The making of a nurse practitioner

"The most fulfilling part of my job is the people. Every patient who comes to see me brings something different, something unique to my day. When we meet, we talk about work, family, kids whatever i going on in her life and I listen. When a patient comes in for an annual test, I see her as my neighbor as a fellow mom, as a friend... and it's important to me that she knows this. "

"I spent one day in the pediatric ward during my nursing training, and that was all it took - I was hooked! That day I decided I wanted to be a nurse practitioner, and I would do whatever it took to get there. During my years of studying alongside doctors and other nurses, I was able to learn some of the most important aspects of quality health care that I practice to this day. The most important? Being a good listener."

MS: Nursing Health Policy & Certificate in Health Policy, University of Maryland at Baltimore, Maryland

BS: Nursing, University of Maryland at Baltimore, Maryland

BS & Nurse Practitioner Certificate: George Washington University, Washington, DC

AS: Nursing, Charles County Community College, Maryland

A combination of heart and mind

"My job is a combination of nursing and medicine. Where compassion and good listening are what nursing is all about, medicine is about having sharp diagnostic and clinical skills. This is why I've helped develop programs for pregnant teens and women who are high-risk for developing osteoporosis, while making sure I teach every patient how to give an accurate self-breast exam. My job entails all of this. But this is more than just a job for me; this is my life."

Member:
Board of Directors; The American Academy of Nurse Practitioners,Association of Reproductive Health Practitioners, National Consultant Panel on Osteoporosis

Adjunct Professor & Clinical Preceptor:
George Washington University

Clinical Faculty:
Georgetown University Nurse Practitioner Program

Clinical Preceptor:
University of Maryland & Howard University

Cofounder:
AANP-PAC

Lecturer:
Menopause, Osteoporosis, Heart Disease in Women, Nutrition, Fitness & Weight Management, Breast Self- Examination, Urinary Incontinence

Awards:
"Outstanding Contribution," Maryland Quail Unlimited