Joan of heart: 50 years of nursing

Joan Sorensen sits front and center being celebrated for her 50 years in nursing.
Joan Sorensen sits front and center being celebrated for her 50 years in nursing.

It takes a special kind of person to be a hospice nurse. One might say it’s in Joan Sorensen’s blood.

Daughter of a World War II medic and army nurse, and granddaughter of a midwife, Sorensen followed her family’s footsteps when she became a nurse in 1971. Fifty years later, she is now saying goodbye to her enduring nursing career as she retires from McLaren Hospice.

“My Sunday school teacher in high school was the one who influenced me the most, or should I say recruited me to be a nurse,” said Sorensen. “Her name was Doris Reid and was so inspirational as she started out as a public health nurse in Kentucky visiting patients on horseback, then returned to Northern Michigan and public health nursing.”

After graduating from nursing school, Sorensen began her nursing career at the Charlevoix hospital and later served in a skilled nursing facility for 14 years. In 1994, she transitioned to Vital Care — now McLaren Hospice — where she developed her skills as a home care and hospice nurse. She then transitioned to a hospice case manager in 2002, where she served until her retirement this past September.

Sorensen is so passionate about hospice care she intends to continue volunteering for McLaren Hospice beyond her retirement.

“My hospice journey taught me our families are in crisis, learning to care of their loved ones in a very vulnerable point in their lives, and compassion is the most important need for our patients and their families,” she said.

While countless patients and families made a significant impact on Joan in her 50 years of nursing, one patient stood out as meaningful and as an example of how caregiving is truly a community service.

Sorensen initially contacted this patient — a resident of an island in Lake Huron — over the phone. The patient was experiencing extreme discomfort and did not want to make a trip to the mainland to continue treatment. Joan and the patient discussed symptoms, medications, and treatment plans at length. Afterwards, Sorensen coordinated with the patient’s physician to adjust medications and create a plan of care. Now, with Sorensen's intervention, the patient is currently living comfortably on the island, and has received numerous messages of thanks for the family for “giving them their mother back.”

While this remote interaction was special to her, it became even more meaningful when she discovered she previously met the patient as a young girl frequenting their family’s business.

As a multigenerational caregiver, Sorensen gives deep reverence to the history and the future of the hospice nursing profession. As such, one of her most cherished memories as a caregiver came when she met a nursing student who recognized her from the time Joan cared for her family.

“She came right up to me, gave me the biggest hug, and told me how the care I provided inspired her and her sister to go into nursing school,” said Sorensen. “It was a very touching, poignant moment.”

Sorensen recognizes hospice nurses have unique challenges and hopes to offer advice for those entering this field.

“As a very private person myself, I have learned the immense importance of learning about patients and their families to best care and support them according to their various dynamics and beliefs. End-of-life care is about meeting the patients and families where they are to help them navigate the process as compassionately, sensitively, and supportively as possible,” said Sorensen.

“I strongly encourage hospice caregivers to never be afraid to ask questions and research end-of-life care — especially Barbara Karnes. Her material is inspirational and essential.”

Joan also stresses the importance of dedicating time for self-care, relaxing, recharging, and regrouping so caregivers can continually bring their best selves to their patients.

In addition to continuing to serve McLaren Hospice as a volunteer, she is also looking forward to enjoying her new home in Levering, her photography, and needlework

She is also interested in volunteering in McLaren’s Pet Volunteer program — a program that brings pets into patient homes to provide pet therapy for patients. Joan adopted her dog, Heidi, from a patient who passed away and had no other home.

“I knew Heidi and I were meant to be,” said Sorensen.

This article originally appeared on The Petoskey News-Review: Joan of heart: 50 years of nursing