How many kids do you each have and what are their ages?
I have three children, ages 7, 5 & 3.
What are your favorite family activities in Stamford?
We love attending all of the diverse and family friendly events in Stamford throughout the year. We had a blast at the Holiday Stroll this season and can’t wait to attend again next year! We also love the food festivals, and summer concerts. The kids also really enjoy the trails, like the Mianus River State Park and the trails at the Stamford Museum.
We also love the restaurants! Our favorites are Remo’s (best pizza ever!) and Bari 167!
We also love the activities the Harbor Point area has to offer like Pinot’s Pallet; this place is my 5 year old daughter’s favorite and we’ve been there three times already!
What do you like about living in Stamford?
Stamford is such a wonderfully unique place to live because it offers the best of city life and suburban life that so many young families are looking for. It’s close enough to NYC that I can still comfortably commute to work and also still enjoy the perks of quiet suburban life. Stamford’s downtown area is awesome all year long; from the summer outdoor dining to the winter lights all around the downtown area that make the area so bright with uplifting energy!
Tell us about your nursing career.
My nursing journey has been anything but typical. I started my career back in January 2012 when I graduated nursing school and began my first job as a nurse in a multi-specialty practice in Norwalk, Connecticut. It was there I gained so much of my foundations in nursing and really embraced all of the different roles a nurse could explore. I went from IV infusion nurse to nurse manager, and eventually founder of the case management department.
From there I was presented with an offer to take on the position of Nurse Specialist for a clinical case review organization in NY. I found myself using my background in journalism to write intense appeal letters to the leading government healthcare reviewing organization; tackling cases of suspected insurance and medical documentation fraud. This was such a rewarding opportunity that I took on for a few years before moving on to work for United Healthcare; which was a remote position.
At this point in my career, I found myself trying my hand working from home, as my kids were little, needed my attention, and my babysitting options were few.While working from home one day, I had the TV on in the background and heard Governor Cuomo announcing the emergence of COVID-19 that had just made its way into New York.
While I sat there and heard this message, the overwhelming urge to use my hands again to heal became to loud for me to ignore. Against all logic, I jumped back into hands on nursing and entered bedside.
So here I found myself in a rehabilitation unit in Manhattan, New York with a combination of complex “med surg” type patients and COVID positive patients. After the initial culture shock of jumping into bedside nursing, I eventually was able to gain the confidence I needed to take on the challenges the role presented itself with.
I was riding a rollercoaster of emotions at this point; but I honestly can say I am so glad I acted on that gut feeling; and can honestly say, this is the happiest I have even been in my nursing career.
Tell us about your new business, On Cue Nursing.
As a nurse who had a “good” amount of experience, I still
Felt that when I entered bedside, the experience was daunting and intimidating.
I remember well the many times we were short staffed, and I was running around frantic looking for another nurse for help; there were so many things I didn’t know and wished I did.
It was then I took it upon myself to obtain my Total Parental Nutrition Certification, and Certified Telemetry Nurse Specialist Certification. I figured, if bedside nursing was really going to be in my prevue for the foreseeable future, I might as well do it right. Every shift I would make notes of things I didn’t know or thought I could have done better and researched them at night. Yes, we had orientation; but let’s face it, how much hand holding could you get during a pandemic?
I’ve created both products and services to help nurses effectively prioritize their shifts, master the art of documentation, and learn some real world skills that will help them create their space in the nursing world.
Why did you decide to start your business?
I wanted to start a movement that really empowered and encouraged new nurses or even experienced nurses looking to change their nursing focus. I also wanted to create an environment for nursing students, so that when they do graduate they can direct their goals and bring their best self to the table when applying for jobs.
How do you juggle work and mommyhood?
The short answer is, it’s not easy. No matter how organized you are, mom’s will always struggle with the urge to be the best mommy and never miss a thing, and the urge to have a successful independent career. I’m so fortunate I have the help and unwavering support of my husband Luigi, (he’s my biggest cheerleader!) and my parents and siblings to lend a hand. Usually I end up working on my business when the kids are settled at night or if I have appointments I schedule them to be with one of my family members in advance, so I can devote myself during that time to my clients.
What is the best piece of advice you’ve gotten from another mom?
Don’t try to do everything, accept help when it’s offered, and ask for help when you need it. As mom’s we want to think we are these superhero robots that need to tackle everything, but honestly it’s so important to accept the help when it’s offered to you. You can only be the best mom when you are feeling well yourself; both physically and mentally.