Mercyhurst nursing classes move to Mercy Motherhouse
Saint Vincent oncology nurse becomes oncology patient
At UPMC Hamot, nursing is all in the family
Gannon student chose nursing career as a teen
We honor nurses, now more than ever.
As the front line of our healthcare system, our nurses in northwestern Pennsylvania have comforted us, healed us and truly saved our lives.
In this section, regional administrators, nurses and nursing students share stories that touch our hearts, and we know they will touch yours, too.
We are honored to share nurses stories for more than a decade in the Erie Times-News. Thanks to the hundreds of nurses who have shared heartfelt stories with us and inspired us to continue this section.
During a week dedicated to honoring nurses, please take time to thank a nurse. ~ Joanne Conrad-Turner
We’re learning what it truly takes to be a nurse. And the more we learn, the more our respect for you grows. We look forward to joining you in the profession soon.
—PENN STATE BEHREND NURSING STUDENTS
On his rst shi in the intensive care unit at UPMC Hamot – Day One of a 10-week internship – Grant Oishi, a nursing student at Penn State Behrend, saw the worst of the work ahead: He helped care for a patient who no longer had brain activity, and whose organs would soon be removed by transplant teams.
That’s a lot to take in, at age 22.
“It hits you,” Oishi said. “You’re like, ‘Whoa. What if this were one of my friends? Or a family member?’”
He stayed, though. He looked for ways to help.
“There was a lot of activity in the room, and everyone was moving really fast,” he said. “I just tried to do my part.”
He’d started on that path in high school, back in State College. Friday nights were for football, and he’d be on the sideline at Memorial Field. He wasn’t on the team – he played lacrosse – but he shadowed the school’s athletic trainer. He’d watch the trainer tape toes, ngers, ankles and knees. Then, at home, he’d practice on his own.
He enrolled in nursing school. Penn State Behrend felt like the right t: He liked the size of the classes, the technology in the simulation labs and the fact that 95% of Behrend graduates pass the NCLEX – the National Council Licensure Examination – on their rst attempt.
He earned a spot in the Schreyer Honors College, Penn State’s honors program, which brought an opportunity for research. Oishi is working with two Behrend faculty members – Samuel Nutile, assistant professor of biology, and Adam Simpson, assistant teaching professor of biology – to study oxidative stress in midges. The study will explore why some insects that damage grape crops in Erie County become resistant to certain pesticides. The research experience also will support the next step in Oishi’s education: a nurse anesthetist program.
In addition to the research, Oishi has completed clinical rotations, working in a nursing home and in the medicalsurgical unit at Saint Vincent Hospital. But it was the 10week rotation in the intensive care unit that had the most meaning for him, despite the rough start.
“It’s a challenge, and I like that,” he said. “The patients’ needs are really complex. A lot of them are on ventilators, and they all have di erent medications going into them. You have to think critically, and you’re constantly assessing, and reassessing.”
He prefers the night shi . The unit is quieter when families aren’t sitting by the beds. The nurses can better focus on the patients.
“It’s harder when the families are there,” Oishi said, “because some of your care has to be directed to them,
instead of the patient. It’s not that they don’t need comfort, or education about what’s going on. They absolutely do. But at night, without all that tra c in and out of the room, you can take a little more time with the patient. You can really give them the attention they deserve.”
He has learned to look for incremental wins: a stronger pulse, or a re ex that wasn’t evident the night before.
“You do feel a connection, even when a patient is on a ventilator,” Oishi said. “You’re caring for them in an oddly intimate way, and they o en don’t even know you’re there.
“It’s hard to describe, but there is something special about being able to take care of someone when they need care the most,” he said. “Any time you see an improvement in them, no matter how small, it’s gratifying. You know that all the work you have done, and that all the nurses on previous shi s have done, has made a di erence.”
At AHN Saint Vincent Hospital, National Nurses Week, May 6-12, is designed to celebrate and elevate the nursing profession.
Nursing is one of the most trusted professions in the world. Yet, when asked, the majority of people cannot adequately describe the roles and responsibilities of nursing. Much of the work of this profession goes unexplored and unpublicized, and yet, nurses continue to be at the forefront of patient care delivery at every step of the way across all of life’s continuum.
In many cases, nurses are a major factor in the health outcomes of patients and consumers.
At the heart of all nursing interventions is the relationship between the nurse and the patient – a relationship between nurse and patient that can be therapeutic, in itself.
If the foundation of nursing work is the nurse’s ability to build enabling relationships with each of their patients as individuals, then all that follows is designed to respond to what the patient reveals about what they need, including the context of family, background, education, economic status, present health issues and future health goals.
Building a relationship with the patient enables the nurse to explore each dimension of the patient’s health and to discover which is the most important for the patient – in order to inform the nursing care that will be given.
