Kendra Grelson, RN
Bio: My hometown is Hickory, North Carolina, but thanks to the United States Air Force, I was born in Peru, Indiana, better known as “Circus City, USA!” We moved around frequently, including two tours at Offutt AFB, which led me to Creighton University for my BSN. The first half of my career was spent in Psychiatry/Behavioral Health, and the second half was in home health and hospice. Following a short two-year “retirement” (which included taking care of my aging dad), I returned to psychiatry at Nebraska Medicine.
Why did you decide to become a psychiatric nurse?
Growing up, I always knew I wanted to be a nurse. While my parents provided a stable home for our family, I quickly learned that was not the case for my dad growing up. He was an only child in a poor southern family, shuffled between family members. Later on, he would be one of the many Vietnam combat veterans who quietly suffered with PTSD due to the stigma. My work as a psychiatric nurse became a bridge to having open and meaningful conversations with my dad.
What made you want to work at Nebraska Medicine?
I was looking for a PRN position to offset my care days with my dad. When a PRN position came open, I reached out to several former colleagues, and all of them had good things to say. During my interview, Kerri Whitaker did a great job laying out growth and vision for the clinic nurses. It felt like a great fit for me.
What do you enjoy about working in the Department of Psychiatry?
Of course, I think the nursing team is amazing! Such a talented group, who are always stepping up for each other. I love the collaboration that takes place: The PES, BHC, ED, but also the primary care clinics, other specialty clinics, and the pharmacy. It’s a good feeling to have so many people and resources available as you care for patients and their families.
What are some of your hobbies?
Now that our four children are adults, my husband, Eric, and I have started checking off our travel bucket list. Best place so far, Prague! We enjoy time with our two dogs- we affectionately refer to them as our replacement children. We now have three grandchildren and love attending and supporting their activities. I’m helping our oldest son with a house remodel. Eric and I are big baseball fans. We regularly catch a spring game in Florida and then try to make it to one or two regular-season games.