Florence Awards

TO OUR READERS:

Welcome to our inaugural Florence Awards. About a year ago, my coworker Brent Theisen described an event organized by a Georgia newspaper that recognizes nurses. I had been wanting to create a way to honor medical professionals in our community, and this spurred a series of ideas. We immediately went to the think tank, and before I knew it, my whiteboard was filled with many ideas. One year later, Florence AwardsRecognizing Nurses in the Northland was born. The community would submit their nominations, and our judging committee

would recognize five nurses in the Northland for the following awards:

 Empathy Award

Awarded for displaying a true understanding of another’s situation, great sense of their emotions, and an ability to understand their thoughts and feelings.

 Innovation Award

Awarded for the creation or implementation of a process or program in a related field, aiming for improvements on things such as efficiency, safety and education.

 Best Nursing Student

Awarded to a student for displaying excellent tenacity to learn, and

performing community service in a related field.

 Mission Award

Awarded to an individual who has gone above and beyond the scope of their everyday duties, providing assistance to our community through volunteerism and making a difference through their expertise.

 The Florence Award Awarded to an individual who has represented and displayed strength in empathy, innovation and mission. This individual is a true leader in the field of nursing.

Once we built our official plan, Essentia Health of Duluth signed on as our supporting sponsor, and

we were ready to present this to the community. On March 11, nominations opened and began pouring in. But weeks later, COVID19 hit the Northland. With Florence in its inaugural year and 76 incredible nominations submitted, I had to push forward. Since we couldn’t have an event to announce the winners, I worked closely with Briana at Footprint Promotional Advertising, our awards sponsor, on how to get the awards sent to various locations. I then asked each nominator if they could coordinate a special presentation for each of these five extraordinary nurses. Every single person was up for the challenge! This couldn’t have gone any better considering our circumstances.

Every presentation was so special, I thank all of our presenters — you went above and beyond to recognize our award recipients.

In these challenging times, I learned that we must find courage to move ahead. Get creative, work with your community, step up and make a difference. We have all been shaken by COVID-19; however, we are strong and we will prevail through these times. To the five nurses recognized for their awards, to every nurse nominated and to all of those in the field — each of you show an incredible amount of courage, bravery and strength. Thank you, everyone who nominated these amazing nurses.

In our Florence edition, you will learn about each of our award recipients, some history about Florence Nightingale, and the history of nursing. I thank each of our writers and the team who helped put this inaugural awards program together. And thank you to our sponsors who made this a reality!

Megan

KellerAdvertising Director Duluth Media Group

FLORENCE NIGHTINGALE AND THE LEGACY OF NURSING

By Ann Klefstad

In these difficult days, there is no profession more trusted, no person more valued than nurses. For 18 years in a row, nurses have been rated the most honest and ethical profession, according to Gallup surveys. Nurses beat out doctors in this trust matter by 20 percent.

And now, in this pandemic, as in the 1918 flu epidemic, it’s nurses who are on the front lines, because there is no simple curative therapy for COVID-19: survival depends on moment-tomoment observation of patients, their bearing, their physical condition, their temperatures, their skin color, their blood

gases, and on quick and accurate reactions to these conditions — in other words, on excellent nursing care.

In 1918, Philadelphia’s health commissioner, Wilmer Krusen, remarked, “If you would ask me the three things Philadelphia most needs to conquer the epidemic, I would tell you, ‘Nurses, more nurses and yet more nurses.’”

Nursing was founded as a profession by Florence Nightingale, a woman often romanticized as “The Lady with the Lamp” but who was far more than that romanticized compassionate woman. She invented the field of data visualization in her development of statistical thinking around hospitals and healing, and she campaigned for women’s

right to own a purpose for their lives.

Her compassion was very real, but also real was the incredible way she mobilized resources to do something about that compassion.

Florence Nightingale was born on May 12, 1820, in Florence, Italy (how she got her name) to Frances Nightingale and William Shore Nightingale. Her family was wealthy and her mother a bit of a social climber; Florence had a sister, Parthenope, who served in her later life as a kind of chief information officer for her.