The unique expertise of nurses is the ability to identify the issues to be addressed during each encounter and to explore
them with the patient through their therapeutic relationship. This is the added value the nurse brings to a procedure and what distinguishes nursing practice from medical practice.
This is true patient-centered care and, if practiced well, then nursing becomes, in itself, a therapy that includes management of illnesses, education for wellness, and support for physical, mental, and emotional resilience.
The art of nursing is to establish a relationship with the patient that allows full exploration of their situation or context to identify priorities and determine a rational course of action.
The importance of good care environments and how they are associated with better patient and nurse outcomes; along with the need to transform nursing education to improve practice and promote lifelong learning, is imperative to continue to move this profession forward.
Nurses’ Week is an annual celebration of nurses worldwide for the work they do for others. Nursing, in general, is stressful and COVID-19 only ampli es that. Therefore, it’s even more critical to use Nurses’ Week to reach out and celebrate the nurses around you.
This week allows people the chance to acknowledge the nurses in their lives. It also provides an opportunity to thank nurses within the industry as a whole for the work they’ve done.
Marisa Fisher decided she wanted to be a nurse a er her brother introduced her to the brightly lit hallways and white nurses’ caps of the ’80s when she was just 14 years old.
“My brother had a seizure and had to go to the pediatric ward at the local hospital. We went to visit him, and from the time I walked into that hospital, it was like ‘this is it,’” Fisher said. “The sounds, the nurses, the smells ... it was amazing.”
Fisher is now graduating from Gannon University with her master’s degree in family nurse practitioner, making the jump from paramedic to ICU nurse to nurse practitioner.
The biggest di erence between a nurse and a nurse practitioner is the level of authority. Nurse practitioners are allowed to make decisions regarding their patients’ health that are otherwise made by physicians. This could include obtaining tests, prescribing treatments, diagnosing patients and more.
It was her lack of jurisdiction as a nurse that led Fisher to pursue her nurse practitioner’s degree.
Fisher was working as a nurse in the ICU with a patient she knew needed to be transferred to another hospital, but the physician didn’t agree with her.
In the following hours, the patient deteriorated and had to be own to another hospital.
“Six hours earlier, there could’ve been a smoother transition,” Fisher said.
“I went home, and I cried. I was upset. I was frustrated. I told my husband, ‘I’m signing up for the family nurse practitioner program at Gannon, and I don’t know what I have to do, but I’m gonna do it,’” she said.
Being a nurse practitioner would allow Fisher to have more power over the care of her patients.
“I felt powerless in that situation,” Fisher said. “I knew what needed to happen, but I couldn’t get any farther. And now, as a family nurse practitioner, I’m going to be the provider, and my patients’ lives will be in my hands to a larger degree.”
Fisher said her mother set an example for her young family when she returned to school in her 40s and earned her physician’s assistant degree at Gannon University.
“When I chose to go to family nurse practitioner, I chose Gannon. I mean actually there was no hesitation. I knew that Gannon was where I wanted to go,” Fisher said. “I’m de nitely (my mother’s) legacy.”
Fisher’s program started on the ground before moving online during the pandemic. Between grueling shi s, she was grateful to spend time with her family even if it involved working on her laptop in the kitchen while making dinner for her kids – a memory she recalled with a smile.
Despite the pandemic, her biggest challenge came in July when her mother passed away.
Fisher was determined to nish her schooling, leaning on the support of her peers and professors. The words of her mother also encouraged her: Just keep showing up. Don’t be overwhelmed. Just keep showing up.
This became her mantra for the two remaining terms, carrying her to graduation and into her career at UPMC Chautauqua’s pulmonology department in Jamestown, New York.
Her focus is now on her relationship with her patients. Finishing her thesis, Fisher found a positive correlation between the nurse-patient trust relationship and their perception of care – something that did not surprise her.
“We don’t do this for any other reason besides the people,” she said.
By Jennifer Dougan, AHN Cancer Institute at Saint Vincent
I have been given the honor and privilege of being an oncology nurse for 17 years in the Erie area.
This means I have been able to care for many in our area with a cancer diagnosis.
I love what I do!
Is it hard? De nitely, but it’s more than worth it. Each day, when I go to work, I hope to make just a small di erence for a patient and their family - to encourage them and teach them about their diagnosis or how to manage a side e ect.
But you know what? My patients make a di erence in my life instead.
My patients are strong and courageous in the face of a devastating diagnosis. They smile and laugh when I’m administering their chemotherapy or doing an assessment. And yes, they even ask me how I am doing. My patients have taught me more about life than I could ever learn in a nursing book or class.
In November of 2021, a er a CT scan to follow up on an ER visit for pain I was experiencing, there was a role reversal as I quickly found myself as the patient.
I began reading my CT scan with the words “large mass arising from the pelvis into the abdomen, certainly a uterine neoplasm would have to be suspected.”
