Why did you choose your specific health professional career?
There are several reasons why I chose nursing as a health professional career. Mainly, I wanted to take care of the elderly. Nursing is a broad spectrum of specialties. You have so many fields from which to choose.
What experiences did you have to make sure this profession was right for you?
The ability to cope with the stress level of being a nurse, the ability to work independently, and the ability to meet, deal, and communicate with patients.
Describe any obstacles or barriers to success that you encountered along your health professional career path. How did you overcome them?
Being a leader is more challenging today than ever before. The demands for higher quality and performance are increasing, and the workplace is growing ever more complex. The nursing shortage crisis has also impacted nearly every health care organization.
What do you do in your current job?
As the chief nurse executive, I have the overall professional nursing leadership responsibility. In this capacity, I exercise full managerial duties and accountability for the planning, organization, and administration of nursing services.
What advice do you have for American Indian/Alaska Native students who are interested in health careers?
Perseverance is the key to a successful future. Don’t give up, keep going! Find a mentor. Mentoring is needed to create a solid foundation and to help you to become the best quality health care provider possible. Being mentored promotes professional development and job satisfaction by pairing you with someone higher up the academic ladder who can guide you on your path toward your educational and career goals.
What would you like to see for your tribe’s future?
I would like to see the tribe take charge of their health, increase more awareness on prevention initiatives, and empower patients to achieve optimal health.
Do you practice traditional medicine? If you do, then how does traditional medicine interact with conventional medicine?
As a health care provider, it is essential to support traditional medicine. I believe traditional medicine improves the spiritual well-being of a patient. A healing environment must consist of physical, emotional, and spiritual well-being.