| | What our employees are saying
 Christy Kuennen
Physician Assistant, Gundersen Lutheran-Waukon Clinic
Many factors played a role in my decision to enter healthcare including an interest in sciences, particularly those pertaining to the human body. I knew there was a need for quality healthcare professionals, and a career as a physician assistant allowed me to practice medicine and have the opportunity to educate and counsel patients.
I received a degree in biology with a minor in chemistry. While in college, I worked as a nurse's aide in a nursing home. After graduating, I was a physical therapy assistant/aide and research assistant. I went on to get my PA degree.
I chose to work at Gundersen Lutheran because of its strong ties to the community and positive reputation. During my interview, I was impressed by the friendly staff, competitive salary and great benefits. At Gundersen Lutheran I have supportive colleagues and a challenging and fun working environment.
As a PA, I see patients of all ages for wellness exams, acute and chronic problems; order tests; review lab results; set up consultation appointments; and perform minor procedures.
"What I'm doing now really matters to the people I see."
At some point in everyone's life they are going to experience some type of healthcare concern. I have the privilege and responsibility of helping patients on a physical and emotional level. ___________________________________________
 Sandra Littlejohn
Registered Nurse and Human Resource Operations Manager
I was drawn to healthcare because I always enjoyed being with people. My mother was a nursing assistant for years and encouraged me to enter nursing. While in high school and college, I worked as a certified nurse assistant in nursing homes and long-term care facilities.
After I earned my bachelor of science in nursing, I worked as a registered nurse in a long-term care facility in Minneapolis for 10 years. I then relocated to La Crosse and have worked at Gundersen Lutheran for more than 12 years. I will graduate in 2005 with a master's degree in nursing with an emphasis in transcultural nursing and community care.
"I chose Gundersen Lutheran for the varied opportunities available to me."
During my tenure, this has been absolutely true. While accepting responsibilities as the nurse manager for Inpatient Rehabilitation, I took on leadership assignments for Speech, Occupational Therapy, Pulmonary Clinic, Neurosurgery Clinic, and the Neurology Clinic, as well as medical/surgical acute patient care units of the Hospital. Now I'm an operations manager within Human Resource Services.
Gundersen Lutheran is a great place to work because of the opportunities to learn in a professional environment. In my interactions with others, I hope to make a difference in their lives and have a positive impact on the organization. ___________________________________________
 Shannon Mollet
Certified Medical Assistant
Straight from high school I was accepted into a nine-month Medical Assistant program at Western Wisconsin Technical College (WWTC) in La Crosse. Currently I am taking evening classes at WWTC to qualify for nursing. I am working towards becoming a registered nurse.
I have been interested in the medical field since I can remember. There is such a strong demand for healthcare professionals. I like knowing I can take my education and experience anywhere.
As a "float" at Gundersen Lutheran, I work when needed in 12 different departments. I love the flexibility.
"Gundersen Lutheran has a great staff. I am really motivated by the appreciation I get from all my departments."
My help is welcomed everywhere. I'm able to use professional humor and share it with my co-workers.
My typical day is anything but. I come to work knowing there are challenges wherever I am assigned. My duties may include assisting the doctor, rooming the patients, taking a patient's vitals, setting up for procedures, even telephone work…anything to help keep the department running smoothly. ___________________________________________
 Marv Shear
Lead MRI Technologist
While on a tour of my hometown hospital in elementary school, I remember thinking it would be neat to take pictures (X-rays) of bones and people's insides. This led me to a career as an MRI technologist. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is an imaging technique used to produce high-quality images of the inside of the human body. I attended the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse for one year then transferred to Western Wisconsin Technical College for a two-year associate degree in radiology. I worked at Gundersen Lutheran for a year, and was then offered a job as a Radiology department manager near the Twin Cities. After two years there,
"I realized that Gundersen Lutheran in La Crosse was where I belonged."
The reason I left the job in the Twin Cities was the lack of patient care. I've always enjoyed meeting and working with patients. Patients appreciate and deserve to be treated with respect and care. We deal with very ill patients, so we must be gentle and caring to give them the best care. So in 1986, I came back to Gundersen Lutheran and have been here ever since.
As lead MRI technologist, I'm responsible for the day-to-day department operations, patient flow, problem solving, imaging patients, ensuring the equipment is functioning properly, staffing and coordinating procedures with other departments. Communication skills are essential for this job as I deal with patients, co-workers, doctors and family members.
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 Todd Kjos
Registered Nurse
I decided to go into healthcare because I genuinely like people, and I get a good feeling when I can help someone. I started as an orderly. At that time I assumed nurses just brought in food trays and emptied bedpans. I quickly discovered that nurses have a lot of responsibilities. They are the advocates for patients and they save people's lives. I learned to have tremendous respect for the work they do.
So I went to school and earned my associate degree in nursing. I worked two years in the medical/surgical unit at Gundersen Lutheran where I learned a lot of hands-on nursing skills. I'm currently working in Special Procedures/Radiology, where I provide conscious sedation for patients having radiological procedures.
After looking at the benefits of working at Gundersen Lutheran, including good pay and returning education incentives, I realized that this was the right place for me. Thanks to the nursing educational loan assistance as well as financial assistance from Gundersen Lutheran Tuition Reimbursement program, I am currently in school working for my Bachelor of Science degree. Someday, I hope to be a certified registered nurse anesthetist.
"I would encourage young women and especially young men to consider nursing as a career. It provides limitless opportunities."
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Path around the world leads back to Gundersen Lutheran
 Gay Lynn Schmidt's career as a registered nurse has taken her around the world. But, the traveling nurse always ends up right back where she started-as a nurse at Gundersen Lutheran.
Schmidt began her career at Gundersen Lutheran in 1981 and always felt it was a good place to work. "People here have pride in their work and take excellent care of patients. It makes me proud to work here," says Schmidt.
While the ICU nurse has always enjoyed her work at Gundersen Lutheran, about six years ago she got an itch to try something new. "My son got me thinking about becoming a traveling nurse. He thought it would be cool to live in other places and I realized it would be good for me to see what it was like to work in other hospitals," she remembers.
So, Schmidt and her son packed their bags and began their travels. Since 2000, Schmidt has worked at hospitals in Hawaii, Utah and Iowa. She typically stays for three to six months, but always returns to Gundersen Lutheran.
"Gundersen Lutheran has allowed me to continue as an on-call nurse, so when I come back I work full-time in the ICU. I'm grateful that the organization has allowed me to do this," she says.
Recently, Schmidt set off for a new adventure. She's nursing in the ICU at a hospital in Cairns, Australia, for the next six months. "It's exciting to be traveling abroad and to see what the healthcare system is like in another country," she says.
As she discovered, it takes some time to be able to work in another country. "I started the process about two years ago. I contacted a hospital in Queensland and interviewed over the phone. They told me I could come and work for them any time," Schmidt recalls. "I had to get a nursing license in Queensland, which took almost two years. And, I needed a visa to work there, so the hospital had to agree to sponsor me, my son and my husband, who is coming with us for the first time."
She went on to say, "I have to thank Dr. David Morrison and my manager, Cathy Mooney, for providing me with excellent references and helping me achieve this goal."
While she's looking forward to her time in Australia, Schmidt says she knows she'll return to Gundersen Lutheran again. "After you've traveled around a little bit, you realize that the quality of care is outstanding here. And, we have doctors who care, which makes a big difference in nursing practice," she comments. "In all of my travels, Gundersen Lutheran is the best place in the world to work. I'm proud to be a part of the ICU team at Gundersen Lutheran."
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