Nita Hauschildt, pharmacy supervisor at AdventHealth Shawnee Mission, has been recognized as an Outstanding Team Member for 2024. Hauschildt’s commitment to patient care began early, shaped by her experiences volunteering in hospitals during high school.
“Even volunteering in hospitals back in high school, I recognized a kind of ‘laugh in the face of adversity’ attitude in healthcare workers and knew I had found my people,” Hauschildt said. “Taking care of humans at their sickest is hard work, but being part of the care that gets them well again is incredibly rewarding.”
Her approach to patient care was further influenced during pharmacy school when her mother was hospitalized after a car accident. Upon arriving at the hospital, she learned that a classmate working as a pharmacy intern had taken time to check on her mother.
“She answered my mom’s questions with patience and warmth,” she said. “In that short visit, she completely transformed my mom’s mood. I realized that’s exactly who I wanted to be; someone who shows up, who listens, who makes a difference, not just in charts and dosages, but in someone’s day, in someone’s life.”
Hauschildt has worked at AdventHealth for 14 years and attributes her longevity to the sense of community among staff members.
“I’ve stayed because AdventHealth feels like family,” she said. “We’ve watched each other’s kids and pets, attended weddings and covered for one another when life gets in the way. I get to laugh out loud every single day, not just with pharmacy, but with nurses, doctors, social workers, everyone. Trust and joy run deep here.”
She recalled the arrival of the COVID vaccine as a turning point during the pandemic.
“The best day I’ve ever had at work was the day the COVID vaccine arrived,” she said. “After months of exhaustion, fear and heartbreak, that moment felt like the sun breaking through the storm. We finally got to deliver something different: hope.”
Hauschildt expressed surprise at being named an Outstanding Team Member.
“People always tease me about how calm I am in situations that would make others panic,” she said. “But I didn’t realize how much they appreciated it. My coworkers taught me to care for the patient like they were my own family. I’m surrounded by people who inspire me to be better every day.”
She credited her team for creating an environment where calmness and support are possible.
“The team is filled with people who do the right thing, even when no one is watching. I know that as long as I’m doing my best for the patient, I’ll be supported.”
For Hauschildt, maintaining composure is central to her philosophy of care: a way to remind patients and colleagues alike that support is always available.
AdventHealth Orlando operates as a major medical center located in Orlando, Florida since its founding in 1908. It serves both pediatric patients and provides training opportunities for medical professionals under its current president Terry Shaw.
