Shanna Carey, CNA
Shanna Carey is a dedicated healthcare professional with nearly 25 years of experience, known for her compassion, resilience, and versatility in every role she has undertaken. She began her career supporting behavioral and emotional children, helping them manage oppositional behaviors, and later served as a Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) caring for Veterans—an experience that deeply shaped her commitment to patient-centered care. Over the years, Shanna has embraced a wide range of healthcare roles, consistently demonstrating a strong work ethic and a passion for supporting individuals in need.
For a decade, Shanna worked as a Certified Clinical Hemodialysis Technician, entering the field unexpectedly but quickly proving herself highly skilled in dialysis care and patient education. She trained 17 patients in home hemodialysis, empowering them to confidently manage treatments independently. This work, while rewarding, was also demanding, particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic, when the immunocompromised dialysis population faced significant challenges—an experience that left a profound personal and professional impact.
In addition to dialysis, Shanna has spent eight years working in behavioral and mental health, assisting both children and adults, including helping establish a new behavioral health unit in a Level IV trauma hospital and serving within a state hospital system. Known for her ability to de-escalate tense situations calmly and empathetically, she prioritizes communication and compassion in care. Currently, Shanna is expanding her approach to healing by studying to become a certified Reiki practitioner, believing that while medicine is essential, true healing can take many forms. She remains devoted to helping others find balance, comfort, and support throughout their health journeys.
• Technical College
• Certified Nursing Assistant
• Certified Clinical Hemodialysis Technician
• phlebotomy
Areas of Specialization/Expertise
- behavioral health
- mental health
- hemodialysis
- home hemodialysis training
- Dialysis
What do you enjoy most about practicing medicine?
I like healing people. I have more of a motherly aura, you know, because I didn't have a great mom who was a comforter. My mom wasn't empathetic and was just ruthless, so I feel like I bring that nurturing quality to my work. When I do admits and people are scared that I'm going to say they're crazy, I tell them I'm not here to judge them - I'm here to help them. I don't have to ever put my hands on people that are violent. I can talk those people down and change the energy in the room. I'm a firm believer that there are some things, and there are some professional boundaries, but sometimes medicine can't help. I definitely came from a really traumatized background and history, so I can empathize. I sacrifice myself over and over and over again for patient care. I stood in a doorway until they said 'You're fired,' advocating for patient care.