Florence herself was no social butterfly and was interested in subjects well outside the usual social displays favored for young women at the time — a little music, a little watercolor painting, a little culture. Florence wished to make her life matter,

Middlesex hospital for ailing governesses, the Institute for the Care of Sick Gentlewomen in Distressed Circumstances. She was promoted to superintendent of the hospital within a year — just in time to take on the cholera epidemic that broke out in the vicinity. Nightingale improved the hospital’s hygiene practices and significantly lowered the death rate at the hospital. This was intuitive on her part; the germ theory of disease was not widely known, and certainly not widely accepted. She herself became ill, but recovered.

and to use the talents she knew she had to make the world better.

She was raised on her family’s estate at Lea Hurst in England, where her father hired tutors for her, giving her a classical education and training in German, French and Italian. Florence interested herself in the lives of the poor in the village near her family’s home, helping to care for the sick.

She came to see nursing as her life’s calling and told her family this. They forbade it. Determined to pursue her true calling despite her parents’ objections, in 1844, Nightingale enrolled as a nursing student at the Lutheran Hospital of Pastor Fliedner in Kaiserwerth, Germany.

In the early 1850s, Nightingale returned to England, where she took a nursing job in a

In October 1853, the Crimean War began: the British Empire fought the Russian Empire for control of the failing Ottoman Empire based in Turkey.

Thousands of British soldiers were sent to the Black Sea to fight. By 1854, 18,000 soldiers had been admitted into military hospitals — many for illnesses of crowding and poor hygiene, only some for wounds. There were no female nurses stationed with the troops — before nursing was formalized as a profession, nurses were sometimes also prostitutes, and Victorians didn’t want them around the soldiers. After the Battle of Alma, however, English people read news of their horrific conditions in which ill and injured soldiers were dying in their thousands. They demanded that something be done.

Photo courtesy The College of Saint Scholastica CSS nursing students from 1926: the yearbook staff.

Photo courtesy The College of Saint Scholastica

Kristen Williams and Zachary Jones, 2018 graduates of The College of St. Scholastica’s postbaccalaureate nursing program, demonstrate the use of a simulation manikin.

Photo courtesy The College of Saint Scholastica CSS nursing students in the recreation room, probably 1930s.

FLORENCE: Page 5

FLORENCE

From Page 4

In late 1854, Nightingale was asked by British Secretary of War Sidney Herbert to organize a corps of nurses to tend to the sick and fallen soldiers in the Crimea. Nightingale assembled a team of 34 nurses from a variety of religious orders and sailed with them to the Crimea within a few days of Herbert’s request.

Arriving at the barracks hospital at Scutari, she was horrified by its condition. It was, she’d soon write, like stepping into the “Kingdom of Hell.” The barracks, which also served as the hospital, was essentially built over an open sewer; supplies were low and soldiers

were often lying in the filthy clothes they had arrived in, their wounds septic and uncleaned. Nightingale purchased hundreds of scrub brushes and put soldiers who were well enough to work to scrubbing and cleaning the hospital quarters. She rented another building to serve as a laundry and began the herculean task of getting clean linen and clothing provided for soldiers. She had boarded windows pried open for better ventilation. She raised money to improve conditions, and to fix the sorry state of the convalescent soldiers’ diet, she hired the bestknown chef in London: Alexis Soyer, a guy as famous then as Anthony Bourdain is now. The reports of Nightingale’s work had made her famous

in London, and in early 1855 Soyer joined her. He had famously devised soup kitchens for the Irish Famine and written a cookbook, Shilling Cookery, for good food on a tight budget — after having served as a celebrity chef to the rich and famous.

Florence and Alexis admired one another, became friends, and created an effective partnership. Soyer taught soldiers how to run a kitchen, creating more and better meals faster, cheaper, and with a minimum of waste. Healthy food prepared in a clean environment, and enough of it, helped cut mortality rates. Soyer also designed a portable gas field stove, regulation kit in the British Army until the 1980s.

Nightingale halved the death rate in the Scutari hospital, but she acquired “Crimea fever,” most likely brucellosis — which took a chronic form. She suffered from its effects the rest of her life. But when the war was over, she composed her book Notes on Nursing: still in print, and the foundation for modern nursing. She wrote more books as well: some on nursing; some on the visualization of statistics; and a novel (Cassandra) that presents the idea that women’s lives should be as purposeful and selfchosen as those of men.

