An expert in emergency and trauma nursing, Sheila Heising, RN, knew she wanted to be a nurse from the time she was 10 years old. She was taught from a young age to set goals and work hard to meet them. With her strong will and determination of never giving up, she has managed to successfully reach her goals both professionally and personally. She attributes her success to her parents, who both earned master’s degrees and set high goals for her and her siblings. It was never a question if she was going to receive higher education; it was always the plan from the time she was little. Currently, Ms. Heising serves as a comprehensive pre-anesthesia clearance (COMPAC) nurse at the Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center.
Prior to the start of her professional career, Ms. Heising pursued a formal education at Indiana Wesleyan University, where she attained a Bachelor of Science in Nursing in 2006. She previously earned an Associate’s Degree in Nursing at Hocking College in Nelsonville, Ohio, graduating in 2001. In addition to being a registered nurse, Ms. Heising is certified in advanced cardiovascular life support (ACLS), trauma nursing core course (TNCC) and pediatric advanced life support (PALS), and is a certified sexual assault nurse examiner (SANE).
Active in her local community, Ms. Heising participated in Pelotonia in order to raise money for the James Cancer Hospital Solove Research Institute at the Ohio State University in August 2019, riding 100 miles. This was the fourth year she participated in Pelotonia. In previous years, she rode 25 miles, 50 miles and 75 miles, each year setting a new goal to achieve. Ms. Heising does other organized cycling rides to raise money for veterans’ programs and cystic fibrosis. She also serves her community in running 5k’s, raising money for various organizations.
Moving forward, Ms. Heising is looking to pursue a master’s degree as a nurse practitioner. Her motto is, “Once goals are met then new goals need to be established.” What motivates her on a daily basis is her love for her job. She enjoys helping people in their time of need. Ms. Heising would like to be remembered by her patients and peers as someone who provided a warm, caring environment, and proved that each patient had her full attention and that they mattered individually. It is important to be mentally present with each person, take the time to make a difference, and explain and relieve their fears of upcoming procedures.