Throughout my nursing career, patients have always considered me positive and supportive. Now, as an advanced practice registered nurse (APRN), I nurture those traits while caring for my patients on a new level. My goal is to listen and understand my patients' goals and use them to provide compassionate care. I never want them to feel pressured. Instead, I want my patients to feel that we work as a team to make informed decisions about their care. I am here to be a source of knowledge, options and support. I want to establish long, trusting relationships with my patients and their families, all while helping them cope with sometimes challenging diagnoses. I believe that understanding the goals of both is critical to patient well-being.