Melissa Donoso, NP

I started my career in medicine in 1998 as a Firefighter/EMT after working with my father in the Fire Department. I soon gained a love for emergency medicine and helping others. In 2000, I became a Paramedic and continued in Emergency Medical Services earning several awards, including Paramedic of the Year and deploying to multiple disasters across the United States. It was at this time I decided to pursue a nursing degree and in 2012 I started my nursing career and began working at a small rural hospital first as an RN and then worked many roles from Surgery, Emergency Medicine, Charge Nurse, Hospital Supervisor and Director of Cardiac and Pulmonary Rehab.

I developed a passion and love for helping others, especially in some of the worst moments of their lives. I have found that this is a time when a caring word or touch can mean the most. I have held the hands of many patients as they take their last breath, including both of my parents. In medicine there is not always answers, but the compassion one human being can share with another can provide healing.

One of my most memorable moments was with a pulmonary rehab patient that had a lung condition he would not be able to overcome, but he came every other day to see me and attempt to exercise and build his lung function as best as he could to have one more day with his wife. He had a prognosis of only a couple of months but through his determination and my advice he survived for almost another year. It was at this time I developed a desire to teach patients about their health and make them aware…knowledge is power and power can change lives!

My goal as a Family Nurse Practitioner is to provide the best care possible to my patients through compassion, education, and regard for their health.

Specialty: Family Nurse Practitioner

Clinical Interests: Cardiology, Diabetes, Emergency Medicine

Ages Treated: All Ages

Languages Spoken: English