Celebrating Denise Swartz’s 50 Years of Nursing
Denise Swartz is no stranger to nursing. She’s been dedicated to patient care for over 50 years and is still going strong.
As a young person, Denise was inspired by her aunt, a nurse at KSB, who worked tirelessly to care for people and their families. Now, as she celebrates her 50th anniversary as an RN on May 20th, she continues to embody the same dedication to this vital work as she did when she graduated from nursing school in 1974.
Denise began as a candy striper at 16 in Dixon and later as an aide at Swedish American. After graduating from their School of Nursing, she worked there for 13 years in the ICU, as a Float Nurse, and in Orthopedics.
After working nine years in the ICU and ED at St. Anthony’s, she moved to travel nursing for seven years. “I really enjoyed travel nursing,” says Schwartz. “I got to work in Maine, Florida, California, and a remote place in Alaska. That was particularly interesting!”
Still traveling and finding herself back in Rockford, Denise came full circle by joining KSB’s ED around 1985. “I wanted to return to KSB because I disliked using the computer in Rockford,” she adds.
Through the many changes over the past 50 years, Denise recalls not having aides in the early years and doing most everything herself. “I remember our approach before stress tests when people would come in with heart concerns. We did labs, an EKG and walked them up and down the staircase instead!”
Her favorite part of her career? Hearing positive feedback from patients and working with a great team of people in the ED. “I’ve loved the variety of patients we see; you never know what will walk through the door. The staff works so well together too. I love it when a former patient comes to me, remembers my care, and recalls that I was nice to them.”
“What sets Denise apart is her relentless energy and commitment to her work,” shared ED Director, Laura Sawlsville. “She is always on the move, doing whatever needs to be done, whether it’s triaging a patient, cleaning a room, or assisting a family member. Even though I’ve been a nurse for 30 years, I rely on her steady presence and admire her work ethic.”
Denise, your dedication to patient care is inspiring. As you continue your journey, we want to express our heartfelt gratitude. Technological advancements may have changed how we work, but your commitment to life-changing care remains. Thank you for your decades of service!
