Nurses: The Heart of Health Care 2023

For nurses , a letter of appreciation

G r e et i ng s to a l l a r e a nu r s e s ,

It ’ s a pl e a s u r e to m a rk Nu r s e s Mont h w it h a n expr e s s ion of g r at it u d e for a l l you do to t a ke c a r e of you r p at i e nt s Eve r y d ay, you br i ng you r whol e s elve s to work, c a r i ng for t he mo st v u l ne r abl e p opu l at ion s t h at i n clu d e t he ve r y you ng , t he ve r y old a nd t he i n c a r c e rat e d , a nd prov id i ng t he at t e nt ion, e du c at ion a nd s upp or t t hey wou ld n’t h ave ot he r w i s e.

For me, nu rsi ng is not on ly my l i felong profe s sion, but also a c al l i ng or a m i n istr y that is a pr iv i lege and an honor As a ch i ld g row i ng up i n a smal l Texas tow n, I u s e d to wat ch Dr Ja me s “Re d” Du ke on t elev ision aft er s chool w ith my g rand mother. Spor ti ng blue je ans, c owboy boot s and a lab c oat, he d isp ens e d practic al adv ic e on ever y th i ng from tre ati ng mosqu ito bit e s to the i mpor t anc e of i m mu n iz ations and c anc er s c re en i ngs I le ar ne d the word “dehyd ration” from h i m as a smal l ch i ld. I re me mb er t el l i ng my g rand mother, “W hen I g row up, I want to work w ith Dr Du ke ”

I a l s o r e c a l l a c c omp any i ng my mot he r a nd g r a nd mot he r to t he lo c a l cl i n i c i n ou r tow n Som et i m e s t hey d id n’t f u l ly u nd e r st a nd a l l t he i n for m at ion g ive n to t he m. I wa nt e d to

b e a nu r s e s o t h at I c ou ld help t he m k now mor e ab out t he i r he a lt h c a r e T h at ve r y lo c a l, ve r y p e r s on a l i n s p i r at ion for m e d t he fou nd at ion of t he c a r e e r I’ve b e e n bl e s s e d a nd prou d to b e p a r t of I always say that nu rsi ng is a ver y t e a m- d r iven spor t We c ol laborat e and for m par t nersh ip s w ith so many he alth c are profe s sionals phar macist s, physic al, o c cupational, sp e e ch and re spi rator y therapist s, c as e managers, so c ial workers, physic ians and more As we honor nu rs e s du r i ng Nu rs e s Month, we also salut e ou r t e a m me mb ers who help u s g ive the ver y b e st c are to ou r patient s Nu r s i ng t e a mwork a l s o i n clu d e s t he g r ati fic at ion of help i ng newe r nu r s e s fi nd t he i r way i n t he profe s s ion To my fel low s e as one d nu r s e s who a r e pr a c t i c i ng i n t he field a nd who t i r el e s sly a nd s el fle s sly sh a r e t he i r k nowl e dg e, I wa nt to s ay a he ar t y t h a n k you Nu r s i ng c ou ld not ex i st w it hout t he w i s dom a nd exp e r i e n c e you p a s s on. By or i e nt i ng t he next g e ne r at ion of nu r s e s , you a r e help i ng t he m b e c om e ju st a s s m a r t a s you a r e a nd p e rh ap s pr e p a r i ng t he m to t a ke c a r e of you or you r fa m i ly m e mb e r s one d ay A nd for nu rs e s ju st st ar ti ng out,

c ong rat u lations! You’re b eg i n n i ng what w i l l b e a l i feti me of work i ng i n one of the most re sp e ct e d profe s sions. You’re par t of a c adre of profe s sionals who prov ide the b e st c are and re sou rc e s p eople ne e d to b e suc c e s sfu l i n mai nt ai n i ng thei r he alth Now that you ’ re apply i ng al l you ’ ve le ar ne d th roug h you r cl i nic als, t extbooks and si mu lations, choos e an env i ron ment where you c an fe el fre e to ask que stions and le ar n from ever yone on you r c are del iver y t e a m T h i ngs are ever- chang i ng i n he alth c are, so ke ep le ar n i ng and c onti nui ng to g row by re ad i ng, practic i ng and hon i ng what ever c omp et ency you ne e d i n you r role

To u s e another spor t s t er m, st ay fo cu s e d on b ei ng the G OAT the g re at e st of al l ti me.

W h i l e t he joys of nu r s i ng a r e i m m e n s ely r ewa rd i ng , we k now t h at t he d e m a nd s c a n t a ke a lot out of u s e mot ion a l ly COV I D -19 showe d how r e s i l i e nt nu r s e s c a n b e A lt houg h t he a c ut e e m e rg e n c y ph a s e of t he p a nd e mi c h a s e nd e d , Nu r s e s Mont h i s a n exc el l e nt t i m e to r e m i nd a l l of u s of t he i mp or t a n c e of

s el f- c a r e P rov id e r e st a nd r e newa l for you rs el f, not on ly s o you c a n help you r p at i e nt s h ave t he b e st out c om e s , but a l s o s o you c a n b e you r b e st for you r fa m i ly.

A s nu rs e s , we u nd e r st a nd t h at ou r profe ss ion i s a l l ab out c a r i ng for p e opl e t r e ati ng t he m w it h d ig n it y a nd r e s p e c t , l i st e n i ng to t he m a nd honor i ng t he i r w i she s Nu r s e s Mont h i s a c h a n c e to sh i ne a l ig ht on you r rol e a s c a r eg ive r s , a dvo c at e s a nd e du c ator s , a nd to expr e s s e ndu r i ng a d m i r at ion a nd t h a n k f u l ne s s for a l l t he l ive s you tou c h

Si n c e r ely,

Tom mye Au st i n, RN, Ph.D., MBA , N EA-BC

BJC He althCare s en ior v ic e pre sident and ch ief nu rs e exe cutive

AUS

I N , RN , PH D , MBA , NE A- BC

J C Health C are s enior vice pre sident an d chief nur s e exe cutive

This year, we honor all

St L ou i s i s prou d to b e a n at ion a l l e a d e r i n he a lt h c a r e a nd l i fe s c i e n c e s r e s e a r c h. O u r m e d i c a l i n st it ut ion s d r aw top t a l e nt f rom a rou nd t he g lob e.

