Wilfred and Gwendolyn “Gay” Brandt on their 50th wedding anniversary at Hendrix College in Conway, While Gwendolyn Brandt was a candy striper, four daughters followed in her footsteps, becoming nurses.

“I knew I wanted to be a nurse since the first grade,” she says. As a child, she had been impressed by the school nurse, who she describes as “a professional, kind lady.”

She remembers her mother’s work as a candy striper. It was Gwendolyn Brandt’s compassionate nature that influenced four of her six daughters - there were four boys, too - to choose nursing.

“Our mother was our inspiration,” Andersson says. “She always took good care of us.”

As the youngest, Andersson watched her sisters become nurses. Jill Blankenship is currently an RN at Conway Human Development Center and Tammy Lauterbach is a former RN turned homemaker in Boston, Mass. 

A third sister, Kim Brandt, became a radiological technologist at Conway Regional Medical Center and her brother, Brian Brandt, works for Beckman Coulter, servicing hospital lab equipment in Mississippi.

While Andersson briefly flirted with other career options, she says she kept returning to nursing. Since becoming an RN, she has worked in labor and delivery, surgery and now works as a quality assurance nurse.

Andersson believes it was her mother’s compassionate nature that led so many in the family to nursing. 

Gwendolyn Brandt died last year, but she left behind a legacy of caring. Andersson says her sisters share their mother’s kindness and concern for others, and their decision to go into nursing was a tribute to their mother. 

“It’s an honor to her,” she says.

Maybe it’s in the blood
While Dede Strecker, RN, MSN, and chief nursing officer at White River Medical Center (WRMC) entered college undecided about her major, it wasn’t long before she settled on nursing.

Her mother, Denise Foster, has been a nurse for over 30 years. She started working at WRMC about two decades ago. Growing up, Strecker says she could always tell her mother loved nursing. Her aunt, Ruth Stewart, is also in the business. She works as an LPN at WRMC.

When Strecker announced that she had decided to go into nursing, Foster was pleased and proud. 

“She was very encouraging,” Strecker says. “Also, nursing just fit my personality.” 

Strecker started her career as a patient care technician. Her son, Jordan Strecker, has followed in her footsteps. He works as a patient care technician at WRMC while attending the University of Arkansas Community College at Batesville, and is planning to major in nursing.  

“When he told me that he had decided that he wanted to be a nurse I was proud and impressed,” Strecker says. “Nursing is often thought of as a female occupation and we need more young men to realize that it isn’t.”

Once he became comfortable with nursing, Strecker says, it was obvious the patients really loved him and that he loves interacting with them.

 “Nursing is a great career choice,” Strecker says. “But you can’t be a part of it if you don’t love it.”

Getting an early start
From her start as a candy striper volunteer at age 13 to becoming director of surgical services at Siloam Springs Memorial Hospital, Danette Cripps’ life has revolved around caring for others. 

Cripps’ long history with SSMH was influenced by her mother, Mary Beth Draper, RN.

“When I was little, mother would bring my brother, my sister and me to the hospital while she worked in the OR,” Cripps said. “We would sit in central supply and the staff taught us to fold towels.”

Now a 20-year nursing veteran, Cripps was named the Patient Choice Nursing Award winner for 2009. She was nominated for the honor by a patient who she comforted before a procedure.

The award honors excellence in nursing. Nurses are nominated by former patients and their families. Cindy Kugel, chief nursing officer at SSMH, says her staff is among the best. 

 “Danette sets a great example for all of our nurses,” Kugel says. “She always puts patients first, she is kind and compassionate and wants her patients to have a great experience while in her care. I am very pleased that Danette was chosen for this award.”

Cripps says she just enjoys helping people. 

“I consider nursing a profession and not just a job, and I’m glad to carry on the family tradition,” she says.

Looking for a better way
Virginia Revere decided to become a nurse a long time ago. In the 1950s, she watched as her mother became ill and received less-than-stellar care. Virginia decided there had to be a better way to care for a patient. That observation shaped not only her life, but the lives of her daughters, and now a granddaughter.

Sisters Jill Blankenship and Tammy Lauterbach at their nursing school graduation.

In addition to compassion, she says a good nurse needs “to be a people person to succeed in this business.” And, she continues, “you can never give up on yourself or your patient.”

Nursing was a perfect fit for Revere and her daughters. Karen Medanich is now an RN in Louisville, Ky., and Michele Revere is an RN in the surgical ICU at St. Vincent.

“I was happy that they followed in my footsteps,” Revere says. 

Michele Revere says she didn’t plan on going into nursing, instead she was considering a career in music or history. She remembers her mom saying to her, “You need to be a nurse. Try it, you’ll like it.” Now, she’s an RN, with a bachelor’s degree in psychology.

“I’ve always enjoyed the challenge,” she says.

Michele Revere wasn’t the last to sign up. Virginia Revere’s granddaughter Krysten Kleinsorge is also an RN, working at St. Vincent in the orthopedic department.

Revere says she was “delighted” when she learned of Kleinsorge’s decision.

One of the advantages of nursing, Revere says, “You always have work if you want it and there are endless opportunities.”