I began my career in 2006 as a baby nurse at VCU Health Systems in Richmond VA. During my 6 years there, I worked in the Neuroscience Unit and then the Surgical Trauma ICU. What I learned during my time as an RN has been invaluable as I incorporate a holistic approach into my practice consistently.  The relationship between the mind and body has always fascinated me and in 2012, I graduated VCU with my Adult Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner Degree.

 

​​I began working at Henrico Jail, where I quickly discovered a deep commitment to challenging how the mental health community is perceived and addressing the trauma impacting the majority of the clients I served. Driven by this passion, I proposed innovative initiatives, such as a community garden, yoga, art therapy, expanded therapeutic support groups, and pet therapy involving rescue animals, in addition to the facility’s existing substance-use programming and continuing education offerings. However, it became clear that institutional constraints would prevent these proposals from being implemented.

 

Rather than accepting these barriers, I chose to invest time in truly understanding my clients as individuals. Alongside medication management, I built meaningful trust and connection. I also established and continually restocked a personal library, something so basic, yet rare in a carceral environment. Despite systemic limitations, these small yet deliberate actions created spaces of dignity and support for those in need.

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