With a grant of $250,000 from a grateful government, Nightingale decided to establish a hospital (St. Thomas’s) and the Nightingale Training School for Nurses. She became a worldwide celebrity and consultant on nursing and hospitals, publishing Notes on Hospitals in 1859; during the American Civil War she consulted on American field hospitals. The “pinning” of nurses as a graduation ritual came from Queen Victoria’s gift to Nightingale of the “Nightingale Jewel,” an engraved brooch.

FROM THE ARMY TO NURSING AN INTERVIEW WITH JORDON SANFORD

By Ann Klefstad

Jordon Sanford, BSN Class of 2020, College of St. Scholastica SPC, Army National Guard

What was the Army experience that made you want to train as a nurse?

NURSING EDUCATION IN DULUTH

By Ann Klefstad

The College of Saint Scholastica took up Nightingale’s ideas of training nurses in science as well as in patient care, and started the first baccalaureate nursing education program in the area in 1928. It was taught, at the time, by Benedictine sisters, and nurses sewed their own uniforms.

Times have changed, but the holistic nature of nursing has not changed. Sheryl Sandahl, dean of the School of Nursing at CSS, notes the constancies and the changes. She says, first, that nursing was founded in holistic treatment of patients as people in context, as people with lives, not just diseases. That holistic aspect hasn’t changed. What has changed is the vast volumes of data and technology that nurses now have to work with.

“The tech has become more complex, but we still have to remember to look at the patient and not only the monitor,” said Sandahl.

The technology and new knowledges are positive for practice, she says, but they definitely complicate the practice, and “it’s not so much about skills as it’s about that thinking piece — so, say, here’s a patient who has had problems with oxygenation, and they’re not reacting as you’d expect.” You have to be able to take the technical data, the patient observation data, the patient’s history, their emotional state, together. “You still have the physical patient that you have to strike a relationship with, a trusting therapeutic relationship — and then you’ll get more accurate data,” she explained.

In 1951, the first year in which the Bachelor of Science degree in nursing was offered by CSS, Joyce Klefstad of Duluth graduated in pediatric nursing and public health. She went on to work in orphanages in the area, then studied pediatric nursing practices in Denver and in England. She returned to help establish pediatric nursing at Fairview hospitals in Minneapolis, using toy wagons for patient transport and striped pajamas rather than hospital gowns. She made a lasting mark on pediatric nursing in the state. Her daughter, Heidi Christiansen Haines, also became a nurse and speaks eloquently about the profession she knows so well.

I took the leap to transfer to The College of St. Scholastica with help from the Invite program, as I was recruited into the Veterans to Nursing program. The Invite faculty is absolutely great and the other students in the program were very relatable, as we all have had military

experience. The specific Army experience leading to train me as a nurse would be the fast-paced environment and stressful situations that carry over to nursing.

SANFORD: Page 7

“When you become a nurse from that kind of program it becomes a key part of your identity, it becomes a key part of your life,” Heidi said. “I knew that what I had learned in systems theory, interviewing, body language, transferred to anything else in my life. Anything that has to do with caring in your life . . . I think all nurses feel that way, you’re very practiced at both micro and macro thinking. You’re tending to an individual, but it’s everything around them as well. It’s empathy. . . . You gain trust by thinking holistically, by putting yourself in others’ shoes, by dealing with uncertain outcomes.”

Photo courtesy The College of Saint Scholastica Sheryl Sandahl, dean of the School of Nursing (SON) at The College of St. Scholastica, speaks at a press conference about major grants being awarded to the SON.

Above: Photo courtesy of the Christiansen family

Photo courtesy of Wikimedia Commons

One of Florence Nightingale’s “cockscomb” graphs making visible the mortality in the Army, 1854-1855.

Photo courtesy of Wikimedia Commons Florence Nightingale.

FLORENCE AWARD – GREG WHITE

By Andrea Busche

Florence Nightingale was a true trailblazer in the field of nursing. Her strong influence on proper medical care policies in the 19th and 20th centuries have earned her the moniker “the founder of modern nursing.”

Of the Duluth News Tribune’s five special awards honoring nurses, the namesake award, aptly coined the “Florence Award,” is given to an individual who has represented and displayed strength in empathy, innovation and mission. This individual is a true leader in the field of nursing.

The winner of this year’s Florence Award is 34-year-old Cloquet resident Greg White. White is not only a nurse practitioner at CMH Raiter Family Clinic in Cloquet, but is also an assistant professor of nursing at The College of St. Scholastica (CSS).

