Faces of Bryan
Faces of Bryan is where we take a moment to highlight the unique individuals at Bryan Health who come together to form One Team, One Purpose
Olivia Oerman, RN
Olivia Oerman didn’t really have a dream job growing up. However, that changed when several family members got sick.
Her brother and grandmother were both diagnosed with cancer while she was in high school, and her grandmother ultimately passed away. Throughout the entire length of their illnesses, Olivia saw how nurses interacted with patients, doing everything they could to ease the burden of her family members’ ailments.
Watching the nurses, she felt that she could make a difference in the lives of people like her brother and grandmother, too.
“I don't really have that many family members in the medical field, so I didn't have that kind of exposure. I mainly had exposure through family members receiving care,” she said. “It piqued my interest. It was a way to interact with patients and have an impact in helping them get better. I wanted to be a part of that.”
A Nurse and a Leader
Fast forward to today, Olivia has been an RN for the 5E/5W Cardiac Medical Unit at Bryan East Campus for nearly four years. It’s clear to her and her team that she made the right decision for her career.
“Olivia is kindhearted and wants the best for everyone,” Molly Sass, 5E/5W nurse manager, said.
That goes for Olivia as a nurse and as a leader. With four years of experience under her belt, she often serves as charge nurse for her unit. Her infectious smile, tenacious hard work and thoughtful leadership have proven invaluable to the operation of the 5E/5W unit.
“On a daily, Olivia puts her team first. She does whatever she can to help the day run smoothly,” Molly said. “Through her leadership as a charge nurse, she provides support for her team and is a positive role model for others on the unit.”
Olivia feels the same way about the rest of the team. What makes their unit great is the teamwork they all put in, she said.
“I love the unit I work on, and I think that's one of the reasons I like this position so much – it’s the people. It's a fun work environment,” she said. “Everyone is so helpful, and everyone will pitch in if you need help. Knowing that I work with a great team helps keep me going.”
A Focus on Patient Care
Olivia finds that taking care of patients is the most rewarding aspect of her work, despite the everyday issues of capacity, obtaining orders, workforce challenges and noncompliant patients. It’s about doing what’s best for the patient.
“These patients are not in the best time of their lives, and they are going through so much. Half the time they aren't acting how they normally would if they felt better,” she said. “It is a hard job, but we have to make the most of the little successes and the positivity."
At the end of the day, her goal is to see patients leave the hospital in better shape than when they arrived.
“I like to see people improve, to get them feeling better and push them to see if we can hopefully get them home,” she said. “I think the demand of our jobs has made some people go away from the bedside, and I understand. I get where they're coming from. But I still enjoy the connections of bedside nursing, and so I’m happy where I’m at. I go home tired, but there's definitely little parts of the day that are rewarding.”
Kari Jones, RN
Each morning Kari Jones, RN, wakes up to a text that tells her exactly where she’s going that day. One day she might be assigned to a geriatric unit at Bryan East Campus, and then the next, she’s helping at the Emergency Department on Bryan West Campus. As a float nurse, the unknown is just a part of the job – and she’s been doing it for nearly 30 years.
“I like change,” she said. “It's nice, because everybody's always happy to see me.”
Providing the Best Care
While most float nurses either came from a unit or transfer to a more permanent unit after floating for a time, Kari has never considered staying in one place. She knows that even though it can be hard to build that patient-nurse bond or even bond with co-workers after just one shift, her role plays a huge part in providing the top-notch care Bryan is known for. Her dedication to providing the best possible stay for her patients has become widely known throughout the hospital.
“I was a house supervisor before I knew her. So at that time, I knew of her – she was a name to me, and then also kind of a legend as well, because she is just so well known around the hospital,” Blair Heard, nurse manager for float pool staff, said.
“She truly goes above and beyond doing the little things for the patient. If the floor is really busy or we're short a tech and the patient needs a shower, she's the first one to do it. She knows that that's just as important to making them feel like a whole person and getting them better."
Role Model Nurse
Going above and beyond is the main function for the float pool. While its bread and butter is to fill in a spot or two on a unit, it’s not uncommon for the float pool to take on unique jobs or even open an entire unit on their own. During the COVID-19 pandemic, it was often the float pool nurses out on COVID-19 testing or vaccine drives.
