Assistant Director of Nursing in the Division of Surgery at PA Hospital, Sharon Smerdon has retired after more than 40 years of extraordinary service.
Her commitment to caring for others has never wavered with her passion clear from a young age.
“When I was in high school, I worked in a nursing home on the weekend, and I knew I was always going to be a nurse,” she said.
And an incredible nurse she was.
Sharon started as an Enrolled Nurse in 1984, later stepping into Orthopaedics in 1994 which sparked her passion for ambulatory care.
“Ambulatory care is a different type of nursing, but it is such an enjoyable one to see the difference your role makes in a patient’s recovery,” Sharon said.
It further drove her commitment to improving patient access to surgery.
In 2014 Sharon’s role in the SCALPEL project helped revolutionise elective surgery waitlist management, cementing her as a leader in nursing innovation.
“It was about changing everyone’s ideas and practice in how we manage elective surgery. Having a dedicated person to invest in the various wait lists highlighted how many people were on the list who didn’t need to be there through multiple specialty and facility listings, alternative solutions with physio or private surgery – the project opened people’s eyes to change and diverse ways of doing things.”
“Nurses have a bigger voice than they have ever had, and I think that’s very evident in the role that nurses play in increasing patient access to surgery and wait list maintenance,” she said.
It’s no surprise Sharon’s advocacy was admired by both colleagues and patients because she always stood up for what was right.
At her farewell, the love and admiration for Sharon was clear with a turnout of both past and present colleagues.
Long-time colleague and friend Sue said, "Sharon’s strong character and voice have inspired so many. She’s a force, and her presence will echo down these halls for years to come."
Now retired, Sharon is looking forward to enjoying her hobbies—sewing, knitting, crocheting, and attending the theatre.
Congratulations, Sharon, on a remarkable career and your well-deserved retirement!