I shook my head in disbelief as I read those words and for a moment I felt what all my patients must feel - a crushing weight and the question, “how could this be true?”
My coworkers immediately went into action, becoming my nurses and my own personal heroes.
A fellow co-worker noti ed our Nurse Manager, who got me an appointment that very a ernoon with the BEST gynecological oncology surgeon in the world, Dr. Thomas Krivak. We are so fortunate to have Dr. Krivak here at the Oncology Institute at Saint Vincent.
Dr. Krivak held one hand and my loving and incredibly supportive Mom held the other as Dr. Krivak pulled the pictures of the CT scan up on the computer in the exam room downstairs at the AHN Cancer Institute at Saint Vincent, and tears streamed down my face.
Later that week, I found myself having surgery at West Penn. I can’t say enough good things about the sta and nurses who cared for me there. West Penn was full of the kindest sta -from the precious ladies who cleaned my room, to the kind folks who brought my meals. Each and every nurse went above and beyond. Those nurses worked so hard- I found myself whispering prayers for them as the call lights seemed to be going o continually and the alerts for emergencies seemed frequent.
My team of heroes back at home were with me each step of the way during my recovery. They formed a prayer chain the day of my surgery, which gave me so much peace. Several
of the nurses donated their paid time o to me. The nurses brought delicious snacks and treats for my daughter and me.
I had a constant stream of texts from people checking on me, thoughtful cards were sent, and generous donations given to help to cover my expenses. There will never be enough words to thank each of them for the ways that they so sel essly cared for me and my family. They certainly went above and beyond.
The best part is that I know I’m not the only person who is treated this way. Each and every patient who walks through the doors at AHN Cancer Institute at Saint Vincent is treated with the same caring. The sta truly puts their patient rst and treats each one as they would treat a member of their own family.
The mass in my uterus turned out to be benign and I have completely recovered. It’s been di cult for me to understand why I didn’t have to go thru cancer, but my patients do. But this experience has helped me to relate to patients in a way that I wouldn’t have been able to before.
In a career like this, one easily learns that each day we wake up and are given breath is a blessing!
I’m so very thankful for the compassionate care that my heroes gave me and to be a part of the AHN Oncology Institute at Saint Vincent team. Being an Oncology Nurse is an incredibly rewarding career!
By Melissa J. Dixon, LECOM Health Corry Memorial Hospital, Millcreek Community Hospital and Medical Associates of Erie
“The administration and nurses are like family.” Maxine Overton says that’s why she has worked part time as a sta nurse for Millcreek Community Hospital (MCH) for more than 30 years.
“The doctors and Mary Eckert (CEO of MCH) and Dr. John (Ferretti, president of LECOM) have always made me feel part of this family,” Overton said. “Once Mary meets you, she will always remember your name.”
Overton started working at MCH in the 1980s. A car accident demobilized her for some time, and then she returned in 2005. She currently works in detox, but she’s served in intensive care and as a medical surgical nurse during her tenure.
Working part time at MCH is only part of Overton’s story.
She was a nurse in the U.S. Army Reserves for nine years. Starting as a rst lieutenant, she was then promoted to captain. During her time of service with the Reserves, she also worked at the U.S. Department of Veterans A airs Medical Center and in cardiac care for a few years at AHN Saint Vincent Hospital.
Overton’s journey then led her to help establish the medical center at the State Correctional Institution at Albion when it opened. She started there as a sta nurse, and then advanced to supervisor and eventually healthcare administrator during her 20 years at the prison.
“It’s about caring for people and treating every person with respect,” she said. “Hopefully, with our proper care, everyone – inmates and patients – comes back into the community.”
It’s easy to assume that caring for inmates would have been the most di cult experience of her career. But those assumptions are wrong.
“The height of COVID-19 has been the biggest challenge of my nursing career,” she said. “Trying to avoid contracting it while providing care at Millcreek to those who had it was very stressful. We suited up in PPE (personal protective equipment) for 12-hour shi s … we looked like spacemen. We never knew what to expect from one day to the next.”
During her career, she also raised four children with
Maxine Overton has more than 30 years of experience in nursing. Contributed Photos
her late husband of nearly 40 years. For her, family means everything at home and at work.
Overton graduated with a B.S.N. in nursing from the University of Lowell (now UMass) in Massachusetts.
I started my nursing career as a Certi ed Nursing Assistant. I worked at Edinboro University helping students with disabilities and working privately for disabled adults for many years. I became a registered nurse in 2012 and worked at a skilled nursing facility for ve years. A er that, I transitioned to the Medical ICU at UPMC Hamot, where I have been for the past ve years.
I have cared for many COVID-19 patients in the Medical ICU. During this time, I have endured several challenges.