As if that weren’t enough, White also serves his country through the Air National Guard, where he was recently promoted to captain, and was also named “company grade nurse of the year.” Additionally, he is pursuing his doctorate in nursing.

Greg White is a multitalented nurse who truly embodies every trait of this special award.

Military

White is originally from Duluth. His sister, wellloved singer-songwriter Gaelynn Lea, had some health challenges, and White shared, “I’ve been around medicine my whole life.” But his choice to pursue nursing as a career came a bit later.

White initially decided to pursue psychology, but dropped out of that program since, he said, “It just didn’t feel right.” He decided to pursue a career as a firefighter, and eventually became an EMT.

“It was like a light bulb turned on for me,” he said of his work as a first responder.

After conversing with a flight nurse in the military, White decided to enlist in the Air National Guard at age 21.

“It was an opportunity to do a good thing,” he said.

While in the military, White has worked as a fixed wing flight medic, where he helped transport patients from Iraq and Afghanistan to Germany on cargo planes that had been transformed into “flying hospitals.” White has also been deployed twice.

The military allowed White to continue his education through the GI Bill.

“The military opened every door for me,” he said.

White has an associate’s degree in liberal arts, an associate’s degree in

nursing, and a bachelor’s degree in nursing. He is currently pursuing his doctorate in nursing from CSS.

Today, White enjoys the combination of working as a nurse at the CMH Raiter Family Clinic, along with teaching nursing students at CSS.

“I don’t ever want to stop practicing, but I also have a passion for teaching. Doing both keeps me current and engaged.”

White also coaches the men’s and women’s rugby teams at CSS. He, his wife Tiff, and their two young sons, Gabe and Micah, live in Cloquet.

Nomination

White was nominated for the Florence Award by his father, Timothy White, who said, “Greg has designed training programs for EMTs in the National Guard that were so good that other bases started sending their people to Minneapolis to learn using Greg’s program, rather than create one of their own. He has since been promoted to captain and has been chosen for Airman of the Year.

“Greg’s name has come up many times by people I know who were struggling with having their loved ones in critical

condition when he was a nurse at Essentia. The common theme is, ‘I don’t know what I would have done if it hadn’t been for that nurse.’

“He just knows how to be supportive and honest. He is a calming force in traumatic situations. People find him very trustworthy.”

Kudos

Two of White’s supervisors also provided supportive comments, rallying behind the decision to select him as the Florence Award winner.

GREG WHITE

From Page 6

Ron Alston serves in the role of practice administrator at CMH Raiter Family Clinic in Cloquet.

“I have been in my role for about two months now,” said Alston. “In the time that I have known Greg, if I had to think of a phrase to describe him, it would be ‘focused and determined to provide the best care for the patients he serves.’

“He has truly dedicated himself to meeting the needs of our patients, the community, and the team he works with,” Alston continued. “These are qualities that exemplify why Greg is worthy of this prestigious award. I am honored to have

SANFORD

From Page 5

How do you see military experience as contributing to the expansion of nursing?

Being able to react quickly to a given situation while “keeping your cool” is important, as well as good use of critical thinking skills. The most crucial part is teamwork and collaboration. To me this is the most important function we can do when caring for our patients. It is not a oneman show; we need to work as a team to provide optimal patient-centered care. The army values are a lot like values in nursing: loyalty, duty, respect, selfless service, honesty, integrity, and personal courage.

What do you want to take back into your Army career from your nurse training?

Nursing has taught me to take on more of a leadership role. In the military, not everyone is a leader, there are assigned leaders and then there are followers. This can be the same for nursing...but nurses

the opportunity to work with him.”

Sheryl Sandahl is the dean of the School of Nursing at the College of St. Scholastica.

“I am so pleased to see Greg receive the Florence Award,” said Sandahl. “He is truly deserving. Greg is first and foremost student-centered. He is committed to the students that we serve. It is clear that he is passionate about nursing.

“He is quick to volunteer to meet with potential nursing students and their parents. He is readily available for students who may be struggling with a concept, those who want to discuss career planning, or who just want to chat. Greg is a strong team member, and he is what I call a ‘builder.’

are encouraged to take leadership roles because when it comes to caring for our patients, we are the ones who advocate for the patient. Prior to starting nursing, I sat back a lot and watched, but as school went on, with simulation and clinicals, I knew this was no longer an option. I stepped up, participating in care and asking many questions.

