Solivian Furness, RN, Patient Care Facilitator

5 Crescent-Cardiac Surgical Unit

2005 Nurse of the Year

"When I returned to school in my 30s to study nursing, I was a single parent of two young children and working full-time as a receptionist. As a student, I did my clinical rotations at another hospital. When representatives from Methodist came to my college for a job fair, they were all so very nice, so I applied!

"Early in my nursing career, I worked in the surgical ICU (Intensive Care Unit) at Methodist. I loved helping save lives! It also taught me valuable skills like being in touch with and knowing everything about my patient, and made me realize I am an important player on the patient care team.

"After a few years, I floated to different patient floors. I had good teachers, and my managers showed they cared about me and my family by being flexible with my schedule. I grew from good people around me who encouraged me to become a leader, and eventually I became a charge nurse.

"In 2005, I was honored to be named Nurse of the Year by the Methodist Medical Staff, and in 2006, with a team of employees from housekeepers to the CEO, I accepted the Lincoln Foundation Gold Award for Achievement of Excellence awarded to Methodist.

"Methodist recently created a new position, Patient Care Facilitator, and I am so excited about it! It really mirrors what I was doing in ICU—wrapping my arms around these patients and making sure patients get the best care—and I help nurses see how important they are as they collaborate with physicians. After almost 10 years as a nurse at Methodist, I’m still growing!"