We were lucky to catch up with Pamela Baxter recently and have shared our conversation below.
Pamela, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Was there a moment in your career that meaningfully altered your trajectory? If so, we’d love to hear the backstory.
My personal obstacles with my health and wellness are what changed the trajectory of my career. Around 2013, I began to experience health problems; pain all over my body (joint and muscles), extreme fatigue, dizziness, depression, anxiety, skin problems, digestive issues, the list goes on. I went to every doctor and specialist imaginable, desperately seeking answers. I began to feel so lost because the symptoms were debilitating and real, but I was hitting dead ends with a diagnosis. These symptoms started shortly after I had breast augmentation, but at that time I did not link the two together. After years of searching for answers to these nonspecific symptoms, I stopped focusing on obtaining the diagnosis I may never receive. It then became my mission to advocate for my wellness and approach my healing holistically. In 2016, a friend and fellow nurse introduced me to doTERRA, and I began incorporating safe and natural solutions (essential oils, personal care products) as part of my lifestyle. When this process seemed daunting, overwhelming, or even impossible I would often think of the quote by Desmond Tutu who said, “There is only one way to eat an elephant; a bite at a time.” I approached my healing “little by little” as I continued to dig deeper into what was causing my symptoms. In 2017, I became pregnant with our first daughter. This was after 5 years of unsuccessful pregnancy attempts and pursuing fertility treatment to conceive. After my daughter was born in 2018, I began to reflect on my overall health and wellness to gauge my progress towards healing. It became apparent to me that what I was putting IN and ON my body were potentially causing my symptoms. I decided I needed to dedicate 100 percent to healing my body with the first step being the removal of my breast implants in 2019. The following year I focused on healing my body through detoxing, proper nutrition, stress reduction, in addition to slowly swapping out my personal and household products for safer, natural alternatives. In 2021, the same friend who introduced me to doTERRA told me about a functional test called GI-MAP which analyzes your guts microbiome (our guts living ecosystem) and overall gut health markers. Going through the GI-MAP test was an enlightening moment for me not only personally, but professionally. As a Registered Nurse in the emergency department, it was extremely rewarding to care for the patients during their most critical moments, but I became very discouraged with the way mainstream medicine approaches medical problems with “band-aid solutions” rather than finding the ROOT CAUSE. I started to become very unhappy in a profession that I loved so much. My personal journey towards wellness ignited a passion to help others heal. Finding that I was able to incorporate this functional test within my practice as a Registered Nurse was an amazing turning point in my career!
Pamela, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?
I am a mommy to two beautiful girls, a military spouse, and a Registered Nurse with 21 years of experience and the past 9 years spent in emergency medicine. In July of 2022, I gave birth to my second daughter and went out on maternity leave, intending to return to my job in the emergency department. During this time, my husband was up for orders, so a move was on the horizon. This move and time off provided an opportunity for me to rebrand myself and my nursing focus. Originally planning to be a stay-at-home mom for the next year, God had other plans and provided two opportunities. First, I found a position, by happenstance, working for a small practice whose vision is like mine. Second, I obtained certification in GI Mapping–the very functional test that helped me-and what became the catalyst for starting up my business, IT IS WELLness with Pamela, where I provide support and education to individuals who want to live healthier lifestyles. Research has indicated gut health has a significant impact on our overall health. The gut houses 80% of our immune system and the gut produces 95% of our serotonin. The gut not only plays a role in our digestion and absorption of nutrients, but it also affects our sleep, skin, mental health, hormones, immune function, and overall WELLNESS. The gut microbiome consists of microbes that are both helpful and harmful. When the bad microbes outweigh the good microbes, the gut ecosystem undergoes abnormal changes. These changes occur from use of antibiotics, illness, stress, aging, bad dietary habits, and lifestyle. When the microbiome gets out of balance or sick, we see disease, not just in the gut, but all over the body. The Gastrointestinal Microbial Assay Plus (GI-MAP) by Diagnostic Solutions is a DNA-based stool test that provides analysis on multiple GI targets, including pathogenic and opportunistic bacteria, worms, yeasts, parasites, and comprehensive antibiotic resistant genes, alongside intestinal health, digestive, and immune markers. Being able to identify root causes of health issues and eliminate them through correcting the microbiome can reverse autoimmune disease, hormone imbalance, pain, chronic skin issues, depression, anxiety, and food/digestive intolerances. Even the “healthiest of people” can find ways to optimize their digestive health!
Once testing is complete, I read and interpret the clients’ results and formulate a 3–6-month protocol, depending on the results, to heal identifiable root causes to health concerns through targeted supplementation, diet modifications, and lifestyle alteration. I provide a 1-hour consultation to review the results and suggested protocol with the client. During the protocol, the client receives continuous support from me–you are never alone during this process!
In addition to GI MAP testing, I provide 1:1 consultation for those seeking guidance and alternatives to their health care and daily needs–evaluating lifestyle factors such as stress, sleep, and reducing toxic exposures while implementing necessary specialized supplements, vitamins, and dietary changes. I also partner with businesses and practitioners looking to provide additional support and wellness services to their clients. I do this by providing these services for them or educating and teaching practices how to provide the services independently.
Whew…that was a mouthful! Just writing this makes me cry tears of joy because building a wellness business was a long-term goal that I made for myself, and one I have dreamt of doing for such a long time! Accomplishing this is something of which I am most proud! Knowing that I am truly helping others and changing lives for the good means the world to me–this is what I want potential clients to know over anything. I cannot guarantee the road to healing will be easy or without bumps, but I can promise my clients will receive 100 percent support from me during the process!
If you could go back, would you choose the same profession, specialty, etc.?
Absolutely! I have a heart of a servant and I am doing God’s work every day. I have experienced many rewarding moments in the past two decades of my profession and I have no regrets with the path my career has taken me. I have spoken to many individuals considering the nursing field and the one thing I always say is, “there is a beauty in the nursing profession where you have so many opportunities to grow and change it up”, and that is exactly what I did. I am still doing what I love, but I feel fulfilled more than ever and I know that the way I am practicing within my profession aligns with my belief in how our health and wellness should be approached. My mission is simple: give my clients the wellness education, tools, and resources that they need to live a healthier and happier life. I believe your health is one of the most important investments you can make in your lifetime!
Other than training/knowledge, what do you think is most helpful for succeeding in your field?
Leaning into others on my team and learning from them. They all have been where I am at one point in their career, and I have obtained many valuable tools observing and talking to my colleagues. Even as a seasoned nurse, I am far from knowing everything. I am never afraid to ask questions and am constantly learning and educating myself. I have found that active listening will help you put the pieces of the medical puzzle together. Sir William Osler, a Canadian physician and one of the four founders of the John Hopkins Hospital, once said, “If you listen to patients carefully enough, they will tell you the diagnosis.” Most patients/clients I encounter are very in tune with their body! Furthermore, I feel being transparent and relatable has helped me more than anything. I understand the frustrations of searching to find answers to health problems and the desperation felt when you are not finding answers. I have a fire within myself to help others heal and live their best life.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://itiswellness.wixsite.com/itiswellness
- Instagram: itiswellness_withpamela
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/itiswellnesswithpamela
- Other: my.doterra.com/pamelabaxterrnbsn
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