River City Six – Shannan Bradley
Meet Shannan Bradley, chief nursing officer at the Douglas County Health Center (www.douglascountyhealth.com).
Tell us a little about your business.
Douglas County Health Center is a long-term care and skilled rehabilitation facility. Our mission is to promote and protect the public’s health and create a healthy and resilient community. As a public health agency overseeing the wellbeing of more than a half a million people in Eastern Nebraska, we take this responsibility with great seriousness.
How did you get started in the business?
I’ve always had an attraction to health care professions, specifically nursing. I served in the military as a medic a long time ago and then went on to become an emergency room trauma nurse at Creighton Medical Center and, most recently, I served on the leadership staff at Nebraska Medicine.
What is the biggest challenge you’ve faced professionally?
In nursing, a field that is constantly exposed to death and dying, there are challenges every day. It’s hard not to get attached to my patients. There’s nothing more challenging than holding someone’s hand as they take their last breaths and leave this world, but it has taught me to celebrate and appreciate life all the more.
What has been your most important achievement professionally?
Becoming the chief nursing officer at DCHC is definitely my greatest achievement because it is signifies a culmination of everything I’ve done to get to this point. I’m proud of the hard work I’ve put in to get where I am today and I’m grateful for the opportunity to oversee our amazing staff of nurses.
Tell us a little about your family.
I have an awesome 21-year-old daughter named Daeja. She wants to be a nurse just like her mama and has the sweetest spirit. I also have an amazing 17-year-old son named Devyn. He is a big sports fan—his dream is to play football for Nebraska one day. I could not have been blessed with two better kids.
What is your favorite thing to do on a day off?
I don’t think I’m alone here when I say an ideal day off involves lounging around on the couch all day relaxing. And of course, spending time with my family.
What is the most unique or interesting thing about you that most people probably don’t know?
I was born and raised in the beautiful state of Hawaii!
What is the best piece of advice you’ve ever received?
Never forget what’s important in life and don’t take any day for granted.
If you could choose only one descriptive word to be remembered as, what would it be?
Compassionate.
If you had a theme song, what would it be?
The Rocky theme song, “Gonna Fly Now.”
What is your greatest talent that you don’t utilize in your daily work life?
I’m funny. My kids don’t think so, but I do.
What is your favorite book or the last good book you read?
I’m a huge Harry Potter fan!
What is your favorite TV show?
As nurse, my favorite thing to do is watch hospital shows like Grey’s Anatomy and critique everything.
What is your favorite local restaurant?
Mai Thai.
What local non-profit organization(s) are you passionate about or involved with, and are there any special reasons why?
The Boys & Girls Club is amazing. They really helped me when my son was young.
If our readers would like to contact you, how should they do so?
Phone: (402) 444-7471; Email: shannan.bradley@douglascounty-ne.gov; Website: www.douglascountyhealth.com.