What kind of nurse are you?

I am a Flight Nurse for Airlift Northwest in the Juneau Base.

How long have you been in the nursing field? How long in Juneau?

I started working in Emergency Departments in 1994. I moved to Juneau in 1999 to start with ALNW.

What made you choose nursing? Why your specific field?

I saw a flight team bring a child to the Level I Trauma center where I grew up during a career shadowing day. The flight nurse was riding the strecher performing CPR. He was brought into the operating room and met by the trauma team. After that moment I knew I wanted to do that job. I was drawn to the teamwork and dedication of all involved trying to save a life.

What is your favorite part of nursing? Feel free to be specific or generic in your response, as appropriate.

I like being able to help when people are critically ill or injured, not just the patient but also the staff at the refering facility and the family. I also enjoy teaching and mentoring to help people become more comfortable. My absolute favorite part though is when I get to meet a patient back home who may not have lived without the teamwork of EMS, the hosptials and Airlift Northwest to save a life.