She Inspires Nursing Careers

Loretta Gogel, R.N., is passionate about caring for children and mentoring future nurses

Then and now—Stephanie Sarge (left) was so inspired by the care she received as a child from Loretta Gogel, R.N. (as seen below), she chose to study nursing at Cedar Crest College.

Loretta Gogel, R.N., still remembers the 12-year-old girl admitted to Lehigh Valley Hospital–Cedar Crest around the holidays in 1998. "She had strep bacterial pneumonia and was very sick for two or three weeks," Gogel says.

The girl remembers Gogel too. "Loretta sat with me, held my hand and made everything seem OK," says Stephanie Sarge, now 23, of Andreas, Pa. Gogel encouraged Sarge to keep active and have fun to improve her breathing. At one point, she took Sarge to the lobby to help decorate the Christmas tree and visit the gift shop.

After Sarge recovered and left the hospital, her family kept in touch with Gogel. During Sarge's junior year in high school, she visited Gogel on the pediatric unit, bringing flowers and important news. Because of the compassionate care she had received years earlier, Sarge chose to study nursing in college. "I wanted to be that person at the bedside using my expertise to help," Sarge says. "Loretta is a great role model, and I still look up to her."

Gogel heard a similar call when she was a young girl. The oldest of six children, she often took care of siblings and cousins while growing up. She began working at the health network as a candy striper at age 13 and has worked in pediatrics for all of her 30-year nursing career. "I love pediatrics because you don't just take care of the child but the family," she says. "We're able to change people's lives, and that's really rewarding."

Gogel's passion for pediatrics care inspires others to follow her lead. Another of Gogel's past patients and a patient's relative also chose nursing careers after receiving hospital care from her.

Sarge is the latest to capture Gogel's spirit. She’ll soon graduate from Cedar Crest College with a bachelor's degree in nursing. While on rotations, she made another decision: to specialize in pediatrics, just like Gogel. "I'm so proud of her, it makes me want to cry," Gogel says. "When somebody tells you you're an inspiration, I can't tell you how good it makes you feel."

This page last updated 3/23/10 10:52 AM