Megan Johnstad
CNA
Brighton Hospice Minnesota
“Everything happens for a reason.”
What is something about you that would surprise most people?
I played hockey! I started playing when I was in 4th grade and played until I graduated in 2016. My first year on the varsity team was my 9th grade year!
What is your favorite book or movie from your childhood?
Lady and the Tramp or Lilo and Stitch.
If you could spend a day with any person, living or deceased, who would it be?
My grandpa Harold, who passed away July 4th of the year I was born.
What is one thing you can’t live without?
Dogs–I love them.
What is your favorite place you’ve ever visited?
Cancun, Mexico.
Where is your hometown?
Faribault, Minnesota.
Team Member Spotlights
Our mission at Brighton Hospice is to provide the best physical, emotional, and spiritual care for our patients and their families.
Achieving this important mission would be impossible without our Brighton team members. We take pride in hiring the most compassionate and skilled people in the industry who deliver clinical expertise and exceed our patients’ expectations.
Our Team Member Spotlight series is our way of highlighting those dedicated individuals who go above and beyond in their commitment to excellence.
Megan Johnstad, CNA
Megan with her black Lab, Nova.
Tell us about your family, friends, pets, hobbies, and passion projects:
Family is everything to me. My parents live in Faribault and spend a lot of time up north at their second home (our camper) in the late spring, summer and fall. I have a half sister who is 15 years older than me who is my best friend. I became an aunt in March of 2012 to my niece, Tru. Being her aunt is the best gift my sister could ever give me.
I have a boyfriend whose name is Login. We have been together for almost two years now and we have a one year-old black Lab named Nova who keeps us very busy.
In my spare time, I love hanging out with all my friends, taking naps with my dog, shopping, and spending time with family. I also spend my time outside of work pursuing my nursing career at Rasmussen College.
“Megan is such a bright, shining team member. She is always willing to go above and beyond for her patients, families, and facilities. She is always willing to help the team out in any way she can. Megan is always compliant with getting her documentation in daily. We always receive such positive feedback from facilities and patient family members.”
– Megan’s Brighton Team Leaders
What inspired you to pursue a career in hospice care?
Working in senior living facilities for four years and seeing hospice agencies come in for patients and seeing the impact they made on not only the patients themselves but the families too. In what can be a really hard time for the patients and their families, I wanted to be their light that they looked forward to seeing every day and make the process even just a little bit easier for everyone involved.
How did you first learn about Brighton Hospice?
A friend I used to play hockey with worked for Brighton!
How long have you been with Brighton?
I’ve been with Brighton a little over a year now!
What is your proudest moment at Brighton Hospice?
Being recognized by my patients, my patient’s families, team, and leaders for the care I provide for my patients. I truly love going to work every day and I’m so thankful for the opportunity to make a difference on each of my patient’s journeys.
What are the challenges of working in hospice care that you’ve faced or would like to shed light on?
Gaining such a strong and personal relationship with my patients and losing them is really hard for me sometimes. When you spend so much time with someone, you grow to love and care for them like they are family. Even if it is losing the patient due to them doing so well and graduating from hospice, you are so happy for them, but the goodbye still isn’t easy.
What are your hopes for the hospice care / healthcare industry?
I hope that hospice care and the healthcare industry in general continues to attract amazing, passionate, caring, and hard-working people. When I look into the future and think about the people I want to care for my family, it is people like my coworkers at Brighton Hospice that I would want to be there for my loved ones if I couldn’t be.
