HEALTH CARE HEROES 2026 AWARDS
Nurse: Shelley Grant, Bradley Hospital director of nursing – residential
What led you to choose health care as your profession? Growing up, I watched the nurses at Boston Children’s Hospital care for my sibling with remarkable compassion and dedication. I deeply admired the meaningful role they played in our lives and how their kindness and expertise brought comfort and hope during difficult times. It was this experience that led me to choose nursing as my profession.
How have you helped boost the quality of or access to health care? I have always made myself available and fully present for families, no matter what else was going on, so they felt like they truly mattered. I strive to meet their needs with the same compassion and attentiveness I would want for my own family member.
What is the biggest challenge you and your organization are facing this year? Staffing shortages and the burnout that often results from them have become a significant challenge for me and the organization.
What more do you feel the state can do to help further support the health care sector in Rhode Island? Expand programs that support and promote career growth in health care, with a strong emphasis on work-life balance.
Are you confident patient access and quality of care will improve in Rhode Island over the next five years? Why or why not? I remain optimistic because people in health care are deeply committed to advocating for their patients and will continue to use their voices to drive meaningful improvement and lasting change.
Tell us one thing that most people don’t know about you. If I share it with you, it will no longer be something that most people don’t know about me.