I had never thought of nursing as a career growing up. It was never provided to me as an option, nor did I personally know nursing professionals who served as role models. I originally planned on going to medical school to be an orthopedic surgeon. While shadowing, a physician suggested I go to nursing school and work as a nurse during medical school to gain experience. As I explored the nursing field, I fell in love with the art and science of nursing. I felt I could do more as a nurse than a physician, as being at the center of care and in constant contact with the patient and family allowed me to make a positive impact on the lives of others in their greatest time of need. Additionally, I have personally experienced the impact professionals have made on my life during my childhood and adolescent years that placed me on a positive life course trajectory. This led me to focus my nursing career on pediatrics. Throughout my nursing career, caring for children with congenital heart disease (CHD) has brought me great joy. While the physiology of CHD has always intrigued me, neurodevelopment in infants and children with CHD is my passion. A common comorbidity of CHD is adverse neurodevelopment. My interest in CHD and neurodevelopment began in the cardiac ICU at Monroe Carell Jr Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt. I saw an intubated one-year old boy’s wide eyes and shocked facial expression as he observed the ICU environment from his room. I became concerned that experiences in the ICU negatively affected the kids’ life course beyond the physical, medical condition. After connecting with a nurse researcher and completing a project on pediatric delirium, I decided to pursue research training as an avenue for improving outcomes in infants and children with CHD. I helped develop, and currently serve in, the first program coordinator role for the cardiac neurodevelopmental program at a nationally ranked pediatric institution. One key focus of mine as the program coordinator is creating a developmentally supportive and family-centered environment in the acute and critical care inpatient settings. Additionally, the program of research I am developing as an aspiring nurse researcher is focused on neurodevelopment in infants and children with CHD. My long-term goals are to (1) enhance the knowledge base for neurodevelopment and CHD and (2) identify and develop interventions that support optimal neurodevelopment and prevent or mitigate the influence of risk factors associated with adverse neurodevelopmental outcomes for infants and children with CHD. I am currently exploring relationships among cardiac ICU environment, autonomic nervous system functioning/stress response, and neurodevelopment in infants and children with critical CHD. Most nurse scientists serve in academic roles at research-intensive universities. I intend to maintain my clinical role as a neurodevelopmental program coordinator while conducting research. My clinical role and research will improve neurodevelopmental outcomes while also ensuring the provision of high quality, equitable developmental care to all children through evidenced-based clinical care and research, placing children with CHD on a positive neurodevelopmental trajectory that spans the life course. I will continue my journey of viewing the child as a whole person and caring for all aspects of that person while addressing needs that go beyond the congenital heart defect affecting them. My research training will provide me the skills, knowledge, and experience I need to continue to provide high quality care, build knowledge, and translate research to the clinical and community settings.

I had never thought of nursing as a career growing up. It was never provided to me as an option, nor did I personally know nursing professionals who served as role models. I originally planned on going to medical school to be an orthopedic surgeon. While shadowing, a physician suggested I go to nursing school and work as a nurse during medical school to gain experience. As I explored the nursing field, I fell in love with the art and science of nursing. I felt I could do more as a nurse than a physician, as being at the center of care and in constant contact with the patient and family allowed me to make a positive impact on the lives of others in their greatest time of need. Additionally, I have personally experienced the impact professionals have made on my life during my childhood and adolescent years that placed me on a positive life course trajectory. This led me to focus my nursing career on pediatrics. Throughout my nursing career, caring for children with congenital heart disease (CHD) has brought me great joy. While the physiology of CHD has always intrigued me, neurodevelopment in infants and children with CHD is my passion. A common comorbidity of CHD is adverse neurodevelopment. My interest in CHD and neurodevelopment began in the cardiac ICU at Monroe Carell Jr Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt. I saw an intubated one-year old boy’s wide eyes and shocked facial expression as he observed the ICU environment from his room. I became concerned that experiences in the ICU negatively affected the kids’ life course beyond the physical, medical condition. After connecting with a nurse researcher and completing a project on pediatric delirium, I decided to pursue research training as an avenue for improving outcomes in infants and children with CHD. I helped develop, and currently serve