Thanks for working here Thursday: Alex Thomas, RN, Heptner Cancer Center

Campbell County Health is proud of its employees, and we want the CCH family and the Campbell County community to know about the good work that they do for this organization.

Introducing Alex Thomas, RN, who works in Radiation Oncology in the CCH Heptner Cancer Center in Gillette, Wyoming. Alex earned her associates degree in nursing from Gillette College, and has worked for CCH for five years, but has been in health care for nearly seven years.

Alex says that she wasn’t really sure what she wanted to do after she graduated from high school. “I always enjoyed science and learning about the human body, so I decided to pursue nursing,” she says. “As I’ve gained experience in the field, I’ve learned what I enjoy most is making connections with patients and their families.”

She calls Mary Bauman, a nurse she worked with in the OR (operating room) her health care hero. “Mary taught me so much about being a patient advocate as she was always willing to take the extra time to do things the right way for every patient—while still managing to be incredibly efficient. Mary was always available to lend a hand, and became a great mentor and friend. She is a true example of the nurse I work toward becoming. I miss working alongside her every day!” Alex says.

When Alex isn’t at work, you can find her spending time with her husband and their two daughters. “My girls keep me busy, but there’s nothing better than being with my family! I love spending time outside and in the mountains camping or hiking,” she says. Alex also enjoys reading, cooking and gardening.

We asked Alex what she likes most about working at CCH, and what excellence every day means to her. Check out her response:

“I feel pride when I look around at the team that I’m a part of—the Heptner Cancer Center has an amazing group of nurses, radiation therapists, secretaries, providers and leaders. Each person goes above and beyond and genuinely cares about the people who choose to come to CCH for their care. The combination of knowledge and compassion is something I’m proud to be surrounded by.

Working in Radiation Oncology allows me to really get to know both my patients and also their families. I get to see these people five days a week for six to eight weeks at a time. I not only get to care for them, but I get to form friendships with them. I love getting the chance to visit about their lives while also doing my very best to help them feel better through their radiation journey. It’s very humbling to sit beside these incredible patients and I’m lucky enough to be a very small part of their journey.

Excellence Every Day means showing up with a smile each and every day, and being committed to providing the best care to each person I encounter during the day—even on the hard days.”

Thank you, Alex, for going the extra mile for our patients in the Heptner Cancer Center. We appreciate you!

Is there a CCH employee who went the extra mile or shows you extraordinary service? Give them a pat on the back by completing an Excellence Every Day card.

To learn more about the Heptner Cancer Center, visit www.cchwyo.org/cancercare.