From Scrubs to Sourdough

Welcome to My Corner of the Internet

I’m back writing on the internet! (IYKYK).

Welcome and thanks for being here!

I’ve decided to answer some questions about who I am, what I do, and what keeps me busy outside of work so that you can get to know me better. From nursing and academia to running, parenting, and my sourdough habit, let’s dive in!

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1. Who are you?

   I’m an Associate Professor of Nursing, Adult Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner, fitness and wellness advocate, culinary enthusiast, wife, cat-person, and toddler mom navigating the chaos of healthcare, academia, and daily life in the sunshine state.

2. How do you spend your free time?

   Quality time with my family is SO valuable to me, whether it’s hanging out at home or doing an activity together. I also love shelling (yes, this is a real word), baking, photography, and filling my online cart with items I’ll probably never purchase…

3. What’s one fun fact about you?

   I keep a bag of homemade sourdough oatmeal chocolate chip cookie dough balls in my freezer so that I can bake myself a single serving hot cookie at any moment. Sometimes I even stash an “emergency cookie” in my purse—you just never know!

4. What inspired you to go into nursing and education?

   I’ve always been drawn to helping others in meaningful, tangible ways. Nursing felt like the perfect blend of science, critical thinking, and humanism—plus, the schedule can be very lifestyle-friendly! I personally love the fast-paced, high-stakes environment of the hospital, where every decision can make a real difference in someone’s life. Along the way, I found myself naturally mentoring students, new nurses, and colleagues; transitioning into a formal teaching role felt like the natural next step. There’s something incredibly fulfilling about watching someone grasp a complex concept, master a new skill, or grow their confidence.

   At the core of both roles is my desire to empower others—whether it’s patients making informed health decisions or students and colleagues stepping into their careers with knowledge, resilience, and confidence.

5. What’s something people get wrong about your job?

   I asked my son, “What does mommy do for work?” and he confidently replied, “Mommy goes pee pee in the toilet!”

   I told him, “Mommy is a nurse practitioner.”

   He thought about it for a moment, then said, “Mommy needs practice…”—paused again—and finally concluded:

   "Mommy is an air conditioner."

   …We’ll get there.

   While my son is still figuring out what I do, an Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner (AGACNP) is a specialized type of nurse practitioner who focuses on providing care for adults and older adults with acute, complex, or critical conditions. AGACNPs work in hospitals, ICUs, emergency departments, specialty clinics, and acute care settings, treating patients with sudden, severe, or complicated illnesses.

6. What’s a typical day in your life like?

   • Toddler morning routine, maybe I make a little breakfast for myself too;

   • 3-5 mile stroller walk (or run);

   • Nanny arrives and I work-work-work-work-work (sometimes at the hospital, sometimes on campus, sometimes from home/a favorite local coffee shop), +lunch;

   • Afternoon survival mode after our nanny goes home for the day, toddler playtime, errands;

   • Cook and feed my son dinner - he loves to “help” by supervising food prep from his toddler tower;

   • My husband gets home from work and does the bath time routine while I continue to prep and cook adult dinner;

   • Toddler bedtime routine;

   • My husband and I eat dinner, catch up on the day, shower, maybe watch a show, and go to bed, preferably before 10:00PM

7. How do you balance career and family life?

   Family first, always. I truly believe that anyone is replaceable at work, no matter how great you are/how much you care/how loyal you are/etc. This is by design as the business must go on. I am not replaceable in my family and I make a conscious effort to be as present as possible. Leaning into support systems, executing effective time management with continuous re-evaluation/re-prioritization of tasks, and practicing self care are key for me. And yes, sometimes a temporary touch of single-mindedness is necessary to “get it done”.

8. What’s a small joy that gets you through the week?

   A coffee date with my toddler, assuming the coffee shop hasn’t sold out of his favorite pastry for the day, OR

   Pizza Fridays at home…I love making homemade pizza dough and hosting friends to taste test fun toppings and sauces.

9. What’s your coffee order?

   Iced oat cappuccino with a liiittle bit of mocha, OR

   an iced oat shaker, half sweet.

10. If you could give your younger self one piece of advice, what would it be?

    Ignore the noise and stick to the plan. You’re doing it right.

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Thanks for taking the time to get to know me! I’d love to hear something about you if you’re willing to share!

Drop a comment below—let’s keep the conversation going.

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