Meet Naomi Mirville

I am so happy that we finally get a chance to sit down and chat! Thank you for doing this interview with us here at House of Lafrance. Tell our readers about you.

Hello everyone! My name is Nahomie Mirville. I have been a nurse for the last 20 years. I am a Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP). I have my Doctorate in Nursing Practice (DNP). I have two beautiful daughters ages 22 and 18. I am a daughter, a sister, a community leader, a community volunteer, I am a designer by talents and an event planner.

My Lord, what don’t you do? You wear multiple hats!

I do wear multiple hats. God is good!

And you do it well!

Thank you.

Anything else you do?

Well, that’s it. (Laughs) These are the only things I do, I cannot do it all! (laughs)

So let’s start with your nursing background. Tell our readers about what you do in the medical field?

Right now I am a specialist Nurse Practitioner in urology. I am working with a fabulous urologist/surgeon name Dr. Mathew K. Hasford. I am the only nurse practitioner in the office. We see a variety of patients with different issues such as kidney stones, prostate cancer, bladder cancer, men that have problems with erectile dysfunction, and any other conditions related to the urinary system. We see children as well for circumcision and we see women that have urinary symptoms, especially sometimes
after giving birth with incontinence. When you hear Urology, it’s not just prostate related.

So how are you using your medical career to help bring awareness to the community?

I am very involved as the past Chairwoman of the Haitian American Professional Coalition, the past President for the Haitian American Nurses Association of Florida and board member of the Free Yourself Women Foundation. I get invited on different occasions as a guest speaker in many events, talking about preventative measures, cancer-related topics, women and men’s health, etc. Because remember, preventative measure is the key. Early detection in diagnosing any diseases is the key to survival. I’m also a nursing professor. I’ve been teaching since 2006, talking to the community about these topics is second
nature.

So when you’re not busy helping people, you’re teaching and educating women and men alike. How do you have time for your personal life?

Well, I make time for what I love and (laughs). It appears that I am busy, but I don’t feel like I am not that busy. I am doing things that I love and enjoy doing. I take care of myself first, and everything else follows.

Hmm, let’s get to the nitty-gritty. Are you dating anyone? married? Who’s the beau in your life right now?

Right now, I don’t have a special man in my life. I’ve been divorced since 2008 and I recently called off an engagement that didn’t fulfil me anymore. Both of my daughters are in college. So now it’s “me” time. No fun in the process or just strictly Nahomie time or Dr. Mirville’s time? No fun? Of course, I have to have fun! What kind of life would that be with no fun? (laughs) I would be worrying. Oh my God!

So what’s your definition of fun?

I mean, it depends. Everybody’s fun is different. Your fun could be clubbing. Some other people’s fun can be anything. I love to travel. Last year alone I went to a few places, and I know my birthday is coming up soon, so I do have traveling plans already.

Since we’re being honest and completely open about everything, would you consider dating a different race?

Why not? I don’t think that dating/love, has anything to do with stepping out of a race! You like or have chemistry with whomever you want. All I am asking is not to be disrespected, I will not tolerate games, physical or emotional abuse. And definitely, you have to bring your fair share to the relationship!

Most definitely! So let’s say Mr. future is reading this interview right now, and he’s like, Hmm, I like this woman. What would be your message to this man?

You’re funny (Laughs). I am not looking actually.
Whomever he will be, I guess be yourself, you
know, be you! In a relationship, the man will be
treated like a King as long as he is treating me like a queen. I always tell people that, Adam was missing Eve, not the other way around. That’s the biblical story I’ve always known. I don’t know if there is another history out there, but from what I’ve learned, Adam needed Eve. I believe that my “Adam” is still out there. I’m already a queen in my castle. He just needs to be a king in his castle so that when we get together, it’ll be our powerhouse.

Good to know. Anything else in the works?

I’m actually in the middle of writing a book, so I
want to finish that…

A book? how do you find time to write a book?

I love to write poetry. I won’t release it until I am ready. Remember I told you I make time for what I love to. It is going to have many topics from love to heartbreak, patriotic poems, and personal ones as well. I am doing that also while designing clothes, I am specialising in a bathing suit.

A woman with many talents! How did you go from managing a whole medical career as a practitioner to being an educator, a writer, and now a designer?