in, the first program coordinator role for the cardiac neurodevelopmental program at a nationally ranked pediatric institution. One key focus of mine as the program coordinator is creating a developmentally supportive and family-centered environment in the acute and critical care inpatient settings. Additionally, the program of research I am developing as an aspiring nurse researcher is focused on neurodevelopment in infants and children with CHD. My long-term goals are to (1) enhance the knowledge base for neurodevelopment and CHD and (2) identify and develop interventions that support optimal neurodevelopment and prevent or mitigate the influence of risk factors associated with adverse neurodevelopmental outcomes for infants and children with CHD. I am currently exploring relationships among cardiac ICU environment, autonomic nervous system functioning/stress response, and neurodevelopment in infants and children with critical CHD. Most nurse scientists serve in academic roles at research-intensive universities. I intend to maintain my clinical role as a neurodevelopmental program coordinator while conducting research. My clinical role and research will improve neurodevelopmental outcomes while also ensuring the provision of high quality, equitable developmental care to all children through evidenced-based clinical care and research, placing children with CHD on a positive neurodevelopmental trajectory that spans the life course. I will continue my journey of viewing the child as a whole person and caring for all aspects of that person while addressing needs that go beyond the congenital heart defect affecting them. My research training will provide me the skills, knowledge, and experience I need to continue to provide high quality care, build knowledge, and translate research to the clinical and community settings.

I had never thought of nursing as a career growing up. It was never provided to me as an option, nor did I personally know nursing professionals who served as role models. I originally planned on going to medical school to be an orthopedic surgeon. While shadowing, a physician suggested I go to nursing school and work as a nurse during medical school to gain experience. As I explored the nursing field, I fell in love with the art and science of nursing. I felt I could do more as a nurse than a physician, as being at the center of care and in constant contact with the patient and family allowed me to make a positive impact on the lives of others in their greatest time of need. Additionally, I have personally experienced the impact professionals have made on my life during my childhood and adolescent years that placed me on a positive life course trajectory. This led me to focus my nursing career on pediatrics. Throughout my nursing career, caring for children with congenital heart disease (CHD) has brought me great joy. While the physiology of CHD has always intrigued me, neurodevelopment in infants and children with CHD is my passion. A common comorbidity of CHD is adverse neurodevelopment. My interest in CHD and neurodevelopment began in the cardiac ICU at Monroe Carell Jr Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt. I saw an intubated one-year old boy’s wide eyes and shocked facial expression as he observed the ICU environment from his room. I became concerned that experiences in the ICU negatively affected the kids’ life course beyond the physical, medical condition. After connecting with a nurse researcher and completing a project on pediatric delirium, I decided to pursue research training as an avenue for improving outcomes in infants and children with CHD. I helped develop, and currently serve in, the first program coordinator role for the cardiac neurodevelopmental program at a nationally ranked pediatric institution. One key focus of mine as the program coordinator is creating a developmentally supportive and family-centered environment in the acute and critical care inpatient settings. Additionally, the program of research I am developing as an aspiring nurse researcher is focused on neurodevelopment in infants and children with CHD. My long-term goals are to (1) enhance the knowledge base for neurodevelopment and CHD and (2) identify and develop interventions that support optimal neurodevelopment and prevent or mitigate the influence of risk factors associated with adverse neurodevelopmental outcomes for infants and children with CHD. I am currently exploring relationships among cardiac ICU environment, autonomic nervous system functioning/stress response, and neurodevelopment in infants and children with critical CHD. Most nurse scientists serve in academic roles at research-intensive universities. I intend to maintain my clinical role as a neurodevelopmental program coordinator while conducting research. My clinical role and research will improve neurodevelopmental outcomes while also ensuring the provision of high quality, equitable developmental care to all children through evidenced-based clinical care and research, placing children with CHD on a positive neurodevelopmental trajectory that spans the life course. I will continue my journey of viewing the child as a whole person and caring for all aspects of that person while addressing needs that go beyond the congenital heart defect affecting them. My research training will provide me the skills, knowledge, and experience I need to continue to provide high quality care, build knowledge, and translate research to the clinical and community settings.