“We spent hours and hours swabbing noses in the COVID drive-thru just freezing or dripping in sweat,” Kari said. “The float pool gets pulled in many different directions.”
With all these different experiences under her belt, Kari has become a wealth of knowledge for every unit she floats to.
“The experience that she brings to the floor every day when she works and how she imparts that on other people is invaluable,” Blair said. “She doesn't formally precept people, but, people always feel so good coming to her with questions. She's very open with them. She teaches as she works."
Kari loves it. Having been on a different unit every shift for the past 30 years, she's been able to inspire and teach many students and then watch them grow as they travel through the nursing ranks.
“Through the years, so many students that I've had or I've worked with as nursing techs while they're in nursing school are now my co-workers or nurse practitioners,” she said. “It's nice to inspire some other people to go a bit above and beyond.”
"She's truly an example for any new nurse to follow," Blair said.
Helping Where Help Is Needed
Because of her experience and her positive attitude toward patient care, units welcome Kari with open arms.
“I remember when I was house supervisor," Blair said. "I would call units and be like, ‘Okay, here's who you're getting today,’ and it would be a sigh of relief when they would hear that Kari was coming to their unit. They just know they're getting a great nurse, someone who's going to do an amazing job no matter what the day brings.”
For Kari, it has always been about the patient, no matter the challenges that constant change as a float nurse brings.
“I just like taking care of people. I really do. Some of that is a little challenging, but taking care of patients is the same no matter where you're at.”
Caroline Madison, Patient Registrar
When someone asks Caroline Madison where she’s from, she never knows exactly what to tell them.
She’s lived in Nebraska, for the past 20+ years, but before that, she lived in California, Indonesia, Australia, Ireland, Germany, Holland – and she was actually born in England.
Her dad’s specialization in agricultural sent her and her family all over the world during her childhood. After three years of high school at an international school in Indonesia, Caroline finished her senior year at a school in California.
A Break from Traveling
A little weary from the expat life, she decided to stay in California for college.
She began building her life there, getting married, having a couple of children and working in child care. Then her mom and stepdad moved to Nebraska.
Every time she visited, the people impressed her.
“I thought that it was such a nice place, just so much more down to earth than where I lived,” she said. “I remember thinking I would really like to live out there.”
Eventually, Caroline did just that.
A Change in Scenery
Caroline continued her career in child care and also had a couple more children after moving to Nebraska.
The place started to feel like home.
However, after nearly 30 years in child care, Caroline decided she needed another change. That’s how she found a position as a patient registrar for the Bryan Health Emergency Department (ED).
“I like to take care of people and do things that can help people, so I always thought a hospital would be a nice place to go next,” she said.
The job description advertised training, so she went out on a limb and applied.
“I walked in saying, ‘This is what I've got. I hope you see something in me,’” she said.
Caroline got the job and began working at Bryan Medical Center in 2019. Despite a few challenges at the beginning, she loved it.
“All I could do was just give it my best shot and work as hard as I could, and that's what I did,” she said. “You never really know what it's going to be like working in an Emergency Department until you try it – it's been an adventure for sure.”
A New Path
After nearly five years in the ED, Caroline became a patient registrar for Admissions. The her job title and the work are similar, but not quite the same. While she is still gathering patient information and verifying identities, she wasn’t checking patients into the ED the way she’s checking them in for appointments throughout the rest of the hospital.
She said that was probably her biggest learning curve – figuring out where everything else was in the hospital. She was used to her “own littler world” in the ED, but working in admissions, she was helping patients get to all corners of the hospital buildings on both Bryan East and West Campuses.
“I knew this hospital was big, but, my goodness, it is huge,” she said.
Still, Caroline continues to learn the ropes of the new position, having started only a few months ago. She said she’ll always love her team in the ED, but she’s grateful for the acceptance and kindness her new admissions team has shown her.
“Everybody in Admissions has been beyond kind and helpful,” she said. “I don’t even know how to describe that department. They are like a family.”
