There are a bunch of things that make Sarah Franssens such a great nurse, like her background as a medic in the army and her experience working in cardiology.
But probably one of the best things about Sarah is just this: she’s really, really easy to talk to.
“There’s nothing you can say to me that I’m going to judge you for,” she says. “I never want anyone to feel ashamed or embarrassed or like they can’t talk to me. I want you to feel comfortable.”
Providing this kind of nonjudgmental care is just part of who Sarah is. But she also knows it’s extra important for people living with HIV.
“I’ve had patients who’ve told me they were afraid to get healthcare because they’d seen a provider who wasn’t LGBTQ friendly, or they felt like they were being judged for who they were,” she says. “That’s what I don’t want people to feel.”
Mostly, Sarah just wants her patients to feel supported no matter what they have going on. Need help managing your diabetes? No problem. Want some STI tests done? Cool. Having anxiety and just need to talk? She’s got you.
“People will cry and thank me, but I always say, ‘I didn’t do anything! You’re the one seeking the care, you’re the one doing the work. I’m here to help, but at the end of the day, you need to thank yourself. You need to give yourself credit.’ ”
Sarah served as a combat medic in Iraq in 2004. She earned her Bachelor’s in Nursing at Saint Louis University and her Master’s in Nursing at Maryville University. In 2019, Sarah earned an American Academy HIV Specialist certification.