Sister Olivia Marie Hutcheson, CSC Award for Service in the Health Field
Karah Susnak, center, recipient of the Sister Olivia
Marie Hutcheson, CSC Award for Service in the
Health Field, pictured with her nominator Ella
Harmeyer, associate professor of nursing, right,
and Carol Ann Mooney, president of Saint Mary's
College.Karah Susnak ’13 is a senior level nursing student. Karah was in the community health nursing course during the fall semester. One of her clinical assignments was six clinical days at the Sister Maura Brannick Clinic. The other was six days with a partner at the Center for the Homeless. Students work with preceptors in the community course and faculty spend pieces of time with students and preceptors several times over the six week experience. The first time I stopped at the clinic to see Karah, I immediately noticed that she was working and moving around the clinic as if she had been there for months. She integrated into the staff in a manner that I only see once or twice a year in students’ clinical practice.
Karah’s style of nursing practice is easy, comfortable, competent, mature, responsible and professional. She has an aura of calm when working with patients which is so important because it creates an atmosphere that also calms her patients. Karah works with vulnerable populations, most in poverty, with respect and compassion. Her patients have her undivided attention as she completes assessments and nursing care. However, she is able to juggle the needs of the clinic position while still maintaining her patient focus.
Karah continued to volunteer time working in the clinic after she had completed her assignment. She is interested in working with poverty populations and does so with ease. I have no doubt Karah will continue to be a positive advocate for populations that do not have easy access to health care; doing so with a respect for human dignity and sincere compassion for each individual for which she cares.
~Citation read by Ella Harmeyer, associate professor of nursing at Volunteer Service Awards Dinner, April 9, 2013.