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FMH HELD LUNCHEON FOR FCC STUDENT NURSES - 2010-05-05

First, you create the passion. Then you make it possible. Passion and possibility are the necessary elements in the creation of new nurses. Fairfield Memorial Hospital serves as a training center for future nurses from Illinois Eastern Community Colleges (IECC) and this year Fairfield Memorial Hospital has hired five nurses from this year’s graduating class.  The local Frontier Community College (FCC) nursing students were recently honored at a luncheon by Fairfield Memorial Hospital celebrating their accomplishments in becoming Registered Nurses.

Katherine Bunting, FMH CEO, said, “Fairfield Memorial Hospital is so blessed to work with IECC as we work in partnership to go forth to provide longevity of healthcare services to our community.”

There are numerous reasons why these local graduates have wanted to become nurses.  Nurses take pride in contribution to patient healing that brings patients home from surgery. Nurses hide tears when they know that saying goodbye to one may be their last time. Nurses put on a brave front when life is hanging in the balance. Nurses valiantly fight to advocate for patients' rights to the best care, or even to die with dignity. Nurses work hand in hand with other caring professionals in the daily work of simply providing care so that we can send our patients home in better health than when they first arrived, then go home with a sense of relief at the end of a hard shift, having fluffed the pillow of one lonely patient.

“During a time of nursing shortages in our country, it is vital that small and rural hospitals grow their own nurses from within the local community.  Fairfield Memorial Hospital’s goal is to provide a compassionate and welcoming environment for new nurses.  We want to assure that these students thrive and prosper in their new career.  Our hospital never hesitates to consider a nursing student from our local IECC Nursing Programs, and we have been able to recruit from multiple programs this year.  We know that the IECC Nursing Programs always produce a high caliber nursing students each and every year,” said Cindy Meagher BSN, FMH Chief Nurse Executive.

Why be a nurse? Nurses can glean an answer from Florence Nightingale's words: "Let us be anxious to do well, not for selfish praise but to honor and advance the cause, the work we have taken up. Let us value our training not as it makes us cleverer or superior to others, but inasmuch as it enables us to be more useful and helpful to our fellow creatures, the sick, those who most want our help. Let it be our ambition to be thorough good women, good nurses, and never let us be ashamed of the name of 'nurse' " (from Florence Nightingale's selected letters). 

In this today’s world, nursing students can be male or female, traditional or non-traditional, single or married, and with or without children.  Whatever the circumstance, all nursing students have one thing in common, the love and passion to care for others.   

Pictured are the 2010 Frontier Community College Student Nurse graduates, Instructors, and some of the Fairfield Memorial Hospital Nurse Leaders at a recent luncheon celebrating their successful completion of nursing school.

1^st Row (L to R)

Cindy Meagher BSN, FMH CNE, Jane Williams, Keri Hancock, Michael McClane, Hollie Musgrave, Amanda Miller, Jennifer Tinsley, Tammy Pollard, Jennifer Coomer, Hollie Kelly MSN RN, Deb Spillman CMSRN, FMH Clinical Practice Coordinator, Susan McKnight RN, FMH Home Health Director

2^nd Row (L to R)

Sara Meeks, Dana Bare, Madeline Woods, Jessica Lowe, Ashleigh Braddy, Heather Whitmire, Jordan Woomer, Rebecca Block, Misty Watham, Judy Hudson MSN RN, FCC Instructor; Sharon Pollard RN, FMH Emergency Department Director; Janet Kinkade MSN RN Certified Nurse Educator, FCC Instructor

3^rd Row (L to R)

Kathleen Hetsley RN CNOR, FMH Surgery Director; Melinda Patterson, Christina Simpson, Amber Rice, Paula Plique, Michael Moore, Vicky Gains, Danielle Balding, Kendall Lemons, Brandi Lamp, Halie Terrel, Heather Burklow LPN, FMH Way-Fair Assistant Nurse Leader; Cathy Ross

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