Susan Hanser
December 2023
Susan
Hanser
,
MN, RN-BC, NPD-BEC
Med/Surg
EvergreenHealth
Kirkland
,
WA
United States
With Susan, what you see is what you get, and what you get is absolutely incredible. The professional practice team is stronger because of her presence. Her level of experience and attention to detail is unmatched. She has served her community as a nurse, leader, advocate, and educator for decades, and we will never be able to thank her enough for her service.
Susan began her illustrious nursing career as a student nurse with Providence Hospital. Upon passing her NCLEX exam in 1986 she spent the next 15 years perfecting her professional skills in medical surgical nursing. Early in her career, she identified a passion for teaching and the promotion of professional development in herself and her peers.
She joined EvergreenHealth in 2001 and was quickly recognized for her devotion to nursing and as an advocate of patient care, achieving certification in 2009 and the Excellence award in clinical nursing in 2010. She served as co-chair of the Med/Surge Best Practice Committee and was a constant preceptor for new hires, residents, and students. In 2012 Susan capitalized on her passion for teaching, officially becoming the Clinical Nurse Educator for the Medical Surgical nursing units.
She has dedicated herself every day since as a mentor, role model, teacher, and the promotion of excellence to the staff she serves. Susan Hanser is everything you could ever want in a nurse educator; she is sharp, attentive, approachable, and always strives for excellence. Susan was instrumental in the foundation of a transition to practice program for new nurses, mentoring countless MedSurg nurses as they begin their nursing journeys. She is described by her peers as “intentional with her time and is always available for a quick question from anyone, a quick call for reassurance, or a “punny” joke for a pick me up.” For her 20-year Anniversary at EvergreenHealth, the Med/Surg teams had T-shirts made with "Hanser’s got answers!” a wonderful tribute to the impact she has had on her peers.
While she often has the answer, Susan asks her own questions too and seeks understanding from evidence-based practice striving to enhance processes to ensure practice is at the highest level.
Susan’s passion for education shines through in all that she does. From job aids to badge buddies, reminders on hot topics, and "potty training" in staff bathrooms. Susan diligently invests in the staff’s success. She constantly rounds on the units, day shift and night shift, with games, demonstrations, or truth or dare, enticing the acquisition of knowledge in every possible way. If there's a need for a class on a pressing topic, Susan's there to put together a thoughtful and meaningful course. Her zeal for lifelong learning has certainly inspired many in their MedSurg journeys.
When the desire to nominate Susan for a Lifetime achievement award was made known, the department received dozens of comments and experiences regarding the way Susan has impacted lives here at EvergreenHealth. One provider shared; “As a fresh attending out of residency I found that Susan embodied the veteran nurse I was told would save me on many occasions. Her breadth of experience at the bedside was invaluable in taking care of patients and her knowledge and judgement are always sound…I knew that if she was calling me there was something that truly needed attention. For years our community has benefited from her meticulous and compassionate care of thousands of patients that have come through our wards.”
From new residents to staff nurses to educators and leaders, Susan has impacted the care, culture, and quality of EvergreenHealth. Multiple people echoed the words: “Susan Hanser influenced my nursing career from my first days as a nurse” or “I am the nurse I am today because of the support, dedication, and knowledge that Susan shared in her tenure at Evergreen Health.” Susan has served as a mentor and role model for the Educational and Professional Practice department as well. She is an incredible colleague. She cares deeply about our organization, about our patients, and about our nurses and support staff. Susan expertly onboards new staff, tirelessly provides in-person classes, rounding on new staff as they work with preceptors, jumping in when staffing is tight or knowledge gaps are identified. When there is a practice change, Susan often spearheads the training. She creates layers of education and learning opportunities for her staff, and then meticulously ensures each person is prepared for the change.
