The Honor of Nursing

Britni Olson, RN, loves birthdays – in fact, they are her favorite days at work.

“No matter how bad of day I may be having, when I get the chance to see a father’s tears or watch as a mother holds her baby for the first time, it makes it all worth it,” said Britni. “I also love hearing the lullaby that we play overhead in celebration of each birth.”

Britni works as an obstetrics nurse at Cass County Health System, but years ago, she didn’t know what career was right for her. “I didn’t really know what I wanted to do after high school, but I was interested in a medical profession,” she said. “My older sister Randi was in nursing school at Grand View and talked me into going there. But she never got to finish nursing school and become a nurse as she was tragically hit by a car and died before her junior year.”

Britni took Randi’s advice and graduated with her Bachelors of Science in Nursing (BSN) from Grand View University in 2008. “I take pride in being a nurse in her honor,” said Britni.

She then began her nursing career at Mercy in Des Moines as a medical-surgical nurse. After five years there, she decided to move back home just before getting married. “I was looking for something closer to home and my good friend Lisa Burmeister mentioned an OB nurse opening in Atlantic. I thought I’d give it a try and applied!”

Britni has been working on the obstetrics unit now for six years, and she loves working with the families that she is privileged to care for. “I enjoy being able to spend one-on-one time with moms, helping them learn the skills they need for taking home a baby, or helping care for a first-time mom in labor who is nervous and scared.”

That one-on-one time with patients and families has allowed Britni to bond with families, and it’s also inspired her to further her education by becoming a Certified Lactation Counselor. “I provide breastfeeding and lactation support to new moms, and I currently lead the breastfeeding support group at CCHS,” said Britni. “Being a mom is hard work, and I hope that by offering these services, we’re making life a bit easier for families.”

Britni knows first-hand how rewarding and challenging raising children is. She and her husband Jesse have two children: daughter Kodi Jo (4) and son Porter (15 months). When she’s not working or chasing kids, Britni loves grilling, camping, shopping, relaxing with a glass of wine and Magnolia magazine, and spending her time with family at their acreage and soon-to-be home outside of Hamlin.

Spending time with her family is one of the most important things in Britni’s life, which is why she is so well suited to caring for new families in the obstetrics unit. “I am passionate about what nursing is all about—caring and helping others.”