When I walked into the nurses suite, Ms. Karen Skillman was sitting there with her mug of coffee chatting with her fellow nurses. The lights were warm, the good energy palpable, and quiet laughter between not just coworkers but friends softly filled the room. She walked me over into her specific suite, and her story began. 

Eleven years at North Penn. Seven years at Pennsylvania Virtual Charter School before that. And right at the beginning, fifteen years at Doylestown Hospital. 

“I worked in the ICU and the recovery room,” Skillman recalled about her time at Doylestown Hospital. 

For as long as she could remember, nursing has been her passion.

“Nursing was ever since I was a little girl,” she shared, “But you have to remember, when I was growing up as a little girl, girls were encouraged to become teachers, nurses, secretaries, hairdressers. So you guys have a lot more open to you.” 

But just because that was what was encouraged doesn’t mean Skillman didn’t want to be a nurse. If she had to do it all over again in terms of today, she’d still choose nursing. 

“When I was working at the hospital, I was working a lot on the weekends and I was working a lot on the holidays,” Skillman said, “My kids were getting a little older. They didn’t want a babysitter anymore, but I wasn’t comfortable with them being home alone a lot.”

“I started substituting at their school as a nurse, and I liked it! And I thought ‘I can do this.’ A job came open, I interviewed, and here I am!” Skillman beamed. 

Skillman has been along several senior Disney trips and chaperones a couple of school plays, many being fond memories. 

“I really enjoy the people I work with,” Skillman notes about her colleagues, “we’re in here all together.” 

Her job varies day to day, which for her is good. One day she may be dealing with emergencies, the next she may be meeting with a hundred kids doing vision, height, and weight checks.

Being around students all day, Skillman recognizes how she has been able to understand the younger generation of students more. 

“There’s a lot of great kids out there,” Skillman says in response to people out of high school ripping on the integrity of the student population, “I can lift you guys up to people that don’t see you.” 

Moving forward, Skillman plans to spend precious time with her three — soon to be four — grandchildren. She also plans on doing lots of travelling with a few trips coming up, possibly a cruise in Europe.

“I know that every Monday morning I’m going to get up, I’m going to make myself a cup of coffee, and I’m going to sit somewhere and relish in the fact that it’s Monday and I’m not at work,” Skillman said with a smile on her face. 

She is positive she will be okay with her retirement and is both excited and ready for the next chapter in her life. 

“You know, people say to you ‘are you going to be okay when you retire?’ I’ve practiced every summer,” Skillman pauses, “I got it, yeah.” 

Skillman will be missed by all, but especially her fellow coworkers in the nurses suite. 

“She has been one of the most amazing school nurses I’ve ever worked with. She has taught me pretty much everything I know and has helped me tremendously,” fellow Nurse Megan Pickersgill said. 

“It’s been wonderful, a tremendous honor [working with her]. Ms. Skillman actually hired me, so it’s been great. She’s very supportive of all of us and we’re really going to miss her,” Nurse Christina Potts said.