I see myself growing and expanding my knowledge to take on leadership roles in the military as well.

Nursing is a holistic approach to medicine, including the whole of the patient’s life. How does your medical training and experience influence the rest of your life?

My experience has influenced me to look at individuals differently, by being non-judgmental toward any given person. Someone might have said something to upset me; it may be that there are underlying reasons. I was never really a person to judge others, but I think we all have our personal biases.

Nursing has taught me to look at every person as a whole and treat everyone

He is always thinking about new ideas to meet student needs or regional workforce needs. Greg lives the Benedictine values of community, love of learning, respect, hospitality, and stewardship in his work every day.”

“Receiving this award was surprising to me,” White said. “I don’t do what I do for recognition. But it represents that what I do matters.”

White is quick to share this special recognition with other people in his life.

“I’ve always been surrounded by amazing teammates and mentors, and I’ve done none of this alone,” he said. “And it helps that I have the world’s most supportive wife.”

with the same amount of respect, no matter what. It is equally important to not categorize people based on what we may think, as everyone is unique.

How does the current pandemic influence your thinking about nursing and the provision of medical care in general?

I definitely take things more seriously now when it comes to isolation precautions. I was always very good at this, but I know one mishap could put other people or myself at risk for harm. It also shows how fast things can change and how important it is to be prepared for the worst. As new research and studies are being conducted, new practice guidelines are also being put in place, so it is important for organizations to be up to date on the latest changes. As scary as it could be, it is important to stay calm, and use safe techniques when caring for any given patient. This pandemic also shows the importance of furthering my education and knowledge, which I plan on doing.

Thank You Nurses!

On behalf of The College of St. Scholastica and the School of Nursing, we want to applaud all of the nurses nominated for the Florence Awards. The year 2020 is the Year of the Nurse in honor of nursing pioneer Florence Nightingale’s 200th birthday. Much like her, the nominees excel in their practice, lead on behalf of their patients, and innovate to improve the profession. We are proud of the many St. Scholastica alumni who were nominated for these awards.

St. Scholastica has graduated over 8,000 nurses since 1912, and the School of Nursing continues to meet regional workforce needs by providing programs and curriculum that are relevant and constantly evolving as healthcare advances. We are proud to play a major role in our community’s healthcare legacy and the future.

Nurses, we celebrate you all. Our community is stronger thanks to your work with individuals, families, and entire communities. The dedication you show to your patients, to the profession, and to improving healthcare is inspiring. Thank you for making a difference in our lives.

Sincerely,

Dr. Sheryl Sandahl Dean, School of Nursing

MISSION AWARD – KRYSTA KAAS

By Andrea Busche

Those in the medical profession share a mission to help their patients get better. But when their personal passions intersect with the drive to heal others, the sky is truly the limit for what can be accomplished.

Krysta Kaas is the winner of this year’s “Mission Award.” This special honor is given to an individual who has gone above and beyond the scope of their everyday duties, providing assistance to our community through volunteerism and making a difference through their expertise.

Kaas has a passion for health and wellness. She has shared her gifts with others by teaching Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) as a part of her job at Essentia Health, but also by volunteering to teach the course outside the boundaries of work.

Background

Kaas was born in Waseca, Minn., but has lived in Duluth most of her life. She graduated from the University of Wisconsin Superior in 2002 with a bachelor’s degree in exercise science, and earned a master’s of business administration (MBA) in 2015 from The College of St. Scholastica.

Thank you to all the Physicians in NE Minnesota and NW Wisconsin at all the clinics and hospitals serving their communities with the best of care. We understand we are in unprecedented times and we support you 100%.

THANK YOU FOR BEING A BLESSING TO US ALL

Kaas has worked at Essentia for 18 years, and has spent her entire career in cardiology; today, her role is as a STEMI chest pain specialist. She is also Essentia’s MBSR facilitator. Essentia offers a program to teach MBSR techniques to the community, and Kaas manages the program and is also an instructor.

Benefits of MBSR

Kaas has certainly found her niche.

“Cardiology and wellbeing are passions of mine,” she said. “But I believe the best medicine is teaching people not to need it. We all have abilities to help our own minds, bodies and emotions, and one way to do this is through MBSR.”

