Medical Errors Causes and Prevention

I started nursing in 1981 as a licensed practical nurse with a license from South Technical Education Center and quickly realized this license only gave me basic knowledge. I wanted and realized I needed more information! I went on to get an AS in nursing from Palm Beach Junior College in 1983, BSN from Lynn University in 2003, MSN from FAU in 2008, post-masters in PMH from Florida International University in 2015, and DNP in nursing from University from Florida in 2021. I started in Bethesda Memorial Hospital in Boynton Beach in 1981 in medical surgical department giving me a good base of knowledge. I transferred to Maternal Child in 1984 and then to the Quality Improvement Department in 1999. When I completed the MSN in family, I went on to specialize in Interventional Pain Management. I received great mentoring and found that along with pain comes some mental health issues. This encouraged me to explore more about the connection and hence the post-master’s certificate in Psychiatric and Mental Health Across the Life Span was completed. I was encouraged by my friends and colleagues to complete the DNP. My project was on Identifying Sleep Disturbances in the Adolescent Mental Health Population and this gave me a passion for health and wellness. Professionally, I have belonged to the Nurse Practitioner Council of Palm Beach County since graduating from FAU. I have served as Vice President in 2010, Treasurer in 2014-2015, Secretary from 2018-2022, and currently serve as Board Advisor to the Council.

My career as a nurse practitioner has spanned over three decades, beginning with my MSN in Nursing in 1988. During my practice years, I have experienced diverse opportunities to care for patients. I started my journey at SUNY Stony Brook, NY as one of the originators of the rare AIDS Clinical Trials Units run by Dr. Fauci of the CDC. These were difficult years for clinicians and patients as there was no helpful treatments for HIV, AIDS, Kaposi’s Sarcoma and multiple other immune suppressed illnesses. These patients touched my heart and I still think of many often. During my early years in New York, I was very active in New Your State Coalition of Nurse Practitioners. I served in many capacities, including President, and helped to obtain legal status in the Nurse Practice act that eventually included controlled prescription authority. My journey continued at the VA Medical Center, West Palm Beach Florida in 1997. I held many positions to include Primary Care, Critical Care, house officer, and the GI service. Eventually, I became the sole primary care provider for patients with HIV. We had many new treatments and when I retired, with patience and adherence, most patients HIV virus was undetectable. Eventually, I treated patients infected with Hepatitis C. I was the lead Clinician for the Hepatocellular Cancer Conferences, working with multiple disciplines. I continue to work per diem and to volunteer for many local hospitals and the Palm Beach County Fire Service.