For t he s eve nt h c on s e c ut ive ye a r, t he St L ou i s Po st-D i s p at c h r e a f fi r m e d t h i s r e put at ion a nd honor e d t he a r e a ’ s nu r s e s w it h t he Nu r s e s: T he He a r t of He a lt h C a r e prog r a m - a c ont e st a nd s e c t ion s upp or t e d by pr e s e nt i ng s p on s or BJC He a lt hC a r e a nd t it l e s p on s or s D el m a r G a rd e n s , Me r c y a nd SSM He a lt h

T he nu r s e s r e c og n i z e d t h roug hout t he prog r a m sh a r e s eve r a l id e nt i f y i ng c h a r a c t e r i st i c s: c omp a s s ion, r e s p e c t a nd e mp at hy. T hey work i n ho s p it a l s , cl i n i c s , s c hool s , r e s id e nt i a l fa c i l it i e s , i n-hom e c a r e a nd eve n v i r t u a l ly T hey e du c at e, c on s ol e, r el at e, c om for t a nd e nd e a r t he m s elve s to p at i e nt s a nd fa m i l i e s

ABOUT THE NOMINATIONS

T he prog r a m b eg a n w it h a c a l l for nom i n at ion s T he publ i c wa s e n c ou r ag e d to nom i n at e nu r s i ng profe s s ion a l s who m a d e a n i mp a c t on t he l ive s of love d one s a nd t he c om mu n it y at l a rg e. T he c om mu n it y a n s we r e d w it h ove r 29 0 nom i n at ion s

ABOUT THE SEC TION

Pe e r s , p at i e nt s , f r i e nd s a nd fa m i ly sh a r e d t he i r stor i e s a nd g r at it u d e for nu r s i ng profe s s ion a l s a c ro s s t he a r e a. Nu r s e nom i n at ion s we r e s ub m it t e d by t he c om mu n it y f rom t he i r p oi nt of v i ew. T he s i x nu r s e profi l e s i n clu d e d w it h i n t h i s s e c t ion we r e s el e c t e d by e a c h of ou r s p on s or s a s out st a nd i ng nu r s e s i n t he i r org a n i z at ion s C el ebr at e t he s e t i r el e s s profe s s ion a l s a nd t he i r u n fa d i ng r e c og n it ion du r i ng Nat ion a l Nu r s e s We ek, May 6 -12 , 2023

ABOUT THE COVER

Five St. Louis-area nurses are featured throughout this section.

From top to bottom: Letecia Jones of St. Louis Children’s Hospital, Brianna Meszaros of BJC HealthCare’s Christian Northeast Hospital, Chris Masters of Delmar Gardens of O’Fallon, Alex Duly of Mercy and Jordan Johnston of SSM Health St. Joseph Hospital - St. Charles

N u r s e n o m i n a t i o n s w e r e s u b m i t t e d b y t h e c o m m u n i t y f r o m t h e i r p o i n t o f v i e w T h i s c o n t e n t wa s p r o d u c e d b y t h e S t L o u i s P o s t - D i s p a t c h m a r k e t i n g d e p a r t m e n t a n d B r a n d A v e S t u d i o s T h e n e w s a n d e d i t o r i a l d e p a r t m e n t s o f t h e S t L o u i s P o s t - D i s p a t c h h a d n o r o l e i n i t s c r e a t i o n o r d i s p l ay F o r m o r e i n f o r m a t i o n , c o n t a c t m a r k e t i n g @ p o s t - d i s p a t c h c o m

L ete c ia Jone s, a st af f nu rs e i n the neonat al i ntensive c are u n it at St Lou is Ch i ld ren ’ s Hospit al, c ar r ie s a d isti nct, poig nant memor y of the d ay she k new she wou ld b e c ome a nu rs e In c ar i ng for her son, Keith, who was bor n w ith an i m mu ne defic iency w ith c ompl ic ations that wou ld t ake h is l i fe at age 9, Jone s had al ready gone th roug h on-the -job trai n i ng that no parent wants, but that parents of sick ch i ld ren must master.

“T he do c tor s a nd nu r s e s who took c a r e of Ke it h wou ld s ay to m e, ‘You shou ld go to nu r s i ng s c hool,’” Jone s r e c a l l s. At t he t i m e she d id n’t b el i eve t h at a nu r s i ng c a r e e r wa s w it hi n r e a c h “No one i n my fa m i ly h a d gone to c oll eg e a nd I neve r t houg ht I c ou ld do t h at.”

Ke it h c h a ng e d he r m i nd not long b e for e he d i e d “O ne d ay whe n he wa s i n t he ho s p it a l a nd ne e d e d s om et h i ng I s a id , ‘L et m e go g et you r nu r s e ’ He looke d at m e a nd a ske d , ‘W hy don’t you ju st b e my nu r s e? ’” Jone s s ays she st a r e d at he r s on i n sho ck a nd s a id , “You t h i n k I c ou ld b e you r nu r s e? ” He r s on ’ s a n s wer wa s d e c i s ive: “Ye s , you a r e my nu r s e ”

F R O M PATI E NT C A R E TEC H TO

NUR S E TO NUR S E PR AC TITI O NE R

to

BJC He a lt hC a r e prov id e s A nu r s e for t he l a st s i x ye a r s , Jone s c a r e s for f r ag i l e b abi e s i n t he ne on at a l i nt e n s ive c a r e u n it Howeve r, Jone s d id n’t stop a ft e r b e c omi ng a r eg i st e r e d nu r s e. O n May 13 of t h i s ye a r, she w i l l r e c e ive he r m a st e r ’ s d eg r e e i n nu r si ng f rom t he Un ive r s it y of M i s s ou r i, K a n s a s Cit y a nd w i l l b e c om e a ne on at a l nu r s e pr a ct it ione r T he m a st e r ’ s prog r a m i s “ toug h,” she s ays , but she p e r s eve r e d s o she c a n b e mor e e ng ag e d i n he r p at i e nt s ’ m e d i c a l d e c i s ion s

F IR STHAN D

U N D E R STAN DIN G

s ays T he d ay t he t w i n s we r e d i s c h a rg e d f rom t he ho s p it a l, Jone s felt t he s p a rk of joy ig n ite d by help i ng p at i e nt s g et wel l

A TE AM THAT ’ S LIK E FAM ILY

Jone s c al ls her nu rsi ng t e a m “ a l ittle m i n i-fa m i ly ” Her t e a m ’ s generosit y and suppor t help e d her c omplet e her g radu at e deg re e, w ith c ol le ag ue s who were w i l l i ng to trade sh i ft s to ac c om mod at e her exa m s che du le

TH E I M PORTA NC E OF M E NTOR S

r e i mbu r s e m e nt wh i l e she e a r ne d b ot h of he r d eg r e e s , a c ont r ibut ion she s ays wa s i nva luabl e to he r s u c c e s s “BJC r e a l ly s upp or t s you t h roug h you r jou r ney a nd m a ke s a way for you to i mprove you r l i fe. I’m one of m a ny fi r st s i n my fa m i ly, not on ly t he fi r st to go to c ol l eg e, but a l s o t he fi r st to go to g r a du at e s c hool, buy a hom e a nd t r avel t he world ” For more i n for mation on BJC He althCare, v isit bjc oppor t u n it y org

LETEC I A JON E S

Ever y d ay, Jone s br i ng s ke e n e mp at hy a nd c omp a s sion to her role a s a nu r s e “I’m a nu r s e, but I’m a lso a p a re nt who ha s b e e n t h roug h my ow n son ’ s i l l ne s s, ” she s ays “I u nder st a nd t he g r ief a nd g u i lt p a re nt s fe el I l ist e n to t he m a nd let t he m k now t hat what t hey’re fe el i ng is nor m a l ” For Jone s, her work is not on ly her profe s siona l c om m it me nt a nd p a s sion but her de e ply p ersona l way of honor i ng her son ’ s me mor y

J OYOU S OU TCO M E S

He r s on ’ s fa it h i n he r s pu r r e d Jone s to b eg i n he r c a r e e r a s a p at i e nt c a r e t e c h n i c i a n at St L ou i s C h i ld r e n ’ s Ho s p it a l “T he goa l wa s a lways for m e to b e a nu r s e, ” she s ays She we nt on to e a r n he r nu r s i ng d eg r e e f rom Sout he r n I l l i noi s Un ive r s it y E dwa rd s v i l l e w it h help f rom t he t u it ion r e i mbu r s e m e nt

