Boys follow dad's lead in nursing career

By Jennifer Hogeland • For The Post-Crescent

Greg Southard said he saw the writing on the wall.

More than 25 years ago, the Menasha man's career as a welder was about to come to an end as tough economic times forced his employer to close their doors.

After 11 years in the industry, the then 30-year-old father was forced to explore a new profession. Today, he admits a career in nursing was always in the back of his mind thanks to Rosie Dodge, a close family friend and recovery-room nurse.

"Rosie was very influential in my life, probably completely without knowing it," Southard said. He recalled that anytime someone was ill or hurt, they would turn to Dodge for care or advice.

"I had a lot of respect for her; she was a real go-to person," he said.

Transitioning from a life as a blue-collar worker to a second career as a nurse is an amazing tale, but it doesn't end there — Southard's story has an interesting twist. His sons, Zach and Sam, both in their 20s, are following in their father's footsteps.

Zach, a nurse in the cardiothoracic ICU at the University of Wisconsin Hospital in Madison, said his father inspired him be become a nurse. "I saw the satisfaction he got out of his job," he said. "He always enjoyed his career and never minded going to work."

Sam just graduated from the University of Wisconsin School of Nursing and is also working in Madison as a nurse. He said he and his father are similar, so nursing was a natural fit. "I was also drawn by the service aspect of it," Sam said. "I like that you can make a difference and have an impact on other people's lives."

Southard said he wasn't completely surprised about his sons' career choice. "They were around it their whole lives, and I'm real comfortable with the idea of it. I certainly never discouraged it."

Southard's career quest began in 1983, when he started taking classes part-time at Fox Valley Technical College in Appleton and added his name to the nursing program's three-year waiting list. After just one year, however, he was accepted into the program.

Southard and his wife, Julie, a dental assistant, had just had their first son, so changing careers wasn't easy on the family man. "I think it was a big challenge going back to school financially, figuring out how we were going to survive it and juggle it all. Nursing school was very demanding," recalled Southard.

Sporadic welding jobs and an evening stint at a nursing home provided the much-needed money to support his young family as he completed nursing school. After graduation in 1987, Southard passed the Wisconsin state boards and became a registered nurse. He spent one year as ICU nurse at St. Vincent Hospital in Green Bay until he found a job closer to home.

He has worked at St. Elizabeth Hospital in Appleton as a post-surgical recovery room nurse — a position similar to the one Dodge held — for the last 20 years.

Southard's memories of school life and clinicals are long forgotten, but his sons are all too familiar with the challenging classes and overwhelming first days on the job. Zach has worked as an RN since June 2008; Sam just finished up his last semester of classes.

The boys share the same interest in critical care, and both now work in the cardiothoracic ICU at UW Hospital.

What do friends and family say about a family of three male nurses? Zach said, "The reaction is always positive, but people do find it interesting." Sam added, "People are initially surprised but it has been very well accepted."

Looking back at his decision to become a nurse, the elder Southard said, "I thought it would be a lot more rewarding (than welding), and it has been."

Jennifer Hogeland: pcfeatures@postcrescent.com
Source: Postcrescent.com