I had never thought of nursing as a career growing up. It was never provided to me as an option, nor did I personally know nursing professionals who served as role models. I originally planned on going to medical school to be an orthopedic surgeon. While shadowing, a physician suggested I go to nursing school and work as a nurse during medical school to gain experience. As I explored the nursing field, I fell in love with the art and science of nursing. I felt I could do more as a nurse than a physician, as being at the center of care and in constant contact with the patient and family allowed me to make a positive impact on the lives of others in their greatest time of need. Additionally, I have personally experienced the impact professionals have made on my life during my childhood and adolescent years that placed me on a positive life course trajectory. This led me to focus my nursing career on pediatrics. Throughout my nursing career, caring for children with congenital heart disease (CHD) has brought me great joy. While the physiology of CHD has always intrigued me, neurodevelopment in infants and children with CHD is my passion. A common comorbidity of CHD is adverse neurodevelopment. My interest in CHD and neurodevelopment began in the cardiac ICU at Monroe Carell Jr Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt. I saw an intubated one-year old boy’s wide eyes and shocked facial expression as he observed the ICU environment from his room. I became concerned that experiences in the ICU negatively affected the kids’ life course beyond the physical, medical condition. After connecting with a nurse researcher and completing a project on pediatric delirium, I decided to pursue research training as an avenue for improving outcomes in infants and children with CHD. I helped develop, and currently serve in, the first program coordinator role for the cardiac neurodevelopmental program at a nationally ranked pediatric institution. One key focus of mine as the program coordinator is creating a developmentally supportive and family-centered environment in the acute and critical care inpatient settings. Additionally, the program of research I am developing as an aspiring nurse researcher is focused on neurodevelopment in infants and children with CHD. My long-term goals are to (1) enhance the knowledge base for neurodevelopment and CHD and (2) identify and develop interventions that support optimal neurodevelopment and prevent or mitigate the influence of risk factors associated with adverse neurodevelopmental outcomes for infants and children with CHD. I am currently exploring relationships among cardiac ICU environment, autonomic nervous system functioning/stress response, and neurodevelopment in infants and children with critical CHD. Most nurse scientists serve in academic roles at research-intensive universities. I intend to maintain my clinical role as a neurodevelopmental program coordinator while conducting research. My clinical role and research will improve neurodevelopmental outcomes while also ensuring the provision of high quality, equitable developmental care to all children through evidenced-based clinical care and research, placing children with CHD on a positive neurodevelopmental trajectory that spans the life course. I will continue my journey of viewing the child as a whole person and caring for all aspects of that person while addressing needs that go beyond the congenital heart defect affecting them. My research training will provide me the skills, knowledge, and experience I need to continue to provide high quality care, build knowledge, and translate research to the clinical and community settings.

I had never thought of nursing as a career growing up. It was never provided to me as an option, nor did I personally know nursing professionals who served as role models. I originally planned on going to medical school to become an orthopedic surgeon. While shadowing, a physician suggested I go to nursing school and work as a nurse during medical school to gain experience. As I investigated nursing schools and the career, I fell in love with the art and science of nursing. I felt I could do more as a nurse than a physician, as being at the center of care and in constant contact with the patient and family allowed me to make a positive impact on the lives of others in their greatest time of need. Additionally, I have personally experienced the impact professionals have made on my life during my childhood and adolescent years that placed me on a positive life course trajectory. This led me to focus my nursing career on pediatrics. What strikes me the most about kids is their resilience and ability to stay positive and persevere through adversity. It is seeing the smile of a baby after heart surgery or a child wanting to go to the playroom even when they are sick in the ICU. Their views of the world are so pure. When I am attempting to work through a difficult situation, I often find myself considering how a child might view the situation. Throughout my nursing career, caring for children with congenital heart disease (CHD) has brought me great joy. While the physiology of CHD has always intrigued me, neurodevelopment in infants and children with CHD is my passion. A common comorbidity of CHD is adverse neurodevelopment. My interest in CHD and neurodevelopment began in the cardiac ICU at Monroe Carell Jr Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt. I saw an intubated one-year old boy’s wide eyes and shocked facial expression as he observed the ICU environment