Kaas explained a little about the modality of mindfulness.

“Mindfulness is nothing more than paying attention in the present moment, while suspending judgment. Be here now. Every moment is an opportunity for practice,” she said.

Kaas herself has used MBSR techniques to find relief from anxiety and the chronic pain caused by a car accident.

“Mindfulness changes your perception of pain,” she said. “It creates a little space between ourselves and the pain, and softens the edges a little bit.”

While Essentia has had an MBSR program for at least a decade, in her last

few years as facilitator, Kaas has taken it to the next level.

Under the mentorship of previous facilitator, Elizabeth Zuber, Kaas has expanded its offerings to include a four-week course in addition to the standard eight-week course. She has also developed a curriculum for kids and teens.

While Kaas teaches MBSR techniques as part

Kaas enjoys practicing yoga, and doing outdoor activities like kayaking, paddle boarding and hiking. She shares her home with her Yorkie pup, Emmie, and relishes her role as a brand-new auntie.

Nomination

Kaas was nominated for the Mission Award by an Essentia colleague, Amanda Van Kilsdonk.

“Krysta is not only employed in the Essentia Health St. Mary’s Heart & Vascular Center in Duluth, but she is the manager of the Essentia Health Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction Program,” explained Van Kilsdonk.

of her career, she also volunteers with local universities, classrooms, and in corporate settings to teach MBSR to others. Additionally, Kaas volunteers her time by coordinating a vegan cooking class, and also volunteers with the American Heart Association.

“I really believe service is the rent you pay to live,” she said.

“Through this program, Krysta has educated the local community through seminars, classes, public events and more on the importance of mindfulness-based practices. Her program has grown to encapsulate local schools and businesses, as well as patients. She is passionate about self-care and wellbeing, and her drive to make a difference in people’s lives makes her a great candidate for the Mission Award.”

“It is very humbling and honoring to receive this award, and to be acknowledged for work that I hold so dear,” Kaas shared. “Mindfulness has been such a gift in my own life, and I hope others have found value in it for themselves.”

Krista Kaas holds the Mission Award.

INNOVATION AWARD – THERESA FLESVIG

work, she decided to make a change. Not only did she need extra income, but, she said, “I wanted it to be a job worth my time. Ron and I saw a TV ad about a nursing shortage. And, Ron thought I would be a great nurse.”

So, she went for it. Flesvig graduated with her bachelor’s of nursing in 2006 from the College of St. Scholastica. She has been employed with Essentia since 2006, and with PAVSA since 2007.

Vulnerable patients

In her work as a PAVSA SANE, Flesvig encounters patients who have suffered unbelievable trauma. She treats men, women and even youth who are victims of sexual assault.

initiative can eventually be expanded to other facilities in the area, such as prisons.

Nomination

Flesvig was nominated for this award by Westerlund.

“For the past 15 months, Theresa has been working in partnership with Arrowhead Juvenile Corrections (AJC) on a pilot project offering sexual assault examinations on-site at AJC.

This innovative approach would prevent re-traumatization of the youth disclosing sexual violence, and would allow patient-centered care to take place on-site at the facility.

By Andrea Busche

In the medical field, there is one primary goal: help the patient get better. But there are always ways to improve.

The Innovation Award is bestowed to a nurse who has created or implemented a process or program in their field, making improvements in the areas of efficiency, safety and education.

Theresa Flesvig has been named the winner of this special honor.

In her work as a PAVSA

SANE nurse (Program for

Aid to Victims of Sexual Assault sexual assault nurse examiner), Flesvig treats victims of sexual assault. One of Flesvig’s innovative suggestions is making this frightening time just a bit easier for a specific subset of her patients.

Double duty

In addition to her 72 monthly on-call hours with the PAVSA SANE program, where she travels to hospitals in Superior, Duluth and Two Harbors to treat victims of sexual

assault, Flesvig is also an RN in the emergency department at Essentia Health.

Flesvig, a lifelong Duluthian, initially earned a bachelor’s degree from the University of Minnesota Duluth, where she double-majored in communications and English. She spent the first decade of her career working in television.

