Certified Family Nurse Practitioner – Roanoke
Heather Staley, FNP-C
Joined: May 2016
“When I became a nurse, I started working in the hospital setting in cardiac care. Since becoming a nurse practitioner, I have worked in family practice and occupational medicine.
My first experience with hospice was when my mother-in-law passed away in 2009. It was a huge blessing to have knowledgeable healthcare professionals come in and educate the family on the dying process. It was so helpful to have experts help us through that difficult time and tell us what to expect during the different transitions that were coming our way.
In 2016, I unexpectedly met Kim Eckenroth and learned that she had been a hospice nurse for over 20 years at that time. I told her that one day I hoped to work in the hospice or palliative care field. After talking with Kim further, the convinced me that there was no time like the present. I joined Gentle Shepherd within a month! From the very first day, the staff warmly welcomed me into what truly seems like a family.
Hospice is about addressing the spiritual needs of those we serve, as well as the patient’s physical condition. In previous nursing roles, I never felt that it was okay to pray with patients. Here, when they are open to it, we are able to do just that.
Heather lives in Salem with her husband, two children and two dogs that she says are more spoiled than her children! She has found an outlet for her love of gardening as part of a group that started a small community garden at her church, Locust Grove United Methodist. The vision is for it to serve church members, the Boy Scout group that meets there weekly and the surrounding community, as well as to donate produce to the food pantry.
Heather loves to hike and run, even completing the Blue Ridge Marathon in 2017 and 2019. She also enjoys being outside, and growing and arranging flowers.
