About Elizabeth Cloud Nursing became the career of choice for Elizabeth Cloud, NP, when she was in her early twenties. After exploring social work, teaching, and counseling, she decided nursing was a combination of all of these areas. The specialty she decided on appealed to her, because she wanted to have a greater influence over the outcomes of patient wellbeing. "I wanted to expand my skills and elevate my role in the team to positively impact the care our patients receive,” she says. She earned her Bachelor of Science in Nursing at Bethel University, Mishawaka, IN, and her Nurse Practitioner degree, with a focus on adult and gerontological acute care, from the University of South Alabama. Elizabeth has experience in Critical Care (Elkhart General Hospital), Intensive Care Unit (Three Rivers Health), and pediatric home health care (Kentwood, MI). “I gather information to form diagnoses, provide services, make decisions and work with a team of professional healthcare workers to help patients recover from what brought them into the hospital,” she says of her work. Some things she has learned through her education and work experiences is that there will always be something you haven’t seen yet. “Things that seem trivial to you can mean the world to them,” she says of her patients. Also, Elizabeth sees how important her decisions are and how much work an NP does. “As an RN, I didn’t realize how much work providers do that isn’t seen.” In her own words… Who is or was the most influential people/role models in your life?  Jenn Cloud. She has taught me so much and has been a role model from the beginning of my time at Elkhart General Hospital. What was your first job growing up? What do you remember about it?  Dairy Queen. I loved making ice cream concoctions. They were like edible art to me. We had a great team and were like a family. What is your favorite food? Movie?  Favorite food: Pizza    Favorite movie: Erin Brockovich What was your best/worst subjects in school growing up?  My worst subject depended on the year, but it was between English, science, and math.  I loved art and Spanish. If you could sit down to dinner with anyone (alive or deceased) who would it be and why?  My dad. We always have great conversations, whether comical or intellectual. In addition to medicine, what are you passionate about?  Making people happy. I love to talk to people or help people in ways that make their days better. What are your hobbies, interests?  Singing and playing guitar and I would like to start gardening again this year. Do you have pets?  My cat’s name is Marley. My Maltese puppy’s name is Flower. I consider them both my children. What is something most people don’t know about you?  I don’t like odd numbers except for fives, 23, and 27