I started my career with Ascension St. Vincent's in 2001 in the pharmacy. Once graduating nursing school in 2012, I transferred to a medical-surgical unit, with the majority of my experience being spent as the charge nurse on the same unit. Over the years, I worked diligently to care for vulnerable patient populations and found a love for mentoring and teaching new nurses. I believe that delivering nursing care to a person is an honor and teaching future nurses of tomorrow is a blessing. I started a dual career as a nurse educator at Jacksonville University in 2018 and absolutely love it! At the height of COVID, I was given the opportunity to take on the Bariatric Coordinator position at our facility. I have always been passionate about the bariatric population, metabolic surgeries, etc. because I have had bariatric surgery. So this job has been the best decision I have ever made! Over the years I have been nominated for and received several awards such as the Carol Wilder Pitman award, Daisy award and Mission Maker, and Adjunct of the Year. I have found this to be very humbling because I have found such JOY in what I do. When not working, I enjoy spending time with my fiance, Allen and my children, Ciana, TJ, Trevor and my bonus child-Emilee. I'm a "converted" cat lover, thanks to a former colleague, Pam, that passed away suddenly in 2022, giving me the opportunity to adopt her cat, Journey. I am now the proud owner Journey, Rip Wheeler and Asher Dutton. I also enjoy racing, restoring my 1991 GMC drag truck and mud-boggin'. If you don't know, you'll have to Google it, it's so much fun!