Terrie Thompkins originally became a nurse because she always loved being a caregiver. She was a bedside nurse in a busy intensive care unit for 10 years prior to becoming a Nurse Practitioner. She wanted to advance her career because she felt she could still be a wonderful caregiver to patients and families while not remaining at the bedside. She wanted to listen to patients' needs and collaborate with physicians and other providers to formulate a plan of care for each of them. She believes that becoming a nurse practitioner has allowed her to become an integral part of the healthcare team and planning for patient care.