What inspired you to pursue a career in nursing?
I have always loved caring for others, and I loved the idea of combining that with science and health!
How long have you been a member of the Wisconsin Nurses Association (WNA)?
Five years.
What do you enjoy most about being a nurse?
I enjoy being able to help patients out when they need it most. Being able to be a comfort or making things easier when times that are tough is really rewarding for me.
Can you share a memorable experience from your nursing career?
When I first started as a CNA, I was working at a long-term care facility. I was able to care for a resident throughout going from a CNA, to a LPN, to a RN. I made a wonderful relationship with this patient, and it was amazing to be able to also care for this patient as I grew in my nursing career. It was special to me because this patient also encouraged me and always believed in me.
How has being a member of WNA benefited your professional development?
WNA has benefited my professional development because it has given me the ability to connect with so many other amazing nurses.
What advice would you give to new nurses entering the field?
Continue to push yourself and learn something new. Just because you are done with school, doesn’t mean it should stop there. The nursing field is vast, and you can learn so many new things. Keep your mind open and continue to keep up to date on new evidence-based practice and research.
What are your favorite ways to unwind and practice self-care?
I unwind in my hobbies. Sometimes it is simply coloring in a coloring book on my patio next to a fire or doing something active like playing golf or pickleball.
How do you stay current with the latest developments and best practices in nursing?
I continued to push myself in school, which forced me to stay current on developments and best practices. I received my MSN and now I am less than 3 months from graduating with my DNP. If I didn’t push myself with school, I would rely on the WNA and something as easy as google scholar to look up scientific articles.
What impact do you hope to make in your community through your work as a nurse?
I hope to inspire others to continue to learn and grow in whatever capacity they can.
What does being part of the WNA community mean to you?
Being part of the WNA community means that I have a network of nurses that are looking to improve nursing care. We are here to advocate, develop, and connect and that is a wonderful community to be part of.
What’s your favorite way to spend a day off?
I love spending a day off in the summer leading into fall doing nothing but walking around with my dogs and sitting on my patio.
What’s your go-to comfort food?
Mac and cheese for sure!
Do you have any pets? If so, tell us about them!
I have two boxers! Raya and Harper. Raya was the third fastest boxer in the US and Harper is a couch potato.
What’s your favorite type of music or favorite band?
I really love any type of music; I will listen to anything! My favorite live singer I have seen was Chris Stapleton though.
What’s the best vacation you’ve ever been on?
Europe! We packed 2 weeks full of Greece, Italy (Dolomites and Positano), Germany (Oktoberfest), and Ireland. My second-best vacation was Iceland. The Dolomites and Iceland are the most beautiful places I have ever been.
Do you have a favorite place to eat in your hometown?
Field and Fire, Town Council Kitchen and Bar, or Ellinor. They are all small restaurants with fresh farm to table food.
What’s something on your bucket list that you hope to accomplish?
I hope to keep traveling, I have about 20 more places on my list!
