I am a Saint Anne’s Nurse

• What do you find most rewarding about being

a nurse?

I feel so fortunate to be in a profession I truly

love. It is an honor and privilege to be allowed

to care and comfort patients during their time

of need. Playing a part in restoring a patient to

health and being part of their life during a most

difficult time is extremely rewarding to me. It is

the little things that often reward me most: the

day-to-day interaction with patients, getting to

know their families, and being a part of their

lives. Nursing is not a job to me; it is a

vocation that has provided meaning to my life.

I am humbled and grateful by what I learn from

my co-workers and patients on a daily basis.

• What do you feel you contribute to your patients?

I feel I am able to make my patients feel at ease

during their hospital visit. I hope to bring my

knowledge, experience and compassion to their

experience. Patients are very vulnerable and

frightened when they enter the hospital setting.

It is important for me to make them feel

comfortable during this difficult experience.

I am there to advocate for them and guide

them through a stressful time.

• How do you try to create a great patient

experience?

I always introduce myself to my patients and

let them know I am there to take care of them. I

treat each patient with empathy and compassion

and try to connect to them and their families so

I can better meet their individual needs. It is

always my goal to form a trusting nurse-to-pa-

tient relationship. I feel respectfully listening to

our patients and treating them with dignity al-

ways helps to create a great patient experience. Maryellen Simmons, RNCenter for Pain Management

My Story...

(continued on reverse)

“I feel so fortunate to

be in a profession

I truly love. Playing a

part in restoring a

patient to health and

being part of their life

during a most difficult

time is extremely

rewarding to me. It is

the little things that

often reward me

most: the day-to-day

interaction with

patients, getting to

know their families,

and being a part of

their lives.”

I am a Saint Anne’s Nurse: Maryellen Simmons, RN

• Why did you choose to work at Saint Anne’s Hospital?

I chose to work at Saint Anne’s because I was looking for a

community-based hospital experience. I was drawn by the mission of

the Dominican Sisters of the Presentation who founded Saint Anne’s in

1906. Their work of restoring health through hard work, compassion and

charity moved me, and I wanted to be part of a hospital based on this

philosophy. I have worked in a large hospital in the past and was looking

for a different, more meaningful experience. Saint Anne’s can only be

described as “special” and I am so very fortunate to be part of this

extraordinary healthcare team.

• What do you think the community should know about nursing at Saint Anne’s?

The community should know that Saint Anne’s is a special place and our

services compare to what bigger hospitals provide. They need to know we

have grown to meet the needs of our community. We are fortunate to have

some of the best trained nurses in the country. We have wonderful career

advancement and educational opportunities and are backed by a strong,

compassionate leader. Nursing at Saint Anne’s provides a rewarding career

path. We strive to provide patient- and family-centered care with expertise,

compassion, dignity and teamwork.

• Why did you choose your specialty area of nursing?

I chose Pain Management as my specialty because I felt strongly that

pain was undertreated and the use of pain medications misunderstood.

I watched several family members struggle with chronic pain issues and

was frustrated by the lack of knowledge and treatment available. I was

very excited to become part of Saint Anne’s growing dedication to pain

management by becoming a nurse at their Center for Pain Management.

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