Hidden Gems: Meet Melissa Pickett of Peaceful Views Consulting

Today we’d like to introduce you to Melissa Pickett.

Hi Melissa, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
My story really starts with motherhood.

When my kids were in school, I made the decision to go back and become a nurse. I knew that any career I chose would take time away from my family, so it had to be something meaningful; something that felt worth the sacrifice. Nursing wasn’t just a job to me; it was a calling rooted in service, advocacy, and impact. That mindset shaped everything that followed.

Transitioning from being a stay-at-home mom into the nursing world was a huge adjustment. It was humbling, challenging, and at times overwhelming; but it’s also one of the decisions I’m most proud of. I began as an intern extern on a cardiac step-down unit, learning the pace, the pressure, and the responsibility that comes with caring for critically ill patients. Shortly after earning my RN, I stepped into a charge nurse role, which pushed me early into leadership, decision-making, and accountability.

From there, I moved into long-term acute care, again serving as a charge nurse and often functioning as an assistant clinical manager. That role expanded my lens beyond bedside care. I was deeply involved in discharge huddles, daily rounds with physicians, interdisciplinary coordination, and patient flow management. I worked closely with physical therapy, occupational therapy, respiratory therapy, case management, and non-clinical leadership; balancing patient safety, staffing realities, and operational constraints. I also became involved in budget discussions and system-level decisions, learning how policies and processes directly impact patient outcomes.

During this time, I leaned into specialty areas that truly interested me; particularly wound care and infection control, both of which I had been exposed to early on as an extern. That curiosity and attention to detail eventually led me into interventional radiology, where I worked in procedural care, moderate sedation, and both pre-op and post-op management. I supported inpatient and outpatient procedures and collaborated closely with radiologists, surgeons, and multidisciplinary teams to ensure patients were safely cared for before, during, and after interventions.

Then the pandemic hit.

Working in radiology during COVID was unlike anything I’d experienced. There were days I was the only nurse covering CT, X-ray, and the broader radiology department, closely tied to the emergency room and high-acuity COVID care. It was intense, isolating, and demanding; but it also sharpened my ability to think critically, manage risk, and advocate fiercely for patient safety in high-pressure environments.

After that chapter, I transitioned into oncology nurse navigation; first with a pancreatic oncology team, and later into malignant hematology after relocating to Houston following my daughter’s graduation. In navigation, I found myself once again at the intersection of systems, communication, and advocacy; guiding patients through complex care pathways while coordinating across providers, specialties, and institutions.

Like many nurses across the country, I began to feel the weight of systemic challenges in healthcare—burnout, staffing shortages, inefficiencies, and safety concerns that weren’t always being addressed at the root. I realized I wanted more independence, more impact, and the ability to build something lasting—not just for myself, but for the profession and the patients we serve.

That realization led me into legal nurse consulting.

Starting my own business required a complete mindset shift. I had to learn how to be a businesswoman, a networker, and a connector: while still honoring my identity as a nurse. Legal nurse consulting allows me to use my clinical experience in a new way: analyzing medical records, identifying deviations from standards of care, and supporting attorneys in understanding the real medical story behind a case.

More importantly, this work lets me advocate on a broader scale. I truly believe that working on the legal side of healthcare can help drive systemic change: by highlighting safety gaps, supporting accountability, and encouraging better practices for both patients and healthcare professionals. My goal isn’t just case support; it’s contributing to safer systems, stronger care teams, and better outcomes overall.

Every step of my journey, from bedside nurse to entrepreneur, has built on the last. It’s been challenging, imperfect, and deeply rewarding. And I wouldn’t change a single part of it.

Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Every role I’ve held has come with its own set of challenges. Nursing is physically exhausting, emotionally demanding, and often asks more of you than feels sustainable. Beyond the long shifts and high acuity, one of the hardest parts has always been advocating; for patients, for staff, and for the resources needed to provide safe and effective care, all while working within very real limitations.

Another challenge people don’t talk about enough is transition. Leaving a role you’re comfortable in; even one you enjoy; can be terrifying. Nursing environments become familiar, and walking away often feels like starting over. I experienced that firsthand when I left my first position and moved into long-term acute care. That transition ended up being pivotal. LTAC stretched me clinically, exposed me to more complex patient populations, and pushed me into leadership in ways I didn’t anticipate. It helped me recognize when I had maximized growth in one area and when it was time to challenge myself again; both professionally and personally.

Working across different care settings also meant learning how to collaborate with diverse teams, manage conflict, and help create healthier work environments. Training nurses, mentoring students, supporting new hires, and participating in orientation and leadership processes were incredibly rewarding; but they also highlighted how much responsibility nurses carry without always having a voice at the table.

