Sheila Sutton stands along with her restored 1970 Volkswagen Beetle. Her husband gave it to her as a present after her first retirement. CONTRIBUTED
Sheila Sutton stands along with her restored 1970 Volkswagen Beetle. Her husband gave it to her as a present after her first retirement. CONTRIBUTED
After graduating in 1985 with an affiliate diploma in utilized science, she started working at St. Elizabeth’s till its closure in 2000. She labored in oncology after a dialog with a professor. However she mentioned working with oncology sufferers is much more than simply nursing.
“The half I liked about oncology nursing, or any form of nursing schooling, is instructing sufferers tips on how to e their higher self and attain wellness. It’s [cancer] one of many largest challenges of their lives. It’s virtually religious. They let you know their fears and also you’re simply there,” she mentioned.
After St. Elizabeth’s closed, she labored in dwelling care from 2001-2005. In 2006, an outdated pal of hers advised her a couple of nursing job that was open, and he or she was employed. She labored at Dayton Physicians Radiation Oncology Samaritan North till her retirement in 2012.
However that retirement didn’t final lengthy.
“I obtained bored. Anyone that is aware of me will let you know nursing is my life. It’s simply one thing that I liked. It’s like what they are saying in regards to the mafia; ‘when you’re in, you’re in,’” she mentioned.
Sutton went again to work as a Neighborhood Wellness Screener with Premier/Constancy the place she continues to work doing group outreach occasions. However the schooling bug saved on biting. She enrolled at Franklin College in Columbus within the on-line nursing diploma program.
“I made a decision I wished to return to get my grasp’s as a result of I wish to be concerned in instructing. I wished it, in order that’s what I did,” she mentioned.
Sutton will graduate Might 20, and mentioned that she goes to maintain her choices open. Nonetheless, passing on her lifelong well being care experiences is what she feels is the following stage in life for her, and he or she desires to show extra than simply tips on how to be a nurse.
“I wish to educate new RNs tips on how to use important pondering and tips on how to educate the affected person what they will do to dwell the perfect life they will. I wish to go on my data and my 40 years of nursing expertise to new nurses,” Sutton mentioned.
The faculty expertise fully on-line was preferrred for Sutton through the pandemic. She additionally discovered new issues together with nursing idea and administration, issues nurses have been not often taught again when she first went to high school. She did level out one nemesis when it got here to education.
Sheila Sutton was honored in 2005 with a Nurse Excellence Award. CONTRIBUTED
Sheila Sutton was honored in 2005 with a Nurse Excellence Award. CONTRIBUTED
“The toughest factor was that laptop and know-how. Again in my day, we charted. We will need to have written 1,000,000 phrases. I referred to as my granddaughter for assist,” she mentioned.
Sutton ultimately mastered the technological beast and mentioned it simply takes apply like the rest. Whereas she doesn’t have plans for a giant journey or social gathering for her commencement, she mentioned the one factor she actually desires sooner or later.
“Life has a method of figuring out the way it’s going to be. Life for me has labored out one of the simplest ways it may. I can’t consider the rest I’d have reasonably have carried out. I wish to have a great-grandkid, however I don’t know if I’ll dwell that lengthy,” Sutton mentioned.
Whereas instructing is now her final aim, Sutton acknowledges simply getting her diploma is an incredible achievement. She appears to be like ahead to what she’s going to do with that piece of paper, however she simply desires it.
“I don’t care if they only put the factor [degree] on my headstone, so long as I’ve it,” she mentioned.