For instance, I’ve held countless tablets and mobile devices up for dying patients, so that their family members could say goodbye.
My sadness came as I watched my father-in-law pass away from COVID-19 in my unit. Being both a nurse and a family member of someone lost to COVID gave me a greater understanding and compassion for those enduring the same situation.
Despite the many viewpoints and opinions people have regarding the virus and the vaccines, I have always cared for my patients in the same way that I would care for my own family.
There have been a few cases of COVID where someone has been successfully discharged without any residual e ects. But unfortunately, there have been more sad times than happy.
I became burnt out quickly while working during the pandemic, so in 2021, I decided to continue my education and change my focus entirely to become a
Family Nurse Practitioner. I will be graduating in March of 2023.
I joined Great Lakes Institute of Technology in January to teach and tutor students in the Practical Nursing program. It is incredible how much you can continue to understand the material you are teaching and to better explain things. I try to teach through the stories that I have lived. Students can easily remember speci c topics if I link them with a speci c story. I nd the workload challenging yet rewarding, and I am happy to work at both the bedside and to teach future nurses.
Since their humble beginnings in 19th Century Dublin, the Sisters of Mercy have pioneered schools, hospitals, and other ministries around the world.
The Sisters’ commitment to education and to health care continues today in Erie as the Mercy Motherhouse opens its doors to house Mercyhurst University’s growing complement of health care programs. Construction was completed last winter, just in time to welcome the rst student cohort spring term.
The Motherhouse at 444 E. Grandview Blvd. is home to practical nursing, registered nursing, and the R.N. to B.S.N. program, a consolidation of programs on the former North East campus and the Erie campus. The master’s degree in Integrative Nursing Leadership continues as a fully online graduate program.
“With nursing now under one roof, there is a whole new sense of community,” said nursing instructor Carolyn Za no. “When I was a nursing student taking classes at North East, we were in separate buildings, so you didn’t have that sense of community quite as much.”
For nursing student Jakayla Williams, the new high-tech sim labs are ideal platforms for teaching the technical aspects of nursing, but also for developing skills in bedside manner, critical thinking, and decision-making. “The Motherhouse is just another part of Mercyhurst’s nursing program that is designed to help students succeed and be the best nurses they can be,” she said.
All told, with classrooms, computer and nursing labs, simulation labs equipped with high- delity mannequins, debrie ng suites, and o ces, the new nursing setting includes 15,450 square feet, much more than any previous Mercyhurst facility.
“It was truly divine intervention that the Motherhouse became the solution to the needs of our growing nursing program,” said Mercyhurst Vice President for Technology Jeanette Britt, who oversaw the logistics of the move. “We think it will be a great experience for both the nursing students and the Sisters to be together in the same building.”
The new home for nursing was made possible through the sale of the Motherhouse to the university in 2021, an arrangement that satis ed the Sisters’ need for less space and the university’s need for more. The agreement speci es that the Sisters will continue to live in the Motherhouse and that all of their space needs, including worship, community, o ce, dining, and in rmary, will be accommodated.
“Committed to good stewardship of buildings and property and recognizing that unoccupied space is available in the Motherhouse, the Sisters in Erie are grateful that Mercyhurst University will share portions of this facility,” said Sister Patricia Whalen, RSM, Leadership Team, Sisters of Mercy of the Americas, New York Pennsylvania West Community. “The university is a beloved educational ministry. Sharing university programs in this building is not only a natural t, but also will bene t both groups.”
This profession requires people who possess an analytical mind, a tenacious spirit, and a desire to make a di erence in the lives of others. The events of the past few years have shown the world just how important and essential well-trained and knowledgeable nurses are.
Here at Mercyhurst, we are driven by a spirit of constant growth and innovation, all while keeping our values of mercy and compassion at the forefront of all we do. With a variety of nursing programs—both online and on-campus—designed to t your academic needs and future career goals, we ensure our students will graduate prepared to begin a successful nursing career in just a few years.
Apply today at mercyhurst.edu/apply.
Questions? Contact the O ce of Graduate and Professional Admissions at grad@mercyhurst.edu or 814-824-3351.
All of Mercyhurst’s Nursing programs are now located in one convenient location with one shared goal: to graduate experienced nursing professionals. This newly renovated space on Mercyhurst’s campus in Erie, Pennsylvania, houses one of the best nursing facilities in the region, where students can practice and study.
Two clinical skills labs provide a safe transition from the classroom to the clinical setting. Students practice critical nursing skills using computer-controlled mannequins, medical equipment, task trainers, and low- delity mannequins in the clinical skills lab. As they progress, students experience hands-on learning in our simulation suite, which contains high- delity mannequins, debrie ng rooms, video-recording equipment, and medical equipment that closely mimics the clinical environment.