After marrying her husband Ron and having five children, Flesvig stayed home for a few years. Upon returning to

“It can be tough responding to these cases,” she said, “But, I had to get in the mindset that if I can be the one person who listens to them, validates their experience, and makes them feel valuable, as well as give help and comfort, well – that’s what I wanted to do.”

After attending a presentation and learning about a medical facility that offered a mobile exam unit, Flesvig wanted to pursue the idea here in the Northland. After much work from the entire PAVSA team, including grant writing and other efforts from Em Westerlund, SANE coordinator, a pilot project for patients at Arrowhead Juvenile Corrections is in the works. The PAVSA team hopes this

“Currently, if a youth at the detention facility discloses sexual violence, that youth must be searched, handcuffed and securely transported to a local hospital in order to receive a sexual assault, or SANE, exam.

“Theresa’s leadership in the PAVSA SANE program is a second job that she takes on because of her passion for helping survivors of sexual violence,” Westerlund added. “She is dedicated to the profession, and is a leader in the field of forensic nursing.”

Of receiving the award, Flesvig said, “This is very humbling. I know my name is on the award, but it’s really an entire team of people making this initiative happen.”

Theresa Flesvig (foreground) receives the Innovation Award from Em Westerlund.

EMPATHY AWARD – CHERYL FROST-ANDERSON

By Andrea Busche

Nurses often see us at our worst. When we are ill, we often feel quite vulnerable. With this in mind, a good nurse will treat us with the utmost dignity and respect.

Cheryl Frost-Anderson, a registered nurse and clinical site manager for Regency Home Healthcare, is the winner of this year’s Empathy Award. The purpose of this award is to honor a nurse who displays a true understanding of another’s situation, a great sense of their emotions, and an ability to understand their thoughts and feelings

Home health care

Home health care is a unique area of nursing.

“We really take a holistic approach,” FrostAnderson said. “We look at the whole person. We make sure they have food, medical equipment, and medications, but we also do wound care, lab draws, and help them as they are coming home from the hospital. We do a lot of education, and make sure our clients and their families have the resources they need.”

Regency Home

Healthcare also offers the assistance of home health aides, homemakers, and personal care attendants, making it a multi-faceted, team

approach to help clients with their needs.

Senior citizens and individuals with mental health concerns are some of FrostAnderson’s biggest client demographic. They are often referred to Regency by a physician, social worker or mental health case worker.

A personal experience

Frost-Anderson became interested in nursing after personally suffering a medical illness while in high school.

“I really saw some compassionate nurses and I thought, ‘Maybe that’s something I can do,’” she explained. Her personal experience lends an extra layer of connection to her patients.

Frost-Anderson attended the College of St. Scholastica and graduated with a bachelor’s degree in nursing. She and her husband, Stuart, and their dog, Molly, make their home in the Lakewood neighborhood of Duluth. Their grown daughter, Becky, is an anesthesiologist.

Nomination

Frost-Anderson was nominated for the Empathy Award by her colleague, Molly Drewlo.

“Cheryl demonstrates true compassion and empathy, and goes above and beyond for each of her clients,” said Drewlo.

“Home care is a unique area of nursing where nurses are present right

within the home of each of their clients, allowing the nurse to really get an understanding of barriers people face at home to meet medical and mental health needs.

“Cheryl not only is proficient and thorough in her nursing assessments and interventions, but also strives to connect clients with the resources and support they need,” she added. “Most importantly, Cheryl always takes the time to listen to her clients. Often, a homecare nurse is the only social support a client may have for the

week. She truly cares for each person as if they were her own family.

“The extra steps Cheryl takes positively impact the health, mental health, and quality of life for many people in our community. Cheryl is a role model for the quality of care we should all strive for as nurses.”

Of receiving the Empathy Award, FrostAnderson said, “It’s humbling. I wish we could recognize all health care workers, and that every nurse could be recognized like this.”

Cheryl Frost Anderson (back row, second from left) receives the Empathy Award from Faith Caflin, Colleen Running, Lisa Brusek, (front row) Rikki Swartz and Molly Drewlo.

BEST NURSING STUDENT – HANNAH HYLDEN

By Andrea Busche

While there is no doubt we urgently need the knowledge and experience of our most tenured nurses, the future of the medical industry rests with our youth. The Florence Award for “Best Nursing Student” is given to a student who displays an excellent tenacity to learn, and also performs community service in

their related field. The recipient of this special award is Duluthian Hannah Hylden.