Starting my own business has been an entirely different kind of challenge. There was so much I didn’t know about entrepreneurship, marketing, contracts, systems, and building something from the ground up. Doing this later in life, as a seasoned professional, comes with its own learning curve. But that’s also what excites me. The process has forced me to grow in new ways, to step outside my comfort zone, and to redefine what success looks like.

What’s made the biggest difference has been community; finding the right people to network with, learning from others who’ve walked similar paths, and surrounding myself with cheerleaders and resources who encourage growth rather than fear. Building this business isn’t just about income or independence; it’s about creating a life aligned with my values and contributing in a way that feels meaningful and sustainable.

Every challenge has shaped me. Each one clarified what I wanted more of, and what I was no longer willing to accept. And that clarity has been one of the greatest rewards of the journey.

Thanks – so what else should our readers know about Peaceful Views Consulting?
I’m the founder of Peaceful Views Consulting, a legal nurse consulting practice built on deep clinical experience, systems thinking, and advocacy. At its core, my work bridges the gap between medicine and law; helping attorneys truly understand complex medical records, timelines, standards of care, and where things may have gone wrong.

What I do goes far beyond record review. I analyze medical records from a clinician’s perspective, identify critical details that are often overlooked, and translate medical complexity into clear, actionable insights that support stronger legal strategy. I specialize in high-acuity and complex cases, drawing from years of experience in cardiac care, long-term acute care, interventional radiology, wound care, infection control, and oncology nurse navigation.

What sets my practice apart is the depth and breadth of my nursing background combined with leadership and systems-level experience. I don’t just look at what happened in a chart—I look at why it happened, how care teams functioned, where processes failed, and how outcomes were influenced by staffing, communication, policies, and clinical decision-making. That perspective allows me to identify patterns, risks, and opportunities for clarity that others may miss.

I’m also known for being a strong connector and collaborator. I work closely with attorneys, medical experts, and healthcare professionals to ensure cases are supported with accurate medical interpretation and ethical advocacy. My goal is not to sensationalize healthcare failures, but to bring clarity, accountability, and context to complex medical situations.

Brand-wise, I’m most proud that Peaceful Views Consulting reflects who I am; calm, thorough, trustworthy, and grounded in integrity. The name itself represents how I approach my work: bringing clarity and perspective to situations that are often overwhelming and emotionally charged. I’ve built this business intentionally, valuing relationships, professionalism, and long-term impact over quick wins.

What I want readers to know is that this brand exists to support safer systems, better communication, and more informed decision-making. While my work supports legal cases, the larger purpose is advocacy; helping highlight gaps in care, support accountability, and ultimately contribute to improvements in how healthcare is delivered. Peaceful Views Consulting is where clinical expertise meets purpose, and where experience is used to create meaningful change.

Is there anyone you’d like to thank or give credit to?
So many people have played a role in my journey, and I truly wouldn’t be where I am without them.

First, my friends and my weekly networking chapter deserve immense credit. Entrepreneurship can feel isolating, especially when you’re building something from the ground up, and having a consistent community of people who believe in you, challenge you, and cheer you on makes all the difference. Those relationships have provided encouragement, accountability, referrals, and—at times—the reassurance I needed to keep going when things felt unfamiliar or overwhelming.

I’m also incredibly grateful to the physicians I’ve worked with throughout my nursing career. Many of them pushed me to think deeper, communicate more clearly, and advocate more confidently—not just for my patients, but for myself as a professional. Working alongside physicians in high-acuity and complex environments taught me how to navigate difficult conversations, balance collaboration with advocacy, and continually refine my clinical judgment. Those experiences directly shaped the confidence I now bring into in-depth discussions with attorneys and medical experts.

Along the way, I’ve been fortunate to build relationships with attorneys, expert witnesses, and other professionals who value thoughtful collaboration and integrity. Those connections have helped me grow into this role—especially in learning how to navigate challenging cases, interpret complex records, and move forward with confidence even when outcomes aren’t straightforward. Each interaction has been an opportunity to learn, refine my skills, and grow stronger in my work.

And above all, my children deserve credit. They’ve been incredibly supportive and understanding through every phase—through nursing school, long shifts, career transitions, and now entrepreneurship. Their encouragement has meant more to me than they probably realize. As I build this business and create a life in Houston, far from where they are, they continue to be my motivation and my foundation.

This journey hasn’t been a solo one. It’s been shaped by community, mentorship, collaboration, and family—and I carry that gratitude with me into everything I build moving forward.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://peacefulviewsconsulting.com
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/melissa-pickett-2011mp