Nursing is a second career for me. I started out in theatre; costume design and singing opera. Then got a job as an office coordinator in a private practice dental office to pay the bills, and ended up staying for 13 years. I fell in love with the private practice setting, oral health promotion, and helping patients manage dental anxiety. So I decided to return to school to become a psychiatric provider. Now as I finish my doctor of nursing degree at OHSU, I am also working in a private practice psychiatry office as a PMHNP, and I love it! My chosen population is adults 60+ because I think that older adults are the most interesting people on the planet. I enjoy helping them meet their developmental goals as well as reducing mental health challenges with medications. .