I have always felt fortunate for choosing nursing as a career and profession. It has given me endless opportunities to reach out to others. I enjoy patient contact and establishing relationships. As a family nurse practitioner, I believe in a holistic approach to healthcare. I believe preventing illness and promoting wellness is crucial to improving health, yet feel comfortable in treating disease. I utilize education in each patient I encounter and feel it is of utmost importance to establish a partnership between myself and the individual or families being seen. My primary goal with patient encounter is to provide individualized care. This involves not only informing but also encouraging patients to participate in decisions central to their care.
I received my undergraduate nursing degree through the University of Wisconsin, Madison in 1991. I spend the next eight years working in cardiac care, and intensive care nursing. I received my Masters in Nursing through Montana State University in 1999 and gained certification as a Family Nurse Practitioner through American Nurses Credentialing Center short thereafter. I am an active member in the American Nurses Association and strive to keep up to date in my profession by attending conferences and reading up to date material in medical journals.
My background involves working in a family practice setting. There, I was able to care for a wide spectrum of patients and become comfortable with care of the whole family. During this time, it became apparent that my deeper area of interest was in women's health issues. This generated a desire to provide more comprehensive and up to date women's health care.
My husband Jake and I were married in 2000. We have since been blessed with two beautiful girls, Anna and Natalie. They are a great source of entertainment and keep us running in many directions. I feel fortunate that I am able to balance my career with my family and am deeply committed to both. My priorities in health care remain on the patient and family and the ability to together provide all encompassing health care. I advocate for health promotion, education, and disease prevention. In the ever-changing world of medicine it is imperative to have someone assist you in management of your health care needs and I thank you for allowing me this opportunity. It is very gratifying when you realize you have in some way positively affected the life of another.
Julie Cook, RN, MSN, CFNP