Stories
YON 2020 Day 255: Agatha Cobourg Hodgins
This fascinating narrative recounts the accomplishments of nurse Agatha Cobourg Hodgins. In the early 1900’s, she was appointed chief anesthetist in the Surgical Department of Lakeside Hospital, taught anesthesia to other nurses as well as physicians and dentists, and went on to establish a national association for nurse anesthetists.
This biography of Agatha Cobourg Hodgins was written by Christopher Dawson of University Hospitals (UH) on the occasion of the 150th anniversary of UH and was provided by Margaret Burzynski-Bays, UH Archivist. The photo was provided courtesy of the Stanley A. Ferguson Archives.
YON 2022 Day 78: Shyla Garrison, Inspiring Story about Faith
“I have been living with the care of my patients for 47 years, every day.” says Shyla Garrison, a nurse that just adores her job but there are some sad moments. Discover her story in the following article.
“47 years – It’s almost a human life. All these years, I continued to learn, I took new specialization courses, I created and lead teams and I was with thousands of people “, says Shyla, head nurse at the Medical Center in Ohio, Garfield.
YON 2020 Day 250: Meghan Gilroy, BSN, RNC-OB, CBC
TA labor and delivery nurse at Summa Akron City Hospital, Meghan Gilroy, BSN, RNC-OB, CBC, holds certification in inpatient obstetrics as well as being a certified breastfeeding counselor. She explains how by serving as a preceptor she influences the profession and shares her thoughts about the education, and experience that can benefit other nurses who are interested in this role.
Serving as a preceptor for nursing students for the past four years is one way through which I have impacted the profession of nursing. It is a pleasure sharing my knowledge and skills with nursing students looking to work in labor and delivery. I enjoy showing them that sometimes labor and delivery nursing is more than just delivering babies, and that there are a multitude of roles we can play during a twelve-hour shift. Sharing new experiences with them and teaching them how to master skills they will use in their own practice one day brings me joy.
YON 2020 Day 267: Jillian Russell, MSN, RN, NPD-BC
Nationally certified as a nursing professional development (NPD) practitioner, Jillian Russell, MSN, RN, NPD-BC, explains the multiple aspects of this role and its importance to excellent patient care. In addition to her position at Southwest General Health Center, she also hold a leadership position with the in the Association for Nursing Professional Development.
I may be young, but I am not to be underestimated. In the 11 years I have been a nurse, I have proudly worn various hats—that of bedside clinician, research nurse, manager, and educator. It was not until 2012 that I discovered my passion and purpose in nursing in the role of the nursing professional development (NPD) practitioner.
YON 2020 Day 223: Anastasia Prech, CST, BSN, RN, CNOR; and Sara Prech, ST, BSN, RN, CNOR
Twin sisters AnastasiaPrech, CST, BSN, RN, CNOR, and Sara Prech, ST, BSN, RN, CNOR, both work in the Mather OR at University Hospitals Case Medical Center. Their individual careers began as surgical techs. Here they explain how they came to become nurses and what they’ve learned along the way.
My career in the operating room began in 2009, when I entered a surgical technology program. This provided the basis for my interest in the operating room, and has proven to be the foundation of my entire career. Learning the fundamentals of the scrub role instilled in me a strong surgical conscience and a desire for absolute excellence in patient care. It was on my first day in clinicals in the operating room, I decided I would continue my education to become a Registered Nurse so that I could circulate as well. First, however, I had to finish my surgical technology program! Upon completing it, I successfully passed my certification exam and become a Certified Surgical Technologist, a title I still value and maintain to this day.
YON 2020 Day 2: Barbara Moran, BSN, MBA
I often speak of the art and science of nursing. The science is the part that patients depend on us to know and get right in order to maintain the highest quality of care possible. The art of nursing is what patients remember – how you make each patient feel as if they are the single patient you have all day long. When we share a part of ourselves with our patients–a gentle touch, hope, comfort and compassion–we also renew ourselves.
The art of nursing is something that comes from deep within each nurse. When I look at the nurses that work at St. Vincent Charity Medical Center, I feel an overwhelming sense of pride and gratitude as they live out our healing mission every day.