from his room. I became concerned that experiences in the ICU negatively affected the kids’, including infants, life course beyond the physical, medical condition. After connecting with a nurse researcher and completing a project on pediatric delirium, I decided to pursue research training as an avenue for improving outcomes in infants and children with CHD. I helped develop, and currently serve in, the first program coordinator role for the cardiac neurodevelopmental program at Nationwide Children's Hospital. One key focus of mine as the program coordinator is creating a developmentally supportive and family-centered environment in the acute and critical care inpatient settings. Additionally, the program of research I am developing as an aspiring nurse researcher is focused on neurodevelopment in infants and children with CHD. My long-term goals are to (1) enhance the knowledge base for neurodevelopment and CHD and (2) identify and develop interventions that support optimal neurodevelopment and prevent or mitigate the influence of risk factors associated with adverse neurodevelopmental outcomes for infants and children with CHD. I am currently exploring relationships among cardiac ICU environment, autonomic nervous system functioning/stress response, and neurodevelopment in infants and children with critical CHD. I will continue my journey of viewing the child as a whole person and caring for all aspects of that person while addressing needs that go beyond the congenital heart defect affecting them. My clinical role and research will improve neurodevelopmental outcomes while also ensuring the provision of high quality, equitable developmental care to all children through evidenced-based clinical care and research, placing children with CHD on a positive neurodevelopmental trajectory that spans the life course.

I had never thought of nursing as a career growing up. It was never provided to me as an option, nor did I personally know nursing professionals who served as role models. I originally planned on going to medical school to become an orthopedic surgeon. While shadowing, a physician suggested I go to nursing school and work as a nurse during medical school to gain experience. As I investigated nursing schools and the career, I fell in love with the art and science of nursing. I felt I could do more as a nurse than a physician, as being at the center of care and in constant contact with the patient and family allowed me to make a positive impact on the lives of others in their greatest time of need. Additionally, I have personally experienced the impact professionals have made on my life during my childhood and adolescent years that placed me on a positive life course trajectory. This led me to focus my nursing career on pediatrics. What strikes me the most about kids is their resilience and ability to stay positive and persevere through adversity. It is seeing the smile of a baby after heart surgery or a child wanting to go to the playroom even when they are sick in the ICU. Their views of the world are so pure. When I am attempting to work through a difficult situation, I often find myself considering how a child might view the situation. Throughout my nursing career, caring for children with congenital heart disease (CHD) has brought me great joy. While the physiology of CHD has always intrigued me, neurodevelopment in infants and children with CHD is my passion. A common comorbidity of CHD is adverse neurodevelopment. My interest in CHD and neurodevelopment began in the cardiac ICU at Monroe Carell Jr Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt. I saw an intubated one-year old boy’s wide eyes and shocked facial expression as he observed the ICU environment from his room. I became concerned that experiences in the ICU negatively affected the kids’, including infants, life course beyond the physical, medical condition. After connecting with a nurse researcher and completing a project on pediatric delirium, I decided to pursue research training as an avenue for improving outcomes in infants and children with CHD. I helped develop, and currently serve in, the first program coordinator role for the cardiac neurodevelopmental program at Nationwide Children's Hospital. One key focus of mine as the program coordinator is creating a developmentally supportive and family-centered environment in the acute and critical care inpatient settings. Additionally, the program of research I am developing as an aspiring nurse researcher is focused on neurodevelopment in infants and children with CHD. My long-term goals are to (1) enhance the knowledge base for neurodevelopment and CHD and (2) identify and develop interventions that support optimal neurodevelopment and prevent or mitigate the influence of risk factors associated with adverse neurodevelopmental outcomes for infants and children with CHD. I am currently exploring relationships among cardiac ICU environment, autonomic nervous system functioning/stress response, and neurodevelopment in infants and children with critical CHD. I will continue my journey of viewing the child as a whole person and caring for all aspects of that person while addressing needs that go beyond the congenital heart defect affecting them. My clinical role and research will improve neurodevelopmental outcomes while also ensuring the provision of high quality, equitable developmental care to all children through evidenced-based clinical care and research, placing children with CHD on a positive neurodevelopmental trajectory that spans the life course.