Sanderson’s career takes her through new hospital process in Pawnee County
LARNED — Susan Sanderson considers the opening of the new Pawnee Valley Community Hospital in 2013 a highlight of her nursing career.
She was already working as a nurse in St. Joseph Hospital in 2009, when the news came out at the hospital would be closed, and with it, its designation as a Critical Access Hospital in the community.
“Our hospital was on the verge of being closed, but then our community banded together,” she recalled. “Through the hard work of many people, reaching as far as the State Capital, our hospital was saved. In 2013 Pawnee Valley Hospital was dedicated. Being a part of maintaining the hospital status and then being involved in the new build was definitely a highlight of my career.”
The experience helped her in developing the belief that “tenacity and flexibilty are two characteristics that can help a person reach their goal.”
Sanderson’s career development
Growing up in Western Kansas, Sanderson was set on a career path working as a Certified Nurse’s Aide in high school. She worked in a Catholic hospital,“where the nuns had such dignity and respect toward the ill and infirm,” she said. “I wanted to have a chance to experience
that; this in when my heart started having a passion for being an influence on a person’s health and well-being.”
She graduated from Dodge City Vocational School in 1971. She moved to Larned in 1976, to work at Larned State Hospital. “The state hospital did not use LPN’s back then, so I branched out and earned a license as a Mental Health Technician,” she said.
After nine years, she was eager to get back into medical nursing. In 1988, she was hired as an LPN at St. Joseph Memorial Hospital. “Quickly, I realized how drastically nursing had changed in the hospital and to be successful, I would need to further my education. Barton Community College was my choice to earn my associate’s degree in nursing, which I did in 1992.”
At St. Joseph, she had the opportunity to work as a direct care nurse on the medical floor, assist with the long-term care unit and give lectures in the chemical dependency unit.
“As I gained experienceI was then sent to theEmergency Departmentwhere I worked for manyyears. One of the bestthings I learned is howimportant it is to havegood mentors. St. Joe’shad some very experienced,devoted nurses who were
willing to share their knowledge with me. I cherish the relationships built on the common ground of helping people feel better and the ability to carry out lifesaving measures. These were the people that gave me the courage to press on in my career.”
Married with three children, she broadened her nursing understanding with a Bachelor of Science degree from Fort Hays State University in 1988.
While at St. Joseph, it was her passion to work in the emergency department. She also assisted the Director of Nursing for several years. She also has worked as a charge nurse until recently at PVCH.
