Breaking the Silence on Syphilis

Dr. Helen Hurst emphasizes the rising rates of syphilis in pregnant individuals and pinpoints the critical need for open, nonjudgmental conversation and education between clinicians and their patients. Use this episode as a guide to discuss sexual health, address myths, implement talk, test, treat at the point of entry to care, and collaborate with community partners to create campaigns that will improve the awareness and health of those in your surrounding zip codes.

Meet our guests:

Helen M. Hurst, DNP, RNC-OB, APRN-CNM

Dr. Helen Hurst is a distinguished leader in nursing education, research, and clinical practice. She’s served as Associate Dean of Nursing and Professor at Creighton University since July 2022, where she provides oversight and leadership for the College of Nursing. Her years in clinical practice encompassed being an RN in L&D and women’s health. As a CNM, she provided antepartum, intrapartum, postpartum, and women’s health care at a community hospital in southwestern Louisiana.

For more than 30 years, Dr. Hurst has cultivated expertise in academic administration, innovative curriculum development, and healthcare partnerships, positioning her as a pivotal force in advancing nursing education. Among her notable achievements is being a co-patent holder along with her team at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette, for a women’s mobile health unit for use in emergency preparedness.

Dr. Hurst is an esteemed member of professional organizations, including the Association of Women’s Health, Obstetric and Neonatal Nurses (AWHONN), Sigma Theta Tau International Honor Society of Nursing, and the National League of Nursing. As a nationally sought-after speaker, Dr. Hurst is committed to advancing nursing education, empowering women’s health, and fostering scholarly excellence to inspire and shape the next generation of nursing professionals.

Her dedication to nursing education, maternal health, and nursing leadership has been recognized with numerous awards, including the Certificate of Achievement in Innovation, and the Cols. Jean & Philip Piccone Nursing Faculty Development Award. Additionally, Dr. Hurst was a Fellow in the American Association of Colleges of Nursing Leadership in Academic Nursing Program.