My nursing career spans nearly 27 years, most of which has been spent in the operating room.  I have enjoyed the wide range of career opportunities offered in Perioperative Nursing.  My career began as a staff nurse, progressed to the role of education coordinator and I currently serve as Clinical Manager of the operating room at Rockford Health System, Rockford, Illinois.  Each role has held unique challenges and rewards with holistic patient care remaining my primary consideration no matter what my title.  I received my diploma from Mennonite Hospital School of Nursing in Bloomington, Illinois and my BSN from Graceland College in Lamoni, Iowa.  I am privileged to be working toward a Master’s degree in Nursing Administration/Public Health at the University of Illinois at Chicago. Experiencing graduate school has resulted in a renewed appreciation for the science of nursing.