About

I have been a nurse for 25 years. I graduated as a Licensed Practical Nurse in 1985 from Salt Lake Community College, then went on to receive my RN from Weber State in 1987. I’ve worked in Utah from Ogden to St. George and have some wonderful memories of families I’ve met along the way.

In nursing school we were taught to take care of patients. We did everything from back rubs to administering extensive medications and treatments. We were taught to get to know our patients, not just by disease, but at an emotional level as well as what motivates them and what factors influence their health decisions. What I found in a hospital setting was not exactly what I had envisioned.

Hospitals are a critical part of our health-care system and I deeply admire the expert care patients receive there. However, when patients are admitted to the hospital their individuality is quickly lost. They are put in a hospital gown, assigned a room number and  given a diagnosis. Imagine, as a young nurse, when I heard patients being referred to as “the patient in room 102″, or  worse “the gallbladder in room 102.” A key job for hospitals  is to improve a patient’s condition and get them home as quickly as possible. Most often, an illness is chronic and still problematic when people leave the hospital setting.

After 10 years working in hospitals, I had my first opportunity to work in a hospice setting. Finally I was given the opportunity to fully practice the personal aspects of nursing I had learned in school. Patients are people with feelings and emotions, they have fascinating backgrounds and unique needs. They are not a room numbers or an illness. They are my Mom, Grandmother, neighbor and friend. Once I became a hospice nurse, I never looked back.

Maple Creek Hospice is the culmination of my work in the field for two decades. I love this work, I love the people who invite me into their homes. I have a deep appreciation and respect for the struggles families face every day. I love improving the quality of peoples’ lives when they are facing challenges. It is my commitment to provide for you the exceptional care you deserve.