RESUMO
The author's passion for plastic surgery nursing emerged from a life-changing experience involving skin grafting and skin reconstruction on her face from basal cell carcinoma. After many more skin cancer excisions, she decided to leave the hospital environment to pursue further study and work in the field of dermatology and wound care. This helped to expand her specialized knowledge of skin anatomy/physiology and prepare for a career in plastic/reconstructive surgery. During her masters degree program, the author developed educational guidelines and materials to facilitate her new role in plastic surgery as a nurse/patient/community educator. She finished her masters degree in nursing education and completed her clinical preceptor/internship with two board certified plastic and reconstructive surgeons in December of 2000.