My Journey

Hello there

I have been in healthcare since 2012. Nursing is my second career. Previously, I worked in the homeowner’s insurance industry. I pursued nursing for a more flexible schedule allowing me to spend as much time with my family as possible. Little did I know, it would become my passion.

How I Became a Nurse

I started my nursing career as a nursing assistant. I first worked in orthopedics, medical/surgical, and telemetry before becoming an RN. I learned so much as a nursing assistant. I learned how to care for patients and was able to spend more time with patients as a nursing assistant. I learned how to properly ambulate patients, with and without equipment; how to bathe them in and out of their beds; how to talk to patients, help them feel validated, and keep their integrity. 

I floated to the ICU, the psychiatric unit, the step-down unit, the psychiatric unit, and the emergency department. I would often be a sitter for my entire shift. I would sit with people who were confused or going through drug and alcohol withdrawal, ensure patients did not hurt themselves, and make sure their basic needs were met. 

I learned so much from sitting with patients. I heard many individual stories about their lives and what brought them to the hospital. I learned empathy and compassion for all kinds of people from all places and backgrounds. I will forever be thankful for that experience.

As an RN, I started working on an intermediate care unit, probably the hardest floor I have ever worked on. I learned time management and some serious critical thinking skills.

One year later, I transitioned to the NICU and entered the world of pediatrics. I loved it and learned so much. I took care of babies 24 weeks up to full term. I experienced one of the highest levels of care, and I am proud to have been a NICU nurse. Working in Cleveland, Ohio, I had the privilege of meeting people from all over the world; patients, nurses, and doctors. I was mentored by nurses who had been in the field for 30-plus years and nurses who traveled the world. I was able to learn different types of care and ideas about medicine. I worked in the NICU through most of the pandemic and was able to do a travel assignment right before and during the pandemic.

I am currently, and thankfully, working from home. I am still an RN; however, my skills have come full circle. I work as a Utilization Review RN/Clinical Reviewer. I assist in processing insurance preauthorizations for advanced imaging at the nursing level specializing in ortho/spine.

This is my first job since 2003 I do not have to work weekends or holidays, and I work the day shift! I spend the most time with my family that I ever have and also take on other ventures like having my own business!

The Purpose of this Website

My goal for this website is to provide information gained from my nursing career and throughout my nursing journey that I wish I had when my family was going through our struggles. I hope that providing you with the knowledge I have gained will make your life a little easier. Thank you for taking the time to be a part of my journey, and I hope I can bring value into your life, however small it may be.