Practical Nursing (PN) | One-Year Certi cate
Mercyhurst’s one-year certi cate program prepares students for a career as a licensed practical nurse (LPN). Upon completion of this program, graduates are eligible to sit for the National Council Licensure Examination for Practical Nurses (NCLEX-PN). Our LPN alumni often return to complete an associate degree in our two-year LPN-to-RN Bridge program.
Registered Nursing (RN) | Two-Year Associate of Science
Mercyhurst’s Associate of Science in nursing program prepares students for an exciting career as a registered nurse (RN). Upon completion of the program, graduates are eligible to take the National Council Licensure Examination for Registered Nurses (NCLEX-RN).
LPN-to-RN Bridge Program | Two-Year Associate of Science
For those already a licensed practical nurse (LPN), Mercyhurst’s RN Bridge program allows students to earn an Associate of Science degree in nursing and prepare for licensure as a registered nurse (RN) through Mercyhurst’s ASN articulation program.
RN-to-BSN | Two-Year Bachelor of Science
For those already a registered nurse (RN) with an associate degree or diploma in nursing, Mercyhurst’s RN-to-BSN program allows students to advance their careers with a Bachelor of Science degree in nursing. Our exible RN-to-BSN program combines online courses with in-person learning.
*NEW* BSN | Four-Year Bachelor of Science
Mercyhurst’s newest nursing program provides a four-year undergraduate degree in nursing. This program is designed for students who want to team the traditional college experience with a supportive, hands-on environment to earn their Bachelor of Science in nursing.
Integrative Nursing Leadership | Two-Year Master of Science in Nursing
Mercyhurst’s Master of Science in Integrative Nursing program is perfect for baccalaureate-prepared nurses who want to enhance their leadership skills in the nursing world. Our MSN program o ers a 32-credit curriculum designed with working professionals in mind. The exibility of Mercyhurst’s 100% online program provides a competitive edge in the marketplace while maintaining the exibility you need. This program can be completed in one year.
By Jakayla Williams, student in the Associate of Science in Nursing Program at Mercyhurst University
Two experiences in my life inspired me to become a nurse. The rst is the legacy of my later grandmother, Dorris, who was a local R.N. for 28 years, working on the cardiology oors at both Hamot and Saint Vincent hospitals. She also was employed at Stairways Behavioral Health as a psychiatric supervisor.
Despite passing from cancer when I was only 2, my grandmother’s legacy transcended the years through my dad, who shared stories of her as an outstanding nurse, mother, and woman. He encouraged me and my sisters to emulate her ways and, for me, those memories live on as a driving force. Deciding to follow in her footsteps to become a registered nurse is a journey that I’m proud to take. I frequently ask myself how life would be if she was around. I would love to be able to chat with her about her career as a nurse and why she decided to become one.
Secondly, when I gave birth to my daughter via Cesarean section, there was a Certi ed Registered Nurse Anesthetist (C.R.N.A.) present who changed my entire delivery experience. I was extremely anxious and very scared of the procedure, but the C.R.N.A. helped keep me calm. She distracted me from the pain of childbirth and comforted me through a panic attack.
My grandmother may have inspired me to become a registered nurse, but that C.R.N.A. motivated me to seek a career as a C.R.N.A. A er I graduate from Mercyhurst with my A.S.N., I plan to earn my Bachelor of Science in Nursing and then apply for the Nurse Anesthesia Program.
In looking toward the future, I believe there are essential qualities, beyond academics, that are required to be a good nurse.
Being organized is fundamental to ensuring e ective patient-centered care. Nurses document vital medical
information about patients and are responsible for disbursing medicine. In meeting individual patient’s needs, nurses need to ensure that their patients are treated equally and a orded the same respect, regardless of condition, ethnicity or background.
Another desirable attribute for a nurse is compassion. Overall, this can make a huge di erence in people’s lives due to the vulnerable state they can be in while in your care.
I also believe in advocating for my patients to make sure they are getting the care they need. Leadership skills in nursing are vital because nurse leaders concentrate on the quality of patient care in addition to managing other nurses.
“Deciding to follow in her footsteps to become a registered nurse is a journey I am proud to take.”
by DaWayne Cleckley for Community Health Net
Community Health Net Community Health Net, Erie’s largest federally quali ed health center is home to three people who de ne the word “heart.” They embody community, stand for dignity and respect, genuinely love people, and have given their lives to and immersed themselves in caring for individuals and families of all walks of life and socio-economic status.
Alison Davis, L.P.N., Stephanie Scha -Turri, R.N., and Toni Gromacki, L.P.N., are nurses with 59 combined years of service to Erie County. They are proven, battlehardened healthcare heroes.
“My mother was my role model. She was a pediatric nurse,” said Davis, a 16-year veteran L.P.N. “She would always talk about her patients and how much she loved them.” When she told her mother about her plans to become a nurse, she replied: “If you can love people, be concerned about them, and put them ahead of yourself, then you can.”
