I currently am a semi-retired healthcare consultant living in the foothills west of Denver. I've been an e-chapter member since 2003, having previously served on the nominating committee. I've had the privilege to serve on many national committees and task forces, and honored to receive AORN's Award for Excellence in 2018.

I came to nursing late in life at the age of 38. My husband and I sold our successful business and I was left with some decisions to make about my next chapter. I had not been able to go to college as a younger woman because I was the primary earner and caretaker for my younger siblings. I had attended a charity event when I was approached by a retiring nurse. We chatted and she simply said, “Why don’t you become a nurse?” I began the research into nursing programs by midnight that same night. The first time I walked on the campus with my sociology book in hand was one of my fondest memories. My path to the nursing profession was just ahead of me. I completed my degree and continued to engage in lifelong learning through degree attainment.

Now that I have had some time to find my place in the nursing profession, as an educator, I want to become more involved in service to the profession through committee work. I feel it is important to model the behavior we hope to see in our newly-minted nurses and nursing students.

There are no words to explain how excited and grateful I am to be part of the eChapter nominating committee. Looking forward to working to be an integral part of the eChapter over the next several years.

My career has been various roles in the OR, but I am an OR nurse at heart.  When I am not working, I enjoy spending time with my 2 children, both who are furthering their education in post-secondary studies.  Yoga and reading are my two passions, but since the pandemic have taken a pause.  The next year 2021, my goal is to remember my passions and how to once again balance being an OR nurse, mother and self-care.

2021 is a year to regain balance and remember that we as nurses need to care for ourselves as well as others.

Throughout my career I have leaned heavily on AORN to help navigate my nursing practice.  As a leader, I have found AORN to be foundational to setting standards of care, develop policies, and apply evidence in support of my clinical decision making.  Serving on the Nominating Committee for the eChapter will allow me to apply my leadership skills to further support and advance the critical day to day work of AORN.  The Nominating Committee is foundational to seeking future thought leaders for the AORN eChapter and to support continuous patient care improvements in our collective journey of perioperative excellence.