My name is Barb, and my path into healthcare began in 1994 when I became pregnant with my first child. At the time, I was working a variety of low-paying jobs — cashier, factory worker, secretary, merchandiser, marketing liaison. I worked hard, but the instability, low morale, and eventual plant closure made me realize I needed something more for my family.

I have always dreamed of becoming either a nurse or a teacher since I was a child. In the end, nursing chose me — and I chose it right back. Along the way, people tried to discourage me, warning that nursing jobs were scarce and opportunities would be limited. But I was determined — stubborn, even — and I refused to let doubt stand in my way.

I became a Registered Nurse in 1994 and went on to build a career spanning more than 25 years. During that time, I served as a staff nurse, charge nurse, manager, director, and agency nurse across multiple healthcare settings, while also exploring many different staffing agencies, ultimately mastering the inner workings of the staffing process.

In 2014, a new opportunity opened my eyes to deeper issues within the staffing world. I saw how overworked nurses were, how burnout was growing, and how traditional staffing agencies treated healthcare workers as numbers instead of people. The industry was shifting away from compassion and customer service — qualities that once defined what nursing truly meant.

Back in the day, when everyone insisted I was making a mistake and that nurses were not needed, the reality proved to be quite the opposite — and that realization ultimately planted the seed for Smartcare Medical Solutions.

In June 2020, during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, I officially founded Smartcare to create the kind of agency I always wished existed — one that values integrity, compassion, and personalized service.