General Info

How long have you worked at Lakeland Regional Health? A total of 22 years. How long have you worked in your field? 35 years Describe your clinical specialties. I have worked in severa areas of obstetrics and gynecology, including the surgical unit, mother-baby, labor and delivery, and the clinical education department. What is your patient care philosophy? Caring for those at the most vulnerable time of their lives requires compassion, building a trusting relationship, and doing the right thing at the right time. The patient care relationship begins from the moment they enter the facility. Each person impacts the patient perspective and how comfortable they are in entrusting their lives in the healthcare system. The Caring Theory outlines the process I endeavor to incorporate in the patient care experience. Building a trusting relationship is imperative to encouraging healing and improving self-care. This includes being honest in each interaction; whether giving good or bad news. Is important to take in to consideration the person’s beliefs about health in order to individualize care and meet their needs and act in their best interest. It is important for me to show a human presence while interacting with patients because the use of technology can detract from the caring environment/conversation. I maintain a professional relationship with all patients while being empathetic. In my professional practice, I allow the patient to make some of the decisions as long as they are fully aware of consequences and the options align with practice standards. I always felt that I could do more if I learned more. I completed my Doctorate in Nursing Practice so that I have the highest level of nursing education in order to serve my patients to the best of my ability. Since we are continually learning new ways to improve patient outcomes, it was important for me to learn about the community as a whole and how the healthcare system fits in providing care throughout the patient's interactions with it. I am more in tune with community health care needs after this journey. What would you like people to know about you as a care provider? I am compassionate, have the patients’ best interests in mind, and am diligent in providing the best possible health care services to the community. Why or when did you decide to become a healthcare provider? I decided to become a health care provider at the age of 12. My love for children led me to decide that I wanted to be in this field. What do you enjoy most about working with patients? I have always loved clinical practice. The interaction and bond one develops with patients fosters trust between us and leads to compliance with their health care plan. How does your work improve lives? The services offered to the women in the community improve the health of the patient and their newborn. Without prenatal care, maternal and infant mortality would skyrocket, as would other preventable diseases. What else would you like to share with our readers? I work and live in the community, and I am a patient advocate. So, I understand the importance of providing healthcare services to those who are not as fortunate. What are some interesting facts about you? I immigrated from Jamaica at the age of 19 and focused on my goal of becoming a nurse. I began my college studies 6 months after arriving in the U.S. I completed Pensacola Junior College's ADN program in 1988 and was employed by LRH in August of that year as a GN. Would you like to share about your family? I had premature twins, who were born at 23 weeks 5 days, weighing 1 lb. 6 oz. each. Experiencing this led me to believe that neonates are resilient. My twins are now 29 years old and doing well.