Santa is the owner and key facilitator of Restorative Wellness, a practice dedicated to restorative, holistic wellness. She has been in the nursing arena for over 35 years focusing on a holistic approach to the care of adult patients. After many years working at the bedside, and gradually moving into education and quality improvement in a hospital setting, she developed an interest in research as it relates to patient care. Taking a brief hiatus into the publishing world and serving as the Chief Editor and Clinical Director for the American Journal of Nursing, she discovered a world of opportunity for more learning and networking. She connected herself and the journal to clinical sites in NYC, and become a Nurse Practitioner in Primary Care. Her passion for quality care, evidence-based practice, and professional administration of care brought

Holistic Wellness

Santa back to the community settings providing clinical services and management of adult patients. Her interest to better understand the needs of older adults, brought Santa to complete the necessary education and certification to become a Gerontological Nurse Practitioner. Since then, she has served in a variety of settings including primary care, assisted living, hospital, and home care. Having worked under a talented psychiatrist, Santa grew to understand and believe that addressing the internal conflicts of people and guiding them through crisis, is critical for a path to wellness. Having worked in psychiatry for several years, including palliative and terminal care services, Santa believes her experiences and understanding of the human spirit are able to serve many in their desire for joy in their life. Santa uses complementary expertise in her practices including Reiki, nutrition, hypnosis, meditation, and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy to meet this end.

Credentials:

• New Jersey and New York Registered Nurse and Advanced Practice Nurse with Prescription privileges
• Certification: Primary Care and Gerontological Nurse Practitioner
• Bachelor of Science in Nursing, William Paterson University, Hawthorne, NJ
• Master’s of Nursing in Education and Administration, NYU, NY
• Advanced Nurse Practitioner Primary Care Certificate, Columbia University, NY
• Advanced Nurse Practitioner Gerontology Certificate, Seton Hall, So. Orange, NJ
• Doctorate of Psychology, University of the Rockies, Colorado Springs, CO
• Reiki Master
• Hypnosis certification
• Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
• Integrative Nutrition Health Coach, Institute of Integrative Nutrition, NYC, 2018
• Addiction Certification, NJ, SAMHSA, 2016

As a primary gerontological and Dementia Care Specialist, I provide individuals through alternative and complementary approaches a focus on health, wellness and recovery; education and medication management, and other services as needed .