Webb is modest. "Oh, I recall someone Name: Janice Webb, RN telling me I'd be good on the board. I said 'Yeah, right,' but then Facility: University of California thought, 'What the heck, I'll give it a try.'" San Diego Medical Center Webb joined the board of directors in 2005 and enjoyed it enough Unit: Intermediate Care to successfully run for reelection in 2007. "A lot of nurses still feel Nursing for: 23 years they shouldn't be involved in politics," she says. "For me, I enjoy On CNA/NNOC board since: 2005 being on the board and being involved in those political processes, Sign: Virgo getting that information to those nurses and encouraging them. I Nursing Pet Peeve: "When I ask a question about a guess that goes along with my interest in education, being in the mix patient and somebody says,'it's always been that way.'" and all that." Favorite Work Snack:"I never have time to snack!" When asked which is her favorite CNA/NNOC campaign, Webb Latest Work Accomplishment: Starting the education replies without hesitation: "The Arnold campaign!" She recalls the committee for her unit. moment in 2004 when California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger Color of favorite scrubs: Red responded to protesting CNA/NNOC nurses by calling them special Hobbies: Cooking and gardening interests and bragging that he was "kicking their butts." Favorite Musician: B.B. King "When I heard it, I thought, 'Oh my goodness,' and there was such Latest Book Read: The Second Time Around, by Mary a flurry of activity after that," she remembers. Webb traversed the Higgins Clark state attending anti-Arnold rallies: a Code Pink rally in Los Angeles, a Secret talents unrelated to nursing: "I used to sing, but San Francisco rally where demonstrators took over the street, and the I'm a little rusty now." Freedom Bus Tour. She describes visiting many parts of the state as a real "eye opener." Still, her favorite part of the campaign was the San Profile JUNE 2008 W W W. C A L N U R S E S . O R G REGISTERED NURSE 19

• Cover