T he b e st p a r t of nu r s i ng i s help i ng s i ck b abi e s a nd t he i r p a r e nt s a c h i eve goo d outc om e s , Jone s s ays. She d e s c r ib e d c a r i ng for t w i n s b or n at 22 we ek s who we r e p at i e nt s i n t he ne on at a l i nt e n s ive c a r e u n it for mont h s So i nt e n s e wa s he r d e s i r e to help t he s e t w i n s a nd t he i r fa m i ly t h at she oft e n worke d s eve n d ays a we ek to help t a ke c a r e of t he b abi e s. “I p i cke d up s o m a ny ext r a sh i ft s s o I c ou ld b e t he r e for t he t w i n s a nd t he i r p a r e nt s , ” Jone s

For new nu r s e s st a r t i ng out , Jone s st r e s s e d t he va lu e of h av i ng m e ntor s to help g u id e t he way, a rol e she i nt e nd s to pl ay for new nu r se s f rom t he Ba r ne s -Jew i sh C ol l eg e Gold fa rb S c hool of Nu r s i ng

A C HAN G E D LIF E

MORE REWARDING THAN EVER

ENHANCED COMPETITIVE COMPENSATION.

SCHEDULING FLEXIBILITY.

ADVANCEMENT OPPORTUNITIES.

MIRACLES.

“At BJC, we work together to create miracles.”

CONGR AT U L ATI ON S

T O ALL OF THIS Y EAR’ S NOMINEES

K ATHE RINE FIGUR A

B J C M E D I CA L G R O UP

K a t i e i s o n e of th e m o s t c a r i n g, e m p a th et i c , i n te l l i ge n t a n d c o m p a s s i o n a te n u rs e p ra ct it i o n e rs

BECK Y PU RVI S

B J C H E ALT H CAR E

It ta k e s g re a t d e d i c a t i o n , k n owl e d ge a n d e m p a thy to p rov i d e th e c a re a n d a tte n t i o n n e e d e d to h e l p p a t i e n ts w ith h e a rt - re l a te d c o n d it i o n s I a p pl a u d a l l n u rs e s , e s p e c i a l ly th o s e wo rk i n g i n s p e c i a l i ze d fi e l d s l i k e c a rd i ol og y B e c k y P u r v i s i s a b s ol u te ly o u ts ta n d i n g a n d h a s b e e n s a v i n g h e a rts fo r ove r 20 ye a rs.

BROOK E FOX WORTH

S S M H E A LT H T h a n k yo u s o m u c h fo r b e i n g th e b e s t n u rs e yo u c a n b e Yo u h a ve s o m a ny ye a rs a h e a d of yo u r c a re e r fo r g rowth T h e wo rl d c a n’t wa i t to s e e it –k e e p e l e va ti ng

CL ARIE J E FFE RSON

VA S T. LO U I S H E A LT H CA R E SYS T E M Fo r 23 ye a rs , s i x m o n th s a n d e i gh t h o u rs c a r i n g fo r o u r vete ra n s

HAN NAH CH RI STIAN

M E R CY H O S PI TA L S T LO U I S Fo r b e i n g a n a m a z i n g a d vo c a te fo r h e r p a t i e n ts !

HE ATHE R BYRNE

M I S S O UR I B A P T I S T M E D I CA L C E N T E R

Fo r th e d e d i c a t i o n s h e h a s to h e r c a re e r a n d h ow s h e go e s a b ove a n d b e yo n d fo r h e r p a t i e n ts a n d e m pl oye e s S h e i s a s u p e rh e ro !

STACI N E L SON

C H R I S TI A N H OS PI TA L

Fo r th e c a re s h e p rov i d e d a fte r my byp a s s s u rge r y

Fo r th e c a re s h e p rovi d e d d u r i n g my c a rd i ova s c ul a r s u rge r y

AN YA PE N LY

SU N DA N CE CL I N I CA L R E S E A R C H

A nya i s a h e ro i n h e a lth c a re S h e i s a c l i n i c a l re s e a rc h e r He r c o n c e r n fo r re s e a rc h p a rt i c i p a n ts’ s a fet y a n d we l l - b e i n g a re exc e pt i o n a l He r d e d i c a t i o n , c o m m it m e n t to exc e l l e n c e a n d h a rd wo rk h a ve b e e n e s s e n t i a l i n t r i a l s of va c c i n e s a ga i n s t C OV I D - 19.

TON I BUSCH

S S M H E A LT H S T J O S E PH H O S PI TA L T h a n k yo u To n i fo r a l l yo u d o !

AM Y E BE RHARDT, N P

B J C M E D I CA L G R O UP

B R E A ST CA R E CO N S U LTA N TS Fo r a l wa ys c a r i n g fo r e a c h p a t i e n t w ith th e s a m e c o m p a s s i o n a n d i n te re s t , n o m a tte r w h a t k i n d of d a y s h e m a y b e h a v i n g S h e i s i nve s te d i n h e l p i n g a nyo n e i n th e p ra ct i c e w h e n e ve r s h e i s a s k e d to ex pl a i n s o m eth i n g S h e i s p a t i e n t , f u n ny a n d u nd e rs ta nd i n g

B JC M E DIC AL GROU P,

ACO N U RS ING TE AM

B J C M E D I CA L G R O UP Mega n G u i n n a n d h e r te a m s h ow th e i r d e d i c a t i o n a n d c o m p a s s i o n e ve r y d a y th ro u gh th e i r d i l i ge n t fol l ow - u p, o u t re a c h a n d a d vo c a c y We a re l u c k y to h a ve s u c h a s t ro n g s u p p o rt a n d re s o u rc e te a m to wo rk w ith A p p re c i a te yo u a l l !

CH RI S S Y S HOAF

B J C M E D I CA L G R O UP S h e i s a l wa ys c o m p a s s i o n a te a n d k i n d I h a ve h a d m a ny i n te ra ct i o n s w ith h e r a t my d o cto r ’ s of fi c e a n d s h e i s a l wa ys s m i l i n g a n d we l c o m i n g S h e fol l ows u p w ith my d a u gh te r a n d I to m a k e s u re we a re o k My d o cto r s a i d th e y a re l u c k y to h a ve h e r a n d I a g re e !

DIAN E COPITHORN E

B J C M E D I CA L G R O UP AT N O R THWE S T H E A LTH CA R E Mrs D i a n e n ot o n ly s h ows e m p a thy to e a c h p a t i e n t , b u t s h e a l s o s h ows e m p a thy to h e r c owo rk e rs a s we l l Mrs D i a n e i s a pl e a s u re to wo rk w ith He r k i n d , th o u gh t f u l a n d h u m b l e s p i r it m a k e s a ny wo rk d a y a j oyf u l d a y

E RIK A POGU E

B J C M E D I CA L G R O UP Fo r goi n g a b ove a n d b e yo n d to e n s u re e ve r y p a t i e n t h a s a c c e s s to th e c a re a n d re s o u rc e s th e y n e ed

JOSE PH LE N NART Z

M E R CY HO S PI TA L S O UT H Fo r o u ts ta n d i n g c a re of h i s e n d o c r i n ol og y p a t i e n ts

S O UT H C O U N T Y D I A B E T E S A ND O B E S I T Y C E N T E R

T h a n k yo u to n u rs e p ra ct i t i o n e r Jo s e p h fo r h i s d e d i c a t i o n to h i s p a t i e n ts fo r th e l a s t s i x ye a rs !

