Why I Came, Why I Stayed: At Each of Her Stops Across Methodist, LeeAnn Hansen Has Been Empowered to Provide Meaningful Care

In “Why I Came, Why I Stayed,” you’ll get to know people who are making a difference every day at Methodist and how they contribute to providing The Meaning of Care. To explore career opportunities at Methodist, visit bestcare.org/jobs.

LeeAnn Hansen, DNP, APRN-NP
Nurse Practitioner
Methodist Physicians Clinic Heart Consultants

Tell us more about yourself and your role at Methodist.

My husband, Aaron, and I have been married for 12 years, and we have three kids. We recently added a goldendoodle puppy to the chaotic fun that is our life. I was born in Hawaii but have lived in the Omaha area since the age of 14. My husband is from Lincoln, and we call Bennington home. I have been a nurse practitioner for five years and recently joined Methodist Physicians Clinic Heart Consultants as a cardiology advanced practice provider (APP). 

Why Methodist? What attracted you to the organization?

During high school, I toured several local nursing schools and fell in love with Nebraska Methodist College. The smaller campus and class sizes fostered some amazing relationships with classmates and professors, and some of those friendships have continued to this day. Shortly after starting nursing school, I began working as a certified nursing assistant on the cardiac floor at Methodist Hospital. I will forever be grateful that my first job in health care was with such an amazing team that truly focused on the patient. I saw firsthand how much impact a supportive health care team can have on a patient’s health journey. There are specific rooms and specific patients I’ll never forget.

Those experiences, in addition to completing clinical hours here during nursing school, made the decision to remain at Methodist Hospital after graduation easy. In 2011, I accepted a job as a registered nurse on the cardiac floor working nights. My nursing career was paused in 2013 when I underwent open heart surgery at Mayo Clinic in Minnesota for a congenital heart defect. What an eye-opening experience to be on the other side of health care. After a brief hiatus, I returned to Methodist Hospital and was a float nurse working mainly on the cardiac, progressive care and intensive care floors. 

In 2018, I graduated from Creighton University with a doctorate of nursing practice after completing the adult-gerontology acute care track with an emphasis in cardiology. I was thrilled to start my nurse practitioner career with the hospitalist team at Methodist in December 2018.  Earlier this year, I had the opportunity to transition to working with Methodist Physicians Clinic Heart Consultants, and I am really enjoying again caring for cardiology patients. 

What is it about Methodist that keeps you coming back?

I have stayed at Methodist all these years because I feel not only supported and challenged as a provider but also empowered to provide meaningful care to my patients. I really am grateful to be part of the Methodist team!