GUEST COLUMNIST MY NAME IS CINDY LINARES, THEY CALL ME THE “BABY WHISPERER”

Texas Nurse Day At The Capitol

For over a year now, I have been a part of the “Blue Bird photography program”, and my job is to capture the first ever newborn picture. It’s a dream job that I never thought I would have, especially considering my previous career of 25 years in transportation.

God has a way of putting us in the place where we belong. One fateful day, I found myself waiting in the hospital lobby when a young child sat down beside me. I soon discovered that this little one was deaf, but I didn’t let that deter me from making a connection. Through the pictures on my phone, we formed a bond that sparked something deep inside me. In that very moment, I realized that working with children was my true calling.

Determined to pursue my newfound passion, I started volunteering as a “Cuddle” in the Neonatal Intensive Care Uni (NICU), offering comfort and care to infants and their families. Before long, I became a Certified Nurse Assistant (CNA) and was overjoyed to secure a position in the pediatrics unit.

But just as I was settling into my dream job, the pandemic hit and everything changed.

When the pandemic hit, I was relocated to the 3rd floor rehabilitation unit, where I worked with adults. It was tough, but I persevered. Months later, I learned of a newborn photographer position, and I jumped on it. I have five children of my own, so taking pictures of newborns wasn’t something that made me nervous. However, I was nervous about the quality of the pictures. I wanted to make sure that the parents loved my work, especially because although I was lacking photography experience, I remained optimistic that my heartfelt approach to every shot would shine through.

The Texas Nurses Association hosted ‘Nurse Day at the Capitol’ in February, and nurses of all backgrounds came together to advocate for policy that betters the nursing profession. Many nurses from across our healthcare system attended; they heard about nursing issues, identified opportunities to influence healthcare policy, and more.

Attendees heard about Texas’s current public health landscape, the nurse’s role in health policy, and the nursing legislative agenda and heard from a legislative panel. The event also included visits with individual legislators.

“Nursing is a profession that touches people throughout their lifespan. The value nurses bring to our communities cannot be underestimated. Nurse Day at the Capitol provided an opportunity for nurses to be heard by those who have the legislative ability to make changes – whether it is improving educational funding to help grow more nurses or creating laws to protect our front-line nurses. We opened doors and conversations together,” shared Mary Lee Potter, Director of Professional Nursing Practice at Methodist Hospital | Metropolitan.