Staff Spotlight, Venice Bibbs

Tell us about yourself!

Hello, my name is Venice Bibbs, and I am a Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) at the Adult Hospital in Durham, North Carolina. I started at Veritas Collaborative in August 2020.

Describe the career path that led you to Veritas Collaborative.

I’ve worked as a Licensed Practical Nurse for nine years. In school, I loved my clinical psychology rotation so much that I quickly realized that mental health was where I wanted to specialize. Before coming to Veritas, I worked in various settings, including but not limited to addiction treatment, drug and alcohol rehab, detox and recovery, and corrections. While at my previous job, I met and befriended a former Veritas supervisor who recommended I work here. I did some research which sparked my interest. I’ve always loved trying new things, and working with eating disorders was something I never thought about doing. I saw it as a challenge and decided to give it a shot, and two years later, here I am.

What motivates you to show up for work each day?

My patients! I have a shoe box at home filled with letters, drawings, poems, etc., from patients expressing their appreciation for what I do for them. They never fail to remind me what impact I’ve had on their lives, which truly gives me all the motivation I need.

What one thing do you wish everyone knew about eating disorders?

Eating disorders are not a choice. For someone who has never battled an eating disorder, it might be easy to think it’s self-inflicted, but nobody wakes up one morning and has an eating disorder. Nobody develops an eating disorder in the same way. There are many kinds of eating disorders. No matter their symptoms, size, length of illness, or anything else, everyone with an eating disorder deserves recovery.

What piece of advice would you give to those struggling with eating disorders?

Never be scared to ask for or receive help. Trust the process and never give up.

What do you like to do when you aren’t working?

Out of the scrubs, I’m your everyday person. I enjoy relaxing at home. I’m a proud fur mom of two, so most of my time is spent hanging with them and catering to their needs. I also really enjoy traveling. A nice vacation to unplug and get away from everything is a must from time to time.