YON 2020 Day 25: Barbara Mako Douglas, DNP, MBA, APRN-CRNA
For the last 29 years I have had the incredible fortune to practice as a certified registered nurse anesthetist (CRNA). Early in my career, I honed my craft expanding my skill set at large academic institutions and now practice independently with three other CRNAs providing comprehensive anesthesia services including perioperative pain management, general anesthesia, labor and delivery, and ancillary support for our critical access hospital.
YON 2020 Day 314: Jared Street, BSN, RN, CEN, C-NPT, NHDP-BC, EMT-B
In addition to his role as a Nursing Professional Development Specialist in the Emergency Department at Cleveland Clinic Akron General, Jared Street, BSN, RN, CEN, C-NPT, NHDP-BC, EMT-B, is also a nurse with the Disaster Medical Assistance and Critical Care Aeromedical Evacuation Team, a part of the National Disaster Medical System. He shares his recent experiences during the COVID pandemic.
YON 2020 Day 290: Alexis Costello, LCCC Nursing Student
As she approaches graduation from the nursing program at Lorain County Community College (LCCC), Alexis Costello reflects on how her studies have changed her. Now she looks forward to making a difference to the patients from whom she will care.
As I head into my final eight weeks of my ADN program, I can’t help but reflect on how this nursing school journey has changed my life in the best ways. Before I started, I was clueless as to what career path I should pursue. My family had always mentioned possibly pursuing a career in nursing, but I never gave it any thought, though I had always been interested in medical sciences. I took random science and health classes for two and a half semesters before I decided to give nursing a shot.
YON 2020 Day 193: Janet Breedlove, BSN, RN
While previously specializing in critical care, for the last decade, Janet Breedlove, BSN, RN, has worked at Lake Health in Home Care. She explains why she loves the profession and the many advantages of being a nurse.
I always get excited when someone tells me that they are thinking about going into nursing. I love being a nurse, so I am always glad to tell them how rewarding the experience of being a nurse is. First and foremost, you must like people. I always wanted to be a nurse. I wanted to do something unselfish with my life–to help, care for, and teach people to make a difference in their lives. There are so many different things you can do being a nurse and so many options. You can work with patients many areas, including Neonatal, Pediatrics, Medical/ Surgical, ER, Critical Care, Surgery, Psychiatric, Geriatric and Public Nursing/Home Care Nursing. Then, if you find you need a change, you can transition into a different fields/type of nursing.
YON 2020 Day 57: Troy Roebuck, BSN, RN
An emergency room nurse at Akron Children’s Hospital, Troy Roebuck, BSN, RN, talks about his passion for nursing and healing, and the calling he feels for his profession. He reminisces about his clinical experiences in nursing school, and how nursing encompasses big and small expressions of care, from saving a life to providing a warm blanket.
YON 2020 Day 364: Jane F. Mahowald, BSN, MA, RN, ANEF
Currently the Executive Director Ohio League for Nursing and Co-Lead of the Ohio Action Coalition, Jane F. Mahowald, BSN, MA, RN, ANEF, has practiced as a nurse longer than any other nurse whose story has appeared on this site. Her dedication and work have been recognized with multiple awards throughout the years. She shares her nursing journey and her thoughts about the future of our profession.
YON 2020 Day 43: GCNA’s Overseas Outreach
Outside of work commitments, nurses provide an enormous amount of volunteer service. This story highlights the Greater Cleveland Nurses Association’s outreach activities.
Nurses serve communities in a variety of ways-not only providing direct care, but also in active volunteer roles. The Greater Cleveland Nurses Association (GCNA), the local arm of the Ohio Nurses Association (ONA) and American Nurses Association (ANA), is proud to have an on-going relationship with MedWish, an international non-profit organization providing humanitarian aid to individuals and organizations caring for people in developing countries.
YON 2020 Day 83: Amy E. Johnson, MSN, APRN, ACCNS-AG, CCRN
Feeling fortunate to have found her passion, Summa Health System Clinical Nurse Specialist Amy E. Johnson, MSN, APRN, ACCNS-AG, CCRN, shares her career path and advice for others interested in her role.
I have been a nurse for fourteen years. For the first eight years I worked as an ICU nurse. After returning to school and earning my Master’s degree, I began practicing as a Clinical Nurse Specialist (CNS). Currently I am working on the Akron campus of Summa Health as a CNS focused on the med/surg and telemetry patient populations.