Davis has lived by those words. She is a transplant to Erie, leaving her roots in Havana, Florida, over 15 years ago, working for Community Health Net for most of her career, assisting the organization’s Healthcare for the Homeless program.
“CHN does not turn anyone away from good, adequate care,” she said as she expressed why she works for the organization. Davis sees many clients that remind her of her brother, who could not care for himself a er su ering a stroke and dementia. “Many of the patients in the program do not have family members who will support them. They need someone who isn’t going to judge them when they come in the door. They still deserve to be seen and cared for with respect. We need to have compassion for people.”
Stephanie Scha -Turri feels the same, having spent 19 years with Community Health Net and 12 years as an R.N. She is an Erie native with a background in Health Science and Community Health. “We care for one patient at a time. Individualized, patient-centered care signi cantly impacts families and, by extension, the community,” said Scha -Turri.
Initially, she worked to build and ensure adherence to quali ed healthcare processes and procedures at CHN before becoming a nurse. “I became an R.N. because I felt that I would be a greater bene t to the organization by helping people.” Scha -Turri o en stays a er work to help her patients. She also volunteers at outreach events. “I’m not in healthcare for the money. I could be a traveling nurse and make big bucks,” she noted.
“What I have is a sense of accomplishment. People who you care for appreciate you years later. They will never forget you. There is a real sense of community as I help patients.”
Toni Gromacki, a 29-year veteran L.P.N., has the same sense of duty, volunteerism, and love for people. Her family roots run deep in the Erie community. “My whole family is in nursing, social work, and community shelter services. Helping people is in my blood. So, being a nurse is a comfortable t for me,” she said.
Gromacki started her career at Community Health Net in Pediatrics. She feels as if her patients are her second family. She loves her job and works to break down barriers to health care and ensure that everyone can access care. “Patients do not come in a box. You have to listen and read between the lines to understand their needs,” she said. “Community Health Net o ers services that they [patients] would not be able to get anywhere else. Health equity and access. That is why I get up every morning to come to work.”
By Christine Simmons, AHN Cancer Institute at Saint Vincent
At the AHN Cancer Institute at Saint Vincent, the infusion nurse’s primary objective is to administer the prescribed treatment to our cancer patients safely.
Safe practices go beyond how we handle the hazardous drugs. A complete physical assessment is a key component to safe practices. Patients can have life threatening conditions in addition to toxicities from treatments or disease progression. If the nurse is not assessing for these conditions, the outcomes can be detrimental.
Three AHN Saint Vincent infusion nurses have displayed how important the head-to-toe assessment is for our oncology patients by recognizing potentially life-threatening issues during physical assessments prior to treatments.
Matt Anderson, R.N., recognized an abnormal heart rate and bilateral 2+ edema of lower extremities. When evaluated in the emergency department, the patient had a pulmonary embolism requiring emergency embolectomy.
Theresa Craig, R.N., C.M.S.R.N, Theresa Fachetti Kyser, B.S.N, R.N, Mary Beth Kroemer, M.S.N., R.N., C.R.N.I.-Nurse Manager Infusion and Medical Oncology, Matthew Anderson, B.S.N., R.N.,
Theresa Craig, R.N., identi ed diminished lung sounds associated with a decreased oxygen saturation in a patient who, when evaluated in the emergency department, had a large pleural e usion, needing drained and chest tube insertion.
Theresa Fachetti Kyser, R.N., recognized a patient experiencing what the patient thought were cold symptoms and shortness of breath. The patient also had coarse breath sounds throughout the lung elds. When sent for testing and imaging, the patient was found to have COVID pneumonia and was hospitalized for several days.
These examples highlight the importance of assessing our patients and exercising good clinical judgement in reporting abnormal ndings. A physical assessment is a part of routine nursing care and is expected at every patient encounter.
By Andi Fair, Adagio Health Erie
As a nurse for almost 10 years, and a nurse practitioner for the last ve of those years, I have had the privilege of caring for people in all di erent stages of their lives.
I’ve helped to ease someone’s last moments with hospice care, and I’ve watched a family grow as I’ve provided prenatal care for a rst, second and third pregnancy.
I’ve performed CPR on a young man until we got him back and he made it to the hospital, only to nd out later that he coded again, and I’ve hugged a woman newly diagnosed with cancer and getting ready to start treatment.
I’ve delivered a new HIV diagnosis, and I’ve helped a teenager choose the birth control method that’s right for her. I’ve learned from amazing mentors, and I’ve precepted students from many di erent programs.
