Grove City Medical Center News
National Nurses Week Tribute
Nurses, Many Roles, One Profession: Sherri Latshaw, R.N.
Sherri Latshaw, R.N. credits her relationship with her grandmother, who struggled with heart problems much of her life, with influencing her decision to pursue a career in nursing. “We were buddies, she and I, and I’d think to myself, ‘ Maybe if I was a nurse I could do more for her,’” she said. As for a 2nd career choice, “I had none,” said Latshaw. “Once I made up my mind, all I wanted to be was a nurse.”
As a new graduate, fresh out of the registered nursing program at the Community College of Beaver in 1984, Latshaw took a position at Grove City Medical Center. Although she wanted to work in the Emergency Department, there were no openings, so she was assigned to the midnight shift in the Intensive Care Unit. One night, about three months into her employment, Latshaw was on duty when word spread that a serious accident had occurred at a nearby intersection and the seven teenage victims were being transported to the Emergency Department. A disaster alert was issued, calling all available patient-care staff to report to the ED to assist with the trauma cases. Latshaw’s timing was impeccable. Since she’d just been notified earlier in the day that she’d passed her state boards, she was now officially a registered nurse and could help out in the ED. The experience was a turning point for Latshaw. Twenty years later, she remembers vividly the patient she worked on—including his name—and which treatment room she was in. “Right then, I knew this was where I needed to be,’” she said.
Within a few years, Latshaw transferred to an open position in the Emergency Department, where she’s worked ever since. Of the unique skills she’s developed throughout her career as an emergency nurse, she attributes her sixth sense for knowing when “something just isn’t quite right,” with inspiring her to become certified as a Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner. Latshaw along with two counterparts from other hospitals share 24/7 coverage for all of Mercer County, and though the demands are rigorous, she said the reward is tremendous and the opportunity to work in forensics is something Latshaw finds especially fascinating.
In addition to her SANE certification, Latshaw has assumed other areas of responsibility as her role at the hospital has evolved, including serving as EMS coordinator and weekend Administrative Supervisor. And although Latshaw has seen many significant changes to her profession, she noted there is one constant to emergency nursing. “The reason for most of the sad, tragic things we see is that someone didn’t spend just one more minute thinking about what they were about to do,” she said. “The senselessness of irresponsible behavior that causes a lot of pain and suffering. You never get used to it.”