He c u r re n tly s e r ve s p a t i e n ts w ith d i a b ete s , o b e s it y a n d oth e r e n d o c r i n e d i s o rd e rs a n d h e l p s th e m l ive h a p py a n d h e a lthy l i fe s t yl e s

I ’ ve e ve r m et S h e i s a p a t i e n t a d vo c a te a n d a n a s s et to th e n u rs i n g fi e l d I ’ m h o n o re d to wo rk w ith h e r a n d h a ve h e r t re a t my fa m i ly m e m b e rs

K IM BE RLY BUCK

B J C M E D I CA L G R O UP

I wa n t to th a n k Nu rs e B u c k fo r a l wa ys b e i n g s u p p o rt ive a n d d e d i c a te d to a ny c h a l l e n ge s p re s e n te d . D u r i n g th e p a n d e m i c , s h e c a m e to wo rk fa ith f u l ly w ith th e s a m e s i n c e re b e d s i d e m a n n e rs . S h e s h owe d u p a n d c a re d !

L AU RE N C ARQU E VILLE

M E R CY H O S PI TA L S T LO U I S

L a u re n i s ve r y p a t i e n t a n d wa s w i l l i n g to wo rk w ith m e o n my s h o u l d e r i n j u r y

L AU RIE C A STIAUX

S SM H E A LT H CA R D I N A L GL ENN ON

C H IL D R E N ’ S H OS PI TA L

Not o n ly i s s h e a n a m a z i n g n u rs e , b u t s h e wa s a s c h o ol n u rs e fo r m a ny ye a rs ! Now s h e h a s a j o b th ro u gh S SM He a lth T h a n k yo u fo r b e i n g a n a m a z i n g m o m , g ra n d m a a n d n u rs e to m a ny !

We l ove yo u !

LE S LIE , CH RI S AN D TON Y

S S M HE A LT H N E U R O S CI E N CE S Fo r th e i r d e d i c a t i o n to o u r p a t i e n ts e ve r y d a y

M E LI SSA

Fo r h e r k i n d n e s s – s h e t r u ly m a d e m e fe e l l i k e I wa s i m p o rta n t a n d c a re d fo r !

M E RIDITH JACK SON

M I S S O UR I B A P T I S T M E D I CA L C E N T E R S h e i s a m a z i n g w ith th e p a t i e n ts S h e m a k e s s u re th e y a re re a d y a n d c o m fo rta b l e b efo re s u rge r i e s

NIK ITA , ALLI SON AND NGU YE N

S S M H E A LT H

Fo r h e l p i n g m e get my b l o o d p re s s u re u n d e r c o n t rol i n a t i m e - c r u n c h s it u a t i o n .

STE PHAN IE B INGHAM

E S S E H E ALT H PE DI AT RI C & AD O L E S C E N T

M E D I C I N E AT WAT S O N R OA D S te p h a n i e p rov i d e s exc e l l e n t c a re

Z AN DR A BROWN , N P

B J C M E D I CA L G R O UP

Z a n d ra ’ s c o m p a s s i o n a n d c a re i s s te l l a r S h e i s a wo n d e r f u l p rov i d e r w h o c a re s fo r h e r p a t i e n ts a s i f th e y we re h e r fa m i ly S h e i s a ge m !

ALE XI S L AUGH BAU M

S S M H E A LT H S T C L A R E H O S PI TA L Fo r b e i n g s o k i n d a n d c a r i n g

ALLI SON PE ARL

M E R CY H O S PI TA L S T. LO U I S Fo r a l wa ys b e i n g th e re a n d goi n g a b ove a n d b e yo n d S h e i s a c o m p a s s i o n a te n u rs e fo r e ve r yo n e w h e n s h e i s o n a n d off d u t y !

ALY R ACKOVAN , RN

B A R NE S - J E W I S H S T PE T E RS HO S PI TA L Aly h a s b e e n s o c o m p a s s i o n a te w ith e a c h a n d e ve r y p a t i e n t s h e d e a l s w ith S h e h a s a s m i l e th a t l i gh ts u p a ro o m a n d a h e a rt th a t go e s a l o n g w ith it

ALYS SA WINTE RBAU E R

S S M H E A LT H S T C L A R E H O S PI TA L Fo r b e i n g h a rd wo rk i n g a n d a l wa ys g iv i n g it h e r a l l i n th e E R

AMAN DA BL ACKFORD

B A R NE S - J E W I S H S T. PE T E RS HO S PI TA L Fo r h e l p i n g s a ve my h u s b a n d ’ s l i fe a n d fo r h e r i n c re d i b l e c o m m it m e n t to th e fa m i l i e s s h e h e l p s S h e h a s go n e wa y a b ove a n d b e yo n d i n h e l p i n g m e a n d my fa m i ly

ANG IE GRET Z ING E R

M EMO R I A L HO S PI TA L S H I LO H A n g i e a l wa ys go e s a b ove a n d b e yo n d fo r n ot o n ly h e r p a t i e n ts , b u t a l s o h e r c owo rk e rs S h e i s u n b re a k i n g i n h e r k i n d n e s s a n d ge n u i n e ly wa n ts to h e l p I ’ ve s e e n h e r ta k e o n s o m a ny o b s ta c l e s i n th e E R a n d I a m g ra tef u l fo r a l l s h e d o e s !

AN NA DOW

S S M H E A LT H | VA S T LO U I S H E A LT H CA R E SYS T E M A n n a i s a wo n d e r f u l n u rs e a n d p e rs o n

CA SS IDY WATE RS

M E R CY HO S PI TA L WA S H I N GTO N C a s s i s th e b e s t n u rs e a n d d a u gh te r S h e i s k i n d , c a r i n g a n d c o m p a s s i o n a te

DAN IE LLE FRIT Z

M E R CY H O S PI TA L S T LO U I S Fo r d e d i c a t i o n a n d c o m p a s s i o n to h e r p a t i e n ts !

DAPHNE STEWART

COXHEALTH MEDICAL CENTER SOUTH

T h e y h e l p e d s a ve my l i fe a fte r a m oto rc yc l e a c c i d e nt

CARDIAC CARE

COVID-19

DOCTOR’S OFFICE

EMERGENCY ROOM | TRAUMA

It is with deep, heartfelt gratitude that we honor our nurse nominees and the entire Delmar Gardens Nursing staff! Your strength, sacrifice and compassion to provide the very best care and genuine comfort to our dear residents is a shining example of greatness! Thank you for your brilliant dedication to our residents and families. Always with deep respect and love,

your Delmar Gardens Family

Yvonne Brown

Andi Jordan

Karen Jackson

Chris Masters

Ashley Maichin

Mercy puts patients and co -workers first

For Je s s i c a At c h i s on, it ’ s t he work-l i fe i nt eg r at ion, not work-l i fe b a l a n c e, wh i c h i mpr e s s e s he r t he mo st.

