May is National Nurses Month—a time to celebrate the dedication and impact of nurses across the healthcare continuum. At HIMSS, we’re proud to recognize members who are not only delivering exceptional care but also advancing their careers and the profession through continuous learning, leadership, and innovation in digital health.

How have you grown professionally since you started your nursing career?

My professional growth was a direct reflection of mentors that guided me through the years. After having a solid foundation of nursing care at the bedside, I began volunteering for unit-based QI initiatives and never looked back. It was energizing to lead work that I was very familiar with and over time, I began to learn more by networking with other teams, gaining confidence and proficiency in healthcare systems thinking.

Can you share a moment in your career where you stepped out of your comfort zone to grow?

One memorable point in my career was when I began to do regular presentations on topics that caught the attention of nursing and physician executive leadership, specifically around advanced neuro monitoring. At the time, there were new neuro monitoring devices coming into the hospital that required a lot of new workflows, documentation, and strategies that had never been done before. I developed a neuroscience champion program that supported evaluation, implementation, and education of new neuro-monitoring devices. That was an exciting time, and I recall growing both personally and professionally.

Have you had a mentor who shaped your career? How did they impact you?

I've had many mentors throughout stages of my career, and all of them impacted me in shaping my perspectives, thought processes, and approach to change management. Nursing practice is constantly evolving and in reflection, so many of those mentors taught me that good processes will last long if they are built when nursing has input on workflows and communicated well.

What professional development opportunities have had the biggest impact on your career?

Transitioning to a management role had the biggest impact on my career. It gave me the opportunity to leverage my experiences at the bedside and lead projects that had both small and large impacts. It led my nursing career into new opportunities that weren't on my radar and gave me new professional and interpersonal skills that I still use today. I've also gained a large network of healthcare leaders, having worked on various projects, which keeps me highly engaged and excited about the work.

What advice would you give to new nurses about building a long and fulfilling career?

Surround yourself with people who are passionate about what they do. Nursing is highly communal, and the successes you achieve with others will stay with you throughout your career, even as healthcare evolves. Don't forget to pay it forward!