They say if you love what you do, you never work a day in your life. That’s certainly true for one of the VNA’s Community Health Services nurses, Tana Wagner, RN. “I LOVE my job! Because I am serving the community,” said Tana. “I get the pleasure of meeting, educating, supporting and collaborating with dozens of new people every week. The energy that is reciprocated from the clients and professionals in our community is invigorating. I am constantly learning and educating myself as much as I am teaching my clients.”
Tana is part of the Community Health Services team and leads the community health education workshops and health screenings, which is a VNA & Hospice Foundation-supported program. These are free of charge and offered throughout Indian River County at local organizations and residential communities in a group setting. “Our goal is to improve the health of our community. Through health promotion, disease prevention and recognizing the needs of our community, we will improve health outcomes,” said Tana. Collaborating with agencies such as the Florida Department of Health Indian River County, Substance Awareness Center, Cleveland Clinic Indian River Hospital, and Senior Resource Association assist them to achieve this goal.
And no day is alike. “It’s fulfilling that my day is never ‘typical’,” said Tana, although most of her patient screenings include checking blood pressure, analyzing blood glucose, A1C (the percentage of hemoglobin that is coated with glucose and can be used to diagnose diabetes and prediabetes), and lipids. Depending on the needs of the client and her assessment, she will then educate them on their disease process, medications, nutrition, exercise safety and wellbeing. Moreover, if a need exists for the patient, she will provide information to them for the many community resources and referrals to support their needs. “I have found that group interactive teaching has been effective as well,” said Tana. “Most importantly, I like to keep the classes fun and invigorating. A fun game of Chair Exercise Bingo exercises the mind and body!”
Tana was inspired to join the VNA when she moved to Vero Beach two years ago and read a few articles about the organization in local publications. “I was intrigued with the testimonies of patients, philanthropic endeavors and magnitude of respect it earns. The most poignant article chronicled the legacy of the VNA and its rich history. I have always respected the Visiting Nurse Association and its mission since my home health care experiences with a small agency in rural Pennsylvania. When the Community Health Nurse position was posted, I felt a strong connection to seek employment with such an honorable agency in Indian River County,” she said.
Tana holds a BSN degree from Villa Maria College at Gannon University in Erie, Pennsylvania. She worked for several years until she “retired” from nursing to stay home and raise her three girls and became a full-time volunteer, then returned to work as an RN at age 60. Tana has been happily married to her husband Keith, a Veteran, for 39 years. They have three successful daughters, Christana, Victoria and Faith. They also have more than 30 pets, a number that is ever-growing. “We gained an exotic saltwater coral reef aquarium with our purchased Vero Beach home and can now add Aquarist to our resume! We are a family devoted to service: supporting Veterans, the military and their families.”
She is also devoted to her patients and community and passionate about her work. “The satisfaction I receive from seeing positive health changes through our free screenings is immeasurable,” said Tana. “Most importantly, it is gratifying that I witness our generous greater community support those who are vulnerable or lack resources with initiatives and programs that to allow me to serve and provide quality nursing care.”
