Susan A Beringer, APRN - Cheshire Medical Center

I’ve always loved the idea of surgery. The order and the complexity, excited me. I like the twist of bariatric (or weight loss) surgery because it includes long-term follow-up visits. I get to make relationships with patients and know them for a long time. We want to send them home with enough information to be successful and to feel like they can take care of themselves independently. It's very rewarding and a good fit for me. Half of my job is education. When I see patients, I try to make things as clear and easy to understand as possible. It's often hard for patients to take everything in, and it's easy for them to get overwhelmed, so I just try to support people. I am a very good listener and really let people open up, not just spew information. Patients appreciate that I take the time to explain things and make them feel comfortable. We have a great program here at Cheshire. Everybody cares a lot and really puts the patient first. It's very rewarding listening to how happy people are with their results. I enjoy seeing people feel better about themselves, hearing that they have more energy and feel better physically and emotionally.

I tend to do collaborative care with my patients. I want their input, and I want to know what their desires are when we're formulating plans together. I don't dictate what I think they should do. Patients tell me that I'm a good listener. I listen to patients’ stories and take the time that's needed to get to the bottom of things. I started my nursing career in oncology, and then in the emergency room. However, I was often seeing patients when bad things had already happened to them. This is what led me to primary care. I had the desire to meet people earlier on in their trajectory and to help keep them in good health. It’s very rewarding taking care of families. I love that I get to see moms and dads and kids and grandparents over the years and to know them on a personal level. That's really rewarding for me, to develop those relationships and instill that trust. A successful outcome is when a patient is able to do the things that make them happy, when they can maintain their activities, and have a good quality of life.

I started Integrative Health & Wellness Clinic with the mission to provide high quality, comprehensive & holistic care, so that clients may find and live with their best health. Education background:In 1999, I graduated from the New Hampshire Technical Institute (NHTI) with an Associates Degree in Nursing. While at the NHTI, I was awarded by the nursing facility "The Goldie Crocker Award" for outstanding in the Art and Science of Nursing. I continued my nursing studies and in 2011, I com