Center for Healthy Living profile: Beth Ann Taylor
March 20, 2013
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Beth Ann Taylor, nurse practitioner at the
Center for Healthy Living. (Rodney McPhail/HR Communications)
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This is the third in a series introducing staff who work at Purdue's new Center for Healthy Living. Beth Ann Taylor, the second nurse practitioner at the center, is featured today.
Why did you choose a career as a nurse practitioner?
I decided to become a registered nurse as a young girl. My maternal grandmother had a sudden heart attack/cardiac arrest when I was in the seventh grade. I was very close with her, and this event changed her life dramatically. She was from then on a "cardiac cripple." I would go with her to her doctor's appointments, and we would try to learn more about how she could improve her heart. She then became a diabetic, and this was another disease process to learn about as a young high school girl.
Upon graduation from high school, I enrolled in nursing school and attended Parkview-Methodist School of Nursing in Fort Wayne. My grandmother was my prayer warrior throughout my college experience.
I have always loved being a registered nurse and have predominantly worked in the emergency services area. After about 10 years as an RN, I decided I wanted to go back and finish my advanced degree to become a family nurse practitioner. In my role as a nurse practitioner, I enjoy the ability to diagnose, treat the condition and educate, which I feel is one of the most important components of health care. Education empowers people.
How will the employee's privacy be protected at the center?
The computer and charting system utilized here at the center is a separate, dedicated system solely for the Center for Healthy Living. The CHS Health Services IT staff has many different operations set up to protect the patient charts and data. Also, we are educated on HIPAA rules and regulations and are dedicated to following them.
All paper that contains health information is either shredded or placed in a closed receptacle. I will close doors and privacy curtains when having discussions of confidential health information. I will respect the privacy rights of the employees who come here for care by affording their information the utmost confidentiality it deserves. I will keep confidential health information I hear or see to myself.
We're told preventive care will be a focus at the center. Why is preventive care so important?
It's important in the prevention of serious chronic health illnesses and issues. The screenings take into account family history, age and gender. Early detection helps to allow better outcomes and lower health care costs. Preventable risk factors, such as avoiding tobacco use, maintaining proper body weight, regular exercise, stress reduction and healthy dietary choices, significantly reduce your chances for illness or premature death.
You're dual-certified as a nurse practitioner. What does that mean?
To be certified means to have completed a certification process by which a nongovernmental agency validates -- based upon predetermined standards -- an individual nurse's qualifications for practice in a defined functional or clinical area of nursing. Most nurses who choose a clinical specialty area of nursing become certified in that area, signifying they possess expert knowledge.
I completed my family nurse practitioner program at Valparaiso University and then completed my certification as a family nurse practitioner. I completed my certification as a geriatric nurse practitioner approximately two years ago, as I was working predominantly with the geriatric population and desired to signify this expert knowledge as a geriatric nurse practitioner.
What do you enjoy in your time away from your job?
I enjoy spending time with my family, which includes my high school sweetheart and husband of 25 years, Scott. I have a 19-year-old son, Benjamin, who is attending Butler University, studying biology-premed. I also have a 15-year-old daughter, Breanna, who is involved in high school volleyball, as well as her high school studies. I have three dogs -- a golden retriever, a Shetland sheepdog and a Havanese. I love dogs and enjoy volunteering with the 4-H dog club, in which I am a co-leader for the Pulaski County Paw Prints Dog Club. My other interests include flower gardening, riding my Townie Electra bicycle and fishing on the river with my husband.