I have wanted to be a nurse or paramedic since I was 6 years old. I always had an interest in emergency medicine and helping others. My initial college plans were to attend medical school and become an emergency physician. Unfortunately, seeing what little time physicians get to actually spend with their patients was a deterrent and I chose the nursing route instead. I was also a certified nursing assistant before I was a nurse and knew at that time that I most definitely wanted to pursue my career as a nurse.

Can you tell us a little bit about your nursing background? 

I have worked as a nurse for almost 14 years. 11 of those years as an emergency room nurse, caring for both pediatric and adult patients with illnesses and trauma. I was a charge nurse and nurse trainer for much of this time as well. Just after the peak of covid, I transitioned out of the emergency room to work more home-based nursing, telehealth, and home health before taking my role with Broad Street as a nurse case manager and patient advocate.

You’ve been caring for people for over half of your life. Which part do you find most rewarding?

The most rewarding part of my job is advocating for clients and families and positively impacting their lives.

As a Care Manager/Patient Advocate what do you find most challenging?

The most challenging part for me is knowing that I can’t be everywhere and help everyone at once. Thankfully, here at Broad Street, we work as a team with our client's physicians, caregivers, and families to provide the very best care.

As an RN, how often do you find yourself engaged in Patient Advocacy? 

As a nurse, we are always advocating for our patients, to what extent varies with each client. Sometimes advocating may just be answering a medical question, other times it could entail attending physician appointments with the client to be a second set of eyes and ears to help the client better understand their diagnosis and care plan.

Where did you go to nursing school?

I graduated from Purdue University with my BSN.

Are you a native Chicagoan?

Born and raised in the western suburbs of Chicago. 😊

How much communication do you have with a client’s physician? 

In the beginning, the communication can be a lot to make sure we have a well-rounded care plan in place for the client. After that initial intake, it just depends on the needs of the client and also the client’s wishes with how much involvement they prefer.

Is it fair to say that Care Management starts the moment you meet with the client and their family? 

Absolutely, meeting the client and the family is the first step of our care. We assess the client’s needs not only physically, but verbally and emotionally as well. Sometimes, clients and families know they need care, but aren’t sure how or what kind of care they need. That’s where the case managers come into play.

Broad Street delivers the very best in concierge Home Care services.
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Broad Street Senior Care Solutions

Home Care is all about people, probably more than any other service that exists. It is filled with complexities and uncertainties, because every human being is different. But if we embrace that fact, we can then redirect our focus and approach every situation and every person uniquely. Because we know that within all of that complexity lies the potential for great relationships, relationships not based on perfection but based on genuine care.

At Broad Street, we spend the time to understand the details, to prioritize the needs and attributes as well as work through the constraints challenges and constraints. It is through this process that we continue to learn and work through the issues and adapt. Life is inherently unpredictable. But with greater understanding, we can better anticipate and manage towards not only a more reliable solution but towards creating a great and fulfilling experience for everyone involved.