I have taken a step wise approach to my journey in nursing with each foundation building on the next. I started my career as a Care Partner, then a LPN, RN, and now an APRN, ACNP. I started at Vanderbilt as a nurse practitioner in 2006 working with Trauma patients. From there I grew both personally and interprofessionally. I found passion in helping traumatic brain injury patients. These patients face challenges and have unique complexities to their care that is not completely understood. I was a part of an amazing team and we started the multidisciplinary traumatic brain injury clinic. This clinic helps patients that suffer from brain injuries get adequate resources that they did not have access to before. I also enjoyed being a part of a trauma patients’ recovery, it has been truly rewarding work for me. During my time with Trauma, I learned how to help manage complex patients with enterocutaneous fistulas and complicated abdominal wall hernias. I attended hernia conferences; here we would discuss each case in depth. These patients had their own unique complexities that helped broaden my nursing career and my ability to coordinate care across multiple disciplines.
I became one of the first SANE (Sexual Assault Nurse examiner) trained nurses at Vanderbilt. This program allowed victims of assault to be assessed at Vanderbilt by Vanderbilt employees without having to resource out for this service. As a SANE nurse we receive specialized training to perform medical forensic exams and collect evidence on victims of sexual assault.
I worked with a valuable team to develop the first tents for Covid-19 assessment here at Vanderbilt. From there, we went on to help set up additional testing sites around the city of Nashville to assess and screen patients for COVID -19.
After 13 years with Trauma, I joined the faculty in the department of radiology as an Assistant in Radiology and Radiological Sciences. I am looking forward to growing with this team. I am currently a member and treasurer of the Middle Tennessee Advance Practice Nurse Association and have served as the Co-chair for the Advance Practice Standards Committee.
In my personal time, I love to spend time with my family. I have found passion in camping, backpacking, running, and being outdoors.