The list of Susan’s accomplishments is endless. Most notable is her work on the creation of the RN residency program to support transition to practice for new nurses. Playing the “Tin Man” to lend levity to training opportunities as staff followed the Yellow Brick Road to success. Susan was quick to identify that a key element of success for residents is those who precept. She collaborated with her peers to develop a preceptor class to train those who support those new to the profession and new to the unit. Susan is also noted for her "just in time trainings" and annual competencies. She challenged her peers to adopt the Donna Wright Model of Competency providing multiple modalities for learning new skills that incorporate individual styles. She created “show and tell” models around bowel training and was quite industrious with utilizing substances to mimic forms of stool, blood, and sputum. Susan is also known for engaging the physical side of training by instituting escape rooms to solidify critical thinking and Truth or Dare to practice code skills. When the pandemic turned her med/surg units into a war zone, she fought back by developing training for her staff on how to handle behavioral health issues and violent patients.
The transition to EPIC brought out a very dogmatic side of Susan, she tirelessly worked, pushed, and advocated for staff. She developed “day in the life” trainings and spent countless hours at the elbow to ensure that workflow and documentation was in alignment with the provision of safe, quality patient care. Process improvement is Susan’s middle name and many a committee has benefitted from her years of experience in shaping systemwide processes that have improved the entire organization. Her observations are always insightful, professional, and evidence-based. From practice improvements on CLABSI, CAUTI and HAPI; Pharmacy and Therapeutics; Order Set; Policy and Procedure; and Professional Practice, Susan has left her mark of dedication to always providing the best patient care and support of professional growth for the staff.
With Susan, what you see is what you get, and what you get is absolutely incredible. The professional practice team is stronger because of her presence. Her level of experience and attention to detail is unmatched. She has served her community as a nurse, leader, advocate, and educator for decades, and we will never be able to thank her enough for her service.
Today, in honor of Susan, we can say with certainty, “Because of Susan, our patients receive better care; Because of Susan, our nurses are better prepared; Because of Susan, our nurses are more confident, they are better communicators, pay closer attention to assessments, work together as a team, and advocate for their patients. Our team of professional development specialists are stronger because of her presence on our team, her level of experience and attention to detail is unmatched. Susan has given her heart and soul to nursing, and our profession is better for it. She embodies everything we can all aspire to be as a professional development specialist.”
Susan, as you conclude your years working at EvergreenHealth, may you know that your community, your hospital, your colleagues, and your friends will forever be changed in all the best ways.
Note: This is Susan's 2nd DAISY Award!
She joined EvergreenHealth in 2001 and was quickly recognized for her devotion to nursing and as an advocate of patient care, achieving certification in 2009 and the Excellence award in clinical nursing in 2010. She served as co-chair of the Med/Surge Best Practice Committee and was a constant preceptor for new hires, residents, and students. In 2012 Susan capitalized on her passion for teaching, officially becoming the Clinical Nurse Educator for the Medical Surgical nursing units.
She has dedicated herself every day since as a mentor, role model, teacher, and the promotion of excellence to the staff she serves. Susan Hanser is everything you could ever want in a nurse educator; she is sharp, attentive, approachable, and always strives for excellence. Susan was instrumental in the foundation of a transition to practice program for new nurses, mentoring countless MedSurg nurses as they begin their nursing journeys. She is described by her peers as “intentional with her time and is always available for a quick question from anyone, a quick call for reassurance, or a “punny” joke for a pick me up.” For her 20-year Anniversary at EvergreenHealth, the Med/Surg teams had T-shirts made with "Hanser’s got answers!” a wonderful tribute to the impact she has had on her peers.
While she often has the answer, Susan asks her own questions too and seeks understanding from evidence-based practice striving to enhance processes to ensure practice is at the highest level.
Susan’s passion for education shines through in all that she does. From job aids to badge buddies, reminders on hot topics, and "potty training" in staff bathrooms. Susan diligently invests in the staff’s success. She constantly rounds on the units, day shift and night shift, with games, demonstrations, or truth or dare, enticing the acquisition of knowledge in every possible way. If there's a need for a class on a pressing topic, Susan's there to put together a thoughtful and meaningful course. Her zeal for lifelong learning has certainly inspired many in their MedSurg journeys.
