What is your job title/your role at Scottish Rite for Children? 
My job title is Vice President and Chief Nursing Officer. I was hired to provide oversight for nursing at Scottish Rite for Children and foster an environment for collaboration across the organization. My role is to support organizational focus on regulatory compliance, nursing standards and the delivery of safe/high quality care for all patients and families who come to our hospital.

What do you do on a daily basis or what sort of duties do you have at work? 
I may wear many hats in a day. I support nursing to ensure adequate staffing and ensure supplies and resources are available in clinical departments. I attend meetings with direct reports, physicians and leadership to offer support and input on care delivery across the organization. I perform rounds throughout the institution in nursing and non-nursing departments and interface with staff to learn what is working well and where they need help. I advocate for additional supplies and resources needed to provide high quality care. I also lead and support efforts around our commitment to an exceptional patient experience.

What was your first job? What path did you take to get here or what led you to Scottish Rite? How long have you worked here? 
My first jobs were babysitting and working at my local library as a librarian assistant and summer reading coordinator for elementary/middle school children.

My journey to Scottish Rite started in 1989. I began my nursing career as a pediatric nurse in a general inpatient pediatric unit. I have had many opportunities throughout my career to take on progressive leadership and professional growth roles in Pediatrics, Pediatric Craniofacial and Women’s and Infants Services.

I have been at Scottish Rite for approximately three months! I am still so new and loving it!

What do you enjoy most about Scottish Rite?
The mission, the people and the culture! This is a very unique place with such an amazing opportunity to serve patients and families with a world-class multidisciplinary team!

Tell us something about your job that others might not already know.
Nursing leaders don’t only support and/or work with nurses. We interface with all departments and aspects of the organization. One of my friends reminded me that, “nursing leadership is truly a team sport.”

Where is the most interesting place you’ve been?
Dunn’s River Falls in Jamaica.

What is your favorite game or sport to watch and play?
I love to watch soccer/football since I spent many years watching my boys participate in these activities as they grew up. I also watched my husband play soccer in college. 

I don’t really play a sport, but I would secretly like to take up tennis at some point in my life.

What’s one fun fact about yourself?
I was a competitive seamstress in high school! It was just a few years ago!