I’ve heard the words “I’ve never told anyone this before …”
As a nurse, I’m trained in relationship-based care, and I’ve been so fortunate in my career to form meaningful relationships with patients, fellow nurses and other members of the health care team. I even met my partner of four years (also a nurse!) in one of my previous positions. Nurses are also trained in holistic care and interprofessional collaboration. At my current workplace, Adagio Health, more services are being added all the time to address a variety of needs that impact health in addition to the sexual and
reproductive healthcare that has always been o ered at no or low cost. Just in the last 2 years, new services include onsite behavioral health, a food pantry, and vaccines including the COVID vaccine. I’m proud to work at a place that is constantly identifying healthcare needs and striving to meet them.
There is always something new to learn, and I have a few topics that are especially important to me. I’m currently in school for my Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) degree and I am planning a project to improve the delivery of sexual and reproductive healthcare to LGBTQ+ women and people assigned female at birth.
The past 10 years have been lled with so many experiences and people I’ll never forget.
I can’t wait to see what the next 10 years will bring!
Debbie Burbules, RN
Chief Operating Officer
Bridget Barber, RN
Vice President, External Affairs & Strategic Initiatives
Krystle Szymanowski, RN Nurse Manager
Helen Boyer, RN
Darlene Celline, LPN
Kelly Corbin, RN
Tammy Dumeck-Wurst, RN
Katherine Gustafson, RN
Amy Hagmaier, LPN
Lenora Harris, RN
Julie Irons, RN
Lynsey Jones, LPN
Darci Kowalczyk, RN
Daria Kozlowski, RN
Etta Loreti, RN
Keri Moore, RN
Ernest Muscella, LPN
Juanita O'Toole, RN
Randie Peters, LPN
Kerry Risco, RN
Kim Serafin, RN
Heather Simora, RN
Annette Sotus, RN
Kimberly Streiff, CRNP
Susan Tombaugh, RN
Anissa White, RN
Kelly Wienczkowski, RN
Diana Zenewicz, RN
Rebecca Zieziula, RN
BarberInstitute.org/careers
By Sallie Piazza, Chief Nursing Of cer at AHN Saint Vincent
Can you hear us now?
Can you hear that collective voice of nurses across the country?
Where would we be over this past two years if it were not for the nurses?
Nurses were the rst to stand at the front line. They were bold and fearless. Our country shut down and our nurses came into work every day and faced almost impossible situations.
The past two years have tested all of us, but none more than nurses and our other frontline healthcare workers.
Nurses were the rst to hold your hand, wipe your brow and they were the rst to help calm you and your families.
Our current climate has changed us all - the way we think, how we talk and how we interact with one other. Some of it has been good and some not.
I am so proud to be working for AHN Saint Vincent Hospital. As an organization, they are hearing our nursing collective voices. Investments are being made, not only in our salaries, but also our work/life balance.
We are giving our nurses and ancillary sta choices.
We have created Serenity Rooms for a quick respite.
Our cafeteria is open for our night shi to receive a hot meal.
Our hospital leaders round weekly at night to ensure we are meeting the needs of our workers.
We are minimizing weekends and eliminating swing shi s.
When you see a nurse and other frontline workers, please take a moment to thank them for all they have done individually for our patients but for our community. They literally saved our lives.
Our nurses make a big difference. A big thank you to our nurses who make a positive difference in the lives of our residents every day.
When the time came for Cranesville, Pennsylvania, native Heather Bowers to choose a career path, the decision was easy. Nursing emerged as the ideal blend of her greatest passions – science and helping others.
“I love biology, anatomy, physiology and everything in the science realm, and I love helping people,” she said. “Nursing is the perfect mesh of those two worlds, and I’m really glad I chose it because I’ve loved every second of the experience so far.”
And for Bowers, who will graduate in May with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing and a minor in biology, choosing to attend Edinboro was even easier.
“Edinboro has an amazing nursing program, and I wanted something that was both a ordable and close to my family,” she said. “It was kind of a no-brainer.”
Faced with the rst-year jitters, Bowers found the rigors of nursing school to be much more challenging. But she soon found a tight-knit community of student nurses and faculty who were eager to lend a hand.
“There’s a lot of pressure, and everyone has very high expectations. The amount of information we must learn in four years can be daunting,” Bowers said. “It was really, really hard at the beginning, but I had upperclassmen who were willing to help me and guide me. The professors are amazing. They’re willing to sit down with you and make accommodations that will help you get through it in any way, shape or form.”
Inspired by her own mentorship experiences, Bowers is now a tutor for other students in the department who need assistance with coursework or advice on developing study habits. She’s also a scholar in the Edinboro University Honors College and a member of Student Nurses of Edinboro – commonly known as SNOE – a group of nursing students who organize career-building opportunities and give back to the community through volunteer events.
“You’re never really alone in nursing school. Everyone in the community is just so amazing,” she said. “We’re all there to help each other.”
As graduation approaches, Bowers looks forward to making her mark in either medical-surgical nursing or postpartum nursing.
