On Thursday April 18 of 2024, the Nurses Honor Guard of East Central Alabama had the privilege of honoring Jean McKenzie RN.
Jean graduated from Milwaukee County General Hospital School of Nursing in 1972 as an RN. She served the nursing field for 42 years, 36 of which were spent serving as an Emergency Department nurse.
Jean began her service to the field as a staff nurse on CCU at Milwaukee County General Hospital, then went on to serve at St. Joseph’s Hospital (Milwaukee) on the Women’s Surgical Unit for 5 years, followed by 11 years at Illinois Valley Community Hospital in the Emergency Department. Jean also held EMT certification and served with two ambulance systems (Tonica, IL and Peru, IL) in addition to teaching at Brookwood and Illinois Valley Hospital as a CPR Instructor. She was also a long-time member of the Alabama Emergency Nurses Association (ENA).
Jean’s tenure in the Emergency Department emerged as a cornerstone, during which she stood as a guardian of hope amidst the chaos, a steady hand in the tumult of uncertainty.
Jean’s devotion to caring for others extended far beyond the walls of the Emergency Department. From the critical care units of Milwaukee County General Hospital to the Women’s Surgical Unit of St. Joseph’s Hospital in Milwaukee, and onward to the Illinois Valley Community Hospital, her footsteps left an ineradicable mark upon all who knew her.
Her spirit of service knew no bounds, as evidenced by her dual role as an Emergency Medical Technician, traversing the communities of Tonica and Peru, Illinois, answering the call of duty with unwavering resolve. Furthermore, as a CPR instructor at Brookwood and Illinois Valley Hospital, Jean imparted not only the techniques of resuscitation but also the essence of compassion, nurturing a generation of caregivers imbued with her ethos. Jean’s service with the Alabama Emergency Nurses Association was a testament to her enduring commitment to excellence and her unwavering advocacy for the advancement of emergency care.
Throughout her years of selfless devotion to the care and wellbeing of her patients, Jean stood as a beacon of strength and solace. Those 42 years of service were marked by her dedication to healing, comfort, and grace.
Jean’s legacy will forever be woven into the fabric of every life she touched, every soul she comforted, and every heart she healed. May her spirit of compassion guide us, her dedication inspire us, and her memory embolden us to emulate every quality of a nurse she proudly exemplified.
Jean McKenzie, we officially release you of your nursing duties, and we will proudly continue to carry the torch.
Nightingale Tribute Leader: Amanda Simmons RN
Participants: Shari Busby RN, Michele Schuffert MSN RN