Baarda celebrates 50 years of compassionate care

GRINNELL — This year, UnityPoint Health — Grinnell Regional Medical Center honored Sheryl Baarda for an incredible 50 years in nursing, a career defined by a commitment to lifelong learning, dedication and compassion.

Baarda’s curiosity about nursing began at a young age when she was inspired by the Cherry Ames book series.

“When I was a young girl, I read the Cherry Ames nursing books and fell in love with how she could do everything! She could do surgical, medical, camp nursing, you name it,” recalled Baarda.

“That, plus growing up in the early 1970s, women were just beginning to explore careers beyond teaching and secretarial work and that opened my eyes and made me realize nursing was my true calling. I’ve always felt that God called me to be a nurse.”

Baarda began her nursing path as a nurse aide in the medical surgical department at what was then known as Grinnell General Hospital.

As a registered nurse, she has served in a wide range of departments, but most notably in the obstetrics department, where she spent 44 years welcoming new life before retiring.

Today, Baarda continues serving patients part-time in the cardiac rehabilitation department. “I love getting to know patients,” she said. “Every day brings a new opportunity to connect and make a difference in someone’s life.

“It’s hard for me to completely walk away from healthcare because it’s so easy to see our work truly impacts people in our community,” Baard said.

After five decades in health care, Baarda acknowledges the profession has evolved dramatically.

“The most challenging part has been keeping up with constant changes. The medical field is not stagnant.

"For example, transitioning to digital documentation was a major shift but has many advantages,” said Baarda. “To provide the top-notch care our patients deserve, you must stay current on practices and procedures. At GRMC, we’ve always taken pride in evolving to better serve our patients.”

Through it all, the rewards have far outweighed the challenges, said Baarda. “Knowing that in some way, big or small, you’ve touched someone’s life and given them a great experience, that’s what it’s all about,” she said.

“In OB, I never got over the joy and miracle of seeing a new life come into the world.”

When asked what advice she would give to those considering a career in healthcare, Baarda was clear. “You won’t find a more rewarding path. It’s a field that constantly evolves, so you need to take initiative and commit to lifelong learning. But if you do, it offers incredible fulfillment and, best of all, you’ll always have job security.”