2003 Wisconsin Health Care Employee Pride Program

Transcription

1 2003 Wisconsin Health Care Employee Pride Program We Care Sponsored by Wisconsin Hospital Association In collaboration with Wisconsin Society of Healthcare Human Resources Administration Wisconsin Organization of Nurse Executives Wisconsin Healthcare Public Relations and Marketing Society

2 The Wisconsin Health Care Employee Pride Program WE CARE Table of Contents Page Table of Contents by Title Table of Contents by City i-vi vii-xi Activities Arcadia Franciscan Skemp Healthcare...1 Cynthia Schultz, Activity Assistant Beloit Beloit Memorial Hospital/Riverside Terrace...2 Erica Softley, Activities Coordinator Administrative Assistant Richland Center The Richland Hospital, Inc...3 Patty Pulvermacher Clinical Research Coordinator Milwaukee Aurora Health Care...4 Stacie Snap, CCRC Community Relations Assistant Dodgeville Upland Hills Health...5 Erin Groshek Credentialing Coordinator Manitowoc Holy Family Memorial Hospital...6 Cheryl Terp Customer Service Specialist Kenosha Children s Hospital of WI-Kenosha...7 Renee Essington ECG Technician Prairie du Sac Sauk Prairie Memorial Hospital...8 Judith Wolff i

3 Educator Madison Meriter Hospital...9 Judy Eckblad, RN, MS Sheboygan St. Nicholas Hospital...10 Mary Lou Roethel, RN, BSN, CDE Certified Diabetes Educator Emergency Medical Technician Park Falls Flambeau Hospital...11 Laurie McKuen, EMT Emergency Services Green Bay St. Mary s Hospital Medical Center...12 Elaine Ouellette Director of Emergency Services Housekeeping Oconto Falls Community Memorial Hospital...13 Susan M. Rindt Woodruff Howard Young Medical Center...14 Joyce Knapp Medical Technologist Portage Divine Savior Healthcare...15 Cindy Wilson Nursing Certified Nursing Assistant Baldwin Baldwin Area Medical Center...16 Stella Berry, CNA Hartford Aurora Hartford Medical Center...17 Michele Leiske, CNA Neillsville Memorial Medical Center...18 April Dailey, CNA ii

4 Certified Nursing Assistant Reedsburg Reedsburg Area Medical Center...19 Janice Schultz, CNA Licensed Practical Nurse Boscobel Boscobel Area Health Care...20 Darla Karasek, LPN Fond du Lac Agnesian HealthCare...21 Barb Kraft, LPN Hematology/Oncology Department Fort Atkinson Fort Atkinson Memorial Health Services...22 Amy Romans, LPN Med/Surg/Peds Registered Nurse Beaver Dam Beaver Dam Community Hospital...23 Joan Wanke, RN Emergency Services Department Black River Falls Black River Memorial Hospital...24 Kathleen Harasimowicz, RN Brookfield Elmbrook Memorial Hospital...25 Susan Borsari, RN, BSN Chippewa Falls St. Joseph s Hospital...26 Susan Yetter, RN Darlington Memorial Hospital of Lafayette County...27 Patricia Stauffacher, RN Nursing Supervisor Green Bay Bellin Hospital...28 Gail Boushley, RN Team Leader, Orthopedics Unit St. Vincent Hospital...29 Georgia Stapleton, RN Case Manager iii

5 Registered Nurse Hillsboro St. Joseph s Community Health Services, Inc...30 Laurene Wurster, RN Janesville Mercy Health System Corporation...31 Linda Neuenschwander, RN La Crosse Franciscan Skemp Healthcare...32 Camilla Jaekel, RN Madison St. Marys Hospital Medical Center...33 Lois Leveque, RN Marinette Bay Area Medical Center...34 Beverly Bertrand, RN OB GYN Marshfield Saint Joseph s Hospital...35 Candy Strey, RN, BSN, OCN Medford Memorial Health Center...36 Sandra Clarke, RN Milwaukee Aurora Sinai Medical Center...37 Deborah Hall, RN Children s Hospital of Wisconsin...38 Chris Lutze, Pediatric RN Columbia St. Mary s...39 JoAnne Arndt, RN St. Francis Hospital, Milwaukee...40 Mary Ann Biederwolf, RN St. Joseph s Regional Medical Center...41 Mary Kay Klukas, RN, BSN Monroe The Monroe Clinic...42 Gynel Hagemann, RN Family Birth Center iv

6 Registered Nurse Neenah Children s Hospital of WI-Fox Valley...43 Amy Korlesky, Pediatric RN Sparta Franciscan Skemp Healthcare...44 Susan Davis, RN ER/OB Tomah VA Medical Center...45 Barbara Wright, RN Nurse Manager Viroqua Vernon Memorial Healthcare...46 Peggy Clark, RN Watertown Watertown Area Health Services...47 Christine Grimm, RN Wausau Wausau Hospital...48 Amanda P. Ferrill, RN West Allis West Allis Memorial Hospital...49 Michael Krogman, RN Hyperbaric & Wound Care Wisconsin Rapids Riverview Hospital Association...50 Bev Walther, RN Obstetrics Nurse Practitioner Amery Amery Regional Medical Center...51 Mary Ann Scoglio Occupational Therapy Assistant Milwaukee St. Michael Hospital...52 Juliann Daniels, C.O.T.A v

