Get to Know Shannon Wesson, Director of Nurses at Leavitt Family Jewish Home

Upon meeting Shannon Wesson, it becomes obvious that she excels in taking care of people. As Director of Nurses at Leavitt Family Jewish Home, Shannon is an integral part of the JGS Lifecare team. In fact, she thrives upon establishing relationships with the residents. As Shannon explains, “Seeing a resident smile immediately brightens my day!”
After working in long term care as an LPN for over 15 years, Shannon decided to further her education and graduated from Springfield Technical Community College in 2013 as an RN. For her, it was definitely the right decision. “I love what I do,” exclaims Shannon. “My favorite part about working at JNH is the opportunity to spend time with our residents. I really enjoy interacting with each and every resident.” Added Shannon, “We truly are one big family!”
Shannon’s nurturing instincts are also quite evident at home. Shannon and her husband Eric are the proud parents to son Dan (20) and Morgan (18). The family resides in Monson, a rural town in Western MA. Shannon gives new meaning to the term “animal lover” – she has two dogs, two cats, four goats and 27 chickens!
For Shannon, the pandemic helped her appreciate how much it means to be part of a highly respected healthcare organization. “During the height of the COVID crisis, Chelsea Jewish Lifecare arranged for an incredible farmers market to be set up outdoors for our staff,” saidShannon. “We were all limiting our trips to the grocery stores and trying to balance our work and home life as best as we could. Each one of our team members took bags of food home to our families: cases of fresh fruit and vegetables, dry goods, and essential items. This thoughtful gesture was heartwarming and so appreciated by our team. Added Shannon, “I will never forget the smiles on each of their faces.”
Although Shannon is the first to admit that weathering the pandemic has not been easy, she believes the entire staff JGS Lifecare went above and beyond during this unprecedented time. “Our staff are irreplaceable,” said Shannon. “The degree of empathy and compassion they project to our residents, families and each other is hard to even articulate. Each one of our team members took pride in providing exceptional care to our beloved residents. I am so proud to be part of this team.”
In her free time, Shannon can be found watching sports, especially those that involve her children. Shannon’s son Dan is a frequent contender in the local NASCAR races and her daughter Morgan plays goalie for both her NEFC Club team and WMA High School team. She will be attending University of Maine next fall, where she hopes to continue playing the sport.