Each year, Americans observe National Hispanic Heritage Month from Sept. 15 to Oct. 15 by celebrating the histories, cultures and contributions of American citizens whose ancestors came from Spain, Mexico, the Caribbean and Central and South America. We spoke to Pete Rodriguez, BSN, RN, ACRN about what this month and being an ANAC member mean to him.

HIV Clinical Consultant

Years as an ANAC member: 15

Local ANAC chapter: Houston/Gulf Coast Chapter

Hispanic Heritage Month is a time in the United States to celebrate the achievements, contributions and influence of Hispanic Americans. During this month, we celebrate the inspiring voices that came before us and reflect on the necessary fight that still lies ahead to improve the state of trans rights, criminal justice, HIV advocacy, gender equality and more.

In 1986, after working 15 years in the county emergency room in Fort Worth, Texas, a four-year-old girl was brought to our pediatric area extremely dehydrated, emaciated and barely responsive. At that time, the new strategy for isolation precautions had not been introduced at our institution; therefore, without gloves or barrier protection, I started an IV, drew blood, and held her in my arms as the physician performed a lumbar puncture. A few days later, I learned she had died from AIDS. My staff and I were desperate for answers on caring for patients with HIV/AIDS and methods to protect ourselves. A few months later, a young Hispanic man I had seen on the jogging trail along the river in Fort Worth came in. I was used to seeing him running with a friend, strong and carefree. That night he came in he was breathing with difficulty and told me he had AIDS. Without knowing what else to do, I put on a scrub cap, mask, gloves, and disposable scrubs. I remember the look of sadness and embarrassment in his eyes. After that, I was determined to enter the field of HIV nursing and do whatever I could to learn how to care for people living with HIV and show other health care workers that being compassionate and non-judgmental was an essential tool to keeping people alive.

As a clinical consultant, I perform site visits at HIV clinics throughout the United States and Puerto Rico who receive Ryan White funding. For example, this year I reviewed clinics in Utah, Massachusetts and rural Georgia. Each of these clinics had unique, diverse, challenging groups of people who needed different strategies to keep them engaged in care and virally suppressed. The innovation, dedication and love the staff members used to achieve these goals was extraordinary. Their determination inspires me to keep fighting for the lives of people living with HIV.