7 Patient Accounting Baraboo St. Clare Hospital & Health Services...53 Kerri Vertein-Seiler Patient Access Services Cudahy Aurora/St. Luke s South Shore...54 Sue Underbrink, Supervisor Physical Therapist Lancaster Grant Regional Health Center...55 Tonya Schlueter, PTA, MT Radiation Oncology La Crosse Gundersen Lutheran...56 Colleen Brogan-Raasch, CMD Radiation Therapist Milwaukee St. Luke s Medical Center...57 Amy Pelikan, RT Education Coordinator, Radiation Oncology Radiology Techologist Milwaukee Columbia St. Mary s...58 Mary L. Schils, RTRM Respiratory Therapist Eau Claire Sacred Heart Hospital...59 Kelly J. Gullo, RT Sleep Disorder Center Greenfield Kindred Hospital Milwaukee...60 Christina Keedick, RRT Staffing Coordinator Stevens Point St. Michael s Hospital...61 Kelly Domres vi

8 The Wisconsin Health Care Employee Pride Program WE CARE Table of Contents by City Page Amery Amery Regional Medical Center...51 Mary Ann Scoglio, Nurse Practitioner Arcadia Franciscan Skemp Healthcare...1 Cynthia Schultz, Activity Assistant Baldwin Baldwin Area Medical Center...16 Stella Berry, CNA Baraboo St. Clare Hospital & Health Services...53 Kerri Vertein-Seiler, Patient Accounting Beaver Dam Beaver Dam Community Hospital...23 Joan Wanke, RN Emergency Services Department Beloit Beloit Memorial Hospital/Riverside Terrace...2 Erica Softley, Activities Coordinator Black River Falls Black River Memorial Hospital...24 Kathleen Harasimowicz, RN Boscobel Boscobel Area Health Care...20 Darla Karasek, LPN Brookfield Elmbrook Memorial Hospital...25 Susan Borsari, RN, BSN Chippewa Falls St. Joseph s Hospital...26 Susan Yetter, RN Cudahy Aurora/St. Luke s South Shore...54 Sue Underbrink, Supervisor Patient Access Services vii

9 Darlington Memorial Hospital of Lafayette County...27 Patricia Stauffacher, RN Nursing Supervisor Dodgeville Upland Hills Health...5 Erin Groshek, Community Relations Assistant Eau Claire Sacred Heart Hospital...59 Kelly J. Gullo, RT Sleep Disorder Center Fond du Lac Agnesian HealthCare...21 Barb Kraft, LPN Hematology/Oncology Department Fort Atkinson Fort Atkinson Memorial Health Services...22 Amy Romans, LPN Med/Surg/Peds Green Bay Bellin Hospital...28 Gail Boushley, RN Team Leader, Orthopedics Unit St. Mary s Hospital Medical Center...12 Elaine Ouellette, Director of Emergency Services St. Vincent Hospital...29 Georgia Stapleton, RN Case Manager Greenfield Kindred Hospital Milwaukee...60 Christina Keedick, RRT Hartford Aurora Hartford Medical Center...17 Michele Leiske, CNA Hillsboro St. Joseph s Community Health Services, Inc...30 Laurene Wurster, RN Janesville Mercy Health System Corporation...31 Linda Neuenschwander, RN viii

10 Kenosha Children s Hospital of WI-Kenosha...7 Renee Essington, Customer Service Specialist La Crosse Franciscan Skemp Healthcare...32 Camilla Jaekel, RN Gundersen Lutheran Colleen Brogan-Raasch, CMD...56 Radiation Oncology Lancaster Grant Regional Health Center...55 Tonya Schlueter, PTA, MT Physical Therapist Madison Meriter Hospital...9 Judy Eckblad, RN, MS St. Marys Hospital Medical Center...33 Lois Leveque, RN Manitowoc Holy Family Memorial Hospital...6 Cheryl Terp, Credentialing Coordinator Marinette...34 Bay Area Medical Center Beverly Bertrand, RN OB GYN Marshfield Saint Joseph s Hospital...35 Candy Strey, RN, BSN, OCN Medford Memorial Health Center...36 Sandra Clarke, RN Milwaukee Aurora Health Care...4 Stacie Snap, CCRC Clinical Research Coordinator Aurora Sinai Medical Center...37 Deborah Hall, RN ix

11 Milwaukee Children s Hospital of Wisconsin...38 Chris Lutze, Pediatric RN Columbia St. Mary s...39 JoAnne Arndt, RN Columbia St. Mary s...58 Mary L. Schils, RTRM St. Francis Hospital...40 Mary Ann Biederwolf, RN St. Joseph s Regional Medical Center...41 Mary Kay Klukas, RN, BSN St. Luke s Medical Center...57 Amy Pelikan, RT St. Michael Hospital...52 Juliann Daniels, C.O.T.A Occupational Therapy Assistant Monroe The Monroe Clinic...42 Gynel Hagemann, RN Family Birth Center Neenah Children s Hospital of WI-Fox Valley...43 Amy Korlesky, Pediatric RN Neillsville Memorial Medical Center...18 April Dailey, CNA Oconto Falls Community Memorial Hospital...13 Susan M. Rindt, Housekeeper Park Falls Flambeau Hospital...11 Laurie McKuen, EMT Portage Divine Savior Healthcare...15 Cindy Wilson, Medical Technologist Prairie du Sac Sauk Prairie Memorial Hospital...8 Judith Wolff, ECG Technician x

