I have been a Registered Nurse since 1978. I have worked in hospital settings, home health care in various capacities, private duty, hospice acute care, and wellness education and I founded two holistic health and healing businesses.

In whatever capacity I have served as a nurse over the years, my passions have included the desire to be an instrument of healing and compassion; to educate, advocate, and care for the whole person.

While the knowledge and practice of the science of nursing have been integral to the care of my patients, family, and me, the art of nursing kept me in the field for 4 decades and has been the key to my career fulfillment.

The art or ‘heart’ of nursing, which involves care of the whole person, including the emotional, mental, social, spiritual, and relationship aspects of being human, must be balanced with science-based care. Making a connection and truly relating with the person is crucial.  All this is known to many as Holistic Nursing.  Many years ago, in my study of the holistic nursing curriculum, I realized I had always been a holistic nurse, except in self-care.

In 1994, I came face to face with this missing piece of being a holistic nurse when I led myself into a stress-induced illness. The realization of my role in my health deterioration and the experience itself was life-changing, professionally, and personally.

I chose at the time to explore alternative and complementary therapies, including Ayurveda, and take an honest, and compassionate, look at how my choices had impacted the onset of my poor health. I realized that those choices had led to dis-ease on all levels of my being. Along with compromised physical health, I developed anxiety and depression and was quite low spiritually.  I had dealt with anxiety since my teens, but this was the worst I had ever experienced. I decided not to take medication, and chose, instead, to access inner and outer resources, to get at the root causes of what led to the deterioration of my well-being, and what I could do to stop the cycle.

When someone is not feeling well, diagnosed with a disease, or injured, I see my role as caring for the person the disease has a hold of, rather than just focusing on the disease, disorder, illness, or injury. This quote by Hippocrates, the ‘father of medicine’, has guided my core practice of nursing: ‘It is better to know the person who has a disease rather than the disease that has the person.’

I am an empathetic and compassionate listener. I utilize Healing Presence Therapy, to create a space in which a person can relax, and healing can occur. I can usually ease patient and caregiver anxiety. I always used caring touch to reduce anxiety and connect with my patients, and in 1994 I began to study the modality of Healing Touch and learned to use touch therapeutically.

My passion for advocacy includes my friends and family. Advocating for my husband during his extended illness and frequent hospitalizations utilized all my nursing knowledge and experience. Advocating for my mother was also a revelation. At some point I found myself asking the question, ‘How do people with no medical training advocate for themselves and their loved ones?’

Educating personal and professional caregivers about the crucial need for self-care is important to me.  As I have served in both capacities, I understand both the rewards and challenges.

In 2016, I was introduced to an innovative approach to personal change, called Positive Prime, a process that assists in freeing the mind from the shackles of self-defeating and disempowering thoughts.  PositivePrime, is grounded in the principles of neuroscience and positive psychology.

I created a ‘session’ titled, ‘Caring for the Caregiver: Caring for Self’. What a positive difference this session would have made in my life as a caregiver.

My work is dedicated to the memory of my father, my husband, John, and my mother. I also dedicate my work to my grandchildren, as well as to all who are on the journey seeking optimal health, healing, and happiness.

I experience great satisfaction assisting others in accessing inner and outer resources to reach their highest potential in holistic health, wellness, and healing.

My approach is holistic, and multi-dimensional, with a focus on client goals.  My role is to be alongside my clients, sharing knowledge acquired from training and experience, my insights, and my caring presence.