About Andrea
Founder of Root First Nurse • RN, Board-Certified Nurse Coach, Functional Medicine Trained
I’m Andrea, a Registered Nurse with 35 years of experience, a Board-Certified Nurse Coach, and a Functional Medicine–trained practitioner. I created Root First Nurse because lasting healing happens when someone finally takes the time to listen, understand your full story, and uncover the why behind your symptoms.
For years, I personally struggled with stubborn weight gain, fatigue, mood imbalance, inflammation, and feeling “off” despite doing everything I was told to do. Standard labs were “normal,” quick appointments offered no answers, and I was left navigating my health alone. When I discovered functional medicine and holistic nurse coaching, everything changed not only for my own health, but for how I knew I needed to practice as a nurse.
My Nursing Journey
Throughout my career in acute care, chronic care, community health, and coaching, one thing remained clear: people deserve more than a rushed visit and a medication list. They deserve someone who looks at the whole picture — mind, body, and lifestyle — and helps them make sense of what’s really going on.
To better serve the patients and clients who weren’t getting answers, I expanded my training through:
Integrative Nurse Coach Academy (INCA) — Functional Medicine for Nurses
Institute for Functional Medicine (IFM) — Applying Functional Medicine in Clinical Practice
AHNCC — Board Certification in Holistic Nurse Coaching
This advanced training allows me to bridge traditional nursing with evidence-based functional medicine so you can receive care that is both clinical and deeply personal.
My Approach: Whole-Person, Root-Cause Focused
Symptoms are messages, not the whole story. My role is to help you understand what your body is trying to tell you.
At Root First Nurse, I focus on:
Root-cause discovery instead of symptom chasing
Lifestyle foundations — nutrition, sleep, stress, movement, environment
Gut health, hormones, inflammation, nervous system regulation
Personalized strategies based on your unique history and goals
Support, accountability, and education every step of the way
You won’t receive generic advice. You’ll get tailored guidance, a clear path forward, and a partner who truly listens.
Why I Started Root First Nurse
After decades in traditional nursing, I saw how many people were falling through the cracks exhausted, overwhelmed, inflamed, and dismissed because their labs were “fine.”
I knew there was a better way.
A slower, more thoughtful, more individualized way.
A way to practice nursing that honors the whole person.
Root First Nurse allows me to bring together my clinical experience, functional medicine training, and coaching skills to help clients finally understand their health, feel empowered, and move toward sustainable, life-changing wellness.
Who I Work With
I support individuals who are:
Tired, burnt out, or living with persistent symptoms
Ready to understand the why behind how they feel
Struggling with gut issues, hormones, inflammation, or stress
Motivated to make meaningful lifestyle changes
Feeling unheard in traditional care
Looking for guidance, clarity, and accountability
Whether you’re trying to get your health back on track or you’re searching for answers you haven’t been given elsewhere, you’re in the right place.
Let’s Start at the Root
If you’re ready to move from confusion to clarity, from frustration to understanding, and from temporary fixes to long-term wellness, I would love to support you.
Schedule your free 20-minute Discovery (SEED) Meeting and take the first step toward feeling like yourself again.