Sue Buchholz knows there’s a clear difference between nursing and music. The first is her profession; the second is her ministry. But since both fit her calling to help others, Buchholz often blends them.
“Music was my first love and I thought I wanted to teach it,” said Buchholz, RN, MSN, an associate professor of nursing at Georgia Perimeter College.
After earning a music degree from the University of Missouri in Kansas City in her early 20s, Buchholz started teaching piano. When she needed odd jobs to supplement her income, she became a ward clerk in a hospital.
“I became a nurse [technician] first, to see if I liked health care,” she said. “I worked with a nurse who was a really good role model. She convinced me that with a nursing degree, I would have a career where I could go anywhere and help other people.
“So I graduated from nursing school at Graceland College [in Independence, Mo.] in 1981. I was 30, and it felt good to know that I could always support myself.”
Buchholz started her nursing career in oncology, but soon “caught the ICU bug” and spent the next 14 years working in critical care at a hospital in Kansas City, Mo.
When she wanted to escape the cold weather, she moved to Atlanta in 1985 and took a job at Grady Memorial Hospital’s ICU.
By 1996, Buchholz was ready for another change and took a job at Georgia Perimeter College, where she teaches advanced medical/surgical nursing, pharmacology and cardiology. She also works PRN (as needed) in the ICU at DeKalb Medical to keep her skills current.
“I love seeing the students learn the technical skills, like giving a shot, and finding out that it’s not so hard,” she said. “When students tell me proudly that a patient thanked them for great care, I can see them beginning to realize what’s to come for them as nurses.”
Buchholz channels her “built-in ham” in the classroom, where she makes up silly songs for her students.
“I’m famous for my cardiac drug rap, and I get everyone singing along with my nutrition song, ‘Big Macs, Big Macs, no more Big Macs for me,’ ” she said. “Sharing music is fun and if one or two points stick because of the song, that’s good.”
Buchholz has always blended music into her life — learning to play guitar, flute, concertina and piano — and into her nursing.
“When I worked in oncology, I would play hymns on my guitar for patients,” she said. “And at Christmas time I’d gather other nurses and we’d carol up and down the halls.”
She has played piano for her church, at nursing homes and with Full Circle, a group that specializes in Appalachian and Irish music. Last year Buchholz and her son, Andrew, who plays the drums, were a jazz duo hit at the nurse-pinning reception at Georgia Perimeter.
“My daughter, Chelsea, plays piano, too,” she said. “I want my kids to see that if they have music in their lives, they can use it for other people. It can be a great outlet and a ministry.”
Buchholz wasn’t planning to minister with music when she volunteered to visit Jewell Farmer, the mother of Lynn Farmer, a friend from Oakhurst Baptist Church in Decatur. Buchholz had dropped by to bring a meal and to visit the elderly woman when she noticed a piano.
“She told me that she used to play, but didn’t anymore because of her arthritis,” Buchholz said. “I told her I was taking flute lessons and asked if I could play duets with her because I needed the practice.”
The two began playing hymns and show tunes together, much to the amazement of Lynn Farmer, who hadn’t seen her mother play in years. Now, Jewell Farmer, who resides in an assisted-living home, sometimes plays for residents there. She still helps Buchholz practice playing flute every other week.
“I know that there is healing power in music,” Buchholz said. “It does things for people that they can’t verbalize and we can’t explain.”
With nursing, Buchholz gives medicine and care to patients and they get better.
“With music, you may never know how it touches someone or why it helps,” she said. “I’m OK with that because I’m using my talents and I know it’s doing something.”
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