Fitting Right In
Caroline’s work ethic, attention to detail and friendly face made it easy for her to fit right in, according to patient registrar manager Jess King.
“She's so good at this job that she has just slid right in and it feels like she's been there this whole time,” Jess said. “She is always happy and upbeat, even when the days are hard. She just adds a level of optimism and positivity that is just what everyone needs.”
With Caroline on the team, Jess looks forward to having her team continue the development of a positive environment for patients, who often would rather be anywhere other than the hospital.
“We have three and a half minutes to start off on the right foot, to put somebody at ease, to listen to somebody who just wants someone to hear how bad they're feeling,” Jess said. “And it all comes very naturally to Caroline.”
That might just be why Caroline noticed a difference in the people of Nebraska when she first visited all those years ago – she related with them.
“You can tell a big difference in the people in Nebraska. They’re just so warm and welcoming,” she said.
Now, despite having experienced many places around the world, Caroline is happy to call Nebraska, and Bryan, home.
“I love Bryan. They take great care of their employees and their patients,” she said. “I've always said this is where I want to retire, and I still plan on doing that. Moving to Nebraska – I’ve never regretted it.”
AJ Freburg, Laboratory Courier
On Jan. 5, 2024, AJ Freburg was completing one of her last courier runs at Complete Endocrinology. The company she had contracted with as courier for 30 years decided to close all Nebraska operations, and Jan. 5 was its last day of service.
AJ didn’t have much of a plan past this day, and she felt unsure of her future. But what she was sure of was missing “her people” at the various Bryan Physician Network (BPN) offices she had come to know through her work.
As she got on the elevator to complete one of her final stops, she ran into Brandon Allgood, laboratory logistics manager, and they struck up a conversation.
She noticed he was carrying a lab specimen, and he noticed the courier company’s logo on her jacket.
An Answered Prayer
Between the time they got on the elevator on the first floor and the time they got off the elevator at the fourth floor, the two had all but struck a deal.
Brandon, who was working on creating a new department at Bryan Health for in-house courier services, still had positions he needed to fill. AJ needed to find a new job.
She got Brandon’s business card and he took a photo of her badge so he could be on the lookout for her application.
“It was an answer to a prayer,” AJ said.
As they exited the elevator, Brandon watched AJ head into Complete Endocrinology. She lit up the office with a warm smile and bright enthusiasm.
“They were all excited to see her,” he said. “She was striking up casual conversation and it seemed she had talked with them on a day-to-day basis. I was thinking this is exactly what I'm looking for in a lab courier.”
On their way back from their separate errands, they happened to run into each other again on the elevator ride down, and they picked up their conversation. The more Brandon talked to AJ, the more excited he was to get her on his team.
“I said to her, ‘We're looking for somebody, and I think you would definitely fit the bill,’” Brandon said. “She already has these relationships. It just made too much sense."
Part of the Team
A few weeks later, AJ returned to Complete Endocrinology, this time with a Bryan Health badge.
“When I got my badge, I came into Complete Endocrinology, and I was like, ‘Look you guys! I’m one of you now!’” AJ said with laugh. “They were so excited. They cheered. They didn't know what was going to happen with everything, and I'm just glad it was a very seamless transition.”
While AJ’s new job requires the movement of more lab specimens and medical equipment than interoffice mail and records, she quickly realized the people “at the back of the house” are just as friendly as the people “at the front of the house.”
“It has not disappointed because everybody has been so wonderful,” she said. “The people who work here are really great.”
Not only did the new job play to her strengths and allow her to continue the relationships she had been building over the past 30 years, but it also gave her a few things she hadn’t had for a long time as a contractor.
“At sixty years old, I have a 401(k) finally,” she said with a proud smile. “I don't have to drive my own car; Bryan Health lets me drive their car. They fix it if something's broken. They put gas in it. I drive six miles to work and six miles home in my own car – that's it. It’s fantastic.”
For Brandon, AJ quickly became a model employee for his department. She already had the Bryan Health core values embedded in her character, and she knew how to balance relationship building with timely deliveries.
