We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Terry McLellan a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Terry, so good to have you with us today. We’ve always been impressed with folks who have a very clear sense of purpose and so maybe we can jump right in and talk about how you found your purpose?
I found my purpose in life and my career after having a challenging upbringing. I am a daughter of an Airforce Veteran and grew up moving every 2-4yrs. This life had me growing up in England, Germany, Phillipines and America. As a child there was abuse. As I became a teen and young adult I had to strive to not let actions that happened to me define me. This made me want to help people. What better way to help people than to become a nurse. After 20+ years nursing in hospital and home health setting I saw a great need for people to have help navigating the healthcare system. As our healthcare became more challenging and doctors and nurses working short staffed, overworked the gap in educating and taking time with the patient was lacking. I researched patient advocates found there is a certification took test and passed in October of 2020 and in Dec of 2020 I opened my independent patient advocate business…SunNav Healthcare Advocates.
Great, so let’s take a few minutes and cover your story. What should folks know about you and what you do?
I am Terry McLellan, BSN, RN, BCPA. I have over 37 years in healthcare as I obtained my CNA when I was 15. College educated from Husson University in Bangor, ME graduating in 1994. My career has been very diverse working in long-term care, prison, pediatric hospital and home care, critical care, neurology, oncology and home health adult prior to opening my Independent Patient Advocate Practice. December 2020, I opened SunNav Healthcare Advocates, LLC with the goal of being able to help individuals navigate the healthcare system providing the kind of care that is so needed in the navigation of our complex healthcare system today. I strive to educate and empower clients and their loved ones to be able to feel confident in all medical decisions they make as well as being able to advocate for themselves.
I have also added to my buysiness SunNav Equip where I offer business coaching to persons who want to open an advocate business of their own and also positive coaching for women in business. Often times women are hard on themselves and need to be encouraged they have what it takes to be successful.
SunNav Healthcare Advocates is also offering Medical Binders and classes on how to be your best advocate, read and understand your labs and medications.
The story behind the name SunNav
The butterfly has always been a symbol of my Savior’s stamp of approval for me. If I felt lost, unsure, depressed, imperfect a butterfly would appear. It was as though God was saying you are still a work in progress just like the butterfly. I love the Lord with all my heart. That is where the circadian clock comes in. Embedded within the insects 39 antennae are these biological clocks. They help the butterfly determine what time it is. So if the sun is close to the horizon, these clocks indicate whether it is rising or setting and if it is in the east or west. Butterflies are first an egg to the caterpillar then to the chrysalis (cocoon) and then go through a complete metamorphosis to become the butterfly. It is constantly changing just like our health care system. It can be a painful process to navigate but when the process is complete there is peace and beauty. My goal is to help you and your loved ones find your way in this complicated health care system. Fly like the butterfly with beauty and peace.
Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?
Three qualities: I never give up even when life is hard and you think you will never make your goal. Just set a new goal
Be a self learner. Do not wait to be taught always seek growth and educate yourself in your field of study. Be current.
Positive self talk. There is a lot of negative around us. We need to control our thoughts to be positive for me this comes through my faith. I memorize scriptures of who God says I am.
Three skills and areas of knowledge:
I did not just become a nurse I made sure I had a well rounded career working in long-term care, prison, hospital, home health, pediactrics and adults. Critical care and med-surg as well as psychiatric. This has enabled me to be a very well rounded advocate. I am the only independent advocate in TX that will take on pedicatric to geriactric clients.
Okay, so before we go, is there anyone you’d like to shoutout for the role they’ve played in helping you develop the essential skills or overcome challenges along the way?
First my faith in God. I would not be where I am today without my faith and the people I surround myself with to do life together. It is very important that we live in community. I am blessed to have relationships where people speak truth into my life. Sometimes the truth can be hard. You have to be willing to be vulnerable, learn your strengths and weaknesses so you can be and do what the Lord has for you. My best friend and spiritual mom, Nancy Farr and her husband Barry Farr, my spiritual dad, have been the persons that showed me how to love myself even when loving myself was not easy. The struggle to survive abuse and to forgive those who hurt you is real and leaves trauma. Overcoming this trauma for me was a direct result of my faith and surrounding myself with a community of people who loved me no matter what. My goal as an advocate is to not only help people navigate the healthcare system but to love them. We have so much hurt in our world and not enough compassion.
If you surround yourself with people who will speak truth to you help you grow where you are weak this helps you be a better person and ultimately successful in anything you put your mind to.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://sunnavhca.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sunnavhca/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sunnavhca
- Linkedin: www.linkedin.com/in/terry-mclellan-bsn-rn-bcpa-17a79a3a
Image Credits
Aven Willow Portraits
