What is your title AND role at UPHS – Bell? I am a Co-Director for the Obstetric Unit and I also work scheduled shifts each week as a staff registered nurse out on the floor. I believe working both roles is beneficial for everyone; management, staff, and patients. When working with patients on the floor, it is very helpful to know what policies and procedures will work most efficiently and provide the best patient care to our patients.

How long have you been employed here? Have you always been in the same position? I started at Bell Hospital 24 years ago in May of 1996. I initially worked for 5 years as a registered nurse in the emergency department, then transferred to the OB department. I worked as a staff RN for 14 years in OB before transitioning to the Co-Director position which I have been working for the last 5 years.

What does a typical day look like for you? My day can easily be spent between management duties; schedules, policies, competencies, meetings, etc. and working out on the floor (labor patients, newborn care, etc.), depending on census needs. This generally changes frequently, from hour to hour and shift to shift. In a lot of ways, it is similar to the ED…things can change very quickly and can become emergent.

Tell us a little bit about your family: I have been married to my high school sweetheart, Dan, for 35 years. We have been blessed with 5 beautiful children, Christa (34), Cambri (23), Cayla (22), Daniel (16), and our little buddy Eric in heaven. I also have 4 wonderful grandchildren, Otto, Maci, Addy, and Eli. We have 2 dogs, Tuck and Indy. We are all very family-oriented and spend a great deal of time with each other.

What are some of your favorite hobbies? We live on Lake Michigamme and love to spend time out on the water. We do our fair share of entertaining with friends and family for lakeside “get-togethers”; boating, tubing, grilling, games, and campfires. Also, we generally take a family trip to a warm climate during the long winter season.

What is your favorite season? Summer of course! I could do 12 months of summer for sure. I absolutely love the Beauty of Pure Nature and warm temperatures. Being out at the lake is very quiet, peaceful, and serene. Life is short and it is all about the “moments.”

What is your favorite part about working for UPHS – Bell? A lot! First, working in the Birthing unit is soooo very special and beautiful. What in life can compare…it is the absolute very beginning of human life? How special is that! This is a life-changing moment for our families. The infants first cry and look in the family’s eyes, is at times just breathtaking. We as healthcare providers get to share that once in a lifetime moment with them!

Secondly, I cannot say enough about our staff on the OB unit here at Bell. From my Co-Director Lenora to all of our frontline OB staff nurses to our OB Docs, they are the warmest, kindest people and they are the heartbeat of the Birthing suites at Bell. They all go above and beyond in caring for their patients and each other. Our unit is a strong family that supports one another constantly. Very proud of this Bell OB family.

I also need to say the overall culture at UPHS – Bell is a very positive one! It doesn’t matter which department people are working in, they all come together and work as a team. The goal is to provide excellent, safe care to our patients, and together, UPHS – Bell provides that.