“The standard idea of couriers is that they show up, take your samples, and go. That's it,” Brandon said. “Granted it's quick and efficient, but spending the extra couple minutes like AJ does – as long as you know your routes, your times, the kinds of samples you're taking, and you're not putting those into jeopardy – you're being the face of Bryan showing the quality behind its name.”
Reflecting on Fate
When AJ reflects on the day she ran into Brandon, she can’t help but feel that their meeting was written in the stars. She’s now been on the job for a handful of months, and she couldn’t be happier.
For her, working for Bryan just makes sense.
“I think people get tired of hearing how happy I am,” she said with a laugh. “It feels like I was brought under the wing of Bryan Health, and it’s a dream come true.”
Cindy Schroeder, Cardiovascular Sonographer
Everyone endured tough moments during the COVID-19 pandemic, and the cardiovascular sonography department at Bryan Medical Center was no different. But one sonographer’s contagious smile helped bring some much-needed light during challenging times.
Cindy Schroeder has been a cardiac sonographer in the echocardiography (echo) lab at Bryan Medical Center for 15 years. She’s been there when it’s seen incredible growth and when they’ve faced difficult challenges, but through it all, she’s kept a smile on her face.
“She’s always the light in the dark,” Danen Boyd, cardiac and vascular services director, said. “There is never a time that I have not turned a corner and seen a smile on Cindy’s face.”
A Hearty Interest
Cindy first discovered an interest in health care, specifically for the heart, when her dad developed heart issues while she was in high school. When college came around, she decided she wanted to pursue a career in cardiac rehab. However, her college didn’t have a nursing program. So, she majored in the next closest thing – exercise science and wellness.
After completing her bachelor's degree, she began working at a hospital in Council Bluffs, Iowa, where she was trained in echocardiography (ultrasounds of the heart).
She loved it.
After nine years into her job, she learned of an opening at Bryan Medical Center for an echo sonographer. She decided to apply, since she currently lived in Lincoln and had been commuting to Council Bluffs every day.
She got the job, becoming one of about 30 sonographers in the department.
Opportunities in the Workplace
Cindy fit right in at Bryan. Her compassion for patients made her a great addition to the team.
“She’s always smiling and just brings joy to us,” Danen said. “When it comes to patient care, she has sincere compassion and care for patients.”
Cindy loved working with patients, and she appreciated Bryan’s approach to patient care.
“At Bryan, our goal is to treat everyone as if they were our own family and how they would like to be treated,” she said.
Aside from patient care, Cindy also loved that Bryan offered her the opportunity to help with and perform other cardiac exams and procedures, like transaortic valve replacement, pulmonary vein isolation and transesophageal echo. The different procedures gave her variety in her work.
The opportunities only continued to expand as the department continued to grow. After 15 years at Bryan, Cindy’s team grew from around 30 sonographers to around 40 today.
“That growth and the opportunity to be able to do different cardiac procedures with echo has been wonderful,” she said. “It's created a lot of opportunities, and I think a lot of sonographers that are here, including me, really appreciate that.”
Facing Challenges Together
Those 15 years did not come without challenges, however. For a time, particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic, burnout began getting the best of many in Cindy’s department.
“It wasn't easy,” she said. “You just see all your friends leave, and you know how good of sonographers they are, and they're no longer going to be here. That was very hard.”
But Cindy always managed to find her smile, even during the difficult times.
“What kept me going is the culture at Bryan and the co-workers I did have here,” she said. “You just didn't want to desert each other. You've been through the thick and thin, so you're just going to ride it out. You just want to stay here.”
After Danen came on board, along with non-invasive cardiovascular manager Katie Lee, changes came to the department, and Cindy was instrumental in helping implement the changes to improve the work environment.
“She has that optimism of ‘yeah, we'll give it a try. We'll see how it goes,’” Danen said. “She plays the role of positive thinking for the team.
“She’s that person where I wish I had 25 of them.”
Again, Cindy modestly gave the credit for the department’s culture shift to her team.
“There’s been some tough times, like during COVID, that we have really bonded together. We leaned on each other,” she said. “Everybody's always willing to help each other out.”