“You know, it is hard. The long nights of studying can be brutal,” Bowers said. “But if you love something, then you just have to persevere. Because at the end of the day, the people that we help and the lives that we get to save are 110% worth it.”
For more information about Edinboro University’s Nursing Department – which features programs at the undergraduate, graduate and doctorate level – visit www.edinboro.edu/nursing.
“You’re never really alone in nursing school ... We’re all there to help each other.”
Over the last two years, we’ve seen what real heroes look like. On behalf of the entire Edinboro campus community, we salute and thank the nurses and health care workers who have again and again risen to the challenge. Your critical thinking and ethical decision-making have provided comfort and care to so many. You have made us very proud.
For those inspired to follow their lead, join us at edinboro.edu/nursing.
UPMC Hamot’s founding father, Charles Hamot Strong, represented courage and compassion. His legacy of family and strength solidi ed a foundation that has sustained the Hamot family for more than 140 years. Today, the tradition of family continues as evidenced by numerous relatives who have chosen to serve the community as a part of the UPMC Hamot team.
A wonderful example of this includes two nurses, Laura Marsden and Jessica Marsden. This mother and daughter team are nurses who serve in the same medical surgical oncology unit. Jessica was inspired by her mother Laura’s deep passion for nursing. Laura Marsden is well known for her quality nursing care and compassionate approach. Together they provide care for one of UPMC Hamot’s most vulnerable patient populations.
Narcisa Alicusic and Arisa Tatarevic are sisters and nurses who also serve on the same inpatient unit at UPMC Hamot. Alicusic came to Hamot in 2012. She recruited her sister, Tatarevic, in 2017 and Tatarevic began her career at Hamot as an L.P.N.
MRIU celebrated Tatarevic achieving her U.S. citizenship in 2019. She graduated with her R.N. in 2020. Alicusic completed her B.S.N. in 2021 and M.S.N. in 2022.
Ashley Hawkinson, a nurse, recruited her mother, Theresa Schley, to be a nurse. They worked together for two years, until Ashley transferred to NICU at Magee Womens – UPMC Hamot.
Another dynamic duo is Cheryl Spacht, a longtime operating room nurse and her daughter, Holly Spacht. Holly Spacht graduated from Gannon University’s nursing program in 2017 and has been working at UPMC Hamot on a medical surgical unit for ve years. Holly Spacht is currently seeking her family nurse practitioner degree. She was inspired to become a nurse because of her mom’s example and a love to help and care for others. Holly Spacht shared that her grandparents who passed away from cancer, inspired her to seek an advanced degree in hopes of working as an oncology nurse practitioner.
Michael and Amber Olszewski are recent newlyweds and longtime nurses at UPMC Hamot. Michael Olszewski is an ICU nurse leader, and Amber Olszewski is a post-anesthesia nurse who is also nearing the completion of an advanced degree to become a nurse practitioner.
The Pietkiewicz family members also serve as direct care nurses at Hamot. Cassie Pietkiewicz followed in the footsteps of her parents, Lynnette Pietkiewicz and Chris Pietkiewicz, both seasoned nurses at UPMC Hamot. Following her parents’ example, Cassie Pietkiewicz began her Hamot career in the Medical Intensive Care Unit (MICU)as a new nurse four years ago, however she quickly excelled and o en serves as a preceptor. Lynette Pietkiewicz has been at UPMC Hamot for many years in the MICU. She and Cassie Pietkiewicz o en work together in the MICU. Chris Pietkiewicz works on a medical surgical unit. Frequently the family works on the same shi s, allowing them to carpool to the hospital together.
UPMC Hamot is also blessed with several sets of siblings including two sisters, Rose Konsel and Ruth Faulhaber. Rose is a transformational leader with over three decades of service and a pillar of specialized patient care, as an enterostomal, wound and ostomy nurse. Ruth Faulhaber works on a cardiac medical surgical unit, where she is recognized for 14 years of exceptional care.
Blanca Miranda and Jitsel Miranda, both UPMC Hamot nurses on medical surgical units, have in uenced their younger sister, who is a nursing student at Gannon University.
Blanca Miranda recently received a prestigious award for patient safety where they were joined by their very proud mother.
UPMC Hamot is an American Nurses Credentialing Center Magnet designated hospital, that empowers nurses, nursing support and all employees to deliver care at the highest level. As we recognize nurses week, we celebrate the UPMC Hamot culture, which de nes “family” by synergistic relationships between sta working to deliver world class care founded on compassionate care. At UPMC Hamot, we are family, taking care of families and each other.
During National Nurses Week we celebrate our incredible nurses and Florence Nightingale’s legacy.
Called to care for people in times of their greatest need, the dedication of our nurses is an inspiration to us all. Thank you for delivering expert and compassionate care to our patients every day.