12 Reedsburg Reedsburg Area Medical Center...19 Janice Schultz, CNA Richland Center The Richland Hospital, Inc....3 Patty Pulvermacher, Administrative Assistant Sheboygan St. Nicholas Hospital...10 Mary Lou Roethel, RN, BSN, CDE Certified Diabetes Educator Sparta Fransican Skemp Healthcare...44 Susan Davis, RN Stevens Point St. Michael s Hospital...61 Kelly Domres, ER/OB Staffing Coordinator Tomah VA Medical Center...45 Barbara Wright, RN Nurse Manager Viroqua Vernon Memorial Healthcare...46 Peggy Clark, RN Watertown Watertown Area Health Services...47 Christine Grimm, RN Wausau Wausau Hospital...48 Amanda P. Ferrill, RN West Allis West Allis Memorial Hospital...49 Michael Krogman, RN Hyperbaric & Wound Care Wisconsin Rapids Riverview Hospital Association...50 Bev Walther, RN Woodruff Howard Young Medical Center...14 Joyce Knapp, Housekeeper xi

13 My name is Cyndi Schultz. I work at Franciscan Skemp Healthcare in Arcadia. I am an Activity Assistant. In 1990, my children had all graduated and I found myself alone. I knew there was something that I needed to do but unsure of what it was. When one of my daughters was a teenager, she did volunteer work at FSH. I decided to give it a try. I met the Activity Director and the rest is history. I became very involved with our residents. Persons afflicted with Alzheimer s Disease followed me around. Through the years, I learned so much from them. Our facility here in Arcadia has many wonderful programs. I wanted to be more involved with Dementia. I was given the opportunity to attend education programs. Through education programs and one-onone contact, I learned that working in a nursing home is not a depressing job. I find my work full of rewards. Through many activities, I am able to help our residents have a day filled with meaning. I get joy and satisfaction out of watching our residents smile and go back in time recalling their fond memories of yesterday. The day I met Fritz (one of our residents who was afflicted with Alzheimer s Disease) changed my life. I was drawn to learn all I could. With the support of our staff, I started an Alzheimer s Support Group and am now the County Coordinator for our local Memory Walk. I knew God had led me to this nursing home for a reason. Through my experiences here, I was able to observe and learn. I plan to stay in this field for as long as God will allow. Since working here, my own mother has been diagnosed with Dementia. Cynthia Schultz Activity Assistant Franciscan Skemp Healthcare Arcadia, Wisconsin 1

14 Remembering the Smiles GOOD MORNING! I chirp as our residents come into the exercise room for their morning routine. A couple residents speak softly, Hi, good morning they say. Some don t look at me, just walk over to their chairs. Oh, boy, what a quiet group this morning must be sleepy from a late night of partying! I quip and receive a few smiles in return. All right, time for Plan B, I think, and break into a song GOOD morning, good morning, good morning it s time to rise and shine! Good morning, good morning, good morning; I hope you re feeling fine... I sing to them. Laughter erupts, and smiles spread across the faces of all 10 residents. Thus has begun another day of positive, meaningful, and jovial activities here at Riverside Terrace Assisted Living. As the Coordinator of Resident Activities, I feel very blessed to do the work I do; it is fun, challenging, and rewarding. We try to incorporate laughter into all that we do. When the weather is fair, we eat ice cream on the porch and play lawn darts in the yard. In autumn, the residents and I eat warm apple pie in front of the fireplace at the apple orchard. And in the winter, we look forward to all of the children who come to perform holiday programs for us! On a daily basis, I am honored to have the opportunity to comfort a resident whose oldest friend has just passed away. I am grateful that I am able to brush the hair of a resident whose hands are sore and stiff with arthritis. How wonderful it is that I have the opportunity to be a part of the anniversary celebration of a couple married almost 70 years. My heart aches as a resident laments the vigor and memory of his younger years. My job is to help our residents maintain or, in some cases, rediscover that vibrancy; to help them remember and revel in happy moments in their lives, and to learn new skills and discover new interests along the way. I am grateful that my grandmother instilled in me an empathetic heart for people of all ages. Her independent spirit, simple loving kindness, and gentle nature are all qualities I see every day reflected in the residents that I work with. And one can never get enough smiles! Erica Softley Activities Coordinator Riverside Terrace Beloit, Wisconsin 2

15 When I was in high school, I walked past the hospital s Quiet Zone sign every day; the two places were a block apart. I take pride in the fact that I recently celebrated my 50 th anniversary working as an administrative assistant at The Richland Hospital. It doesn t seem possible; the days have gone by so fast. Working in administration has been very interesting, different every day, never boring. I have always loved my job, even though I was so scared that I fainted the first day. I have never wanted to leave. I get all excited when I think about how things were back then and how they are now. There have been a number of additions to the hospital over the years, but our last project, that began in 1998 and was completed in 2002, was something that we had hoped for and worked toward for many years. The physicians are now located in an area connected to the hospital. A little reminiscing: When I started, Medicare wasn t in existence and we were not JCAHO accredited. We had no pharmacist. There were no therapy departments. There were no computers, but we had just installed a Bookkeeping Machine. We had no Radiologist or Pathologist. There was no medical records department; physicians were just learning to dictate H & P s on the Dictaphone. I learned to transcribe all the medical terms, and the filing of patient charts was started. There was no human resources department; no one filled out job applications. There was no social worker/discharge planned. There was no ER staff. There were individual oxygen tanks for patients, by their beds. No radios or TV s for patients. We worked 48 hours per week, with no overtime pay. In nursing, the aides worked split shifts. Polio was very prevalent and very scary. We used carbon paper and stencil no copy machines, just typewriters. Fathers could not be in the delivery room; no one got to hold the baby until it went home. Visiting hours were very strict and no children were allowed. Marketing/advertising were considered unethical. The first time we advertised in the local paper, some people were very upset that the hospital could stoop so low as to do that. Patients used to stay in the hospital much longer than now; you got to know the whole family. back. Things have certainly changed, and for the better, in most cases. We wouldn t want to go I m proud to live in a community that continues to support our hospital. I m thankful to have had the privilege to work with administrators, boards, physicians, and fellow employees who have had confidence in me and make me feel very special. This has been and is my extended family and my life. I m very proud to have been a part of The Richland Hospital for 50 of the 78 years that it has been in operation. Patty Pulvermacher Administrative Assistant The Richland Hospital, Inc. Richland Center, Wisconsin 3