“T he Me r c y t e a m i nve st s i n eve r y s i ng l e one of u s , b ot h profe s s ion a l ly a nd p e r s on a lly, no m at t e r ou r p o s it ion,” s ays At c h i s on, exe c ut ive d i r e c tor of nu r s i ng at Me r c y i n Spr i ng field “T he r e s u lt i ng work e nv i ronm e nt r e a l ly b el i e s a s e n s e of c om mu n it y, a fe el i ng l i ke hom e a hom e m a d e up of s om e of t he mo st wond e r f u l p e opl e A nd t he s e a r e prob ably t he mo st i mp or t a nt at t r ibut e s t h at h ave ke pt m e i n t h i s p o s it ion for t he l a st 18 ye a r s a nd one s t h at I wou ld c h a mp ion to a ny up - a nd- c om i ng g r a du at e or i nd iv idu a l looki ng to m a ke a c a r e e r s w it c h.”

At c h i s on i s r e s p on s ibl e for ne a rly a 1,0 0 0 -p e r s on t e a m t h at c ove r s Sout hwe st M i s s ou r i a nd Nor t hwe st A rk a n s a s She c oord i n at e s t he st a f fi ng pl a c e m e nt f rom fa c i lit y to fa c i l it y, a s wel l a s d i r e c t s t he cl i n i c a l e du c at ion t e a m a nd t he profe s s ion a l pr a c t i c e d evelop m e nt c e nt e r P r ev iou sly, she worke d a s a b e d s id e nu r se i n t he s u rg i c a l a nd c r it i c a l c a r e a r e a s “T he mo st i mp or t a nt a s p e c t of my job for

m e i s to e n s u r e we h ave t he r ig ht p e r s on w it h t he r ig ht sk i l l s at t he r ig ht t i m e to prov id e t he h ig he st qu a l it y of c a r e for e a c h a nd eve r y p at i e nt , ” she s ays. “B e c au s e, u lt i m at ely, ou r c o -worke r s s at i sf y t he mo st r ewa rd i ng a s p e c t of t he Me r c y m i s s ion Exc el l e nt , i nd iv idu a li z e d c a r e ”

At c h i s on s ays it ’ s e qu a l ly c r it i c a l t h at nu r s e s a r e abl e to m a ke t h at p e r s on a l, hum a n c on ne c t ion w it h a p at i e nt, ab ove a nd b eyond t r e at i ng t he m e d i c a l c ond it ion

For nu r s i ng st u d e nt s r e a dy to g r a du at e, a s wel l a s i nd iv idu a l s i n t he c om mu n it y look i ng for a c h a ng e, At c h i s on s ays Me r c y of fe r s st a f f a w id e r a ng e of flex ibl e opt ion s.

T h i s i n clu d e s work i ng on a ny of t he floor s of a fa c i l it y a s a d i r e c t c a r e b e d s id e nu r s e, i n t he t a l e nt float p ool at va r iou s lo c at ion s t h roug hout t he r eg ion, a s a dju n c t profe s s or s at c om mu n it y c ol l eg e s , a nd i n m a ny ot he r p o s it ion s a s b ot h f u l l- a nd p a r t-t i m e.

O t he r ar e a s of e mploy m e nt i n clu d e i n fe ct ion pr eve nt ion, p at i e nt s a fet y a nd i n-hou s e e du c at ion, for ex a mpl e I n a dd it ion, Me r c y a l lows for flex ibi l it y i n s c he du l i ng a nd t he opt ion to p i ck up ext r a hou r s G ig worke r s

JE SS I CA AT C H I S O N exe cutive dire c tor of nur sing at Merc y in Springfield

a r e a l s o p i ck i ng up i mp or t a nt sh i ft s i n va riou s fa c i l it i e s t h roug hout t he r eg ion, a nd At c h i s on s ays t he i r s upp or t i s e s s e nt i a l.

Me r c y h a s a h ig h r et e nt ion r at e for b e ds id e nur ses

“I m e a n, t he c u lt u r e a nd t he e nv i ron m e nt a r e u nb e at abl e he r e, ” At c h i s on s ays “B e i ng a r elig iou s -b a s e d org a n i z at ion ju st c r e at e s a d i f fe r e nt t y p e of c a r i ng at mo s phe r e. A s hum a n s , we a l l h ave ne e d s out s id e of ou r work l i fe a nd it ’ s s om et h i ng t h at Me r c y appr e c iat e s a nd s upp or t s ”

A not h e r c o mp o n e nt t o Me r c y ’ s s u p p or t of it s e mp loye e s i s it s e mp h a s i s o n s e l f- c a r e A s a m i n i s t r y, Me r c y c o nt i nu e s t o i nve s t i n p rov i d i ng a d d it io n a l r es our c es for se l f- c a r e t h at go ab ove a n d b e yo n d t h e t r a d it io n a l e mp loye e r e s ou r c e s u s u a l l y of fe r e d Acc r u e d t i m e of f a l low s i n d i v i du a l s t o t ake t h e t i m e t h e y ’ ve e a r n e d t o d i s c o n n e c t a n d r e c h a r g e , “ t o d o t h e t h i ng s t h at r e fi l l t h e i r c u p, ” At c h i s o n s ay s .

Ag a i n, i nt eg r at ion ove r b a l a n c e

For mor e i n for m at ion r eg a rd i ng e mploym e nt opp or t u n it i e s , v i s it c a r e er s m er c y net

Merc y is h onore d to b e on e of For tun e magazin e’s Mos t Inn ovative Companie s f or 202 3 In 2022 alon e, th e h ealth care s ys tem embrace d high-te ch chan g e s that have p ut it at th e f oref ront of m o dern h ealth care To highlight :

M AYO CLIN IC

COLL ABOR ATION — us e s data s cience to pinp oint dis ea s e s earlier an d tran sf orm health care to a m ore proac tive, preventive an d welln e s s care f o cus e d m o del

M E RCY WOR K S

ON DE M AN D a fir s t- of -it s-kin d plat f orm that allows nur s e s to pick up ex tra shif t s wh en available.

M E RCY HOS PITAL

AT HOM E an inn ovative approach that give s s ele c t patient s th e option to re ceive care f rom th e comf or t of h om e with inp er s on an d vir tual s upp or t

M U LTI - C ANCE R E ARLY DETEC TION TE STING — a n ew blo o d te s t pinp oint s m ore than 50 dif f erent t yp e s of can cer earlier than ever b ef ore.

TUG ROBOT S robot s a s sis t s taf f with lin en , m eal an d other deliverie s f or patient s .

PCORI COLL ABOR ATION

initiative sp e e ds patient acce s s to improve d care

A L E X D U LY

C are and empathy take on a whole new meaning f or this oncolo g y nur s e

From p at i e nt to nu r s e, A l ex D u ly h a s exp e r i e n c e d b ot h s id e s of t he he a lt h c a r e s ystem

I n c ol l eg e, e ng ag e d to b e m a r r i e d a nd e mploye d i n t he j ewel r y bu s i ne s s , t he 22-ye a rold St. L ou i s a n ’ s h appy l i fe wa s d r a m at i c a l ly up e nd e d whe n a he a r i ng i s s u e t u r ne d out to b e a br a i n t u mor

A PE R S O N A L J O U R N E Y

“I wa s at t he p e a k of my l i fe, on a g r e at p at hway I h a d eve r y t h i ng to look for wa rd to. I n t h at mom e nt whe n t he do c tor told m e, I felt it a l l ju st k i nd of we nt i nto t he t r a sh,” s ays D u ly “O f c ou r s e, I wa s s o a ng r y t h at t h i s wa s h app e n i ng to m e, but t he c a r e a nd s upp or t I r e c e ive d du r i ng t he next ye a r a nd a h a l f t h roug hout my s u rg e r y, r a d i at ion a nd c he mot he r apy s ave d m e b ot h phys i c a lly a nd e mot ion a l ly My nu r s e s we r e t he r e for m e eve r y s i ng l e d ay Ta l k i ng , l i st e n i ng a nd help i ng m e work t h roug h my fe el i ng s a nd p a i n, e n c ou r ag i ng m e a long.”

