What was your path to wound care?

I started out as a Registered Nurse working as weekend charge nurse on a Transitional Care Unit. Unfortunately the unit was closing and I needed a job. One of my friends was a wound nurse and suggested that I start working with them…that was 13 years ago! I fell in love with the work and the patients. Working as a Certified Wound and ostomy nurse, I struggled with “knowing too much,” as there is this grey area between what we are trained to do and what we can do that falls within our scope of practice. That’s why I decided to go back to school and get my Nurse Practitioner degree. This has given me more autonomy which has allowed me to better help my patients.

What’s the most challenge part of your job?

The most challenging part of my job is dealing with patient non-compliance and getting patient’s supplies.

How are you helping to change the field of wound care?

I believe that I’m helping change the field of wound care through advocacy and research. I am part of The Alliance for Wound Care Stakeholders, a group that works through advocacy and education outreach in the regulatory, legislative, and public arenas to advocate on public policy issues that may create barriers to patient access to treatments or care. With this group, I have been able to provide education to some of the DME-MAC groups as well as be part of a working group for CMS and the FDA. I am also part of the ND Lymphedema Treatment Act Lobbyist group.

I enjoy doing clinical research and am always looking for the next greatest thing to hit the market when it comes to wound care. As clinicians, we need to be constantly looking for evidence-based ways to provide improved care to our patients as the wound care world constantly evolves and new technologies are created.

What does being a Difference Maker mean to you?

Difference makers improve the lives of others. They have a positive mindset and are always looking for paths to improvement. Difference makers take ownership. They are driven and don’t wait for someone else to get something done. They go above and beyond to help others succeed—providing resources and showing that barriers can be overcome. Difference makers set goals and reach them.

What advice would you give someone pursuing wound care?

The best advice I can give is to never stop learning. The curriculum in Nursing School, Therapy School, or Medical School typically doesn’t include a ton of wound care, so taking extra classes or courses to advance your knowledge is very important. It’s also important to network with other clinicians who have been in wound care a long time.

Tell us a story that reminds you why you pursued your career?

I am reminded daily of why I went into the medical field. Working in wound care is rewarding. We’re able to see the same patients for weeks—developing a relationship with them and their families as we work to improve the quality of their lives.

What’s something innovative you’ve done to advance the field of wound care?

I’m currently working on several different projects. The one I am most passionate about is the limb preservation program we are starting at Sanford—focusing on a multidisciplinary team approach to improve patient outcomes.