16 At this time last year, I submitted an essay to the WE CARE: Wisconsin Health Care Employee Pride Program and was chosen to represent St. Luke s Medical Center at the recognition reception in Wausau. I was employed approximately six months at Aurora Health Care. To summarize last year s essay, my motivation for coming to work at Aurora was to have the opportunity to grow as an individual and continue to develop and improve practices everyday to provide the best possible care to the community I enjoyed the work I did because not only was I providing services to the patient, but also it was made known to me that I was respected and valued as a person and as asset to Aurora Health Care. I felt that when you are made to feel important and appreciated, you are more likely to respond positively and take pride in your work. I still believe that more than ever today. After working in the Clinical Research Department for a year and a half now, I continue to fully enjoy the work I do as a health care provider and continue to take pride in my work. I am grateful to be able to be a part of Aurora Health Care s mission: Finding Better Ways. It is my hope to this year, again, be able to represent Aurora Health Care and to show the pride I feel in being an Aurora Health Care employee. Stacie R. Snap, CCRC Clinical Research Coordinator Aurora Health Care Research Milwaukee, Wisconsin 4

17 As the Community Relations Assistant of Upland Hills Health, I find that I wear many hats. I may not hold the hand of a loved one as they pass into another world or help a new mother push a baby into this one, but I stay behind the scenes working to communicate with employees, volunteers, and vendors to make the organization run like the well-oiled machine that it is. I call the volunteer to come sit with the suicidal patient who needs to be watched, but also listened to. I schedule the volunteer who helps make phone calls for a patient who needs a ride home because no one knows she is here. I orient the new volunteer who has just lost her husband and needs something worthwhile to do to pass her time. I order the gift shop merchandise that the new grandfather buys for his brand new grandson. I explain the memo in more detail to the irate employee. I write the employee newsletter, monthly volunteer newsletter, and quarterly Auxiliary newsletter to communicate the exciting things happening in our organization. I work with the signage vendor to label every door in the facility. I order the food and organize the program for the special event. I write the media release about the event for the local news media so they don t have to. I take pictures of smiling faces and follow the camera crew around so they get the best footage. I take the kindergarten class on the tour so they can ogle at the new babies and won t be scared of the Emergency Room. I organize the job shadow that impresses the high school student who will choose healthcare as a career. I listen. I lecture. I laugh. I love my job! Erin Groshek Community Relations Assistant Upland Hills Health Dodgeville, Wisconsin 5

18 As a high school student, I honestly did not think that my career would be in health care, primarily because my interests were in helping people, but not necessarily direct patient care in a hospital or clinic setting. Only after additional education and several job experiences did I realize that my ideal career was in a health care setting, working with people and helping people behind the scenes. My job as the Medical Staff/Credentialing Coordinator at Holy Family Memorial is to ensure that physicians, dentists and other health care practitioners have the appropriate education, training and experience to care for patients and perform procedures according to their license, scope of practice and expertise. Most people don t realize that hospitals have such positions; rather they expect that when hospitalization is required, care will automatically be of the highest quality. Guaranteeing that patients and their families don t need to worry about such clinical issues is exactly why hospitals employ individuals to carry out quality/credentialing duties. Regulations and legalities connected to health care are forever changing, keeping day-today duties everything but mundane. Working with practitioners, accrediting agencies, attorneys, federal and state laws is very interesting and educational. Ensuring quality care through our health care practitioners is extremely important and necessary for our patients and community, making this job very fulfilling. I am very proud to be part of Holy Family Memorial s comprehensive team, ensuring excellent, compassionate care within a Christian environment. Cheryl Terp Medical Staff/Credentialing Coordinator Holy Family Memorial Manitowoc, Wisconsin 6

19 What does working at Children s Health System mean to me? What drew me into the healthcare field? What happened to me that reaffirmed my commitment to working in healthcare? What drew me into the healthcare field goes back many years ago, and I always knew I wanted to get into the healthcare profession when I was a little girl. My grandmother always told me when I was growing up that I would make a wonderful nurse, as I have a lot of love, compassion, commitment, and am a very caring person that loves to help others and puts everyone else ahead of myself. I am currently employed at Children s Hospital of Wisconsin-Kenosha. I used to work as a health technician on the Pediatric Unit at Children s Hospital of Wisconsin-Kenosha. I loved being able to help the children to the best that I could and in anyway possible to make their stay on the unit as bright and pleasant as possible. Seeing their faces light up when they saw me every day made me smile and makes my job a very pleasant one. I was always able to put a smile on their faces no matter what pain and sadness they were going through. When I was later offered a position in the Children s Hospital of Wisconsin-Kenosha Child Advocacy Center, it was an added challenge to be able to help children that have been abused. It is a very sad thing to have abuse happen to children that have no way of defending themselves. Being able to help these children get over or try and get beyond the abuse means a lot to me. I have a lot common traits of these children I see on a day-to-day basis. When I was younger, I was in their shoes of being sexually and physically abused by a relative and wish I had a place to go to like these children do to get the right help they need. So, I feel and know what these children are feeling and going through and definitely have that dedication, caring, commitment, compassion, and support to these children. This definitely reaffirmed my commitment in working in the healthcare field to be able to help others. Also when I was younger, I had to deal with cancer like some of the patients that I have seen on the Pediatric Unit and am thankful that with our technology and studies today, hopefully we will find cures for cancer and other illnesses and help make these young children live a long and healthy life. God must have had a reason for me getting cancer and not being able to have children, and this must have been his plan for me to be able to help children with the skill and knowledge that I have. Children s Hospital of Wisconsin is a wonderful hospital, and working for the Children s Health System is very rewarding. Children s Hospital does so much for our younger generation with all the technology they have and with its brilliantly skilled and knowledgeable physicians and staff makes for continuous improvements for cures for the present and future. Renee Essington Customer Service Specialist Children s Hospital of Wisconsin Kenosha Kenosha, Wisconsin 7

