Above: Janet, RN, cares for patients with a smile during her night shift in the cardiology wing at Providence Portland Medical Center.
November 2025
At Providence, our physicians and nurses are a shining beacon of compassionate patient care. It's common to hear stories of caregivers staying for 10 or even 20 years. But what about 40? For most people, working nights for four decades sounds unimaginable. For Janet, it was a calling.
From her start as a high school candy striper to decades of service in cardiology at Providence Portland Medical Center, Janet has dedicated her career to caring for patients when they need it most. “I’ve always been a night owl,” Janet says. “I like the pace, the independence, and the need to think on your feet.”
While many imagine a quiet hospital after dark, Janet knows the reality. “People don’t all sleep, and I try to spend time with those patients,” she says. “The fear factor comes through in the quiet and dark — especially for patients facing procedures. Nights are a special time with patients; you just have to be there for them.”
Forty years of cardiology
When Janet started her long career with Providence, cardiology — the medical specialty focused on the diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of diseases of the heart and blood vessels, was much different than it is now. “When I first started, we were doing a huge variety of procedures right at the bedside, things we would never consider doing now,” Janet says.
Procedures once performed at the bedside are now handled by specialized teams in advanced settings. “It’s wonderful to have the support of the rapid response team,” Janet says. “Early intervention saves lives.”
Nursing itself has evolved too. Janet recalls managing up to 12 patients without support staff early in her career. Today, nurses work alongside assistants and techs on increasingly complex cases.
Through it all, Janet has stayed grounded in dignity and compassion. “We see so much more drug use and homelessness," she says. "They test you, but we must remember — they are a person, and we must treat them with respect.”
Advice for the future caregiver
Throughout the forty years of her career, Janet has been grateful for her fellow caregivers and for the organization that molded her into the person she is today. “Providence has been very accommodating,” Janet says. “I was assistant head nurse and full time, then able to work just one night a week for ten years when we were raising our children. Then, I went back to full time and most recently, semi-retired and working just two nights a week. That flexibility means a lot.”
Providence has been part of Janet’s work life for decades — and now Providence is part of her family life. Two of her children and a daughter-in-law work at Providence Portland, and her oldest daughter is a nurse at Providence Regional Cancer Center in Washington.
As Janet steps into retirement, she plans to travel, volunteer, and spend time with her husband of 39 years, her three children, three grandchildren, a “granddog,” a barn cat and a few cattle. After 40 years of nights, Janet may be leaving the hospital, but she’s not slowing down.
Before Janet retires for good, she has a few choice words to share with future caregivers: “Listen to your patient. Don’t be afraid to ask for help. And ask questions — health care is constantly changing, so there’s no such thing as a stupid question.”
Above: Janet enjoys quality time with her cows on her family farm.
Related news:
- Learn more about our services at Providence Portland Medical Center.
- Schedule an appointment with the Providence Portland Medical Center Heart Institute.
- See a story about our dedicated nurse Barbara at the Providence Portland Medical Center neonatal intensive care unit.
