Getting to Know a BHC Nurse

Savannah Evans, BSN, RN

House Supervisor

I grew up in Kansas City, with my mom, dad, sister, and brother. I went to school at Truman State in Kirksville, Mo. Initially I got a Bachelor’s in Health Sciences with an emphasis on public health. Then I completed Truman’s accelerated Bachelor of Science in nursing program. I’ve been with my husband, Taylor, since we were 17, and we’ve been married for 5 years. We don’t have kids, yet, but we do have one dog, Lucy.

Why did you get into the health care field?

I’ve always been interested in the healthcare field. Throughout high school I thought I wanted to be a doctor. I was a member of an organization coordinated by Missouri’s AHEC (Area Health education centers) which worked to get high school and undergrad students interested in primary care medicine. So, I had the opportunity to shadow a variety of medical professionals including doctors, nurses, and dentists.

What interested you in your particular specialty?

Most of my career I’ve worked in medical and surgical inpatient nursing. I’ve also worked in the NICU and inpatient psychiatric care. When the weekend house supervisor position opened up at Boone Health, I moved into this role. The house supervisor role is kind of a catch-all position. We coordinate patient transfers from outside hospitals, respond to emergencies throughout the hospital, help coordinate staffing for nurses and techs for inpatient units, and help troubleshoot issues and answer questions for staff, patients, and families.

What is the most rewarding part of your job?

I enjoy getting to see all of our different levels of care and interact with different departments at Boone. It’s great getting to work with people all over the hospital.

What is the most challenging aspect of your job?

Because I typically work weekends, often there are issues that arise that I’m not familiar with and must figure out how to address or resolve.

What has changed in your field since you started practicing?

I became a nurse before the COVID-19 pandemic, so I think the biggest, most obvious change is our response. COVID changed so many things from isolation practices to how nursing programs prepare new nurses.

What do you see changing in the next 5 to 10 years?

I think we’re going to see a lot of innovation in the nursing profession to manage the staffing shortages we’re seeing; however, I have no idea what that may look like!

What do you enjoy doing outside of work?

I love spending time with my husband and our dog. We like to go for walks together or hang out at home and watch TV. I also love to spend time with my friends. I love to crochet – I make blankets, scarves, and smaller items. I have also recently started spinning wool into yarn.

What advice would you give someone looking to become a nurse?

Be prepared to be flexible and embrace the unexpected. The nursing profession demands flexibility and the ability to adapt our practice and care to changing needs. I don’t think this is emphasized enough in nursing school, but the ability to be flexible and “go with the flow” has been a huge strength for me in my nursing career.