- J
- D
The first time I met Mary Snyder I was finishing my last semester of nursing school. I wasn’t sure what to make of her at the time but as she ended up being my preceptor during my final rotation before graduation I came to know her very well and she became one of the most influential people in my development as a nurse.
As a preceptor and mentor, Mary was very knowledgeable, and not just about the proper book smart stuff regarding nursing. Mary understood people and the need ill people have to be understood and compassionately carried for. Mary saw the bigger picture, and while she always provided excellent medical care, she also cared for the person themselves. That’s one thing I’ve always loved about Mary, she has this ability to see people, not just patients.
After graduating I decided to stay on 2 East partly because I enjoyed working on a cardiac floor and the other part because I loved working with Mary and felt I could still learn from her. I’ve now worked for 10 years with Mary and am constantly amazed at what an excellent nurse and human being Mary is. I can’t say that I have ever seen Mary in a bad mood or lose her patience with a staff member or patient, even with the daily struggles of work. Mary once told me a story of being attacked by a patient. This particular patient was confused and manic and as Mary went in to check on him he turned on her and ended up with his hands around her neck and hitting her on the head with a telephone. Other staff rushed in to help her but despite this experience she continued to care for the patient.
And that is just like Mary. She is in her core a resilient, nurturing person, always giving to others first. She raised two children as a single parent, helped raise her grandchildren and continues to provide support and help in raising her great grandchildren. She’s been in nursing since graduating in 1963 (that’s 53 years!!), and despite some physical setbacks (knee and back injuries and surgeries) she continues to work, partially to continue to provide financial support to her family. She has helped train and mentor two generations of nurses. She’s faced the challenges of a changing medical field and the transition to electronic medical records and electronic charting, which for someone who doesn’t regularly use a computer is quite a transition.
At the young age of 72 Mary is still working but is preparing to retire at the end of this year. I have started this GoFundMe webpage as a way to honor and celebrate Mary. As Mary has spent her entire career caring for and providing support for others, I want to do the same for her. I’m hoping to raise enough funds to send Mary on a little post retirement vacation and to give her a little cushion as she transitions into retirement, to give back to Mary for all that she has given to others. Any help would be appreciated!
As a preceptor and mentor, Mary was very knowledgeable, and not just about the proper book smart stuff regarding nursing. Mary understood people and the need ill people have to be understood and compassionately carried for. Mary saw the bigger picture, and while she always provided excellent medical care, she also cared for the person themselves. That’s one thing I’ve always loved about Mary, she has this ability to see people, not just patients.
After graduating I decided to stay on 2 East partly because I enjoyed working on a cardiac floor and the other part because I loved working with Mary and felt I could still learn from her. I’ve now worked for 10 years with Mary and am constantly amazed at what an excellent nurse and human being Mary is. I can’t say that I have ever seen Mary in a bad mood or lose her patience with a staff member or patient, even with the daily struggles of work. Mary once told me a story of being attacked by a patient. This particular patient was confused and manic and as Mary went in to check on him he turned on her and ended up with his hands around her neck and hitting her on the head with a telephone. Other staff rushed in to help her but despite this experience she continued to care for the patient.
And that is just like Mary. She is in her core a resilient, nurturing person, always giving to others first. She raised two children as a single parent, helped raise her grandchildren and continues to provide support and help in raising her great grandchildren. She’s been in nursing since graduating in 1963 (that’s 53 years!!), and despite some physical setbacks (knee and back injuries and surgeries) she continues to work, partially to continue to provide financial support to her family. She has helped train and mentor two generations of nurses. She’s faced the challenges of a changing medical field and the transition to electronic medical records and electronic charting, which for someone who doesn’t regularly use a computer is quite a transition.
At the young age of 72 Mary is still working but is preparing to retire at the end of this year. I have started this GoFundMe webpage as a way to honor and celebrate Mary. As Mary has spent her entire career caring for and providing support for others, I want to do the same for her. I’m hoping to raise enough funds to send Mary on a little post retirement vacation and to give her a little cushion as she transitions into retirement, to give back to Mary for all that she has given to others. Any help would be appreciated!