I decided to become a nurse while I was in business school, realizing a career solely in business wasn't what I really wanted to do.  I then applied and was accepted into the University of South Florida College of Nursing's (USF CON) accelerated second bachelor program, which was new at the time.  I entered into my nursing practice as a graduate nurse in the emergency center at Tampa General Hospital.  I have spent most of my career at TGH as a staff/trauma nurse, charge nurse, and risk manager. I have also had leadership roles at other facilities and was a interfacility transport nurse in Pinellas County.  I currently work as an Assistant Nurse Manager in a busy ER with Baycare.

I hold a BA in General Business, a BSN, and a Master of Business Administration (MBA) from the University of South Florida.  I obtained my MSN from the University of Alabama in Huntsville, where I have continued my studies for a doctor in nursing practice (DNP).  I also hold multiple professional certifications (CEN, CPEN, TCRN, CTRN) from the Board of Certification in Emergency Nursing (BCEN) and a paramedic certification from the State of Florida.

My pedadogy in nursing education is to partner with students on the learning journey where I can bring my experiences and expertise to enhance the learning process. Nursing can be difficult because students must not only learn complex material in a short amount of time, but also must apply it to patient interactions that can be equally as complex.