Arielle Lankford, BSN, MSN a Certified Pediatric Nurse Practitioner at the Mission Children’s Hospital, has been selected to join the Medical Board at the Health Council. She has been in the healthcare industry for four years and has been in her current position for the duration of that time. As a nurse practitioner with vast experience in Pediatric Care and Education, Ms. Lankford is a valuable member of her trade and the AHC is certainly proud to highlight her outstanding development.

During a mission trip, Ms. Lankford was inspired to become a nurse practitioner once she saw how many people needed help. Even when she was a child, she felt a compelling need to bring comfort and aid to those who truly needed it. During that trip, the thoughts of those underserved children gave her the drive to become a Pediatric Nurse Practitioner. Ms. Lankford went on to attend Emory University and in that time, she received her BSN and MSN certifications graduating with the class of 2013.

The work done at Mission Children’s Hospital has been crucial to Ms. Lankford’s career, being as it is the only children’s hospital in all of North Carolina. This hospital is also adherent to Mission Health, which is a Top 15 Health System. Every day, Ms. Lankford works within the pediatric outpatient clinic and involves herself in preventive and acute care for the patients that require it.  She will also work with patients who are diagnosed with ADHD, depression, and anxiety. She also spends time educating others about the conditions that she specializes in so that they can properly identify and treat them.

Becoming a Nurse Practitioner and being able to help people in need is Ms. Lankford’s biggest accomplishment. She also considers herself very fortunate to have a supportive family supporting through each step she has taken in her career. Ms. Lankford is also an associate of many healthcare organizations, such as The National Association of Pediatric Nurse Practitioners. In her time off from working with children, Ms. Lankford enjoys hiking with her dogs. She also enjoys playing soccer and traveling. Occasionally, she just enjoys reading a good book.

Currently, Ms. Lankford is working towards becoming a Certified Lactation Counselor. She is also focusing on becoming more confident in her decisions when dealing with her more complex patients. She recognizes that each patient is delicate when they require assistance, and Ms. Lankford is surely on her way to becoming the nurse one would turn to in their time of need.