Carissa Taylor - Advanced Certified Hospice and Palliative Nurse Practitioner

I began my professional journey in the medical field over 25 years ago as a Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) immediately after high school. In 2003, I earned my Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) from Southern California and spent my initial five years merging my passion for travel with my nursing career by working as a travel nurse, living in various states from California and New York City. Eventually, my life path led me back to the San Francisco Bay Area, where I discovered my profound passion for hospice care. During my five years as an RN with Vitas Hospice in California, I assumed various roles, including admissions, case management, and after-hours on-call support. 

Pursuing further education to become a Nurse Practitioner, my aspiration was to continue enhancing quality of life (QOL) in patient care. In 2015, I relocated to Montana, where I worked in gastroenterology until a position opened in 2019, allowing me to serve as a palliative care provider for over five years before joining Headwaters.

At Headwaters Hospice and Palliative Care, our mission is deeply rooted in our unwavering commitment to serving our community with compassion, accountability, respect, and excellence (CARE).

My goal at Headwaters is to bridge the gap between curative and comfort-driven medicine, supporting those in our community enduring suffering due to chronic progressive illnesses. I strive to alleviate this suffering by providing the right care at the right time, with the hope of enhancing our patients’ quality of life. I am dedicated to ensuring a seamless transition for our patients, families, and caregivers as they navigate through challenging times.

Outside of my professional mission, I cherish spending time with my husband and two children, whether riding bikes, hiking, or enjoying family game nights. To rejuvenate my spirit, I also engage in outdoor activities, meditation, writing, and reading.