I always tell people that, growing up I’ve always wanted to be a neurosurgeon. All my friends that are close to me know that. The nursing profession was a divine intervention in a sense. I always said that nursing chose me, I didn’t choose the nursing profession. I started as a licensed practical nurse and then from there I pursue my career from being an LPN to a BSN to MSN, and then I got into nursing education. Later on, I went back to school to become a nurse practitioner. I didn’t want to go back to school to be a doctor. I could if I wanted to, but I got married when I was young, and I wanted time for myself as I got older. I didn’t want to spend the rest of my life in school. I did, however, go back to school for my doctorate in nursing practice from the University of Miami. I always wanted to have a terminal degree in anything I pursue. It’s quite interesting that you asked me how I went from being in healthcare to being a designer? When I was pregnant with my oldest, I wanted to buy a bathing suit. I wanted the bathing suit to be sexy, but not too revealing because I wanted to hide my stretch marks. I couldn’t find anything that I liked, so I decided to design my own. So that’s how it started.

And of course, it took me a while to have some products out there because, you know, I was a mom juggling a full blown career at the same time. Raising young kids, sometimes we have to put our desire and hobbies on the side to make sure that we raise them properly. I always wanted to make sure that I’m there for my children, especially after my divorce. I had to take a job that pays me much less than what I used to so I can be there for them. The idea was to raise them to make sure they get to the best colleges, to be self-sufficient, to love themselves, to make sure they are good human beings of this society, in this society… Whenever I’m talking about my children, I get carried away… (Laughs). My daughters call me an unpredictable mom.

I see. But that’s a good thing. They’re a big part of your life. They’ve been there for you and have been part of everything.
When you’re showing your designs in shows, do they take part in that or are they like, okay mom, you’re trying to do too much?

They always come and support me whenever they can. I did notice though, some of the shows that you do, you always try to bring some type of awareness into your designs. For instance, you did a show and had a cancer survivor closing the show? Yes! It was a culture night. I always try to educate people on my shows or whenever someone asked me to present something. It could be about domestic violence where I have some of my designs in purple, or breast cancer where I have my design in pink. The last one was for the cancer survivors, and yes, I had one of the survivors there. It happened in October. Whenever we do that particular fashion show for H.A.N.A, it usually falls in October, and October is breast cancer awareness and domestic violence month as well. I also like to highlight that part as well, as a domestic violence survivor myself…

You are? I didn’t know that!

Yeah, well most people do not know that. That’s why It’s called being a survivor. I don’t dwell on the past because I think that I’ve done extremely well for myself after that part of my life. I had a great support system at that time and, you know, whenever I get a chance to educate about domestic violence, I do it through my design.

That’s awesome. Very courageous and proud woman! Anything launching soon? What, what should we look forward to?

Thank you. Yes, I have the heritage collection coming soon with some of my paintings. They will be hand-painted Haitian figures on bathing suits. The things that will set it apart from others is the history behind each of the figures painted on the suits. Not only will you get the bathing suit, but you will also get a history of who is painted and what they did for the country alongside.

I think you’re going to do great with this concept, combining your historical background, and life experiences to channel your creativity! You are quite an inspiration Nahomie!

Thank you! I mean, look, I, I told you [off
the record] yesterday, that you are one of the many women that inspires me.

Awww…

Seriously, because I always believe as women, we can do it all! As long as we prioritize what needs to be done, why can’t we do it all? And you, my dear, have proven that wearing many hats can be done gracefully! You don’t give up, which is something I applaud and I need to point that out because we need women like you! You inspire me in return.

Thank you! Thank you for noticing!

Of course! I think that as women, we need to equip ourselves, especially financially. Because back in the days, women used to be very dependent of their spouses. Now, most of us are going back to school to earn degrees and we are more equipped financially. Oh! I forgot to mention, I am also the proud owner of Global Impact Magazine.

Uh oh! Competition right here (Laughs)

No! (laughs) It is different. It is at its genesis stages. What we want to do with the global impact magazine is highlighting and showcasing individuals or organisations that are helping the community. We won’t be in Florida only, we’ll be international. We have yet to have the first issue out, but we’ve been very active on social media. I want to have a release for women’s month and have a woman on the cover!

That’s exciting news! My dear Nahomie, you’re multi-talented, juggling a career, businesses and your personal life, which I’m thankful that you’ve been open about, what would be a piece of good advice to give to a young adult trying to not only juggle a career, a business, and a personal life?

Well, you want to make sure that you put yourself first. If your health is not in order, there is no way that you will be able to juggle all of those tasks. Of course, we know that in life things happen out of our control. Take care of what you can control. You also want to choose who you allow in your circle. I am very well calculated of whom I choose to be in my circle and that goes for friends, acquaintances and family members. After all, your circle can be detrimental to your wellbeing and peace of mind so choose carefully. In regards to juggling and multitasking, you want to make sure you set priorities. Now when you are setting priorities, it doesn’t mean go in order of numbers. You could have two priorities! My two daughters and my health have
always been my top priorities, followed by my career and so forth. Remember to give 100% in everything that you do, whether that’s your work/job, whether that’s your marriage, Give it 100%!