One Decision at a Time: A Nursing Journey Shaped by Faith, Family, and Purpose
From CNA to Consultant: A Three-Decade Journey of Faith, Perseverance, and Purpose in Nursing
My journey in nursing did not begin with a title, a degree, or a leadership role. It began with a decision—to start where I was, with what I had, and to keep moving forward, trusting that God had a plan for my life even when the path ahead was still unfolding. At the time, I didn’t have a roadmap. What I had was faith, determination, and a willingness to take the next step, even when I couldn’t yet see the full picture.
I never truly considered becoming anything other than a nurse. Growing up, nursing was simply part of my world, shaped by my mother’s example and the values she demonstrated every day. As a young girl, I often spent afternoons after school at the rural clinic in our small town where she worked, quietly observing her interactions with patients and the deep trust her community placed in her. I watched her move from room to room with purpose and compassion, treating each person with dignity and respect. Those moments left a lasting impression. Her work ethic, quiet strength, and sense of duty shaped the woman—and the nurse—I would become.
My parents adopted me before I was born, a decision shaped by compassion, trust, and circumstance—one I have come to recognize as part of God’s greater plan for my life. My adoptive mother cared for families across generations at the clinic and understood the weight of difficult choices. She knew my biological mother—a young, unmarried woman facing a life-altering decision—and that connection added a profound sense of humanity to the adoption. It was a decision guided by love and responsibility and by a shared belief that my future would be shaped by care, stability, and opportunity. That foundation of love and faith became a quiet anchor throughout my life.
Like many women, my career unfolded step by step. I balanced education, work, and family, learning along the way that progress does not require a straight path—only perseverance and faith. There were seasons of acceleration and seasons of waiting, moments of certainty and moments of doubt. Each season built upon the last, reinforcing lessons I had absorbed long before I ever wore scrubs: show up, do the work, and trust that growth is happening even when it feels slow.
I entered healthcare as a Certified Nursing Assistant while I was still in high school. Stepping into patient care at such a young age grounded me early in the realities of the profession—hard work, humility, and responsibility. I learned quickly that healthcare is not glamorous; it is demanding, physical, and deeply human. As a CNA, I learned that dignity matters, presence matters, and that no role in healthcare is small. Those early experiences shaped my respect for frontline caregivers and laid the foundation for everything that followed.
Before dual-credit programs were widely available, I took college classes at night and during the summer while still in high school. That early effort made it possible for me to enter nursing school almost immediately after graduation. Once enrolled, I worked nights as a Certified Nursing Assistant while attending nursing classes and clinicals during the day, learning early how to manage responsibility, exhaustion, and competing demands.
Shortly after becoming a Licensed Vocational Nurse, I married and began building a family while my career grew. Becoming an LVN allowed me to expand my clinical skills while balancing work, education, and new personal responsibilities. It was not the easiest path, but it was the right one for that season of my life. That period taught me discipline, accountability, and the importance of mastering the fundamentals before moving forward.
As an LVN working in the operating room and endoscopy, I decided to return to school to pursue my Associate Degree in Nursing. I balanced the demands of a fast-paced surgical environment—one requiring precision, focus, and teamwork—while preparing for the next stage of my education. During my ADN journey, my biological mother found me after being diagnosed with metastatic lung cancer. She had always respected my privacy and that of my family, choosing not to intrude on my life until circumstances brought us together. When we met for the first time, I was seven months pregnant with our youngest daughter. I learned that I had two sisters I had never known and met them shortly thereafter. I met my biological mother in July, and she passed away the following January.
After her passing, I continued forward, completing my ADN and becoming a Registered Nurse while raising two young children with my husband. That season tested my resilience in profound ways, yet it reinforced the values that had guided me throughout my career—preparation, accountability, and perseverance. Honoring a promise I had made to the mother who raised me—to earn my RN—carried me through that time of loss and transition. Grief and purpose existed side by side, shaping me in ways I could not yet fully understand.
Becoming an ADN-prepared Registered Nurse marked a turning point both personally and professionally. As I transitioned into critical care and worked in the intensive care unit, I began to see healthcare systems more clearly and to understand how clinical decisions, communication, and leadership directly shape patient outcomes and nursing practice. In the ICU, the stakes were high, the margins thin, and teamwork essential. That clarity affirmed that advancing my education was not only possible but necessary.
After gaining experience in critical care, I transitioned into home health as a field clinician, where I developed a deeper appreciation for continuity of care and patient advocacy beyond the hospital setting. Early in my home health career, I experienced the loss of my mother—the woman who raised me—after a long battle with heart and kidney disease and years of dialysis. Walking alongside her through chronic illness deepened my understanding of caregiving, resilience, and the lasting impact healthcare decisions have on patients and families.
Caring for patients in their homes revealed a different side of healthcare—one where social factors, family dynamics, and access to resources profoundly influence outcomes. Over the next several years, I advanced into a senior leadership role within home health, expanding my perspective on care coordination, quality, and system-level decision-making. It was during this period of professional growth that I decided to pursue my Bachelor of Science in Nursing.
Completing my BSN was both a professional and deeply personal achievement. At the same time, one daughter was navigating her own college journey while the other was still in high school. With the steady support of my family, I balanced leadership responsibilities, family life, and continued education. Though demanding, that season strengthened my ability to lead with confidence, support nurses through change, and influence care delivery on a broader scale.
Over more than three decades, my career has evolved from hands-on patient care to senior leadership focused on quality, compliance, and care coordination. Along the way, I discovered a passion for mentoring nurses and advocating for the value of nursing judgment in increasingly complex healthcare environments. That perspective eventually led me into legal nurse consulting and life care planning—work that allows me to translate medical complexity into clear, defensible insight for attorneys and the courts. With that transition came the decision to open my own consulting business, bringing together decades of clinical experience, leadership, and advocacy into a new chapter of my professional life.
Throughout every phase of growth, my family remained my steady foundation. My husband of 30 years and our two daughters supported me through long nights, demanding roles, and pivotal career transitions—offering encouragement, patience, and perspective when the balance felt impossible. Their belief in me gave me the strength to persist, adapt, and keep moving forward, even during the most challenging seasons.
When I reflect on my journey, I don’t see a single defining moment. I see progress. I see faith. I see a woman shaped by her mother’s example, strengthened by family, and grounded in the life-altering decision my biological mother made to place me for adoption—a decision shaped by love, bravery, and hope for a better future. I see a willingness to take the long road—one credential, one season, and one decision at a time. My story is proof that growth does not require a straight path, only the courage, support, and faith to keep going.
