Galloway, N.J. - Lia V. Ludan, assistant professor of Nursing, was recently honored at The AL DÍA Top Nurses, an annual event that is a celebration of Hispanic health care professionals who have served the community, especially during the pandemic. Ludan was selected as the Honoree for the Academic Practice category.

“To be selected as an honoree for this award is such a great honor. To be recognized for one’s work is like no other,” Ludan reflected. “As nurses we do this kind of work, not for praise but because we want to help people. I love what I do, it makes me happy when I can help ease someone’s pain or help them with their illness.”

Her teaching position at Stockton, which she has held for three years, has also contributed to her being named an honoree by The AL DÍA Top Nurses. 

“I have learned so much from my fellow colleagues on how the world of academia works. I came into this position as a novice and still am, but I have grown and learned so much. This has given me the ability to give back to my students and foster a sense of accomplishment. COVID has changed all our lives not only in teaching, but how we see health care,” Ludan said.

Teaching during the pandemic did not come without its challenges, but Ludan felt the Nursing Program handled the change very well. 

“I think as nurses we are used to change and able to respond to a crisis more easily than others. We supported each other and made the best of it with the resources we had available at the time. COVID made us learn how to use virtual simulation and other online resources to compensate for the lack of clinical sites.”  

Ludan has spent a lot of time working in the Emergency Room during COVID-19 and still is. She works at Cape Regional Medical Center and Penn Medicine.

“Most of the time has been flat out frustrating. I continue because of the times when I do make a difference or when I can save someone’s life. It's the most rewarding feeling, Ludan said. “COVID-19 has made me want to be a nurse more than ever. I can’t think of doing anything else. I truly love helping people and hope I’m blessed to continue doing what I love.”

Reported by Mandee McCullough