ELIZABETHTON, Tenn. (WJHL) — The nursing profession is known for its core values of empathy, quick decision-making, and unwavering patient support. For Shonna Lane, recently honored as Nurse Of The Month, these principles are intertwined with her dedication to preserving a family heritage while contributing to the future of nursing.
Lane continues a family legacy of care and empathy while working at Sycamore Shoals and Franklin Woods Hospitals.
“My mom is a nurse,” she recalled. “I have vivid memories of her work in the emergency department ICU and as a member of the pioneering flight team with Wings Way. She played a pivotal role in that program’s inception, and I was captivated by the stories of her impact. I aspired to follow in her footsteps.”
Lane has forged her own distinguished path, obtaining degrees including a BS, BSN, MSN, and MBA, all with the goal of guiding patients through trying times.
“People come in, and they come in a lot of times,” she said. “Worst-case scenario, they’re very confused, disoriented, really not sure about what’s going on. They’re stressed, they’re panicked. And I get to be the person who puts the pieces of the puzzle together to help them figure it out, to help calm them down and kind of be there with them while they muddle through the very traumatic experience in their life.”
The hands-on experience doesn’t stop at the hospital. Lane also shares her knowledge with the next generation of nurses as an associate professor at Milligan University.
“With evidence-based practice, things are always evolving,” she said. “So being in the hospital, being at the bedside, interacting with the patients, I think that makes me a better teacher. A better professor, because I can bring that experience to the classroom, and be able to give that back to the students.”
She is committed to giving back and making sure future nurses have the skills they need to provide the best possible care.