COOKING WITH HEART A Conversation with Helena Faustin, RN

Helena Faustin, also known as @thatnursecancook, is a Registered Nurse and content creator from New York City who shares her love and passion for cooking with her audience daily. As a mother of three, Helena inspires her followers to get comfortable in the kitchen and cook delicious meals for their families while preserving the traditional culture of Jamaican food.

The success of her massively popular food blog, “ThatNurseCanCook,” has delighted millions of viewers around the world. It has led to write-ups in various publications and established multiple partnerships and collaborations. Helena also competed in Food Network’s Outchef’d, where she battled against a celebrity chef and restaurateur and was crowned the winner in a home cook vs. top chef showdown. She recently released a new interactive cookbook called, “The Soul of Scotchie.”

Each of Helena’s recipes showcases the vibrant and robust flavors of Jamaican cuisine, demonstrating her talent for healing souls, one meal at a time.

We had the privilege of speaking with Helena Faustin about her journey, her inspirations, and her vision for the future.

When did you enter nursing?

I passed my boards in 2010 and have been a registered nurse for the past 14 years

Why did you enter nursing?

I entered nursing because the profession needed more nursing professionals with my background. It’s so important to deliver care that is culturally competent by professionals who reflect the demographic of the people that hospitals serve. I wanted to be that familiar face at my patient’s bedside so that I could best advocate for them and impact healthcare outcomes our community so desperately needs.

Who is your role model as a nurse?

I am inspired by the many nurses who came before me and have imparted valuable knowledge that have helped me become who I am today. Many of my preceptors and nurse leaders have guided me throughout my career and I’ve used their advice and principles to help me along the way.

What would you say is your greatest achievement thus far?

My greatest professional achievement has been my ability to transition into a nurse entrepreneur. I have been able to scale what used to be a side hustle into a full fledged business where I now have more autonomy over my time and I’m able to give back to my profession in ways that may have not been possible at the start of my career.

Where do you see yourself in 5 or 10 years?

I see myself continuing to give back to humanity, using my skills and knowledge as a nurse for charitable causes and continuing to run my content creation business into a blooming empire.

What do you do to take her mind off Nursing?

Cooking as always been a creative outlet for me. Work life balance is importance and cooking has been a way for me to maintain my mental health and fall in love with my hobby.