When the desire to nominate Susan for a Lifetime achievement award was made known, the department received dozens of comments and experiences regarding the way Susan has impacted lives here at EvergreenHealth. One provider shared; “As a fresh attending out of residency I found that Susan embodied the veteran nurse I was told would save me on many occasions. Her breadth of experience at the bedside was invaluable in taking care of patients and her knowledge and judgement are always sound…I knew that if she was calling me there was something that truly needed attention. For years our community has benefited from her meticulous and compassionate care of thousands of patients that have come through our wards.”
From new residents to staff nurses to educators and leaders, Susan has impacted the care, culture, and quality of EvergreenHealth. Multiple people echoed the words: “Susan Hanser influenced my nursing career from my first days as a nurse” or “I am the nurse I am today because of the support, dedication, and knowledge that Susan shared in her tenure at Evergreen Health.” Susan has served as a mentor and role model for the Educational and Professional Practice department as well. She is an incredible colleague. She cares deeply about our organization, about our patients, and about our nurses and support staff. Susan expertly onboards new staff, tirelessly provides in-person classes, rounding on new staff as they work with preceptors, jumping in when staffing is tight or knowledge gaps are identified. When there is a practice change, Susan often spearheads the training. She creates layers of education and learning opportunities for her staff, and then meticulously ensures each person is prepared for the change.
The list of Susan’s accomplishments is endless. Most notable is her work on the creation of the RN residency program to support transition to practice for new nurses. Playing the “Tin Man” to lend levity to training opportunities as staff followed the Yellow Brick Road to success. Susan was quick to identify that a key element of success for residents is those who precept. She collaborated with her peers to develop a preceptor class to train those who support those new to the profession and new to the unit. Susan is also noted for her "just in time trainings" and annual competencies. She challenged her peers to adopt the Donna Wright Model of Competency providing multiple modalities for learning new skills that incorporate individual styles. She created “show and tell” models around bowel training and was quite industrious with utilizing substances to mimic forms of stool, blood, and sputum. Susan is also known for engaging the physical side of training by instituting escape rooms to solidify critical thinking and Truth or Dare to practice code skills. When the pandemic turned her med/surg units into a war zone, she fought back by developing training for her staff on how to handle behavioral health issues and violent patients.
The transition to EPIC brought out a very dogmatic side of Susan, she tirelessly worked, pushed, and advocated for staff. She developed “day in the life” trainings and spent countless hours at the elbow to ensure that workflow and documentation was in alignment with the provision of safe, quality patient care. Process improvement is Susan’s middle name and many a committee has benefitted from her years of experience in shaping systemwide processes that have improved the entire organization. Her observations are always insightful, professional, and evidence-based. From practice improvements on CLABSI, CAUTI and HAPI; Pharmacy and Therapeutics; Order Set; Policy and Procedure; and Professional Practice, Susan has left her mark of dedication to always providing the best patient care and support of professional growth for the staff.
With Susan, what you see is what you get, and what you get is absolutely incredible. The professional practice team is stronger because of her presence. Her level of experience and attention to detail is unmatched. She has served her community as a nurse, leader, advocate, and educator for decades, and we will never be able to thank her enough for her service.
Today, in honor of Susan, we can say with certainty, “Because of Susan, our patients receive better care; Because of Susan, our nurses are better prepared; Because of Susan, our nurses are more confident, they are better communicators, pay closer attention to assessments, work together as a team, and advocate for their patients. Our team of professional development specialists are stronger because of her presence on our team, her level of experience and attention to detail is unmatched. Susan has given her heart and soul to nursing, and our profession is better for it. She embodies everything we can all aspire to be as a professional development specialist.”
Susan, as you conclude your years working at EvergreenHealth, may you know that your community, your hospital, your colleagues, and your friends will forever be changed in all the best ways.
Note: This is Susan's 2nd DAISY Award!