As the team lead Acute Care Nurse Practitioner, for both the Meacham and Allen teams, my role involves providing preoperative and postoperative care to adult patients
diagnosed with various neurosurgical conditions including brain tumors, trauma related subdural/epidural hemorrhages, hydrocephalus, epilepsy, Parkinson’s disease, essential tremor and other movement disorders. I am afforded the opportunity to support, empower, and advocate for patients and families during this time as they go through these life altering situations.
My role reflects that of the vision of Dr. Reid Thompson, Chair of Neurological Surgery, to provide and maintain excellent Neurosurgical patient care, educate tomorrow’s leaders, and advance research in the Neurosciences. I am honored to be a member of an elite group of colleagues and surgeons that focus on providing high-quality patient care and collegiality. In this role, the Neurosurgical advanced practice providers are supported while also working towards our individual professional development goals such as teaching, precepting, research, quality improvement projects, involvement in professional organizations and publication. Our biggest team challenge is the growth of the neurological services, as patients come from all over the US for specialized care there is a growing need for more neurosurgeons and advanced practice providers with neuroscience experience to continue to provide the level of care patients need along with supporting the wellness of the Neurosurgical team.
I grew up in Old Hickory, Tennessee and attended college at Middle Tennessee State University where I graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing. I worked as a registered nurse for several years before going back to school at Vanderbilt University and graduating with my Master of Science in Nursing where I was inducted into the Sigma Theta Tau, Iota Chapter, Honor Society for Nursing. I have been a board-certified Acute Care Nurse Practitioner for over 15 years with a diverse practice experience in neurosurgery, trauma, and rehabilitation. I recently graduated in May 2023 with my Doctorate in Nursing from Florida State University. Go Noles! My DNP project was recognized as top three in my graduating class. I collaborated with a multidisciplinary group of colleagues to implement a Deep Brain Stimulation perioperative pathway for patients with medically refractory neurological movement disorders. I have also been a member of the American Association of Neuroscience Nurses for over five years and at their 51st annual educational meeting in March 2019 presented my poster on “Stereoelectroencephalography (SEEG) Monitoring: An Overview for Nurses.” I then went on to publish an article in the June 2020 edition of the Journal of Neuroscience Nursing entitled Stereoelectoencephalography (SEEG) and the Role of the Nurse.
I am dedicated to continual learning, professional growth and leadership while striving for excellence in evidence-based patient care and clinical practice. My goal is to use my DNP to advance patient care practices and enhance patient outcomes. During my free time, I enjoy unwinding by the pool, playing with my three cats, cherishing moments with my parents, discovering new dining spots, traveling, and indulging in reading.
