• My geographical area of practice is Arizona

I chose to become a patient advocate after a personal experience I had as a patient admitted to the hospital. I had a fungal meningitis, bacteremia, and bilateral pneumonia that caused me to have extremely high fevers that altered my mental status. Since I could not advocate for myself in that state, my family was left to make decisions without understanding what the medical staff was trying to explain to them. After my fevers resolved and I was back to my normal mentation I was appalled at how many things were overlooked by the medical staff and how poorly they communicated with my family. Looking back, I remember thinking, if I were not a nurse and know the things I know and the questions to ask I think I would have had many more complications. It made me worry for the people that do not have anyone looking out for them or for family members just knowing what to ask to know if their loved one is receiving the best care possible. I saw an opportunity to help bridge that gap and assist patients and their families as a patient advocate.