20 I have worked in the medical field for over forty years and in many areas of the hospital. From the very first day, I was hooked. I find my job interesting and challenging. This work holds a deep and personal meaning to me. It provides satisfaction in a feeling of fulfillment in life purpose and knowing I have made a difference, no matter how small, in other peoples lives. There are many events that have happened to affirm my decision to work as an ECG (Electrocardiogram) Technician. The most important is discovering a patient with CAD (Coronary Artery Disease) and seeing it diagnosed in time. The early detection and treatment can save the patient from a heart attack and improves the quality of life for those who receive treatment. An ECG Technician administers the ECG, which is the recording of electrical impulses with the contraction and relaxation of the heart. An ECG Technician assists the doctor during stress tests, also known as an Exercise Tolerance Test. This test is a means of observing, evaluating and recording the heart s response during exercise. This test is normally performed while the patient walks on a treadmill. In addition to other processes, I might also perform one called a Dipyridomole (Persantine-Cardiolite) stress test. This is a diagnostic nuclear medicine exam used to determine if the heart muscle is getting the blood supply it needs. The medicines used in the exam enable the doctor to diagnose those who may be unable to walk on the treadmill. Another exam process involves hooking patients into a Halter Monitor or Event Monitor. A Halter Monitor records on tape a patient s heart electrical activity for 24 to 48 hours. An Event Monitor records the same information when the patient pushes a button and then it is sent over a telephone for diagnosis. I work closely with a group of professionals that are not only fellow workers, but life long friends. All my tasks are varied and interesting. Working with patients, doctors, nurses and other technicians means I am always involved with people. We are lucky to have such a great hospital. This is shown by nurses, doctors, technicians, support staff and volunteers who give so much for others. The community also provides great support to the hospital. There are many great people who work at the hospital, and I love working with them all. Judith Wolff ECG Technician Sauk Prairie Memorial Hospital Prairie du Sac, Wisconsin 8

21 Patients need to be informed about their care and need to learn new skills and life patterns to cope with illness. The nurse has an important role in helping patients learn new information and adapt to their situation. As a nurse educator, I assist each nurse to understand the science and principles guiding their care. I love my work as an educator. I love seeing the hesitant student in a CPR class become more confident and skillful with repeated practice and coaching. I love seeing the new nurse program an infusion pump accurately and beam with satisfaction that they get it. I love teaching EKG interpretation to new monitor technicians, watching as eager learners unravel the mysteries of the cardiac cycle. I love watching nurses become skillful at tasks that were once awkward. Teaching is not a one-time event it is an ongoing process that I am allowed to facilitate. The reward is witnessing the discovery of new skills and new confidence. My career has provided me flexibility and allowed me to experience many different aspects of nursing. I began as a nursing assistant at age 16, feeding and bathing patients while watching the nurses provide care and role model my future! As a graduate nurse, I was a fledgling nurse in a state psychiatric hospital. While watching the social workers, psychologists and experienced nurses, I learned that nursing is not just doing but also listening. I then became a medical surgical nurse while I earned my college degree in nursing. I learned that teamwork and assessment skills were key for post-operative care. As a nursing instructor, I taught skills and principles of care in the nursing courses where the student nurses learned about everything from doing an admission assessment to rationale for medications and laboratory tests. As a critical care nurse, I provided care for critically ill patients, as well as support for family members as they stood by. I am currently a nurse educator, where I can use all the lessons learned along the way to create learning situations for the clinical staff to enrich classroom and clinical learning. My education path was from nursing assistant to diploma nurse to BSN to Masters in nursing. Nursing as a career choice has allowed me great personal flexibility and opportunity for career development and role changes. It has provided me the privilege and opportunity to work with patients, families, and clinical staff as they face new challenges. I will always be grateful for my decision to become a nurse. Judy Eckblad, RN, MS Educator Meriter Hospital Madison, Wisconsin 9

22 Dare to Care Be a Nurse! That phrase describes the foundation of being a nurse through the art of caring. Ever since I was a little girl, I loved to help people. As I was deciding on my career choices, I was intrigued by science, teaching and helping others. Nursing was the perfect fit combining science, teaching and the art of caring. I have been a nurse now for over 20 years and I love what I do. I worked in many aspects of nursing throughout my career: Medical-Surgical, Obstetrics, Nursing Home, Renal Dialysis, Community Education, and presently Diabetes Nurse Education. I have a passion for preventing diabetic complications in my patients. After caring for patients in Renal Dialysis for 12 years where half of that population has diabetes, I find it a privilege to have a part in helping people prevent complications. I have the job of helping people live well with diabetes by developing positive lifestyle changes, as well as exercise, nutrition, weight loss and stress management. An important aspect of nursing is being a patient advocate and, as a diabetes educator, that is a special part of my role. I love the opportunity to be a cheerleader for my patients as they make progress in managing diabetes. In addition, I work as a clinician in my area and have a collaborative working relationship with our physicians and staff nurses. I work as a link between the physician and my patients in the management of their blood sugars in both their medical and lifestyle changes required in controlling diabetes. My 16 years of employment at St. Nicholas hospital has given me the opportunity to grow in my career through Med-Surg, Renal, Community Education and Diabetes Education. I love the diversity that nursing brings. The longer I was a nurse, the more passionate I became about health promotion, disease management and prevention. My career has enabled me to fulfill these passions, and I am very thankful for the privilege to have helped people in all of these areas at St. Nick. Mary Lou Roethel, RN, BSN, CDE Certified Diabetes Educator St. Nicholas Hospital Sheboygan, Wisconsin 10