He r fi n a l d ay of t r e at m e nt , D u ly wa l ke d t h roug h t he ho s p it a l h a l lway for t he l a st t i m e a s a p at i e nt w it h t he do c tor s a nd nu r s e s l i ne d up on e it he r s id e c he e r i ng he r on She s ays she k new at t h at mom e nt she wa nt e d to b ec om e a nu r s e.

R O LE R E VE R SAL

A ft e r c ompl et i ng he r nu r s i ng d eg r e e i n 2021 “ju st i n t i m e to work t h roug h t he p a nd e m i c ” D u ly wa s e c st at i c w it h he r job

a nd new t a ke on l i fe. I n a c ompl et e rol e r eve r s a l, D u ly now work s a s a n on c olog y nu r s e at Me r c y, d e mon st r at i ng t he s a m e s upp or t a nd c a r e for he r p at i e nt s t h at wa s on c e prov id e d to he r

OVE R CO M IN G C HALLE N G E S

I n fa c t , he r p a r t i a l he a r i ng lo s s a p e rm a ne nt by-pro du c t of he r c a n c e r oft e n s e r ve s a s a c onve r s at ion st a r t e r whe n i n it iat i ng a nd n av ig at i ng d i f fic u lt t a l k s w it h he r ow n p at i e nt s who a r e exp e r i e n c i ng t he r avag e s of t he d i s e a s e. Pat i e nt s s om et i m e s i nqu i r e ab out t he but ton she we a r s on he r u n i for m t h at e n c ou r ag e s t he m to s p e a k to he r wh i l e she i s fa c i ng t he m , s o she c a n b et t e r he a r t he m D u ly s ays t he m a sk s wor n du r i ng t he p a st t h r e e p a nd e m i c ye a r s mu f fle d s ou nd s eve n mor e, m a ki ng he a r i ng t h at mu c h mor e c h a l l e ng i ng

“ P e o p l e w i l l a s k m e s o m e t i m e s w hy I we a r t h e bu t t o n a n d I ’ l l t e l l

t h e m I ’ m a c a n c e r s u r v i vo r a n d t h a t my h e a r i n g w a s d a m a g e d a s a r e s u l t , ” s h e s ay s .

“ I t h i n k a l o t o f t i m e s t h o u g h , i f I t a l k a b o u t my e x p e r i e n c e , i t ’ s u s u a l l y i n t h e c o nt e x t w h e n a p a t i e nt i s fe e l i n g t h a t s o m et h i n g i s w r o n g w i t h t h e m a n d d o n’t n e ce s s a r i l y fe e l l i k e t h e d o c t o r s u n d e r s t a n d . T h e n I w i l l t e l l t h e m my s t o r y a b o u t h ow I a d vo c a t e d fo r my s e l f, go i n g t o m u l t i p l e d o c t o r s a n d i n s i s t i n g o n m a ny t e s t s o n my e a r s b e c a u s e I k n e w s o m e t h i n g w a s w r o n g w i t h m e b e fo r e I r e c e i v e d my ow n d i a g nos i s . P e o p l e k now t h e i r b o d i e s a n d u s u a l l y

k now w h e n s o m e t h i n g i s w r o n g It ’ s j u s t i nt u i t i o n s om et i m e s ”

C AMAR AD E RIE , S U PPO R T

A ND CO MM UNIT Y

D u ly s ays t he b e st p a r t of he r job i s t he c a m a r a d e r i e a mong he r c ol l e ag u e s a nd Me r c y ’ s i n c r e d ibl e s upp or t for it s e mploye e s t h roug hout t he s yst e m

“I ju st love wh at I do a nd wou ld n’t wa nt to do it a ny whe r e el s e, ” D u ly s ays “T he whol e r e a s on I st a r t e d work i ng he r e i s b e c au s e of Me r c y ’ s r e put at ion a mong t he e mploye e s and t h roug hou t t h e c o m m u n it y T h roug hout my e nt i r e l i fe, my whol e fa m i ly h a s u s e d Me r c y do c tor s ”

D u ly s ays she l i ke s to t el l he r c o -worke r s t h at

she go e s way b a ck w it h Me r c y b e c au s e she wa s b or n t he r e I n fa c t , t he OB - GY N nu r s e who wa s i n t he d el ive r y room at he r bi r t h 35 ye a r s ago, i s one of D u ly’s c o -worke r s “Me r c y i s ju st a p a r t of m e A lways h a s b e e n, a lways w i l l b e, ” she s ays.

JOHN KISTNER

M EMO R I A L HO S PI TA L S H I LO H

He to o k c a re of my m oth e r a fte r fa l l i n g d ow n th e s ta i rs a n d b re a k i n g s e ve ra l b o n e s

JULIE

I h a ve h a d th e wo n d e r f u l ex p e r i e n c e of s e e i n g J u l i e e volve f ro m a PCA to a R N S h e exc e l s i n a ny s it u a t i o n s h e i s pl a c e d i n S h e a d vo c a te s fo r w h a t ’ s r i gh t a n d i s a g re a t n u rs e !

K A S S E Y KE NNE R

M I S S O UR I B A P T I S T M E D I C A L C E N T E R I wo u l d l i k e to th a n k K a s s e y fo r p rov i d i n g m e va l u a b l e u p d a te s o n my h u s b a n d ’ s c l i n i c a l s ta te , a s h e wa s i n th e E R w ith a s i g n i fi c a n t h e a lth c o n c e r n s w h i l e I wa s o u t of tow n I wa s u n a b l e to get b a c k to S t L o u i s q u i c k ly K n ow i n g th i s , K a s s e y to o k a d d it i o n a l t i m e a n d c o n s i d e ra t i o n to c o n ta ct m e v i a my c e l l p h o n e w ith t i m e ly u p d a te s , m a k i n g my d i s ta n c e s e e m l e s s s c a r y

LIN DS E Y BU RM E STE R

M E R CY H O S PI TA L S T LO U I S Fo r ta k i n g c a re of my w i fe .

