“Nursing was my second career. I started as a new grad in an Emergency Dept and Level 1 trauma center. I spent two years working very hard to learn as much as possible and to gain experience treating the critically ill and injured. This experience was crucial in my preparations for the CEN exam. I passed! After two years, I was given the opportunity to work with the clinical educating team for the same department. Needless to say, I jumped at the opportunity. I spent the next two years in clinical education with an occasional bedside shift. During which time, I was able to help other nurses thrive within the emergency/trauma department as well as continued growth for myself. After four years as a bedside nurse and clinical educator, I threw my hat in the arena for a director position over the largest and busiest ED in Utah. Yes, you guessed it, I was chosen as the new director of Intermountain Medical Center (IMC) in 2014. I was honored that they would take a chance on a fairly new nurse to run their ED. I learned so much and was very successful in changing the culture, decreasing throughput times, and even creating several new processes that increased patient satisfaction and continued decrease in Length of Stay times. After three years with IMC, I was recruited to my current position. I am currently Director of Nursing over ED, Trauma services, Hospitalists, and Emergency/Disaster Management. I absolutely love what I do! I know that preparing, passing, and maintaining my CEN has helped me throughout my career as a nurse. Having the CEN took my resume and marketable skills to the next level. It shows dedication and drive to be the best.”
