Melissa Bray-Iverslie, CNP

What I DoMy philosophy of care is to meet people where they are now, learn about what motivates them to attain their own health and learn how they define health. I work to help them attain those goals while providing them with the knowledge and understanding of the state of their own health and recommend interventions for wellness.My clinical interests include women's health, nutrition, disease prevention, wound care, infection prevention and control, procedures and holistic health care.Why I Love My WorkI truly enjoy getting to know people while having the honor and privilege of helping them navigate and pursue their own health. It is even better when they return reporting improvement in how they feel and/or their condition, which is all them, I just get to cheer them on!Getting to Know MeI found my calling for nursing in high school, after witnessing my mother unconscious at only 12 years old. This story is featured in The Call of Nursing by William Patrick. Not knowing what to do …in that situation inspired me to attend emergency first aid, first responder and emergency medical technician classes offered at my high school. Fueled by the desire to contribute more to healthcare and to know what to do in an emergency in the future, I pursued a career in nursing. I chose to become a family nurse practitioner because I wanted to be able to provide care to entire families, influencing and improving the overall community.I live in New London with my husband. I have three sons and one daughter, all serving in the U.S. Army. I also have one grandson! In my free time, I am always up for an adventure. We go to our cabin in Cold Bay, Alaska every year to enjoy fishing, hunting, kayaking, hiking, camping adventures and sitting by the lake or campfire. I have been ""approached"" and charged by a brown bear twice and have caught a giant pacific octopus. Other than that, I love to cook, garden, do crafts, DIY projects and home design.