We couldn’t be more thrilled to announce John McNeely, RN, BSN, CEN, as our new Practice Manager and Nurse Navigator for Navigate Wellness!
John has been in the healthcare industry for over 30 years. His background includes time serving as a combat medic, EMT, paramedic, ER nurse and a member of the transplant team. He was most recently the Cardiac Coordinator at University of Missouri Hospital. Ryan, co-founder, and John worked together in the E.R. at the University Hospital.
Ever since Ryan had his first vision of Navigate Wellness, he knew he wanted John to be his first hire. “In any situation that I can think of, John has always been a resource for me, when I needed insight or understanding or if my patient needed a solution. My time with John has made me a better nurse, and almost all nurses who know John would say the same.”
John started his career in healthcare as an EMT, and got his first civilian EMT license in 1992. John served as a combat medic in his last year in the military. He was also a paramedic for the University Hospital. He spent around 14 years in the emergency department and also worked with critically ill patients as part of the transplant team.
Why Navigate Wellness?
When asked why John chose Navigate Wellness, he explained: “I have worked in the healthcare industry since my first civilian EMT license in 1992. In that time I have had the chance to work with many people, and have had the chance to serve many family members of people that are admitted to the hospital. The one thing that is the common thread in the tapestry of that career is the uncertainty of the patient, and the family members. When people are admitted to the hospital it’s like going into a foreign land: there is a new language, the road signs don’t make sense, the food is different, the landscape is different.
In my personal life, I have had family members come into the hospital and fortunately, I have been able to help them through all the foreignness of this new landscape. I have taken care of hundreds (thousands?) of people. Sometimes I see the same people again and again. I wondered “how do these people—that don’t have anyone to help guide them through this landscape—manage their way through this?” The answer is sometimes they don’t. They either don’t navigate it well, or sometimes at all. I want to come along and help people through this landscape.”
What Are You Most Excited About?
“All people have worth as human beings, and deserve the best care. To really care for someone you have to know something about them. What do they like to eat (what do they not like), what do they like to do, what is their favorite movie? We are built as human beings to live in community with each other, and help one another out. That’s the way the world is supposed to work.
The healthcare industry doesn’t always allow you to really know someone. There is always another room to go to, always another medication to give, always another task. Those are the things that are the “what” of healthcare. We don’t often have the chance to stop and talk about the “why” of healthcare. I’m excited to talk about the why. I want to empower people to live the way that they want to. Are there times when we have to go to the hospital, and there are results of that. But how do we give people back their choice on what they do. I look forward to coming alongside people, and being in their corner, whatever the decision is. I want to slow down and give humanity back that an industry took it away.”
If his nursing skills and critical thinking wasn’t enough, his approachability and desire to make other nurses and patients better is why making him Practice Manager makes sense. We were looking for someone to elevate our business. Whether the members of our team, or the outcomes of a medical situation, John’s ability to give amazing care with a service minded attitude is something we can only hope will spread to everyone in our little boat. Our boat is getting bigger and as we grow I know we have an exceptional leader and nurse to help guide us as we continue to serve aging adults.
We are so excited to have such an experienced and caring professional join our growing team. We know John will be a huge asset to our team and we can’t wait to welcome him full-time in November.
