Leading an impressive career in both nursing and education, which has spanned almost 40 years, Annette Gentry Shousha, RN, retired in 1995 from her position as an intensive care unit critical care nurse at the Nashville Veterans Affairs Hospital in Tennessee. Aligned with the hospital for five years, she formerly worked in medical nursing and as a gastrointestinal nurse. Ms. Shousha also contributed for over 20 years as a clinical manager and office nurse in Britton, South Dakota, an obstetrics-gynecology nurse at Nashville General Hospital, an in-service educator at Tri County Hospital in Georgia and a medical nursing instructor at Nashville General Hospital.
Throughout her career, Ms. Shousha was a regular contributor of the South Dakota Journal of Medicine. It is a monthly, peer-reviewed medical journal published by the South Dakota State Medical Association. Active in her community, as well as in politics, Ms. Shousha is a former delegate of the South Dakota Political Convention.
Acquiring a diploma from Saint Thomas Hospital in Nashville in 1957, Ms. Shousha subsequently attended Belmont University in Nashville and Northern State University in Aberdeen, South Dakota, for a short time before ultimately attaining a Bachelor of Science in Nursing at South Dakota State University in Brookings in 1985. She is also certified in coronary care. Outside of her primary trade, Ms. Shousha is a member of numerous industry-related organizations including the American Nurses Association, the National Hospice Association and the Nurses Organization of Veterans Affairs. She is also a member and past state president of the American Medical Association Auxiliary and the South Dakota Medical Auxiliary, and a member of the school board of the Northeastern Mental Health Board in South Dakota.
An expert in gastroenterology, obstetrics and gynecology, Ms. Shousha was the recipient of a Governor’s Recognition Award for Outstanding Volunteer Service. A celebrated Marquis listee, she has been featured in numerous editions of Who’s Who including Who’s Who in America, Who’s Who in American Nursing, Who’s Who in Medicine and Healthcare, and Who’s Who in the World. Since retiring, Ms. Shousha has had more time to pursue valued diversions such as art, piano playing, reading and spending time with her family.
Ms. Shousha became involved in her profession because she admired nursing and wanted to be a nurse for many years. She decided at a quite young age that she wanted to go into nursing, and it worked out for her. There was a nurse called Lona, who had quite an influence over her. The highlight of Ms. Shousha’s career was touching the lives of other people, which she enjoyed. She was thankful that she was a nurse and for the opportunity to work with her husband, Alfred Shousha, who was a physician.
