Life Detours Lead to Nurse Practitioner’s Calling

In health care, priorities can shift in an instant. Amid the constant movement and decision-making, Allen County Regional Hospital–Iola Clinic nurse practitioner Erin Splechter, RN, FNP ensures each patient receives the care they need.

Erin understands there is more to her patients than their diagnoses. Her life experiences helped shape the way she cares for others.

A personal journey to health care

Although Erin graduated from high school with plans to pursue a nursing career, life took unexpected turns. After the deaths of her father and grandfather and the arrival of her first child, she put that dream on hold.

Erin stepped away from college, returned home, and her family became a vital source of support for both her and her daughter Alana. The help she received from her family reinforced the importance of having people in her corner, and she never lost sight of her dream to work in health care.

In 2007, Erin joined Allen County Regional Hospital as a CNA while balancing multiple jobs. After several months, Erin decided to focus solely on her health care career goals with her family's help.

“I wanted to make something of myself to thank my family and to make life better for Alana,” Erin says.

Erin continued working at the hospital while taking classes. She became a licensed practical nurse (LPN) in 2009 and earned her associates degree and became a registered nurse (RN) the following year.

As Erin expanded her nursing career, her family also grew. By the time she earned her bachelor's degree in 2016, she had met and married her husband, Michael, and the couple had two more children: Kinsley and Kaden. 

Even while balancing a busy family and demanding work schedule, she continued taking classes, completing her master's degree to become a nurse practitioner at Allen County Regional Hospital–Iola Clinic in 2019 while expecting her fourth child, Reed.

Her experiences influenced her outlook on patient care, recognizing that each patient brings personal responsibilities and life circumstances that go beyond what can be documented in a medical chart.

One day at a time

When Kinsley needed heart surgery as an infant to repair a heart valve, Erin experienced health care from a parent’s perspective. In kindergarten, Kinsley had hip surgery for Legg-Calvé-Perthes disease. This rare condition happens when the blood supply to the ball of a child's hip joint is temporarily interrupted, causing the bone to weaken. 

Surgery helped keep Kinsley’s hip joint properly aligned, allowing the bone to heal and regain its shape over time. Erin supported her recovery, including wheelchair assistance for 6 weeks to regain her mobility.

“The things I've learned from my kids, like Kinsley, help me take better care of my pediatric patients,” Erin says. “Going through her surgeries made me more aware of what kids and their families can go through.”

Sitting on the other side of health care gave Erin a deeper understanding of what patients and families experience while waiting for answers and trusting others with a loved one's care. The experience highlighted the importance of clear communication, reassurance, and compassionate support during uncertain moments. 

Supporting Kinsley through a lengthy recovery also gave Erin firsthand insight into the challenges patients and caregivers face after a procedure, strengthening the empathy she brings to patient care.

Caring for others

Over the years, Erin turned to counseling to help manage the stress that comes from long hours, heavy workloads, and the emotional demands of caring for others. Her decision to seek counseling reinforced that health extends beyond physical symptoms. 

Erin cares for patients knowing that every diagnosis is attached to a person balancing unique responsibilities and relationships. She notices the little things that can have a meaningful impact on children and their families.  

“I have a unique perspective on the challenges many of my younger patients face. Whether it's helping teens like Alana navigate physical changes and mental health issues or supporting kids like Kinsley who are different from their peers, those experiences have strengthened my understanding and made me a better health care provider for kids and their parents,” Erin says.

Through every obstacle she has faced, Erin has gained more than resilience. She has developed the empathy and compassion that continue to shape the care she provides to every patient who walks through her doors.

Allen County Regional Hospital–Iola Clinic, located at 826 E. Madison Ave. in Iola, provides convenient access to high-quality primary care for patients of all ages. Call 620-365-6933 to schedule an appointment with Erin or any one of our board-certified providers.