Celebrating our resident nurses

Mary Greening

What inspired you to become a nurse?

I wanted to be a nurse since I was five years old. My mother and I would walk to the hospital to visit my grandfather. I would stand by the door and watch all the activities of the nurses and doctors.

How long did you work as a nurse and where?

I wanted to work only in hospitals and did so for 32 years. I worked in the surgery-recovery room and later part-time at night. The next 11 years was in the OB [obstetrics] department, then two years in the ICU. Then we moved for the last time and I worked 11 years on the cardiac floor and ICU.

What was your favorite thing about being a nurse?

I loved working in high activity areas and learning new procedures with all the latest equipment. But the patients were always the main attraction. I always enjoyed watching the patients’ improvement as days progressed.

Pat Pelot

What inspired you to become a nurse?

I was inspired by my sister and aunt who were nurses. Later our family had seven nieces and nephews who were nurses!

How long did you work as a nurse and where?

Twenty-five years at Johnson County Surgical Group in Prairie Village, Kan.

What was your favorite thing about being a nurse?

Working with people and helping them.

Darla Thompson

What inspired you to become a nurse?

I worked for 15 months in a small hospital after graduating from high school as a nurse’s aide. Then I attended college and received my BSN.

How long did you work as a nurse and where?

The first 9 years, I worked every other weekend on a medical-surgical unit. Then, I did a variety of nursing jobs, such as PAT (pharmacology to LPNs). The last 15 years, I taught pediatric nursing after getting my master’s in that field.

What was your favorite thing about being a nurse?

The variety of different areas to choose from in nursing.

Georgia Bundschuh

What inspired you to become a nurse?

I like to help people. When I was 8 years old, my grandma was in the hospital. I loved the smell of the hospital. I know — weird.

How long did you work as a nurse and where?

Nurse’s aide 1951-1954, training 1954-1957, delivery room 1957-1959, nursing home 1977-1980, St. Louis Medical School/OB/GYN doctor’s office 1982-1988, and orthopedic doctor’s office 1989-1993.

What was your favorite thing about being a nurse?

Helping people. The education and constant learning. I was happy when they recovered. Really, everything about it.

Jean Griffith

What inspired you to become a nurse?

My interest was piqued in my first year of college. Fast forward 20-plus years: When I was 40, I entered a two-year RN program at Johnson County Community College. I graduated in 1979. I attended two more years at St. Mary College in Leavenworth, Kan., and graduated with a BSN.

How long did you work as a nurse and where?

From 1979 – 1988, I worked at Cushing Memorial, Leavenworth and St. John’s in Leavenworth. In 1983, I moved to Shawnee and worked until 1988 at Humana in Overland Park, Kan. (now Overland Park Regional).

What was your favorite thing about being a nurse?

Total patient care — with an RN staff.

Mary Lou Niebling

What inspired you to become a nurse?

Previously, I was married to a doctor, a radiologist. I was surrounded rather frequently by the medical community. My educational background involved a bachelor of science in health education, physical education and recreation.

How long did you work as a nurse and where?

As an aide and RN at the University of Kansas Medical Center1953-1957; a post surgery and trauma unit for three years; in ICU, post-surgery and trauma for 10 years. I got my master of arts in education from the University of Iowa in 1955 and my bachelor of science in nursing from KU in 1983.

What was your favorite thing about being a nurse?

Relating to the patients and their varied problems. Seeing most of them become "well."

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