Ann Erickson credits Ascension Sacred Heart's pioneering religious sister leaders in Pensacola, FL, with instilling a lifelong lesson of caring for the sick and most vulnerable with compassion and respect.
She began her nursing career as an 18-year-old nursing assistant at Ascension Sacred Heart Pensacola in 1976, then transitioned to the ICU after graduation. In the ICU she learned what it meant to care for humanity as Jesus did.
“I spent 12 years as a bedside nurse in the ICU, and it was such a gift for my spirituality,” Erickson said. “Looking into patients' eyes and connecting with them during their most fearful experiences, those moments of connectedness matured me as a nurse.”
The beginning of her career was a formative time because she had the opportunity to work with sisters from the Daughters of Charity, a religious order that founded Sacred Heart Pensacola more than a century ago. These sisters were leaders, nurses and social workers in the hospital units.
“The sisters were such a presence and in a lot of ways they taught me to really see the spiritual calling in the nursing vocation,” Erickson said about her experience working with the sisters. “First, Sister Clare Marie Angermaier and later Sister Jean Rhoads were such great mentors and heroes to me; they taught me to see the face of Christ in the sick and the suffering and to care with humility.”
Her professional development continued when the sisters asked her to lead the Employee Assistance Program and later delved into advocacy work for patients and staff. Ann said helping associates inspired her dedication to patient and employee advocacy.
“Ascension created a disaster fund to help people who lost everything in hurricanes and flooding,” Erickson said. “Ascension nurses and associates traveled from all over to give us assistance and rest after a hurricane. The people I have met and cared for have gone through unimaginable suffering, and it’s been a blessing to be a part of comforting and helping them.
Erickson said an example of Sacred Heart’s impact in the community was when associates built ten Habitat for Humanity homes in five years, and all of the recipients were associates.
After almost 50 years of service, Erickson is ready to start a new chapter in her journey, knowing that Sacred Heart's future is in good hands.
“I think as you age you start appreciating the younger generations more,” Erickson said. “I’m working with a group of brilliant young people, and realized that it's time to pass the torch. They have a different way of doing things that is exciting and brings me hope.”
When she retires, Sacred Heart will continue to play an important role in her life through volunteerism.
“Once you are part of Sacred Heart, you continue living Ascension’s mission, vision and values always,” Erickson said.