M EGAN H E AVE N

S SM H E A LT H CA R D I N A L GL ENN ON

C H IL D R E N ’ S H OS PI TA L Fo r b e i n g a m a z i n g a t h e r j o b a n d fo r b e i n g s o g re a t w ith k i d s

NUR S E T

S S M H E A LT H D E PAU L H O S PI TA L - S T LO U I S

S h e wa s o n e of th e v i ct i m s f ro m th e a tta c k a t D ePa u l i n J u ly 2 0 22 He r c o u ra ge h a s c o n t i n u e d to s h i n e th ro u gh , a n d s h e h a s ro s e a b ove to c o n t i n u e to e n j oy a d i f fe re n t k i n d of l i fe th a t wa s a l m o s t ta k e n f ro m h e r

R ACH E L WIL SON

S T LO U I S C H I L D R E N ’ S H O S PI TA L R a c h e l h a s a b e a u t i f u l s p i r it

RE BECC A Z A ZOVE

A DVA N TAG E N U R S I NG S ER V ICE S

PE D I AT R I C HO M E H E A LT H CA R E R e b e c c a go e s to wo rk e a c h d a y to c h a n ge l ive s Afte r a d e c a d e of ex p e r i e n c e a n d th re e k i d s of h e r ow n , h e r c a re fo r p e d i a t r i c s h a s n e ve r wa ive re d

ROBY N GE RKE R

M I S S O UR I B A P T I S T M E D I CA L C E N T E R Fo r 4 0 ye a rs of o u ts ta n d i n g s e r v i c e

STE PHAN IE K E LLY

B A R NE S - J E W I S H S T PE T E RS HO S PI TA L Fo r b e i n g a t my s i d e th ro u gh th e l a s t s i x ye a rs Fo r h e l p i n g c e l e b ra te th e w i n s , l e a r n f ro m th e fa i l u re s a n d m ove o n

C ARLITA VA S S E R

AT HOM E CA R E

C a rl ita go e s b e yo n d th e c a l l of d u t y S h e i s a n ex a m pl e of a lt r u i s m E a c h d a y s h e s e e k s wa ys to s e r ve th e c o m m u n it y a n d h e l p oth e rs

S h e go e s b e yo n d th e c a l l of d u t y to h e l p oth e rs

S h e s p e a rh e a d e d p rov i d i n g l i fe - s a v i n g va c c i n e s fo r th e c o m m u n it y a n d c o n t i n u e s to a d vo c a te fo r h e a lth c a re a c c e s s fo r a l l

DIANA POT T S

H D J A N G E L’ S HOM E CA R E S E R V I C E S S h e ’ s a n exc e l l e n t ex a m pl e of h ow a n u rs e a n d s u p e r v i s o r s h o u l d t re a t h e r re s i d e n ts a n d s ta f f S h e ’ s b e e n s u c h a n i n s p i ra t i o n w h e n it c o m e s to my n urs in g j o ur n e y

JON I STE VE N S K I

M E R CY HOM E H E A LT H T h i s h o m e h e a lth n u rs e go e s a b ove a n d b e yo n d w h a t s h e h a s to d o . S h e i s k i n d a n d s o h e l pf u l . S h e h e l p s my s o n w ith s p e c i a l n e e d s a n d t re a ts h i m l i k e h e i s h e r o n ly p a t i e n t .

JULIE JACK SON

B J C PA L L I AT I V E CA R E A N D H O S PI C E J u l i e i s a l wa ys th e re fo r th e w h ol e h o s p i c e te a m a n d i s a l wa ys w i l l i n g to h e l p, e ve n a fte r h o u rs S h e a l wa ys h a s th e b e s t i n te re s t of th e p a t i e n t i n mi n d

K AITLYNN FOR S Y THE S E R E NI T Y HO S PI C E CA R E Fo r b e i n g s o p a t i e n t a n d g re a t

K ATH I WAL S H Fo r d i s pl a yi n g o u ts ta n d i n g p a t i e n t c a re a n d m e n to r to th e te a m K a th i go e s a b ove a n d b e yo n d to e n s u re th a t h e r p a t i e n ts a re c a re d fo r a n d d i s c h a rge d b a c k to s e lf c a re w ith a c h i e ve d go a l s a n d o u tc o m e s

K IM H E NGE HOLD Fo r o u ts ta n d i n g c a re , e m p a thy a n d c o m p a s s i o n to h o s p i c e p a t i e n ts a n d fa m i l i e s a t th e e n d of th e i r j o u r n e y o n th i s e a rth

K RI S S Y DE L AN E

Fo r h e r a b i l it y to a l wa ys t re a t e ve r y p e rs o n a s i f th e y we re h e r p a t i e n t

MARLINA PRICE

Fo r h e r s e l fl e s s s e r v i c e

MICHE LE ROS NE R

S S M H E A LT H Fo r Mi c h e l e ’ s l i fe l o n g c a re of c o m m u n it y a n d m a ny t ra n s it i o n s a fte r C OV I D - 19, i n c l u d i n g l o s t e m pl oye e s , w h o s e wo rk s h e p i c k e d u p a n d emb ra c e d

PAIGE E LLI S

M E R CY HO S PI TA L S O UT H Fo r p a t i e n c e a n d c o m p a s s i o n

S HAN NON D. MORGAN

S h a n n o n i s l oya l , th o u gh t f u l , c a r i n g, h a rd - wo rk i n g a n d d e d i c a te d

STE PHAN IE WILLIAM S

AT HOM E CA R E

T h a n k yo u fo r a l l yo u r h a rd wo rk a n d d e d i c a t i o n

Y VON N E BROWN , RN

PAT H WAYS H O S PI C E & PA L L I AT I V E CA R E

It wa s o u r fa m i ly’s j o u r n e y th ro u gh h o s p i c e c a re th a t i n s p i re d u s to n o m i n a te Ms Yvo n n e B row n ,

R N, a t Pa thwa ys Ho s p i c e a n d Pa l l i a t ive C a re T h e m o m e n t we fi rs t m et h e r, we k n e w we m et a n a n ge l

4 4 ICU SU RG IC AL

BURN TR AUMA NUR S E S

B AR N E S - J E W I SH H O S PI TAL Fo r ye a rs of ta k i n g c a re of s o m e of th e s i c k e s t p a t i e n ts i n th e s u r ro u n d i n g a re a a n d th e n s o m e !

A S H LE Y MA SON

S S M H E A LT H S A I N T LO U I S U N I V E R S I T Y H O S PI TA L Fo r th e s e l fl e s s a cts s h e p e r fo r m s e ve r y d a y i n h e r j o b d u t i e s a n d l i fe

BRIDGET BE RN STE IN

S T LU K E ’ S H O S PI TA L S h e k n ows h ow to ta k e c a re of h e r p a t i e n ts W h eth e r it ’ s h e r k i d s , f r i e n d s o r p a t i e n ts , s h e i s a l wa ys k i n d a n d h e l pf u l to th o s e w h o n e e d h e r h el p

CA SS IE BLU E

J O H N J . C O C H R A N V E T E R A N S H O S PI TA L S h e wo rk s i n th e ICU a t th e VA a n d i s a l wa ys th e re fo r h e r p a t i e n ts S h e wo rk e d a t S t L o u i s B re a d C o a s a s i n gl e m o m w h i l e s h e wa s wo rk i n g towa rd s h e r d eg re e S h e h a s b e e n s a v i n g l ive s fo r 15 ye a rs , d e s p ite m a ny c h a l l e n ge s

E RIC A GRUZ E SK I

S S M H E A LT H S T M A RY ’ S H O S PI TA L - S T LO U I S Fo r a l l s h e d o e s wo rk i n g n i gh t s h i fts a n d we eke n d s

JACKIE FRE Y

M E R CY H O S PI TA L S T LO U I S Fo r a l l of h e r h a rd wo rk

JACK IE WILDEI SE N

S T LO U I S C H I L D R E N ’ S H O S PI TA L Fo r b e i n g a k i n d a n d c a r i n g w h e n d e a l i n g w ith h e r c owo rk e rs a n d p a t i e n ts

JA S SE L UT SE Y

Jas s e l i s re l ia b l e

J E NNIF E R K NE B E L

B AR N E S - J E W I SH H O S PI TAL Fo r h e r k i n d n e s s , c a re a n d p rofe s s i o n a l i s m .

