Join Rainier Olympic Nurses Association for a virtual book discussion.
Book: Finding Refuge: Heart Work for Healing Collective Grief by Michelle Cassandra Johnson
“In unsettling and uncertain times, the individual and collective heartbreak that lives in our bodies and communities can feel insurmountable. Many of us have been conditioned by the dominant culture to not name, focus on, or wade through the difficulties of our lives. But in order to heal, we must make space for grief and prioritize our wholeness, our humanity, and our inherent divinity.
Through powerful personal narrative and meditation and journaling practices at the end of each chapter that explore being present with your heart, Michelle empowers us to see that each of us has a role to play in building enough momentum to take intentional action and shift what is unsettled and unjust in the world.”
Open to all RNs, LPNs and nursing students. Nurses who attend and complete an evaluation form will receive a certificate of attendance that meets the continuing competency requirement for license renewal in Washington State.
Please register for the discussion and then submit a request for a book. We have 10 copies available for members.
The first 10 members who submit a request will be sent a copy of the book. If you are member but already purchased a copy, please email us at office@rainierolympicnurses.org to submit for reimbursement.
If you have any issues, please contact us at office@rainierolympicnurses.org.
The book can be borrowed from the library or purchased from local book stores or through Amazom.com. If buying through Amazon, please consider using the Amazon Smile program and supporting Rainier Olympic Nurses Association with your purchase.
Discussion Facilitators:

Sharon S. Laing, PhD
Sharon S. Laing, PhD, Associate Professor, School of Nursing and Healthcare Leadership, University of Washington, Tacoma
Sharon S. Laing is trained as a Health Psychologist and has conducted research for more than 15 years addressing health, illnesses and societal factors experienced by minoritized communities and ways in which safety-net healthcare systems can be more responsive to these communities. Her current research investigates the role of digital health care technologies to enhance interactions between low-resourced patients and safety-net healthcare systems. She is passionate about diversity, equity and inclusion as she has served as co-chair for the UWT Climate Survey Faculty Implementation Plan Committee and recently appointed to a 3-year term on the American Public Health Association’s Committee on Health Equity. Dr. Laing has received awards and honors for her scholarship, student mentorship and community engaged research. Most recently, she received the UWT Distinguished Community Engagement Award in 2022 and the UW Outstanding Undergraduate Research Mentor Award in 2020. She was nominated for the UW Marsha L. Landolt Distinguished Graduate Mentor Award in 2022.

Kathleen Shannon Dorcy, PhD, RN, FAAN
Kathleen Shannon Dorcy, PhD, RN FAAN, Special Assistant to the Dean, School of Nursing and Healthcare Leadership, University of Washington, Tacoma, Nurse Scientist and Director of Research, Scholarship, and Program Development, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center.
Kathleen has worked extensively at Fred Hutch in oncology care and cellular therapies specializing in acute myelogenous leukemia. She has taught at UWT for 30 years in the School of Nursing. Additional research has been on end of life care, decision making in health care and hope as it influences decision making for participation in clinical research.