February 03, 2003
Monday - 12:30 am

Ketchikan, Alaska - The Ketchikan Nurses' Association and Ketchikan General Hospital hosted its second annual Community Nurse's Retreat on Saturday. Ketchikan's Nurse of the Year was named during the retreat.

In selecting the Nurse of the Year, sponsors put out a call to the community asking for stories of nurses that have touched the lives of Ketchikan's citizens and an overwhelming response was received from the community. Fifteen nurses community wide were nominated with the majority of the nominations coming from patients that felt one nurse went above and beyond their call of duty while caring for them or loved ones.

Receiving the honor of Ketchikan's Nurse of the Year for 2002-2003 was Margo Schwankl, RN, of Ketchikan General Hospital's OB Department.

As Ketchikan's Nurse of the Year, Schwankl received a wheelbarrow full of gifts including a 170 piece tool kit courtesy of Napa Auto Parts, a bottle of Champagne, a Misty Fiords Flight seeing trip courtesy of Promech Air, a gift certificate to Clover Pass, and a 'Nurse of the Year' plaque to honor her courtesy of Joe's Screen printing and Engraving.

Schwankl's winning nomination stated:

"This is such a difficult decision for us because so many nurses have touched our lives within the last year. Being a nurse you truly need to have a special gift. A rare gift of immense giving and a gift of unconditional love.

My husband and I have been through some difficult (horrific) times this year with the loss of our daughter who was born sleeping, however, I would rather not dwell on this. I want to to focus on the nurse in which we found unbelievable calmness. A nurse who knew just what to say at the right time. A nurse who was so gentle, so compassionate, and who had a voice that instantly lowered our anxiety and still does to this day.

This particular nurse is our angel in disguise and always will be. We will never forget her. We will always be forever grateful to her for making a terrible experience easier.

I find it odd that the day of your retreat, February 1st, is also the one year anniversary of the day that we met Margo Schwankl."

The other nominees for Ketchikan's Nurse of the Year included: Deb Davis, Beth Doddridge, Gina Gucker, Jean Fifield, Linda Gilson, Candy Hatfield, Tracey Hirayama, Jenny Johnson, Ingrid Jones, Poncho Nacionales, Julie Sherrill, Joani Steffen, Susan Walsh, & Julie Yonkers.

Source of News Release & Photograph:

Ketchikan Nurses' Association

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