For the past 50 years, Sally Muehlius, a registered nurse, has called SSM Health St. Agnes Hospital her work family and home away from home. Sally first joined St. Agnes Hospital on June 4, 1973 transitioning to Family Birthing Suites on July 4, 1973.

Sally, who grew up in Lomira, attended nursing school in Milwaukee. Her original plan was to work at St. Agnes Hospital and live near home for a while, save some money and then move back to Milwaukee possibly to work at the VA hospital. “Well…that didn’t happen,” Sally recalls. “I liked my job here and met some great people on the OB floor, some who I am still in touch with, and I never left.”

During her tenure, Sally has found it rewarding to help moms through their labor and “seeing the joy she and her family have when the baby is born. Some of these have turned into lasting relationships. Several times, I have taken care of two different generations in the same family. While I have not yet encountered caring for a third generation, maybe I will by my 60th anniversary!”

Sally shares how technology has impacted care delivery. “During labor today, we use fetal monitors to track the baby’s heart rate. In the early 1970s, we listened to the baby’s heart rate with a little doppler for one minute about one time each hour. And, before that, we used a fetal scope, which was like a large stethoscope, and only the nurse would hear the heartbeat. The doppler enabled the parents to also hear the baby’s heartbeat.”

When reflecting back on her journey with St. Agnes Hospital, Sally has difficulty thinking of a single memorable moment. “There have been so many,” she says. “It is important to me to have fun at work, and looking back, there were just so many great times with patients.