Anthony Eickmeier, RN
It was just another fall day in October 2021 when Anthony Eickmeier, RN, got the call — he was being deployed with the National Guard.
“I didn't really know how to feel,” he said. “It was a split of emotions of, 'I want to be here, but I also know this is where I'm supposed to go. This is what I signed up for.'”
He gave himself the day to process the news and to tell immediate family. The following day, he went to work on E-6N, the intensive care unit at Bryan East Campus, and told his nurse manager, Candy Locke, RN, the situation: he would be leaving for Africa in six months.
A Supportive Workplace
Having known Anthony was in the Nebraska Army National Guard at the time of his hiring, Candy, along with assistant nurse manager Leah Harrington, knew he could potentially be deployed. When they got the news, they quickly began problem-solving to help Anthony prepare for deployment.
“They were so gracious with me, with everything that was going on,” he said. “They worked with me to figure out how to see family before I left, which was a big thing for me.”
Their support for Anthony didn’t just stop on the unit floor, however. While Anthony was overseas, his team on E-6N cheered him on from afar. He stayed in touch with his friend and co-worker Seth, who would then relay Anthony’s messages to Candy, Leah and the rest of the unit.
One day, Anthony even received a care package from his team. The package was filled with kind words and thoughtful gifts. It was so meaningful to Anthony that he decided to fly a flag on one of the armored vehicles he patrolled the area with in honor of his family on E-6N.
“Anthony is the type of person that always has other’s best interest at heart,” Leah said. “He is someone who everyone gets along with, and his peers respect and truly appreciate all that he brings to the unit.”
A Call to Serve
Anthony’s desire to serve others, both patients and his country, runs in his blood. With a father and brother who are veterans of the Navy, another brother in the National Guard, and several siblings in the healthcare industry, his career path didn’t come as much surprise. However, it was his mom who, Anthony said, influenced him most.
“Growing up, I always saw my mom take care of people. She was a nurse tech,” he said. “Seeing the care she gave, the compassion she showed and then the relationships she built, really inspired me to get into health care.”
He started as a nurse tech when he was 16 and thought he would eventually become a physician’s assistant. However, once he got to college, he realized he wanted to start taking care of people sooner, so he switched his career path to nursing.
“I felt like I was following a calling, taking care of people and hopefully sharing that same compassion and care I saw my mom give,” he said.
While in nursing school, the COVID-19 pandemic began, and many hospitals closed their doors to anyone who wasn’t necessary to patient care, including nursing students looking for externships. After reevaluating his plans for the summer, Anthony decided to reach out to a National Guard recruiter.
Anthony was sworn in on March 13, 2021. He spent that summer completing infantry training and airborne school. In the fall, he began his job as a nurse for E-6N on Bryan East Campus.
A Warm Welcome Home
After Anthony was deployed, he spent three months in training and nine months overseas. When he finally came back to his unit on E-6N, he felt at home right away.
“You spend a week away from the hospital, and things change. You spend a year away, and everything's completely different,” he said. “But 6N will always be 6N. No matter how much things have changed or how much time has passed, the vibe is still the same. Everything about 6N is home for me. I couldn't imagine working any anywhere else.”
With so much gratitude in his heart, Anthony framed the flag he flew in their honor overseas, and he presented it to his team upon his return.
“It was kind of like a ‘I was away, but thank you for everything you guys did,’” he said. “And then also thank you for welcoming me back so easily and making the transition easy.”
Anthony even nominated Candy and Leah for the Patriot Award, which is given to supervisors or bosses of an employee serving in the National Guard or Reserve for their support of the employee. Upon his return, they gave him the time and space he needed to learn new processes, acquire necessary certifications and reorient back to civilian life.
"We just wanted to make sure he came back to his 'home' on E-6N," Leah said.
The flag continues to sit on display at the nurse’s station on E-6N, a proud reminder of Anthony’s service to his country and gratitude to his team.
In the full life Anthony’s lived so far, he’s learned the important of relationships and caring for others.
“Taking that time to really build bonds and relationships with people is the highlight of everything that I've learned,” he said. “You never know who needs compassion and who needs kindness.”
