Teresa Gasper, RN, retires after 35 years of service to MCHHS
Mitchell County Hospital Health Systems (MCHHS) would like to announce the retirement of Teresa Gasper, RN, and thank her for 35 years of dedicated service to our organization. Teresa’s last day as an employee of the hospital was August 13, 2024.
Teresa completed her RN education from Marymount College in 1981. After graduation, Teresa worked at St. John's Hospital in Salina for seven years in the pediatrics department. On September 28, 1988, she joined MCHHS and dedicated the rest of her career serving in the acute nursing department. She remembers the transition from caring for children at St. John’s Hospital to adults at MCHHS was a significant change.
When Teresa began her nursing career, the medical world looked different. She recalls that there were no known cases of HIV, AIDS, MRSA, or VRE (Vancomycin-resistant enterococci), which are now common concerns in healthcare settings. The most significant change Teresa has witnessed is the advancement of technology, including electronic health records. Both new illnesses and technology advancements have impacted how healthcare providers approach patient care and infection control.
Teresa shares, “My greatest contribution was being able to hold the hand of the dying, putting an arm around the anxious, hugging the grieving, encouraging the fresh post-op patient, relieving pain, celebrating improvements in conditions and being able to go home at the end of the day knowing I used my God-given gifts to improve the lives of others. To me, this is what nursing is: the human touch, a connection from person to person. As St. Teresa of Calcutta said, ‘do small things with great love’ and that is what I have tried to do.”
As we celebrate Teresa's career, Nicki Cleveland, Chief Nursing Officer states, “Teresa has dedicated nearly 36 years of her life and career to MCHHS. We are grateful for her dedication and commitment to providing superb patient care, and we are thankful for all she has done for the nursing profession. We wish you a retirement that is as fulfilling as your career has been. Your commitment to nursing has truly made a difference.”