August 2nd, 2024
Annette Brannen, BSN, RN, CPN, Awarded Mission Champion August 2024
Annette Brannen, BSN, RN, CPN, began her career at St. Joseph Hospital in 1985 as an LPN on the Medical/Surgical/Oncology Unit. In 1989, she earned her Associate’s Degree in Nursing and later transitioned to our Maternal Child Health Unit, where she has dedicated the past 29 years of her career! In 2016, Annette achieved her RN and BSN degrees as well as became a Certified Pediatric Nurse in 2019. Currently, Annette holds multiple roles on the Maternal Child Health Unit, including charge nurse, preceptor, neonatal resuscitation program instructor, pediatric life support instructor, and basic life support instructor.
When asked about her favorite part about working at St. Joseph Hospital, Annette highlights her love for teaching and supporting new nurses, enjoying the opportunity to watch them grow professionally. She also values the strong sense of family and support among her colleagues. Annette is passionate about pediatric medicine and takes great joy in witnessing the growth of families. She especially loves caring for sick babies, as it allows her to teach family members how to be involved in the care and recovery process, proudly observing the babies grow stronger every day.
Annette’s most memorable moment over the course of her career was when she cared for a young boy with Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy as a pediatric nurse. While she was the primarily clinical caretaker for the child, she also dedicated herself to supporting his patients and siblings by getting to know them and understanding their needs. Feeling connected to the entire family was crucial for Annette, as it allowed her to provide even better care for the boy. Each time he was admitted, the family requested Annette as his nurse, and she gladly obliged, ensuring that the whole family felt cared for.
Tara Reany, RN, says, “Annette cares not just for the patient, but for the whole family. Her skills are superior! Her many years of experience shows, as she tenderly cares for babies. Annette excels when it comes to teaching. As a preceptor, she has a way of explaining things to our newer staff so that complicated tasks and nursing skills can be easily understood, remembered, and performed.”
When Annette is not at work, you can find her spending time with her daughter, three sons – and their spouses as well as her four grandchildren! Whether it’s going on family beach vacations, or just getting to see one another, they all just love spending time together. She is also an avid traveler and has visited London, Ireland, Germany, and Spain. Next on her list is traveling to Africa, where she is excited to experience a safari!
Additionally, she travels with her brother and nephew, who both run marathons, with their next trips being to Japan and New York! Annette is their biggest cheerleader and supporter. She is also an avid quilter and thorough enjoys making quilts for colleagues who retire from the Maternal Child Health Unit. She always has the entire unit sign the quilt so the new retirees can take a long lasting memory with them as they start their new adventure.
Congratulations, Annette!