Join Us in Welcoming the New Members of AAHFN
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The AAHFN Membership Committee randomly selects a new member to interview on a monthly basis, and this month Ted Lisowski of the Membership Committee interviewed Sallie J. Vandaele. Vandaele has been a nurse since 1974 when she graduated from a diploma program. She worked for two years and decided to take a break from nursing when her son was born. She worked in her family’s business where it afforded her the opportunity to spend time with her son. In 1982, she decided to go back to nursing, and she worked in a Critical Coronary Care Unit for 15 years. She decided to go back to school for her BS but then decided she should continue her studies. She decided to go on to become a Nurse Practitioner while working in the Cardiac Rehab unit. Once she graduated from the University of Illinois, she went on to work with a Cardiology group of eight physicians and two NPs, where she remains presently. She enjoys working with heart failure patients because it gives her a chance to help them to live with their condition. She also loves working with heart failure patients and getting to know the families to become a small part of their lives. "I learn so much, and I am really blessed to be able to have this opportunity," she says. She joined AAHFN after hearing about it from a friend who has been a member for some time. She is looking for ways to improve the heart failure program, and, like everyone else, she is trying to reduce re-admission rates. She also would like to reach out to other nurses in the organization to share ideas and get their help. Her favorite foods are chocolate and ice cream. She finds humor in this because she is always advising patients what to do to, but it does not always mean she always does what she is supposed to do! The continual reminder helps her to stay on track with healthy food choices for her own family. She loves being around her husband, four grown sons, four granddaughters and her 91-year-old mother. On her off time she enjoys reading a good story or mystery. Her favorite television program, even though she hates to admit it, is American Idol. AAHFN extends a very warm welcome to Sallie J. Vandaele and all our new members. To see all those who have joined AAHFN in January 2010 please Click Here |