Finding My Path

"Most of all, most of all / Thanks to the bulls that bucked me off."

These lyrics from "The Bull" by Kip Moore are my pre-game ritual before every pitch, speaking engagement, or nerve-wracking moment in my professional journey. They're my reminder that greatness often comes from the pivots we didn't see coming.

Some bulls are obvious—they're the naysayers, the ones who dismiss your vision with a sneer. But the more challenging bulls are intangible: circumstances beyond our control, unexpected tragedies, and sometimes, even blessings in disguise. Each one has shaped my path from nurse to scientist to founder, a journey I never planned, but now couldn't imagine any other way.

I stumbled into nursing by accident—literally. During a summer healthcare program for high school students, I walked into the wrong lecture hall. Instead of joining my fellow pre-med students, I found myself captivated by a nursing presentation. It was love at first lecture and I changed my college plans on the spot. That wrong turn would prove to be one of the most right decisions of my life.

The Arena

Bedside nursing in the critical care unit was a dream come true. I loved connecting with patients, learning their stories, witnessing their courage, and finding that soul-deep connection that comes from helping another human being in crisis. But life, as it often does, had other plans. Fresh out of nursing school, I learned a tough lesson in relationships that left me starting over. Another bull had bucked me off—and the landing hurt.

So I did what I knew best: I went back to school. Following mentor advice, I pursued a PhD. Then, two years into my graduate journey, a bull charged in with devastating force. One phone call from a neurosurgeon changed everything: "It's bad. I suggest getting on the first flight you can."

My father, only 56, had suffered a vertebral artery dissection resulting in a massive stroke and multiple heart attacks. What followed was weeks in the hospital and months in rehab. While he survived, the psychosocial, emotional, and behavioral aftermath shattered our family's foundation and redefined my understanding of patient care. As a nurse, I'd supported countless families through critical illness, but being on the other side of that equation revealed depths of pain I never fully grasped before. I realized that the real struggle isn't just the hospitalization—it's the collateral damage that reshapes entire family dynamics.

From Crisis to Catalyst

This experience became the catalyst for the Family Room. During my postdoctoral fellowship, I finally had space to breathe and process. I landed on some foundational insights that have ultimately led to the Family Room as it is today:

1. A traumatic healthcare experience can rip families apart or bring them closer together— there seems to be little space in between.
2. In healthcare, we focus so heavily on the science of curing, but we've lost our way with the art of healing. Our incredible advancements save people's lives, but too often, their souls suffer in the process.
3. Families know these patients best, but the system isn't designed in a way to surface their insights to help guide the direction of care.

The mission was clear—families need to be more engaged and empowered as integral members of the care team. I needed to come up with a way to transform the delivery of healthcare, to bring families from the periphery to the center of the healthcare experience, not just with words like "patient and family centered care", but with actual, tangible, effective tools.

When I presented my first attempt at a solution to my scientific community, one reviewer condensed their feedback into a single-syllable agricultural byproduct. A familiar bull reared its head, but this time, I was ready. In all honesty, while the feedback was harsh, it wasn't inaccurate. I once got advice that as an innovator, you should be utterly embarrassed by your first product. I can attest the accuracy of that statement!

The Family Room Takes Shape

Fast forward to today, and the Family Room has evolved into something we're excited to share: an early solution that's showing promising results in transforming the hospital experience for families and patients alike.

Our approach recognizes a fundamental truth: to truly help patients heal, we must also heal and activate their caregivers. Families aren't just visitors or observers—they're essential healers who carry their own emotional burdens while trying to support their loved ones. By focusing on healing both the patient and their caregivers, we create a stronger foundation for recovery and long-term well-being.

Through simple technology, we guide families in becoming confident caregiving partners. We help them share their invaluable knowledge in ways that naturally integrate into clinical workflows, while providing personalized education and support throughout their hospital journey. Think of it as having a nurse in your pocket, helping you navigate the complex world of hospital care.

In essence, we're building a bridge between clinical expertise and family wisdom, creating true partners in the healing process.

Building Together

Looking back at those early rejections now, I can laugh. As the song goes, "Sure feels good to laugh when I look back and flip the bull the bird." Each 'no' just pushed us to build something better.

The Family Room has grown from a personal mission into a shared vision, brought to life by an extraordinary group of people. My incredible co-founder, our team of gentle disrupters, and a network of mentors, contractors, and fellow innovators have all poured their hearts into this work. Every breakthrough, every iteration, every small win has been the product of collective wisdom and shared determination to change healthcare for the better.

The Road Ahead

A decade into this journey, I've learned what every healthcare innovator discovers: transforming an idea into reality demands patience, persistence, and an unshakeable sense of purpose.

While we've secured funding and gained momentum, the path hasn't been easy—every acceptance has been preceded by countless rejections, every breakthrough by moments of doubt. But each challenge has only strengthened our resolve, because we know that transforming the family experience in healthcare isn't just worthwhile – it's essential.

I've stopped wishing for all the answers, because I've realized that innovation in healthcare isn't about certainty—it's about courage, compassion, and continuous learning. We meet families where they are, make improvements based on their feedback, and stay true to our mission of putting healing at the center of healthcare.

Looking ahead, I know there are still herds of bulls waiting. Some will be fierce critics, others will be systemic obstacles, and a few might just buck us into our next breakthrough. And that's okay because "most of all, most of all, I'm grateful for every bull that's bucked me off."

Each challenge has taught me that true innovation comes not from having perfect solutions, but from having the heart to keep asking better questions and the tenacity to keep pushing forward.

Ready to join us on this journey? Whether you're a family advocate, clinician, or healthcare system leader, we'd love to explore how we can transform the hospital experience together. We're especially excited to connect with partners who can help bring our solution directly to families through consumer channels.

Let's chat about building a future where family engagement isn't just a buzzword—it's the foundation of better healthcare for everyone.

‍Eternal dreamer, ICU nurse, and scientist turned innovator, Breanna Hetland, PhD, RN, CCRN reimagines family care as Family Room's CEO while advancing nursing practice as an assistant professor at the University of Nebraska Medical Center and a nurse scientist at Nebraska Medicine.