SCHOLAR DIRECTORY

Rene Lavoie began her nursing career in 1993 as a Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN), returning to school for an Associate Degree, followed with a BSN. She is now pursuing her Doctor of Nursing Practice, Family Nurse Practitioner, at Loyola University New Orleans. Rene has spent her 20-year nursing career in the Cardiac Intermediate Care (CICU) working with step-down patients. During her career she has worn many hats, including – Staff Nurse, Preceptor, Charge Nurse, Project Manager, Committee member, Performance Improvement Coordinator, and Interim Unit Director. Her plans to further continue her education were halted temporarily when her daughter became seriously ill with Celiac disease and Overlap Syndrome, beginning a long journey of recovery for both Rene and her child, After an 8-year struggle, her daughter is in full remission and Rene has returned to school to pursue her dream of becoming an Advanced Practice Nurse. Rene is a member of Preventive Cardiovascular Nursing Association, a student member of the Louisiana Nurse Practitioner Association, is certified as Cardiac Vascular Board Certification (CVBC) from ANCC, and is a former member Content Expert Panelist, serving 8 years for the of the national board certification exam at ANCC.