23 I Am Here For You As a child, ambulances fascinated me. If I heard one coming down the highway, I would make a mad dash to see it go by. The awe of the lights and sirens and the unknown destination kept my interest, for a little while anyway. One summer day in 1984, while playing at our area park, my friends and I heard an ambulance approaching. It was a race to the highway. We dashed to the bottom of the hill to watch the ambulance go by. But this time, instead of the exhilarating feeling I usually felt, I had an eerie feeling that something was wrong. We darted off to continue our play when my sister approached. She yelled, The ambulance! It s Mom! My entire life changed that day. My mother suffered from a brain aneurysm. My mother is alive and well, thanks to the wonderful medical staff that helped her. Everyone played a part in her survival the First Responder, the EMTs, the nurses, the MDs, and everyone who was in contact with her during her long stay. Their kindness has never been forgotten. Then the opportunity arose to give something back. An EMT course was being offered at our local Technical College. Although I had worked in the medical field for 10 years as a CNA and Public Health Assistant, it wasn t enough. Currently, I serve as a volunteer First Responder for the Butternut area, and I work as an EMT in the ER at Flambeau Hospital. It is a privilege to work as a patient advocate. Every time I have a patient smile, hold my hand and sometimes even hug me, I know I ve made the right choice in life. A lot of people ask me, How can you work so much? My response is, Because people need me. Laurie McKuen, EMT Flambeau Hospital Park Falls, Wisconsin 11

24 Unbelievable. Thirty-two years have passed since I graduated from Columbia Hospital School of Nursing. What our nursing profession is about has not changed as much as you might think, in spite of all the change we have had in technology. Caring is ageless. Here is an essay from my 1970 nursing school archives that I helped co-write that demonstrates what being a nurse is about to me. What is a Patient? Patients come in assorted sizes, shapes, colors, creeds and personalities, but they do have some things in common: they all have a current problem with which they need help. They all have a pain threshold beyond which each individual suffers physically or mentally or both. Patients are found everywhere in beds, in the hall, in X-ray, in the Emergency Room, in the chapel and in the lounge. Patients vary in their activity they may be crying about, running from, screaming at, laughing with or praying to. A patient likes visitors, encouragement, kindness, firmness and explanations. He s not much for shots, terminology, enemas, bed rest, evasiveness or salt-free diets. Nobody is so early to bed and early to rise. Nobody gets less out of the talk of a huddle of doctors around his bed. Nobody else can cram into one day a complete bed bath, TPRs, twelve capsules, three shots, umpteen questions, thirteen visitors, two magazines, three letters, pain, noise, backrubs and still have a smile to return for yours. A patient is a special person. He is your servant, your boss, your case, and your friend. He is patience trying at times. But when you get off duty with your aching feet and tired back, you know he s worth everything, and as you drop into bed, you whisper, Please God, Bless them all. Co written by Elaine Ouellette Director of Emergency Services St. Mary s Hospital Medical Center Green Bay, Wisconsin 12

25 In January, our employees had an annual meeting with our CEO. At that time, we were informed about the We Care program and asked to write an essay. My first reaction was, This doesn t apply to me I m in housekeeping. However, after I gave this more thought, I realized housekeeping is a very important part of good health care. It s so very important for health care facilities to be sanitized to prevent the spread of infection and disease before and after care is given and procedures are administered. I also take great pride in hearing so many positive comments from patients, as well as visitors, on the cleanliness of our hospital s facilities. I always think that cleanliness reflects good health and is so important in establishing the desire of our community to use our hospital for their health care needs. I realize we are not as important to the hospital as our medical staff or require the tremendous amount of education that they and the administrative personnel receive. For this I highly respect these people and what they do. However, I take great pride in knowing that my position is important and appreciated in helping our facility run efficiently. I also get great satisfaction in knowing that my job in this hospital is an important part in providing the proper services and care to our patients. So, if I was asked to speak to a group of people who might be interested in doing this type of work, I sure would encourage them with great enthusiasm. I sincerely enjoy my job and would welcome the opportunity in passing on my positive experiences in the health care field. It s been a great experience! Susan M. Rindt Housekeeping Community Memorial Hospital Oconto Falls, Wisconsin 13

26 When I was 8 years old, I was hospitalized with Leukemia, and perhaps that s why I wanted to become a nurse like the nurses who were so nice to me. After graduating from high school, however, I didn t follow through with my dream to have a career in health care. January 2000 found us with medical bills, which brought us to the sad realization that we couldn t afford to get ill. Our insurance policy, which we were paying a lot of money for, didn t cover much. Working at a hospital would provide the best insurance while fulfilling what I always wanted to do help people. Housekeeping might seem like a job that isn t very important, but everyone working in the hospital has an important role. We all work together to serve our community. Housekeeping keeps patient rooms clean, or in my case, my night begins with cleaning critical care units and the emergency room. The doctors and nurses can t do their jobs if we don t do ours. I m very proud to be a part, if only seemingly a small part, of an important system to help people get well. After working at Howard Young Health Care for a year and a half, another wonderful job opportunity came to me. One Penny Place, an assisted living facility, had opened and needed a housekeeper willing to serve the residents lunch and supper, clean their rooms and even do their laundry. I still work in the hospital three nights a week, and the hospital sends me to One Penny Place two days a week where I enjoy caring for these dear, sweet people. Although I am not a doctor or a nurse, my childhood dream has come true, for I am very proud to be part of Ministry Health Care at Howard Young Medical Center. Joyce Knapp Housekeeping Howard Young Medical Center Woodruff, Wisconsin 14

