About me
The tapestry of my life has been richly woven, beginning in Alabama as the third of five children, where the unwavering support of family, grandparents, and church laid the foundation for the values I hold dear and the path I've pursued as a daughter, wife, mother, sister, aunt, and ultimately, a nurse practitioner.Holding various responsibilities while simultaneously pursuing a career as a nurse and nurse practitioner has provided me with a profound and multifaceted understanding of the intricate socioeconomic factors that continuously influence and reshape the trajectories of our lives. This unique combination of experiences has allowed me to witness firsthand the tangible effects of these societal forces on individuals and communities, fostering a deep appreciation for the complex interplay between personal circumstances and broader economic and social structures. My engagement in diverse roles has offered a privileged vantage point from which to observe how socioeconomic conditions can impact access to healthcare, educational opportunities, and overall well-being, ultimately shaping individual life experiences in significant and often unforeseen ways. This practical exposure has been instrumental in developing a nuanced perspective on the social determinants of health and has reinforced the importance of considering these factors in the delivery of holistic and equitable care.
How I Got Here
Arriving in North Dakota in 2017 as a travel Certified Nursing Assistant marked the beginning of a significant personal and professional journey. After six years of gaining valuable experience in this role, a desire to pursue a career in nursing took root. The subsequent years, spanning from 2018 to 2020, were characterized by dedication and rigorous effort as I balanced full-time employment in Mandan with the demands of nursing school at Rasmussen College (now Rasmussen University) across campuses in Fargo, North Dakota, and Moorhead, Minnesota. This period required considerable commitment and logistical planning to manage the commute and academic responsibilities effectively.
Background and Education
- Customer Service, including tech support, software design, etc. 20 + years
- Home Health Aide, Mental Health Tech, Phlebotomist, Child Care Assistant, etc. 5 + years
- CNA 9 Years
- Nurse 5 Years
Quotes: "Death is the only thing that we can't come back from, so as long as no one has died, we can make it right. "
Quotes: "Life is happening NOW, this is not a dress rehearsal."
Career Goals
My goal is to establish and manage an accessible, integrated, and holistic healthcare practice offering primary, mental, and dental care. The Primary Care & Services model, which is based on direct primary care, is central to this vision. This model is crucial because it removes obstacles to healthcare, enabling patients and providers to prioritize their relationship and the patient's well-being. It eliminates concerns about coinsurance, co-payments, visit limits, re-enrollment, and the volatility of the insurance market. Through direct primary care, patients can opt for fee-for-service or a membership that includes unlimited same-day appointments, providing peace of mind and consistent access to their provider.
My priority was to create accessible memberships for all interested individuals. We offer membership options for individual adults (3 tiers: Basic, Routine, and Advanced) and children (pediatric-stand-alone), families (up to 3 or up to 5 in a family plan), pediatric add-on memberships, and small business memberships. Additionally, we are developing plans for individuals who may lose their Medicaid coverage. We plan to offer affordable weight management, Elder Care At Home, virtual options, wound management, IV Hydration, and more!
Sincerely,
Monica Rivers-Dawkins
Credits:
Disclaimer: The author used Google's Gemini to generate paraphrased content for this blog post, which were subsequently reviews and edited by the author. Google. (2025). Gemini (Flash 2.0) [Large language model]. https://gemini.google.com/