YON 2020 Day 8: K. Kelly Hancock, DNP, RN, NE-BC, FAAN
K. Kelly Hancock, DNP, RN, NE-BC, FAAN, is the Executive Chief Nurse of Cleveland Clinic Health System. In her leadership role, Dr. Hancock oversees the system’s largest caregiver group (nurses), which represents nearly half the workforce. In this video, Dr. Hancock talks about the scope of nurse leadership, the role of nursing in healthcare, and the breadth of caregiving opportunities available for nurses.
YON 2020 Day 69: Vickie L. Webb, MSN, RN-BC, CPN
Vickie L. Webb, MSN, RN-BC, CPN, is the Senior Nursing Performance Improvement Coordinator at Akron Children’s Hospital. After spending 20 plus years as a pediatrics staff nurse, Webb transitioned into a role focused on quality improvement. As part of an interprofessional team seeking to reduce Code Blues outside intensive care units, Webb discovered a passion for spearheading quality improvement and a way to expand nursing’s role in making a difference in the quality of care given patients.
YON 2020 Day 129: Jessica Brodnik, LPN and Ursuline nursing student
Although she learned many things being a LPN, that experience sparked the desire for Jessica Brodnik to seek her BSN. Currently a senior preparing to graduate from the undergraduate program in Ursuline College’s Breen School of Nursing, she looks forward to a rewarding journey as a RN.
My nursing career began when I graduated high school and took a job as an LPN. My first nursing job was in skilled rehabilitation and long-term care. My role as an LPN has taught me a multitude of things not only within healthcare, but truly about myself. I have come to know more of what I value, why I love nursing and healthcare, and why I am so excited for my future as a Registered Nurse.
YON 2020 Day 222: Gina Severino, DNP, RN, ACNS-BC
Clearly illustrating the fact that nurses can serve in many roles, Gina Severino, DNP, RN, ACNS-BC, discusses her the various roles she holds and their importance. Dr. Severino also explains the importance of active participation in professional nursing organizations.
For the past 35 years, I have been a registered nurse. While I have worked in many areas of nursing, my specialty is Critical Care Nursing. My professional role in nursing for the past 17 years has been as a nursing educator. Currently I am a Nursing Professor at Kent State University, Trumbull Campus. My role is not just one of an educator, but one of a life-long learner and mentor.
YON 2020 Day 280: Beth M. Weese, MSN, RN, GCNS-BC, NPD-BC
A Clinical Nurse Specialist (CNS) at Southwest General Health Center, Beth Weese, MSN, RN, GCNS-BC, NPD-BC, describes the CNS role and her contributions to nursing practice. She is currently a Nursing Professional Development Specialist in Nursing Education and Professional Development at Southwest.
I have had the honor of being a registered nurse for 36 years. Of these, 21 years have been as a Clinical Nurse Specialist (CNS). In the 1990s, I started the NP track at Kent State University, but while working as the Nurse Manger on an orthopedic unit, I felt drawn to a role where I influenced patient populations and the nurses caring for those populations. I wanted to make sure that they had evidenced based tools in place to provide excellent care to their patients. I met with Dr. Harriet Coeling at Kent State and decided to change to the CNS role. Dr Coeling has continued to be a mentor to me over the years since making this decision.
YON 2020 Day 186: Beth Hoover BSN, RN, OCN
Working with oncology patients at Summa Health keeps Beth Hoover, BSN, RN, OCN, passionate about nursing. This story about her details a project she designed to help improve care of patients who are receiving various therapies. This story featuring Beth Hoover was written by Amy E Johnson MSN, RN, ACCNS-AG, Clinical Nurse Specialist at Summa Health System.
Beth Hoover BSN, RN, OCN, has been a RN for 15 years. During her time as a clinical nurse, she has worked on an inpatient oncology unit and as a home care oncology nurse. Since 2010, she has been working in an outpatient oncology department at Summa Health. In her current role, she is responsible for administering various infusions: chemotherapy, biotherapies and immunotherapies. Beth also performs non-oncology services such as IVIG and iron infusions, to name a few.