Nurse Practitioner Perkins Joins St. Lawrence Surgical Services

POTSDAM – Rochester Regional Health's St. Lawrence team is pleased to announce the career advancement of team member Niki Perkins from Registered Nurse (RN) to a Family Nurse Practitioner-Board Certified (FNP-BC).

Perkins is working as a Surgical Services FNP-BC at Canton-Potsdam Hospital (CPH) at 50 Leroy Street, Potsdam.

She earned her Family Nurse Practitioner degree at Utica University, and previously earned her nursing degree at SUNY Canton, both in New York. She is a life-time member of the Association of periOperative Registered Nurses.

Perkins may be a familiar face to the patients and staff members at CPH, having previously worked as an RN in the Operating Room/Post-Anesthesia Care Unit, and Medical-Surgical floors. She started her healthcare career at CPH as a Certified Nursing Assistant.

"It is an honor to be transitioning into this new role as a nurse practitioner, especially here at my 'home' hospital," FNP-BC Perkins said.

As an Operating Room (OR) RN, Perkins previously served with Mercy Ships Africa in Senegal, Guinea, Cameroon, and Madagascar. She further served as an OR RN with Community Cares for Kids in Ecuador, and on an International Surgical Mission in the Philippine Islands.

"My experiences working overseas and volunteering in third-world countries greatly impacted my career path. I was exposed to some very interesting encounters, medically and culturally, that taught me invaluable lessons. The more I learned, the more I wanted to learn to help those around me, which led me to continue my education," she added.

"Having been a patient myself, I understand the needs and fears that patients may experience. With that said, I want to not only address the medical/surgical aspects of healthcare, but also ensure my patients' mental well-being and safety are not overlooked," Perkins said. "I look forward to working in my hometown community and serving the people whom I grew up around."

As a Surgical Services FNP-BC, Perkins serves as the first-assist during surgical procedures, conducts rounding on hospitalized patients, and provides pain management and patient education. She is also involved in the patient's pre-operative, post-operative, and follow-up care.