Sharon Shepherd was surprised that her husband Jim and her kids could do such a good job of keeping a secret from her. It was a good secret.
Shepherd received a presidential coin of recognition from her employer, SSM Health at St. Mary’s Hospital, Jefferson City at the beginning of June. Only three of these awards have been given out in the last 25 years.
Several colleagues, her husband and children were all there for the presentation.
Shepherd credits her family’s support for all of her accomplishments, which include bachelor of education degree, an associate degree in nursing, a bachelor’s degree in nursing from Lincoln University in Jefferson City, a master’s degree in nursing from the University of Missouri-Columbia and a doctorate degree from Southern Illinois University.
She is pleased she completed her doctorate just in time to be able to have more time to enjoy her grandchildren.
She completed her doctorate in just two years.
Besides degrees and a doctorate she is also a certified surgical nurse, an advanced practice nurse and is certified in nursing professional development.
Beginnings
Shepherd is originally from southeast Kansas. She has two brothers and three sisters.
After graduating from Girard High School in Girard, Kan., she attended Calvary Chapel Bible College, a private Christian University in Kansas City, earning a bachelors degree in elementary education.
Shepherd says she always knew she wanted to be a teacher but really can’t point to one specific thing that inspired her.
However, at the same time, she worked her way through college working Kansas University Medical working as a nurse’s aide. Her superiors told her then she ought to train to be a nurse.
Shepherd met her husband Jim Shepherd at church in Kansas City while still attending college.
She smiles when she says she graduated college July 6 and married Jim July 10. The couple celebrated their 41st wedding aniversary earlier this month.
Shepherd taught fifth grade for four years and then took time off when her first three children were born.
She and Jim have four children: David Shepherd, Kelly Rhoades, Dallas Shepherd and Daniel Shepherd.
The couple now have six grandchildren.
“Then it was time to get a part-time job,” Shepherd. She looked in to getting a Licensed Practical Nursing degree. Jim encouraged to go after an Registered Nursing degree.
She pursued her associates degree and worked part-time at KU Medical Center. She finished her associates degree while pregnant with her fourth child.
Coming to the Eldon community
Twenty-five years ago, Jim Shepherd took a pastor’s position at Fellowship Bible Church. She went to work at St. Mary’s and has been there ever since.
Shepherd credits St. Mary’s policy of reimbursing students for continuing education with allowing her to continue her education. “I would finish a semester,” she says, “they would reimburse me for it and I would be able to complete another semester.” She was able to continue this all the way through her masters degree.
Before becoming the system manager of education, she worked on a variety of units including the surgical, orthopedics and neurology units, and as a charge nurse.
She is responsible for training new employees and also works with the hospital’s graduate nurse’s residency program.
She explains that training through the COVID-19 pandemic presented some unique challenges. “We had to train people so quickly and the regulations were constantly changing,” she says. “We had to get nurses prepared to go on the floors and take care of COVID patients.
Shepherd also contributed to setting up a program throughout the St. Mary’s Healthcare System that gives students a chance to work with experienced nurse in the hospital setting.
Shepherd has integrated virtual reality in teaching nurses how to deal with various scenarios. “The millenials and Gen-xers like the computer stuff and it allows for more convenience for them, It saves them travel time and gas, and people don’t like staying in a seat for eight hours,” she explains.
Ending notes
Asked if she has a hero or a mentor, Shepherd says, “It would be my grandma. She always looked at the positive and I admired that.”
She says to relax she does puzzles. “I love putting puzzles together.” She is working on a 6,000 piece world map puzzle.”
Jim helps her by finding the pieces that fall on the floor while she is working on them.
Shepherd says she would never have gotten this far in her career without the support of her family. “I couldn’t have done any of it without them pitching in.”
In 2007, besides work, education, and taking care of her younger children, Shepherd had to deal with both her husband and oldest son David serving in Iraq at the same time. They weren’t stationed at the same place but they did see each other.
“I’ve been blessed with a wonderful husband, wonderful family and a wonderful job,” she says.
As a final thought, Shepherd says, “The award was the pinnacle of my career. To be recognized for doing your job really well is very exciting.
“It was exciting to see all of the people who showed up for the award. My manager from Wisconsin was there. It was such a surprise."
