She received her Bachelor of Science in Nursing Degree in 1983 from Northern Michigan University and began her VA career as a staff nurse on the medical/respiratory care unit that same year. She was appointed to a supervisory role in 1989 as a Nurse Manager for an inpatient medical ward. She later served as Nurse Manager in Primary Care Service and was responsible for all nursing and patient care service activities in the outpatient department, as well as six community-based Outpatient Clinics. Ms. Collins went on to earn a Master of Science in Nursing Administration in 2005 through the University of Phoenix. Ms. Collins is a member of the Upper Peninsula Organization of Nurse Executives, the Bay College Advisory Board, and a number of VISN and national committees. She is a graduate of the Health Care Leadership Institute for ECF members only and the Federal Executive Institute for Nurse Executives.