Please provide a brief background of your training and practice setting and years in practice.

I graduated from Sonoma State University with a bachelor of science in nursing. After some years, I attended and graduated from the University of Colorado at Colorado Springs with a dual major: Geriatric Nurse Practitioner and Clinical Nurse Specialist in forensic nursing. I have worked as a GNP in private practice, the VA healthcare system and California State Veterans Home in long term care.

What are you passionate about in long term care?  How are you pursuing your passion?
Providing quality and comprehensive care for all long term care residents. I especially enjoy working with patients with memory impairments and coordinating their care.

What advice would you give to a new graduate contemplating a career in long term care?
The work is hard and not glamorous but the rewards are evident from your patients and their loved ones.

What additional training do you wish you had that may help with your current practice?
I would have benefited from more psychiatric disorder and mental health training.  I would have liked more training in billing and reimbursement.

How has CALTCM impacted your practice?
The networking has been invaluable. The friendships and connections have been invaluable to me personally and professionally. My involvement with CALTCM gives me creditability within my field.