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| WILLIAM COOLEY/ADVANCE Susan Kinney, RN |
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June 24th, 2009
Our Town: Marin General Hospital Employee of the Year
By Patricia Goodin
News Editor
Wednesday, March 19, 2008 11:26 AM PDT
Novato resident Susan Kinney knew she wanted to work in the field of medicine when she was a student at Redwood High School in Greenbrae. Even then she was drawn to a career in a hospital environment.
“I volunteered in high school at Marin General in the emergency room and loved it,” said Kinney.
It must have been the love of a lifetime. Earlier this year, Kinney was named the hospital’s “Employee of the Year.”
After graduating high school, Kinney attended the University of Vermont in Burlington, where she was a pre-med major. As months passed, she was bothered by the notion that she would be “old and gray” by the time she graduated.
“I wanted to be a mom. So I decided to become a nurse,” she said. “Much to my mom’s disapproval.”
After receiving her nurse’s degree, she worked at Melrose-Wakefield Hospital in Stoneham, Mass.
“In maternity, thinking I was going to take care of little babies all my life because they’re so cute,” Kinney said.
She discovered, eventually, that variety is the spice of life, and began working as a nurse in other areas.
“I worked in surgery, I did home care, I helped an obstetric physician literally start his practice, “ she said. Kinney eventually worked at Kaiser Hospital and then , on Sept. 11, 1989, began working at Marin General Hospital.
That was 19 years ago. Over the years, she and her husband, David, raised two daughters who are now in college. Most of Kinney’s years at the hospital were spent in intensive care. She says it was hard, “when the kids were young,” but that nursing is a great job — the “best” job, according to Kinney.
“If your heart is in it you’re gonna love it and you’ll be able to put up with whatever difficulties you have,” she said.
Currently, Kinney has really two jobs: the admit nurse — handling the move of a patient from the emergency room into a hospital bed — and the administrative nursing supervisor.
“When a doctor calls and says they want to schedule surgery. You facilitate that,” Kinney said. “Basically, it’s putting out fires all day, helping the hospital to run smoothly.”
Her colleagues must agree she does just that. Fellow employees, from all levels within the hospital, get to vote for their choice of “Employee of the Year.” The nominees are chosen from 12 “Employee of the Month” winners. Kinney was November “Employee of the Month.”
“She is truly an asset to the entire hospital,” said Pat Berube, RN, MGH Administrative Supervisor. “Her skillfulness of critical thinking and a sensitivity to the needs of both patients and staff promotes goodwill.”
When Kinney isn’t taking care of patients, she enjoys spending time outdoors. She’s a big mountain bike enthusiast. She’s on the ski patrol at Sugar Bowl, and she plays on two different teams with the Marin Women’s Soccer League.
She says sports and morning hikes on Novato hills help relieve the stress from a demanding job.
“And I have a fabulous husband who’s very supportive,” she said.
Kinney hopes to keep working at Marin General Hospital until she retires. She says her work is very gratifying.
“Because you really make a difference in someone’s experience,” she said. “Someone who is in pain. You can alleviate so much stress by being positive and taking care of someone.”
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