Hawaii’s first official representative of the National Association of Catholic Nurses (NACN), USA, is working to expand the organization’s presence across the state’s five islands, aiming to build a stronger community of Catholic health care professionals.
Catholic nurse Vebs Dominguez, a longtime member of the organization, now serves as its first representative in Hawaii. The association supports Catholic nurses in integrating their faith with professional practice and navigating ethical challenges in health care, according to an April 22 report by the Hawaii Catholic Herald, the newspaper of the Diocese of Honolulu.
Vicky Pebsworth, the director of NACN Region 9, which includes Hawaii, said the organization provides the “bridges” Catholic nurses need to best serve their patients and helps address the state’s “unique circumstances" in health care.
The organization helps ensure care is consistent with Catholic moral teachings and ethical principles, she added, according to the Herald.
Dominguez also said the organization allows health care professionals to "nourish their calling” and integrate faith into their daily lives.
“Together,” Dominguez told the outlet, “health care professionals in Hawaii can continue to bring the healing ministry of Christ to their communities.”
She said her vocation to serve others is closely tied to her Catholic faith, which was inspired by the faithful example of her grandparents and ultimately led her to pursue nursing.
She recalled praying outside her grandfather’s hospital room and realizing the importance of nurses in people’s lives, a moment she said "solidified" her calling to the profession.
Pebsworth also described Dominguez as having “a deep commitment to faith and sharing the Gospel message of love and mercy for others.”
Dominguez said she hopes to strengthen connections among Catholic nurses in the state and help them navigate the demands of their profession with their faith.
“My primary responsibility,” she said, “is to serve as a local touchpoint and advocate for Catholic nurses across the islands.”