She received her diploma at St. Mary’s Hospital of Nursing, her BSN at Avila University, and her MN at the University of Kansas School of Nursing. She is a long standing member of the Missouri Nurses Association (MONA) and has previously served as president of this organization. She is also a member of the American Association of Critical Care Nurses, the Emergency Nurses Association, Sigma Theta Tau, and the Missouri Action Coalition. Her research interests include professional nursing care documentation, nursing students and their preceptors, and nursing in older adults. She is a delegate in the American Nurses Association and a current member of the workgroup for the Revision of Standards and Scope of Practice for the organization.