Rebecca “Reba” Cooksley, DNP, APRN-NP, FNP-C, Joins Bluestem Health’s New Piedmont Clinic

Rebecca “Reba” Cooksley, DNP, APRN-NP, FNP-C, is joining the Bluestem Health Piedmont Clinic and we are happy to welcome her to our family. Reba is a certified Advanced Nurse Practitioner.

Reba attended undergraduate school at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln where she received her Bachelor’s Degree in Nutrition Science. She went on to earn a Doctorate of Nursing and completed the APRN training at the University of Nebraska Medical Center in Omaha, Nebraska.

All together, Reba has worked in nursing for five years, including the Neurotrauma Critical Care Unit at Bryan Health West and APRN training at our Bluestem Health Kreshel Clinic, both in Lincoln. She feels the hands-on experience working in the hospital benefits her patients at Bluestem Health because she can explain procedures she may be referring patients to have done at the hospital. During her time working under Trishia Frost, APRN, at Kreshel Clinic, Reba loved the thoroughness of the team and building relationships with Bluestem Health patients – which is one of the reasons why she is thrilled to be working at Bluestem Health again.

Reba was born in Lincoln, Nebraska, and has lived here on-and-off her whole life. She has planned to be a nurse since childhood when she realized she could pair her love for science and her passion for learning about cultures and languages together – and do it all. In primary care, she likes the preventive treatment approach to help patients before their health deteriorates. Working with diverse patient populations also brings her joy.

Having variety in her schedule is why Reba is drawn to family medicine. She loves diabetic or hypertensive patients whom she can educate and help with preventive care. Reba also appreciates working with kids and mothers. She feels great healthcare is crucial at every stage of development, and she loves being a part of a great healthcare organization like Bluestem Health.

Reba Cooksley, ADNP, APRN-NP, FNP-C is looking forward to working with Dr. Andrew Shahan and all the patients at Bluestem Health Piedmont Clinic. She appreciates the life-long commitment of family medicine, where she gets to know all of her patients, track their numbers, like their hemoglobins, and see them prosper through all stages of life.

Challenges Reba faces as an APRN are insurance plans and finding the right resources for patients. Part of why she chose to work at Bluestem Health she says is because, “They have amazing resources, integrated services such as dental and behavioral health, and so much more.” When she runs into a problem, she likes the opportunity to be creative in getting patients what they need. There may be barriers, but she says she is up for the challenge. In general, when Reba sees that patients are struggling, she knows she needs to meet them where they are and help them get the right medications and plans in place for the best care.

Reba and her husband, Hadley, have been married six years. He works for the fire department and they have twin eight-month-old boys, born in the fall of 2019. She notes that they are happy boys who are learning and exploring. They also have two golden retrievers to join them. Even though they don’t have a lot of free time, as a family they like hiking outdoors, going on walks, music time, and reading books. Maintaining friendships and family relationships is a priority for them both.

Reba says they want to get back to traveling when the boys are a bit older. The most unique places they have traveled to so far are New Zealand, South Africa, Thailand, Peru, and Europe! Zion National Park is Reba’s favorite park in the US. Both Cooksleys love to exercise; she prefers running and her husband lifts, but both love being outdoors.

Reba has been very involved in the medical community. At Bryan Health, she served on the Unit-based Council, Glycemic Management Committee, ICU Education Committee, and ICU Quality Committee. She was also a charge nurse, preceptor, and trauma certified nurse.

If she could impart anything to her patients, it would be to know how much power they have over their own health, mentally and physically. There are things each person can do daily and over a lifespan to control and maintain quality health.

Her patients would describe Reba as friendly, thorough, and attentive. She tries to listen to patient preferences and include them in their patient care. Reba Cooksley, ADNP, APRN-NP, FNP-C, is an asset to Bluestem Health and will be the perfect fit at Piedmont Clinic with Dr. Andrew Shahan. If you need a family medicine provider, call 402-476-1455 and ask for an appointment with Reba.