Graceland School of Nursing Graduate Receives Distinguished Shero Award

Graceland University School of Nursing graduate Paula Newman-Skomski is the Founder and Board President for Peoria Home: a 2-year residential community for women who have been exploited through sex trafficking, prostitution, and addiction, and are working to reclaim their lives. On August 10, 2021, Newman-Skomski received the distinguished Shero Award from The National Organization for Women (NOW) Seattle Chapter.

NOW is the largest multi-issue feminist organization in the United States and their work is aimed to eliminate all forms of violence against women. The Shero Award honors remarkable women for their outstanding accomplishments and efforts on behalf of women . It is awarded to women who have been powerful advocates for other women, and who have done significant work to change women’s lives for the better.

Newman-Skomski graduated from the Graceland University Master of Science in Nursing – Family Nurse Practitioner  (FNP) program in 2011.  With her FNP degree, Newman-Skomski works at the Peoria Home clinic in the child advocacy center to diagnose, provide treatment, and conduct medical exams on victims of abuse every day.

When asked about why she chose the Graceland School of Nursing, she said, “the whole reason I got my FNP degree was because the family nurse practitioner running our clinic was retiring and I love this work and wanted to fill this role when she retired. The Graceland FNP program was really convenient because it was online; I could continue to work while I finished my degree and that worked really well for my lifestyle.”

Graceland’s family nurse practitioner program prepares registered nurses to care for individuals and families in a wide variety of health care  settings, including clinics, community-based settings, long-term care facilities and hospitals.

Learn more about the Graceland University Family Nurse Practitioner Program.