THANKS TO LINN CAMPBELL (PICTURED) AND SUE MATTSON FOR THE IDEA TO SHINE A LIGHT ON SABAL SPRINGS’ NURSES (GROUP PICTURE), MANY OF WHOM HAVE PROVIDED DECADES-LONG SERVICE TO PATIENTS.
The American Nurses Association (ANA) is celebrating its 130th anniversary this year. There are between 4.7 million and 5.2 million registered nurses (RNs) in the United States, making it the largest healthcare profession in the country — upwards of 4.3 million are actively working as licensed RNs.
National Nurses Month is celebrated every May, including National Nurses Day on May 6, the birthday of Florence Nightingale. Recognizing their impact on patients, communities, and the overall healthcare system, this year’s theme is the “The Power of Nurses.” The Breeze is proud to honor Sabal Springs’ own nurses who have decades of experience. We asked these dedicated healthcare professionals to share with us their areas of expertise. If we have missed anyone, please send an email to sabalspringsbreeze.com by May 7 and we would be happy to update the list for online publication.
A SALUTE TO SABAL SPRINGS’ NURSES
Linn Campbell, RN, surgical, cardiac care, for five years
Pat Convery, MSTD, BSN, RN, Critical Care and Emergency Nursing, Professor of Nursing
Mary Evans, RN, CMHN (Community Mental Health Nurse) for 34-plus years for the Office of Mental Health for New York State
Alice Hayes, RN, graduated in 1962, worked as a staff and infection control nurse at a cancer hospital as well as with AIDS patients and in hospice, until retiring at 70
Carol A. Homa, RN, BSN, Medical-Surgical Nurse Manager-Telemetry and Dialysis, Administrator Nursing Quality Improvement, Fall Prevention Initiative, 54 years active nursing,45 years for the same institution
Sharon Hunt, RN, BSN, 25 years ICU, 10 years surgery, 5 years hospice
Anita Johnson, MSN, BSN, ICU, Medical Surgical OB, RN Program Faculty
Linda Johnson Pechstein, HN (Navy Hospital Corpswave), LVN, RN, OCN (Oncology Certified Nurse) for 43 years
Dawn Klink, RN, BSN, Progressive Cardiac Care and Rehab, Birthing Center, Public Health
Kathy Kwaak, LPN, RN, Medical/Surgical ICU, Cardiac ICU, Cardiac Cath Lab, Manager ICU, CCU, Telemetry, Transplant, Director of Center of Excellence Research for Pulmonary, for 40 years
Bruce Mericle, RN, Psychiatric NSG, from 1966 through 2016
Tish Stencel, CLPN, electronic medical records analyst and homecare, 20 years
Patsy Swan-Clark, RN, BA, Psych, CD, DD, 40 years, 20 years with Illinois Dept of Public Health
Jacqui Townsend, BSN, RN, charge nurse for a telemetry/progressive care unit
