We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Jennifer Bradley. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Jennifer below.

Jennifer, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today We’d love to hear about the things you feel your parents did right and how those things have impacted your career and life.

I often think of my parents and the impact they still have on me today. This not only guides me in my professional work, but my life as a whole. I use this same guidance as an undertone daily with my children. My mother often said “Baby, be careful how you treat people. Because life has a way of making a fool of us all.” When I was young, I didn’t get those words. But my mother was not only teaching me to do right by people, but also that you never know what narrative you will end up with in life. So I try to give what I need most on this journey; and that’s compassion.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

I’ve always known I would be a nurse from the time my little sister and I used to play “hospital” when we were kids. Back then I didn’t know how far I’d really go. But here I am today, a nurse practitioner. I initially went and specialized in family. But most recently I’ve started school to get my certification in Psychiatry. I’ve been diagnosing and treating psych patients for five years now. I feel most complete in this area. I often see patients who identify closer to death than they do life. I enjoy helping bring back color and zeal to their life. I plan to open my own practice in the very near future.

After I lost my youngest son to murder in 2020, I started doing advocacy work. He was murdered in prison under deplorable conditions. He went into the system when he was barely 17 for a crime that cost no one their life nor quality of life. I’ve told his story to over 1000 times, but I’m not tired yet. Talking to people about what happened to him, and who he was as a person gives me hope, that maybe someday it will benefit someone else.

Myself, my oldest son, and my niece started a trucking company in my slain son’s name. He had plans of getting his CDL upon release from prison. The company is Carrington Legacy Trucking, LLC. You can find out more about it at www.carringtonlegacytrucking.com

Can you share a story from your journey that illustrates your resilience?

In the middle of my matriculation of Graduate School, I lost my youngest son to the criminal justice system. He was given harsh time, that didn’t fit his young age, nor the committed offense. In addition to this, my youngest sister also abruptly passed around the same time, in which I inherited her underage children. Despite these, unforseen, horrific events, I continued on and was spotlight as student nurse practitioner of the month for my dedication and academic achievement. Most recently, that same son was murdered in prison right before his release. This not only put my resilience to test, but made me question everything I thought I knew about life, death and Divinity. Experiencing this placed me on a journey of advocacy and becoming a vessel for change.

Other than training/knowledge, what do you think is most helpful for succeeding in your field?

I diagnose and treat psychiatric patients. In this are of medicine it takes not only passion, but compassion as well. I think the biggest thing that contributes to my success, is my ability to be transparent and my ability to relate to my patients. When I feel my story can help them, I tell it to them. There is a thin line between sanity and insanity. We may have the warmth of the sun today, but a storm so heavy could drown us tomorrow. I thank God, that I’m the one giving the care and not the one receiving it. Because it’s only by his Grace, I am not.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.betweenpeaceandpieces.com
• Instagram: @totallyjenni
• Facebook: Jenni Bee
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jennifer-bradley-msn-fnp-c-182983151
• Other: Trucking company Carrington Legacy Trucking, LLC www.carringtonlegacytrucking.com