HFC alumna is “living the dream” as an adult/gerontology Nurse Practitioner
HFC alumna and Nurse Practitioner Mary Elizabeth Adams recently appeared in a promotional video for Riverside Internal Medicine Associates of Gloucester.
Bringing a wide breadth of experience and training to her job as a nurse, Adams is passionate about caring for adult patients, especially the elderly. She is an Adult/Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner who sees patients ages 18 and up for acute and chronic health problems. She has been at Riverside for 1½ years.
“I worked as a nurse in a primary care office for six years and was intrigued with the variety of patient teaching opportunities available in primary care,” explained Adams, a Detroit native who currently lives in Gloucester, VA. “We have advanced classes in special healthcare needs for the elderly at Riverside. We act as primary care providers and can order tests and prescribe medications. Nurse Practitioners can be certified in acute care or primary care.”
“HFC gave me a very strong foundation”
An alumna of Edsel Ford High School in Dearborn, Adams continued her education at HFC. She earned her associate degree in nursing in 2007.
“I really enjoyed my time at Henry Ford College. It was nice having smaller class sizes, which allowed more access to the professors. HFC was an affordable option, and it was close to home,” explained Adams.
Upon graduating from HFC, Adams transferred to Walden University in Minneapolis, MN. She earned her bachelor’s degree in nursing in 2014. From there, she earned her master’s degree in nursing from the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor in 2017. Additionally, Adams is board certified as an AGPCNP through the American Nurses Credentialing Center in Silver Spring, MD.
“I think starting at a small college was helpful in that I was able to transfer all of my classes and use them toward my bachelor’s and master’s degrees,” said Adams. “HFC gave me a very strong foundation and helped to prepare me for my nursing career.”
Nursing is a natural fit
Adams has been a nurse for 14 years. She began her nursing career at Children’s Hospital of Michigan in Detroit, specifically on the hematology and oncology floor. She remained there for two years. She also worked for the Henry Ford Health System in Detroit as a medical/surgical and observation floor nurse, a case manager, and an outpatient ambulatory nurse over the span of nine years.
Afterward, Adams moved to Virginia. She worked as an inpatient medical nurse practitioner for the Inova Health Care System in Alexandria, VA for six months. Before going to Riverside in 2020, she worked as a primary care nurse practitioner for the Nottawaseppi Huron Band of the Potawatomi (NHBP) for six months in Battle Creek, returning to Michigan briefly.
Because she always liked taking care of people, pursuing a career in nursing was a natural fit for Adams. She has a special interest in health promotion and healthy lifestyles, as well as the treatment of hypertension and diabetes. She likes to use a team approach to empower her patients to manage chronic conditions and maintain their health.
“I like to work with the patient in a collaborative fashion so they can feel empowered to participate in their healthcare plan,” she said. “I’m living the dream right now, I am establishing my panel and working with a great group of doctors. I love the mix of patient population I see and enjoy small town life. I love helping people feel better and live longer, happier, healthier lives.”