Anaya Tina Kole, APRN, FNP-C, RN BSN, is a Family Nurse Practitioner with Heartland Urgent Care

Get to know Family Nurse Practitioner and Registered Nurse, Anaya Tina Kole, who serves patients in Kansas City, Missouri.

Born in Buffalo, New York, Anaya was a registered nurse at Saint Luke’s Hospital of Kansas City in Missouri and is now a certified family nurse practitioner in Kansas. As a registered nurse she was responsible for performing nursing duties for stroke, Alzeimer’s disease, hemorrhage, dementia, drug abuse as well as alcohol abuse and withdrawal, to name a few. 

With over 600 physicians and 60 medical specialties, Saint Luke’s Hospital of Kansas City is a tertiary care hospital that has been providing comprehensive, quality care for over 135 years. It is a part of the Saint Luke’s Health System.

From a very early age, Anaya was exposed to the culture and traditions of India, her second home. Yet, she was also exposed to the sufferings of many unfortunate individuals, particularly those who were not treated with basic care due to lack of medical aid, financial stability or education. It wasn’t until she was older, that she realized that volunteering at orphanages in India, shadowing at a rural hospital, and walking through poverty stricken areas where children and adults suffered from immense pain and malnourishment would blossom into a passion to serve the impoverished. She was only able to donate money she saved, assist in food and supply distribution, and aid in the preparation of meals at the time when she hadn’t earned the educational background nor credentials needed to do more.

On the other end of the spectrum, when she volunteered at a senior citizens institution specializing in Alzheimer’s disease and dementia, she understood the satisfaction that could be achieved while working within such a caring profession and developing the most sincere patient connections. From then on, she had always felt that we, as humans, have an inborn desire to want to help others. Health-related work has had a strong impact on her, both in terms of being mentally challenging and a ‘hands-on’ profession. Nursing stood out from other fields of study because of the increasing exposure to the marriage of science and technology, patient involvement and administrative work, as well as the collaboration with fellow nurses and doctors to create a team that provide life-altering changes in individuals.

The information that Anaya learned, absorbed, and relied on after earning a Bachelor of Science degree in Biology and a Bachelor of Arts degree in Chemistry from the University of Missouri-Kansas City, along with all of her life experiences, paved her way towards making the best decision of her life: to attend nursing school. She earned her Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree from Saint Luke’s College of Health Sciences in 2016, followed by her Master of Science in Nursing degree from the same educational venue in 2019. 

She attributes her success to the support of her family (parents, twin brother, and family dog Cesar), as well as to her significant other, nurse manager, co-workers, professors, preceptors, and clinical instructors. She also attributes her success to her patients, who taught her what she calls ‘life lessons’. She is very appreciative and grateful for the opportunities she has been given and the ones she has earned, which is why she continues to dedicate her life to understanding individuals and their healthcare needs.

With traveling experiences and education, Anaya considers herself a well-rounded individual who will utilize what she has learned and will continue to learn in a worldly setting. She would like to become a role model for other students and individuals alike in order to help them realize and attain their goals. Five years post-graduation, she would like to continue working with the underserved and underprivileged, educating individuals, and conducting research.

In addition, she anticipates setting aside income to fund various orphanages and shedding light into properly caring for the elderly diagnosed with dementia and Alzheimer’s disease in India. As dementia and Alzheimer’s disease research carries on, facilities may not be properly equipped. For this reason, Anaya hopes to be able to fund and provide her services for orphanages and facilities in need of necessary and immediate care. She would also like part of her income to go towards her parents’ retirement. Without their continued support, direction, and guidance, she states that she would not have been able to achieve what she has achieved thus far. She acknowledges their beliefs, values, and encouragement for her strive towards success.

“To me, each patient should be treated as an individual and given the best quality of care, regardless of their gender, age, race, sexual orientation, religious preference, or socioeconomic status. I try to integrate evidence-based practice to establish positive patient outcomes. Every patient is held with respect, even when their perceptions differ from my own. I implement safety and promote learning, wellness, as well as physical and emotional healing. I believe in creating trusting relationships with patients and their family members, but at all times being an advocate for my patients. I am devoted to representing myself professionally, personally, and as a valuable member of a healthcare team. I am committed to assisting my patients in reaching their personal well-being; this being my responsibility or duty toward my patients” as stated by Anaya. 

A registered nurse (RN) is a nurse who has graduated from a nursing program and met the requirements outlined by a country, state, province or similar licensing body to obtain a nursing license. RNs fulfill a variety of job duties. In addition to their primary role in treating and caring for patients, their responsibilities also include educating patients and the public about a variety of medical conditions, as well as providing emotional support and advice to the families of their patients. Other RN job functions include leadership, research, performing diagnostic tests and analyzing results, operating medical equipment, administering medications, recording patients’ symptoms and medical histories, and assisting with patient rehabilitation and follow-up.

A family nurse practitioner (FNP) is an advanced practice registered nurse who works autonomously or in collaboration with other healthcare professionals, to deliver family-focused care. Given the rather broad nature of the “family” patient population focus, FNPs offer a wide range of healthcare services that revolve around the family unit; from health promotion and disease prevention to direct care and counseling across the lifespan.

In addition to being a member of the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners and the Sigma Theta Tau International Honor Society of Nursing, Anaya is the recipient of the DAISY Award in 2018. The DAISY Award is an international program that recognizes and celebrates the extraordinary clinical skills and compassionate care given by nurses everyday.

Learn More about Anaya Tina Kole:

Through her online profile, https://todaysnurse.org/network/index.php?do=/4145018/info/