We were lucky to catch up with LaRenda Woods recently and have shared our conversation below.

Hi LaRenda, thanks for joining us today. What did your parents do right and how has that impacted you in your life and career?

I was raised in a small town in East Texas (Nacogdoches) by my maternal grandmother Christine Scourten, after my mother suddenly passed away, 12 days after I was born. Everything that I know of how to be a wife, a mother and a Christian woman I learned from watching her. My grandmother led with love, but she was always firm. She gave it to you straight, no chaser, and she definitely always taught me that it will not ever be wrong to do what is right by people. She believed If you can help someone, DO IT. If you cannot help, lead them somewhere where they can get help. So I make sure that I do my best to honor her by doing the same in my life.

LaRenda, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

I am a licensed vocational nurse with greater than 15 years of experience.  I am the owner of Woods Work Of Heart in Arlington, Texas, a growing educational and support service where I serve as a Birth Doula, CPR instructor, patient family liaison, and Post Op Caregiver. I am passionate about offering quality, respectful, unbiased and evidence-based care to families. I am an advocate for maternal and children’s health as well as reproductive and birth justice. My goal is to bring awareness to the disparities in health care that negatively affect women of color and minorities as well as make sure that we are educated on what to expect, how to prevent some of these conditions that plague our communities and to be prepared to act if they do occur.

Since I was a little girl, I always wanted to be a nurse. after a few years in the profession, I noticed some breakdowns as a relates to the care that we receive, and how we learn about certain medical situations/diagnosis. So I always try to offer a bridge between that of the healthcare field and the person that is receiving the care. Sometimes it is a simple rewording of phrases that can provide a better understanding. Which ultimately can lead to a better outcome overall. My grandmother once told me “in all of your getting, make sure you get an understanding.” One of my main goals is to make sure that everyone that I come in contact with has that understanding. I do this by providing classes both individually and in group settings as well as personalized care for those who has specific needs in the home.

What do you think helped you build your reputation within your market?

I am still in the building phase of my business however I’ve always had a reputation for my communication and compassion. Providing excellent good customer service and quality care to my clients is my top priority. If there is information that I do not know, I will tell you that “I don’t know that but let’s find out together.” I want my clients to feel empowered and educated when we have completed our time together and being honest with them in my communication as well as showing empathy, I believe is a component that sets me apart in my field.

Can you tell us about a time you’ve had to pivot?

Life will definitely throw you curve balls, but you have to be prepared to pivot at any given moment. For me those curveballs showed up as the death of immediate family members in a short period of time. From 2017 through the present my family has suffered the loss of six family members. In 2021 alone I loss three family members (my father-in-law, my brother, and my grandmother that raised me). Navigating being a wife, nurse, and now new entrepreneur I had to learn how to quickly to balance my mental and emotional health with the needs of others around me. My faith allowed me to pull from a much higher and stronger support source than I could provide myself. I believe that GOD has a plan for my pain and will use it for my purpose in helping others. Someone may be going through something very similar, and it is my hope that through my family support services I may be able to help them in those moments to be prepared and not feel alone. I will be that surrogate family or support that we all need in those precious moments.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://woodsworkofheart.godaddysites.com/
• Instagram: @woodsworkofheart
• Facebook: Woods Work of Heart
• Linkedin: LaRenda Woods, LVN

Image Credits
Professional Headshots by Taylor Media Photography