A balancing act

Hylden, a 2014 graduate of Duluth East High School, currently has her Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) certification, and is pursuing her Registered Nursing (RN) degree from Lake Superior College. She is concurrently working at Benedictine – a skilled nursing facility where patients

receive rehabilitation and long-term care – where she assesses patients, dispenses medications, and does wound dressings for between 15 and 20 patients per day.

Upon her graduation, which is expected to occur in 2021, Hylden wants to specialize in working with children.

“I plan to pursue pediatrics, pediatric oncology, or working in the NICU,” Hylden said. “I’ve always had a heart for kids, and I want to

make an impact for kids and families.”

Service work

As a teen, Hylden did a lot of baby-sitting, eventually taking work as a nanny. She also participated in three service trips – to Costa Rica, Mexico, and the Dominican Republic –through her church, Vineyard Church of Duluth. To this day, she somehow also finds the time to volunteer, through offering childcare and teaching Sunday school, at Vineyard.

Traveling to underprivileged countries is something Hylden plans to continue.

“I have dreams of travel and doing missions throughout my nursing career,” Hylden said.

Nomination

Hylden was nominated for this award by her father, Eric Hylden, and her mother, Debbie Davis.

“Hannah’s compassion and work ethic are a wonder to behold, and inspire me in my own job,” said Eric.

“Hannah understands the need for nurses who

care and is willing to go above and beyond to help out and take care of her patients,” added Debbie. “Kindness and care fill her heart and show through when she is helping others.”

Hylden is pleased to be the recipient of the Best Nursing Student award.

“My parents have always seen how hard I work, but it’s nice to be recognized for my career goals and all the work it has taken to pursue my dream of becoming a nurse,” she said.

Congratulations Hannah Hylden

Winner of The2020FlorenceAward forBestNursing Student

Hannah waschosen forher excellent tenacity to learn, and performs community serviceinthe healthcarefield. She is astudent at LakeSuperior College and works at Benedictine Health Center

Congratulations Hannah, we arehonored to have youonour team.

We would also liketocongratulate, Brandon Emanuelson forbeing nominatedfor this prestigious award.

Hannah Hylden displays the Best Nursing Student Award.

ESSENTIA NURSES PROVIDE COMPASSIONATE CARE AMID CRISIS

By Abigail Blonigen

2020 is the year of the nurse, in honor of the founder of modern nursing, Florence Nightingale’s 200th birthday. With nurses on the front lines of the COVID-19 global pandemic, their impact on the broader community is felt now more than ever.

“During these incredible times where family members and friends are not able to visit with their loved ones as usual, our nurses are providing that support, encouragement, and presence,” said Cindy Kent, the chief nursing officer at Essentia Health.

Kent referred to nursing as a calling to care for others and create a healthy difference in people’s lives, providing wholistic care in a wide variety of settings.

Nurses not only care for people when they are ill or injured, but work to keep patients healthy through education, communication, and human connection.

“Patients and their families come to rely on the expertise and compassion of these nurses,” said Kent.

Because hospital visitors are currently

limited due to COVID-19, nurses have become even more essential in creating a healing environment for their patients.

A nurse on the cardiology floor recently facilitated communication between an 88-yearold patient and his wife through an iPad Essentia provided. The nurse’s goal was to make the couple feel “as connected

as possible,” which they deeply appreciated. While nurses are playing a huge role in keeping communities healthy and safe during this pandemic, that is their role all of the time.

Essentia in turn supports their nurses by recognizing their special contributions, offering opportunities to learn and grow in their

profession, and providing education to stay up to date with the safest, evidence-based care.

Each month, Essentia presents a DAISY award for exemplary and compassionate nursing care. They receive about 70 nominations monthly from nurses’ patients, families, and colleagues, recently surpassing 2,500 total nominations.

Florence Nightingale was known as the “lady with the lamp” due to her nightly rounds to check up on wounded soldiers.

“I think of our nurses as being a bright light, an inspiring light for our patients and their families,” said Kent. “I am so impressed with seeing our nurses using their compassion and

creativity to care for their needs.”

To support nurses during this time of crisis, Essentia is seeking donations of homemade facemasks. Instructions can be found at EssentiaHealth. org/Masks.

Abigail Blonigen is a Duluth freelance writer and photographer.