Maria has practiced nursing for over 40 years specializing in critical care and vascular nursing. She is an American Heart Course Director and Instructor for Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS), Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS) and Basic Life Support (BLS). Maria has worked as a Clinical Nurse Specialist, educator, staff nurse and preceptor for graduate nursing students in various teaching hospitals including the University of Chicago, UCLA and UCI Medical Centers. She has authored numerous articles in nursing and medical journals and contributed chapters in several books on trauma, vascular nursing and critical care. She is an active member in the American Association of Critical Care Nurses (AACN), Greater Long Beach Orange County chapter of AACN and the Society for Vascular Nurses (SVN).