Honor guard recognizes Fisher-Titus nurse

SANDUSKY — The period from May 6-12 marks National Nurses Week. Additionally, May 6 coincided with National Nurses Day. They both recognize "the invaluable contributions nurses make in health care and our lives while addressing the real-life challenges they face every day," according to a statement from American Nurses Enterprise. To commemorate the occasion, on May 8, those representing the North Ohio-Lake Erie Nurse Honor Guard stopped down to Providence Care Center in Sandusky to recognize resident Karen Smetzer, a retired nurse who used to work at Fisher-Titus. Founded in 2024, the honor guard — a volunteer-based nonprofit made up of current and retired nurses who wish to highlight their fellow caregivers — ensures those who have dedicated their lives to nursing don't go unnoticed. It aims to honor those who served with compassion and dedication. This would include Smetzer. "Karen has many years in the nursing field as she continues to have a heart to serve people," according to a Providence statement, noting she worked her way up to an emergency room nurse. "Thank you for recognizing her."