27 Welcome to my world I have the perfect job, you know I ve been at the same job for 20+ years Some of my co-workers have been at the same job 30+ years How is that for loving what you do? We are Medical Technologists We staff the hospital laboratory 24 hours a day, working behind the scenes We are the original CSI: Crime Scene Investigators but the crimes we investigate are the criminals or illnesses that make you seek medical treatment Okay, the secret s out: that blood or body fluid sample you donate is our reason for being We are the detectives looking for clues floating in your blood stream or throughout your body that are making you ill or in the age of preventative medicine, making you well It s easy to stay motivated in my career. Every time you see medical decisions made from your work, it makes you proud to work behind the scenes Okay, while working with analyzers all day, there isn t a lot of face-to-face contact with our patients, but we are there for you, in the early morning hours and into the night, yes, to take your blood, but also to be present at those important times: to hold your hand when you are scared or to notify ancillary healthcare staff when you have needs we can t take care of Back in the lab, we efficiently run your tests, on sophisticated analyzers with specialized computer programs We constantly monitor and evaluate the quality control on each of those lab tests, assuring the physicians that the results they are basing their diagnoses on are correct I know of no other profession where the amount of data we generate daily can impact so many different patients lives. Cindy Wilson Medical Technologist Divine Savior Healthcare Portage, Wisconsin 15

28 My name is Stella Berry. I currently am employed at Baldwin Area Medical Center as a PCA/School Nurse Aide. In the past I have worked as a Patient Care Assistant in the float pool department at Region s Hospital and as an O.B. Tech/CNA at Hudson Memorial Hospital. I bring to my position over 20 years of work experience as a certified nursing assistant. My job duties include ADLs, assist nurses with patient care and, of course, brightening the day of our patients, as well as making them feel as comfortable as possible. At the end of the day, I have a great sense of accomplishment knowing that I helped someone. Being a CNA is very special to me. I like to help the patients whenever I can. For example, when I bathe a patient, they like it when I help them wash their backs and lotion their arms and legs afterwards. As I pass by their rooms, I offer them a drink or ask them if they want to be repositioned. After surgery, patients struggle with their first few steps, but it brings joy to my heart that within two days, they are walking up and down the hallways. I cheer them on or put my thumbs up as if to say, All right, you re doing great! I love to make the patients smile and laugh. Once while taking care of a patient, she surprised me by calling my Rosie. She knew my name, but she wasn t feeling so good. The next day when I saw her again, she giggled and said, Stella, I called you Rosie. I said to her, That s okay, you weren t feeling the best. After leaving her room, I went to the nurses station and wrote Rosie on a piece of tape and placed it over my name on my nametag, just to see what her response would be. I went back into her room to pick up her meal tray, and when I leaned forward to get the tray, she noticed my nametag and began laughing. As much as I like to make the patients comfortable, it is also very important to me to work hard, be detailed and efficient. I have earned the trust of my co-workers and am very confident in the work I do. When I worked as an O.B. tech, it was touching to see the reactions of the parents when they first saw their son or daughter. The best part was rocking and holding the babies in the nursery. As a school aide, I enjoy getting to know each of the students and attending to their individual needs. Stella Berry PCA/School Nurse Aide Baldwin Area Medical Center Baldwin, Wisconsin 16

29 Since I was a young child, my father has had a heart problem. My father has congenital heart disease; his heart was not pumping at one hundred percent anymore. He was getting weaker everyday. During the next couple of weeks, my father was in and out of the doctor s office. They did every test they could. Suddenly our prayers were answered. A doctor from St. Luke s Medical Center decided that Dad would be a perfect donor recipient. We began the process. It was long and agonizing. In August of that same year, his heart became irregular. The doctors stopped and restarted his heart several times. The heart would not become regular again. At the end of August, the doctors put a pacemaker/defibrillator in his chest to try to regulate his heart. Within days, his kidneys started to fail. We needed a heart immediately. September 1 st came, and we did not have any more time to wait. The doctors now had to install a mechanical heart in his chest. The surgery took several hours. That was only the start. My father now had a five-pound titanium contraption in his body. He also had an electrical cord coming out of his chest cavity. When in bed, he needed to be plugged into a machine that pumped the blood through his heart. If he got out of bed, we had to hook him up to two large batteries that he wore around his waist. The next six months were spent playing the waiting game. Dad was in and out of the hospital with infections at the entrance of the cord. On February 13, Dad was admitted to St. Luke s and told he was not going home until he got a new heart. On March 1, my mother called with the good news that there was a matching heart for Dad. We proceeded to St. Luke s, arriving at nine o clock at night. We missed him being rolled off to the operating room by mere minutes. Dad told the nurse to let us know he loves us. Finally, at three o clock in the morning, the nurse told us the surgery was over. Dad was doing well. By five o clock, we were able to visit him. It was very hard to see him hooked up to so many machines. His arms were restrained, tied to the bed. He had tubes in this nose, a tube coming out of his chest, and he was hooked up to a ventilator. He only spent a few days in the Intensive Care Unit. Now, as the second anniversary of his heart transplant approaches, I am a CNA at the Aurora Medical Center in Hartford, working to become a nurse. From my experience as a family member that has gone through long hospital stays, I strive to make my patients as comfortable as they can be during their stay. Everyone deserves to have the respect of their caregivers, no matter what. As a caregiver, I need to look at every situation as though I am the person who needs the care. I ask myself, How would I want to be treated? Michele Leiske, CNA Aurora Medical Center Hartford, Wisconsin 17

