When Sandy Geller applied to Michigan State University in 1968, she figured she would go into astrophysics or aeronautical engineering. After all, the “Space Race” was on and it had transfixed an entire country.
But Geller quickly learned that while she enjoyed the science, something was missing.
“It just wasn’t people focused,” she said. “I like being around people and, for some reason, I gravitated to nursing.”
The move didn’t turn out to be such a moon shot — her mother was a nurse, so Geller had some familiarity with her new chosen field. The change proved to be a fruitful one, as Geller would go on to spend more than 52 years in nursing, culminating in January with a Lifetime Achievement DAISY Award.
The award “was created to recognize those nurses who have devoted their life's work to the compassionate care of others,” according to the DAISY website.
“I was speechless and that is hard to do,” Geller joked. “I don’t do it for the recognition; I do it because it’s something I like.”
Dean Leigh Small said Geller is more than deserving of such an award.
“Sandy has offered her expertise to countless MSU nursing students for nearly 35 years,” Small said. “Her positivity, passion and pediatric know-how ensure our students feel confident as they prepare to embark on their chosen career.”
One recent graduate wrote in a nominating note that, “Professor Geller was an amazing clinical instructor who went above and beyond for all of us in her clinical group. She helped us learn and identify things we could do the next time to help the patient feel more comfortable and to keep them safe. Professor Geller truly deserves the Daisy Lifetime Achievement.”
Finding her calling
Geller’s professional career began after she earned her BSN from MSU in 1972, she spent about a year working in a med-surg unit at Sparrow Hospital, before there was an opening in the Special Care Nursery.
“I didn’t know I would fall in love with pediatrics and neonatal care,” Geller recounted. “I transferred there in ‘73 and just stayed there.”
Part of the excitement, Geller said, came from being in a new specialty. That meant the technology and practices were constantly evolving. The “high-tech, high-touch” environment afforded Geller an opportunity to also play to her social strengths, often interacting with children and their parents.
Geller remembers when she started that the team would often use equipment for pediatric or adult patients on newborns because newborn-only gear did not yet exist. When she started, the team could successfully deliver healthy babies at 26 weeks; however, by the time she left the hospital setting, that figure was 23 weeks, showing how far technology had come.
She continued her education, earning an MSN and nurse practitioner certificate from Wayne State University. Throughout her career, she has served as an RN, a clinical nurse specialist and an NP, a Neonatology Department manager and, since 2012, a clinical instructor at the MSU College of Nursing. She also served as clinical faculty in the college from 1990-2012.
“I had a natural gravitation to go into teaching and Michigan State was there for me,” Geller said. “Fortunately, they knew me, I knew them. They needed peds faculty, and since that was my background, that’s what I got to do.
“It’s been a wonderful journey. I’ve always felt supported by the faculty I’ve worked with.”
Advice for future nurses
Along the way, Geller has picked up on a few nuggets of wisdom that she imparts to her students. First, she notes, nurses need to take care of themselves — striking a work-life balance can be difficult. Second, it is important to have a good understanding of pathophysiology.
“How the body works doesn’t change, we just find out about more and that helps with the disease process and how interventions work,” Geller said.
She encourages students to stay active in professional organizations and, most importantly?
“Have fun,” she said.
