05/09/2026
A nice recognition for one of our alumni and former faculty. Heather left a lasting impact on many of our students❤️
Nurses impact nearly every area of IU Health Ball, and Heather Beane, RN, MS, CIC, exemplifies how nursing flexibility allows careers to evolve alongside life’s changing needs.
Beane chose nursing when her mom suggested it, and it quickly felt like a natural fit.
“I’ve always enjoyed helping others, am naturally compassionate and appreciate that nursing offers both meaningful work and long term stability,” she says.
After graduating with her Bachelor of Science in Nursing, Beane began her nursing career on a medical-surgical unit specializing in endocrinology. After her family had to relocate for her husband’s job, she realized how flexible a nursing career is.
“Each move opened a new door: stepping into management, working in critical care at a Level 1 trauma center, picking up shifts in an outpatient burn clinic and later floating throughout the hospital as part of a resource pool,” she says.
Her career has adapted as she raised her two sons. When her boys were young, she worked weekends in the Cardiac Intensive Care unit. She then took advantage of the IU Health tuition reimbursement program to obtain her master’s degree (MS) at Ball State University (BSU).
Utilizing her passion for nursing to guide the next generation of nursing students, she started teaching classes at BSU after she obtained her MS.
As her family entered a new phase of their lives, she was looking for an area of nursing that provided a consistent schedule while still providing meaningful impact. This led her to the Infection Prevention (IP) team.
“The role in IP brings together my diverse clinical background, passion for education and interest in best practice and patient safety”.
The IP team oversees infection prevention efforts across Ball, including its outpatient clinics, ambulatory surgery centers and wound care centers.
The team also partners with local and state departments of health and supports high-risk organism reporting, trend analysis and investigative work. This comprehensive, systemwide approach strengthens the organization’s ability to maintain safe environments for patients, families, visitors and team members across the continuum of care.
While much of the team’s work is behind the scenes, the impact is reflected in the prevention of healthcare associated infections (HAIs). These efforts reduce harm and support safer outcomes throughout the organization. The team also supports frontline team members in daily practice to prevent HAIs, limit disease transmission, reduce occupational exposures and detect outbreaks early.
Keeping the hospital and its patients safe is a shared team responsibility, and the IP team works closely with other departments across the hospital.
“Our collaboration and shared commitment make every challenge easier to tackle, and it’s inspiring to be part of a group that supports one another so well.”
As Beane looks back at the different roles she has held throughout her nursing career, one thing remains consistent: her love for nursing.
“I love the opportunity to help others, whether that’s caring for patients and their families, mentoring students or supporting coworkers and employees.”
For the next generation of nurses, she shares this bit of advice that she would give her younger self:
"Be confident in yourself. It is okay that you do not know it all; you never will. Keep learning and growing, and most importantly, be better tomorrow than you were today. "
