Fair. Kind. Calm. Hard working. Willing to help make others’ jobs easier.
These are all words and phrases from fellow nurses and colleagues used
to describe Shawn Holland, RN, in his Legend Nomination Form.
“Shawn goes out of his way to make a difference at Campbell County
Health every shift,” says Legend
Deb McMurtrey, RN. “He is always positive and uses his expertise to remind us
all that it takes everyone, and all departments, working together to make
Campbell County Memorial Hospital successful.”
In May 2018, CCH gave Shawn his well-deserved Legend Award. For those who
don't know, CCH defined a Legend as, “those people who have
left a permanent impression on our minds because of their deeds and actions.
Ongoing demonstration of hard work, compassion, and a reputation for greatness
make someone a legend.”
“I am extremely honored to have been selected to receive this award.
I strive to always represent CCH well through hard work, professionalism,
and a positive attitude every time I work a shift. To be seen as the caliber
of employee that deserves such recognition is very humbling,” says Shawn.
For more than 20 years, Shawn has walked the halls of CCMH in Gillette,
Wyoming. Shawn earned his Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) from
Western Dakota Tech in 1995, and his Registered Nurse degree in 1999 from
Gillette College. He’s worked in the CCMH
Medical Surgical Unit, the
Intensive Care Unit and the
Emergency Department—he currently works as a House Supervisor in the hospital. For those
who don’t know, House Supervisors are go-to managers who have a
bird’s-eye view of the hospital—they essentially know what’s
happening throughout the organization at all times, and know who to contact
or follow up with to make sure everything is working smoothly.
Shawn became interested in a career in health care after he left the
U.S. Army. He started college at
Indiana University in Ft. Wayne, Indiana, and was pursuing a career in criminal justice.
He did that for a year, and returned home to Rapid City, SD.
“My wife and I lived with my grandfather for a while and I helped
him with his medical needs. I was looking for a job and a friend got me
interested in a
CNA course,” says Shawn. After completing the course and working as
a CNA for a while, Shawn decided to change his career goal. “I enjoyed
caring for the people I came into contact with, and helping them overcome
or work through their medical problems.”
According to the nurses and other providers who work with Shawn, he has
a way with people, and is always willing to go the extra mile. In his
nomination form, it says: “He means it when he asks what he can
do to help make our jobs easier. He runs for supplies, helps change linens
on beds, or listens to a patient, family member, or staff member to let
them know he cares and will try to ease their pain. Shawn shows us every
shift that everyone is important.” Recently, Shawn even went the
extra mile by purchasing a couple of bottles of soda that were not available
at CCMH for a patient who asked for it specifically.
Shawn is passionate about providing excellence every day, and to him that
means providing the best care to our patients and visitors while supporting
staff. “I try to ensure others feel valued and important at CCH,” he says.
For 28 years, Shawn has been married to Kim, who works as a Special Education
teacher at
Campbell County High School. Together, they have five children—three girls ages 25, 22, 19;
and two boys ages 16 and 7. When Shawn is not at work he enjoys spending
time hunting, fishing, hiking, and travelling with family and friends.
He has a passion for cooking, and often makes new meals for his family
to experiment with. And recently, he and his 16-year-old son have taken
up scuba diving together.
“I’ve been fortunate to experience many departments at the
hospital over the years and I’ve seen many changes—they’ve
all been to make our organization better for our community. The people
at CCH are here because they want to provide care and comfort to those
who come here,” says Shawn. “CCH is fortunate to have wonderful,
dedicated, skilled nurses. The one thing I like most about my position
as a House Supervisor is that I get to see what goes on in so many departments
and be part of it all. It’s a pleasure to work with such amazing
people.”
And it’s a pleasure to work with you, Shawn. Thank you for going
the extra mile for staff and patients alike. Congratulations.