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They never thought they would work together some day. Pollock didn’t choose nursing as a profession until her sophomore year at the University of Wisconsin-Madison.
After graduation, she worked three years at a hospital in Minneapolis, including one year in the ICU. When her husband, Nate, landed a teaching job in Winona, Minn., Pollock looked for a nursing position in La Crosse.
“My mom makes out the schedule, and I knew the ICU had an opening, so I applied,” Pollock said.
Pollock started working at Franciscan Skemp nine months ago and works three 12-hour shifts a week and every third weekend.
“I was very happy when she chose nursing, and it’s been great to have here working with me,” Ustby said. “She is an excellent nurse.”
It’s not surprising one of her four daughters ended up in nursing, because she and her husband, Bob, met in nursing school at Viterbo University and have been nurses for 29 years. Bob works at Gundersen Lutheran.
“I always wanted to be a nurse,” Ustby said. “I really like the challenge in the ICU and working with families.
“It’s nice to see patients often get better, or even if a patient dies, I get to help families through that,” she said. “We really have a great bunch of nurses. It’s a fun place to work.”
Pollock said she liked science in college and wanted a helping profession in the medical field.
“My parents always talked positively about nursing and liked their jobs,” she said. “I really like nursing, especially the bedside care and working with patients.”
Ustby said she and her daughter have similar personalities suited for nursing.
“We’re calm, low maintenance,” Ustby said. “We’re laid back and get along with everyone.”
They work a lot together, and sometimes Pollock asks her mother for advice. But Ustby said it’s not about bedside nursing because her daughter has good skills.
“I may ask her about procedures for certain things and forms to fill out,” Pollock said.
It is a special week for Ustby and Pollock. This week is Nurses’ Week, a nationally recognized time to honor nurses, and Mother’s Day is Sunday.
They both have Mother’s Day off work and plan to get together with family. In addition, Pollock is soon to be a mom — her first child is due later this month.
“I really like working with my mom and being closer to family and friends — and I don’t have to pay for parking,” Pollock said.
Terry Rindfleisch can be reached at trindfleisch@lacrossetribune.com, or (608) 791-8227