30 A CNA s Gift God gave me a gift to share with you, To feed, dress and care for you To make you smile or maybe laugh And even help you with your bath If I was asked to describe my job I d tell them it s just a blessing from above But if you are a people person and have a big heart I d tell you that would be a start God gave me a gift to share with you So let me continue to care for you This job I have caring for you I always knew I would do It makes me feel so good inside That s why it s hard to say good-bye To know you I feel so blessed To help you when you need to rest I m here to help you in your time of need So remember, you can count on me Sometimes you see us hurry and rush There are many of you and so few of us Sometimes you may feel like nobody cares I share your pain and feel your fears God gave me a gift to share with you I am blessed to be able to care for you This gift that He gave me comes straight from my heart But when that time comes for us to part It will leave me sad with a pain in my heart Sometimes I feel there is not enough time in a day To do all my cares in that special way This act of kindness comes natural for me You see, God gave me this gift and blessed me This gift that He gave me is just not my job I actually can tell you it s my calling from above April Dailey, CNA Memorial Medical Center Neillsville, Wisconsin 18

31 Committed ---- Dedicated Established To most people, these are just three words found in the dictionary. To the employees of the Reedsburg Area Medical Center/Edward Snyder Nursing Home, they are words we live by on a daily basis. This past year the hospital celebrated 100 years of being established in serving the community and its surrounding area by going beyond the expected in providing quality care to all those who enter our doors, regardless of race, color, creed or nationality. Likewise, the nursing home celebrated 30 years of being established in caring, sharing and remembering with its residents, as well as their families, and enhancing the quality of life for the length of their days. In the song, Through the Years, the renowned musician Kenny Rogers sings, I can t remember when you weren t there, when I didn t care. The song goes on to state that through all the good and bad, together we were strong. We have grown stronger, as a team, through the years and will continue to as long as we believe in who we are and what we do. God has given each and everyone of us special talents to perform our tasks. We have been provided with the latest modern technology and equipment, thereby enabling us to make a difference, one day at a time, one life at a time. The lives we have touched with our caring hearts and helping hands are evidence of our commitment and dedication. We are always there to embrace and celebrate life because we care. God willing, we will remain established for another 100 years. I am proud to be a member of a committed and dedicated team. I am proud to be an employee of Reedsburg Area Medical Center/Edward Snyder Nursing Home. Janice Schultz, CNA Reedsburg Area Medical Center Reedsburg, Wisconsin 19

32 I have known since I was 7 years old that I wanted to be a nurse. I read every Clara Barton book that was available at that time and was hooked. It wasn t until my grandfather suffered a fatal stroke that I gained the confidence I needed to follow through with my dream. I helped my mother, who was a CNA, take care of him and that was when I realized that I could do the work and had the compassion for it. I took the CNA course and found employment quickly at Boscobel Area Health Care. I continued in that role for six years before heading back to school and getting my LPN. If asked the question, What do you do as a nurse? I could give several answers. There are the simple ones such as, I give medications to patients, or I change bandages, but there is so much more to the job. Yes, I do give medications and change bandages, but I also take walks with my patients, rub their backs, clip their toenails, wash their hair, listen to their fears and concerns, and sometimes just hold their hand as they take a last breath. As a nurse, I invade a patient s space and see that person at his or her most vulnerable time. It never ceases to amaze me how trusting patients are and how they put their faith into the nurse that cares for them. My desire to be a nurse is renewed on a continuous basis each time a patient or their family member grabs my hand and says, Thanks for all you ve done. I don t do my job for a thank you; I do my job because I love what I do. Darla Karasek, LPN Boscobel Area Health Care Boscobel, Wisconsin 20

33 When I became an LPN 28 years ago, I never imagined I would be in a career as rewarding as working with cancer patients and their families. Each and every patient and their family needs to go through the process of diagnosis of a dreaded disease and finally treatment. Helping them cope with this life-changing event for 11 years reinforces the reason I became a nurse. The courage, strength and spirit they bring help them get through the ensuing times. Often times, we must help find those survival tools patients never knew they possessed. A nurse is all about caring for the whole person, physically and spiritually. Nightly, I go home praying I ve made a difference in someone s life. My son was diagnosed with Leukemia at age 4 and was given a 50% chance for survival. Leukemia became a part of our family s life. We were a part of the team of doctors, nurses, radiation technicians and others in the battle for his life. Everyone played an integral part in making his continued survival 20 years later the blessing it is. I bring that experience with me every day, helping others cope, and giving hope. As a nurse, I bring my empathy and understanding of a cancer diagnosis and its effects on a family, but I do not do it alone. The Central Wisconsin Cancer Center, my workplace, is part of Agnesian HealthCare in Fond du Lac, Wisconsin. The organization provides the facility and off-site clinics, the means for working together for the betterment of the total well being of the patients who entrust their care to us. Working in Oncology reassures me, my nursing career is the right one. Giving hope and support to patients and families is my goal. My personal reward is seeing that happen. Barb Kraft, LPN Hematology/Oncology Department Agnesian HealthCare Fond du Lac, Wisconsin 21