Stephanie Wasson's path from patient to nurse practitioner
We’re honored to spotlight Stephanie Wasson, a general surgery and trauma nurse practitioner at Overland Park Regional Medical Center (OPRMC). Years before she joined OPRMC, Stephanie arrived as a critically ill patient. Today, Stephanie works with the doctors who saved her life, bringing firsthand experience to every patient she serves. We recently talked with Stephanie about how her personal healthcare experience became her calling and led to her career at OPRMC.
What initially inspired you to become a nurse? How old were you?
I grew up with both of my parents working in the healthcare field as respiratory therapists, so initially, I thought about the general medical field. At times, I thought I’d do something else, but I always went back to it, almost like a calling, because I am a people person, enjoy helping others and love science. Then, in high school, I knew exactly what I wanted to be: a nurse practitioner.
What brought you to OPRMC ER? And what happened?
In 2015, I worked at another hospital as an ICU nurse. My husband and I had recently married and soon learned we were expecting our first baby! However, within weeks, I began to have significant and constant pelvic pain, and I knew something was wrong. I went to the hospital where I worked, and the doctors discovered I had an ectopic pregnancy and needed immediate surgery. Following the laparoscopic surgery, I continued to have significant pain and became septic. Although I was discharged home, I went back to the hospital as the pain worsened. I was sent home with pain medication but without any imaging. Within 12 hours of being home, the pain worsened, my speech began to slur and we called 9-1-1.
When EMS arrived, I had no detectable blood pressure. Fortunately, Overland Park Regional Medical Center was close to home. Once I was fully assessed in the ER, the doctor found that I had two liters of fluid in my abdomen. Dr. Kimberly Schlicter, the on-call OB/GYN, rushed me to surgery and discovered that I also had a perforated bowel from the initial surgery, which was the cause of the severe pain. Dr. Adam Kaye, general surgeon and trauma specialist, arrived quickly at the hospital and led the surgery to remove the damaged section and repair the bowel. Dr. Kaye never left my side during my first night in the ICU. In fact, for 24 hours, he closely monitored me to ensure I was recovering, given my complicated history.
Dr. Kaye and Dr. Don Fishman, his partner, helped me so much over the 34-day stay, throughout six tough surgeries, and then nearly losing my life. They weren’t “just doctors” to me. They became family the way they cared for me emotionally and ensured my family was informed every step of the way. It dawned on me that throughout this journey, based upon the impact the doctors and care team had on me, “This is exactly the type of specialty I want as a nurse practitioner!” I had a calling for the general surgery and trauma specialty!
Once discharged, during a follow-up clinic visit with Dr. Kaye, I said, “Hey, Dr. Kaye: Do you need a nurse practitioner on your team?” He replied, “Absolutely! Call me in three years.” And I did.
I began working in the same ICU that saved my life in 2016. At that time, I thought, “Very few caregivers can genuinely look a trauma and general surgery patient in the eyes and say, ‘These are good doctors. These are the great nurses. THIS is the best hospital. Because they saved my life in this same ICU, with your same doctors at this very hospital.’” I had a gift of perspective through my experience and would use it to benefit patients and their families.
When did you join HCA Healthcare as an Overland Park Regional Medical Center trauma nurse practitioner?
I have been a nurse practitioner with Dr. Kaye and Dr. Fishman’s practice for three years.
How has your personal healthcare journey impact how you care for trauma patients?
After I got sick, I said to myself, “I know what I want to do: Someday, I will work in the same room where my life was saved and as an NP specialist with the same doctors who saved my life.” And years later, that is exactly what happened. A recent patient eerily went through the same healthcare journey. He had abdominal surgery and underwent procedures exactly like me. I shared my story, and we formed a trusting relationship.
Being by a patient’s side and their advocate, similar to a family member, is meaningful to me and my patients. Today, I am still in touch with this young man. He had the courage to trust me as his nurse practitioner, listen to my experience, move forward with a hard decision to undergo surgery, showed true resilience during the recovery process.
Life will not be the same again after suffering this type of traumatic experience. But we can find the good. I’ve chosen to use my experience to help patients recover physically and emotionally. The emotional trauma to these types of injuries is very real. And it’s hard to grasp that magnitude and to see the light when you are lying in an ICU bed, in the dark, all alone. Through my experience, I help channel some of my patients' feelings to motivate them into healing.
Overland Park Regional Medical Center isn't just where you work. It's where you welcomed your twins into the world. How early were your twins, and why did you decide to have them at your hospital?
Based on previous surgeries, I had challenges carrying a baby to full term. So, following IVF, we learned about the value of working with gestational carriers. (Most people don’t know the difference between surrogate and gestational carrier. A surrogate donates her egg as well as carries the pregnancy, whereas a gestational carrier is “an oven” to carry the eggs that are 100% genetically mine). After much research and interviewing potential carriers, we were fortunate to find two women simultaneously, and each wanted to be a gestational carrier for us. After visiting with each of them, they decided they wanted to go through this process together by getting to know each other and carrying at the same time. They became very close through this experience and quickly became woven into our family.
Although they had the same due date, one carrier had a rare complication, and our daughter was born at 33 weeks, seven weeks early and was in the NICU for 36 days. Our son was born at exactly 39 weeks, which also happened to be the day our daughter was exactly six weeks old and had just been discharged from the NICU.
The OR, NICU and L & D team – Dr. Chris Stapley, neonatologist and caregivers went above and beyond for me, my husband and our baby’s carriers. They honored our birth plan wishes, ensuring I had memories and special moments of each delivery, baby and their carriers. This was very rare, given that each baby had their carrier, and my daughter was born seven weeks before her brother. For example, during a bedside shift report, the nurses would report on each twin respectively, even though one baby wasn’t their patient. Additionally, once our son was born, caregivers created a separate room for me, my daughter and my family to be close to him, allowing me to breastfeed him and still care for her.
Our twins are happy and healthy and are starting to play together. Our daughter is 21 months, and our son is 20 months. On their birthday, we were so blessed that our “Belly-Buddies” both attended. They have become a part of our family.
What does "full circle" mean to you in your life and career?
It’s even bigger than a full circle now. It was a full circle moment going from being a critically ill patient to working as a surgery and trauma NP next to the doctors who saved my life. I have my dream job, and I help patients just like I wanted to. To now experience the complicated birth of twins, and the compassionate care by having twins at the hospital, and experiencing the birth of my children and the incredible caregivers makes it even better.
Is there anything more you’d like to add?
When I talk about what happened to me, people oftentimes say, “I’m so sorry,” but I am not. My experience and talking about it helped me heal. If one person is changed by me sharing my story and this comforts them, it is all worth it. It is so important to heal and show that there is hope. The good is so much more powerful and meaningful than the bad. I have learned that life is about the greater good of all.
Honoring those who care like family
From being a patient fighting for her life to becoming a trusted trauma nurse practitioner advocating for others, Stephanie’s story reminds us why compassionate care truly matters. This Nurses Month, we honor Stephanie and every nurse who leads with heart, heals with skill and shows up every day to make a difference.