JOAN FRIE DMAN

S S M H E A LT H S T M A RY ’ S H O S PI TA L - S T LO U I S

Jo a n p u s h e s h e rs e lf to b e th e b e s t n u rs e s h e c a n b e e ve r y d a y, re s p e ct i n g a n d c a r i n g fo r h e r p a t i e n ts

a n d te a m !

K ATIE AN D LILLY

M E R CY H O S PI TA L S T LO U I S

I wo u l d l i k e to th a n k th e s e n u rs e s fo r th e s u p e rb c a re th a t th e y ga ve my fa th e r T h e y we re ve r y p a t i e n t a n d c a r i n g e ve n w h e n h e c h a l l e n ge d th e m T h e y we re a c c o m m o d a t i n g towa rd my fa m i ly a n d k e pt m e we l l - i n fo r m e d E xc e l l e n t p rofe s s i o n a l s !

K IM SUDBROCK

B AR N E S - J E W I SH H O S PI TAL

K i m i s a l wa ys s o k i n d a n d c o m p a s s i o n a te ! S h e i s s u c h a g re a t m e n to r a n d l e a d e r i n o u r ICU

L AN E Y DAVI S

S S M H E A LT H D E PAU L H O S PI TA L - S T LO U I S Fo r h ow h a rd s h e wo rk s S h e wo rk s e ve r y c h a n c e s h e c a n S h e w i l l p i c k u p ext ra s h i fts to h e l p th e p e o pl e w h o re a l ly n e e d h e r

MAK ARIA

M E R CY H O S PI TA L S T LO U I S Fo r b e i n g s o k i n d o n th e wo rs t d a y e ve r fi n d i n g o u t my m oth e r wa s d yi n g

M E LI SSA

M EMO R I A L HO S PI TA L B E L L E V I L L E Fo r goi n g a b ove a n d b e yo n d .

M E RCY ICU N U RS E S

M E R CY H O S PI TA L S T LO U I S

T h e y to o k s u c h wo n d e r f u l c a re of m e w h e n I h a d b ra i n s u rge r y to re m ove a t u m o r T h e y we re a l l s o c h e e r f u l a n d h e l p e d i n my s p e e d y re c ove r y ! I fa i n te d o n c e , s o o n e of th e n u rs e s e ve n h e l p e d m e wa l k a ro u n d th e fl o o r b e c a u s e I wa s a f ra i d I wa s goi n g to fa i n t a ga i n

M ICHAE L CHARD

S T. LU K E ’ S H O S PI TA L S o p ro u d of yo u , Mi c h a e l ! Nu rs i n g i s a n a m a z i n g c a re e r p a th fo r yo u

PAY TON KOLB

B AR N E S - J E W I SH H O S PI TAL

T h a n k yo u fo r a l wa ys goi n g th e ext ra m i l e w ith a s m i l e o n yo u r fa c e Pa yto n wo rk s n i gh ts o n ly a n d n o m a tte r h ow t i r i n g th a t m a y b e , yo u wo u l d n e ve r g u e s s it f ro m h e r b e d s i d e m a n n e r S h e l ove s a n d c a re s fo r h e r p a t i e n ts a n d th e i r fa m i l i e s l i k e th e y a re h e r ow n

SAR A BRODS K Y

B AR N E S - J E W I SH H O S PI TAL S a ra h e l p s a l l th e p e o pl e o n th e m e d i c a l ICU u n it

S HARON ROSARIO

S T LO U I S C H I L D R E N ’ S H O S PI TA L S h a ro n a l wa ys s h ows h e r p a s s i o n a n d c a re fo r h e r p a t i e n ts a n d fa m i l i e s . S h e e d u c a te s , n u rt u re s a n d c a re s fo r a l l a n d s p e a k s o u t to get th e b e s t c a re fo r th e p a t i e n ts

SUSAN BOU BE K

M I S S O UR I B A P T I S T M E D I CA L C E N T E R S u s a n d i s pl a ys l ov i n g c a re a n d tota l c o m m it m e n t

TOM STEIGE R

B J C H E ALT H CAR E Fo r wo rk i n g n o n s to p a n d a l wa ys b e i n g g re a t w ith p a t i e n ts

THE RISE ADVANC NURSING

SE OF ED NG

GREEN

SHOOT MEDIA

Practice Registered Nurses (APRNs) are highly trained nurses who are taking on many of the tasks that used to be reserved for doctors.

They help fill a growing demand and provide personalized care that often provides patients with more attention than they might otherwise get. To fill these roles, nurses complete additional education and clinical training, usually in a specialized area. This training gives them the authority to diagnose and treat illnesses, prescribe medications and manage patient care.

There are several types of APRNs, including nurse practitioners, clinical nurse specialists, certified nurse-midwives and certified registered nurse anesthetists.

Nurse practitioners

Certified nurse practitioners provide a wide range of primary and specialty care services. In addition to the tasks listed above, they also help to manage chronic conditions such as heart disease or diabetes.

Some nurse practitioners take on additional specialties such as psychiatric-mental health nurse practitioners (PMHNP) who can provide specialized care, conduct assessments, develop treatment plans, provide psychotherapy and prescribe medication.

Other common types of nurse practitioners are:

„ Family nurse practitioners (FNP) who provide primary care services to patients of all ages.

„ Adult-gerontology nurse practitioners (AGNP) who provide primary care services to older adults, focusing on managing chronic

conditions, preventing disease and promoting wellness.

„ Pediatric nurse practitioners (PNP) who provide primary care services to infants, children and adolescents, including health maintenance and preventive care.

„ Women’s health nurse practitioners (WHNP) who provide specialized care in reproductive and gynecological health, family planning and menopause management.

Other NPs may earn specialty certifications in areas such as cardiology, oncology or emergency medicine.

Clinical Nurse Specialists (CNS)

Clinical nurse specialists are experts in a particular area of health care such as pediatrics, oncology or critical care. They have several broad responsibilities.

CNSs provide direct specialized patient care to help assess, diagnose and manage complex

health conditions. They also play key roles in educating and training other nurses on evidence-based practices and protocols within their area of specialty.

CNSs are sometimes called upon to participate in quality improvement initiatives that help to improve patient outcomes, reduce health care costs and implement new practices and technology. Others conduct research and contribute to evidence-based practices in their area of specialty.

Certified Nurse-Midwives (CNM)

Midwifery is a centuries old practice, but in the 1920s and 1930s, states started to outlaw these health care professionals. In the 1960s and 1970s, there was a resurgence of interest in natural childbirth and the American College of Nurse-Midwives was formed in 1955 to promote midwifery.

Today, CNMs provide prenatal care, assist

with childbirth and provide gynecological care to women throughout their reproductive lives. They also provide family planning services. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, there are 7,750 CNMs in the United States.

Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists (CRNA)

CRNAs provide anesthesia and pain management services to patients undergoing surgery or other medial procedures. They can be found in hospitals, dental offices, surgical centers and medical centers. According to Nurse.org, they rank 10th in the list of best health care jobs in 2023 and are the highest-paid nurses in 2023.

To become a CRNA, a nurse must have a doctorate degree focusing on anesthesia, complete extensive clinical training and pass a certification exam.

SSM Health programs of fer unrivaled nursing career advancement oppor tunities

S c at t e r e d a c ro s s St L ou i s s it s SSM He a lt h, a C at hol i c, not-for-profit he a lt h s yst e m s e r v i ng t he c ompr e he n s ive he a lt h ne e d s of c om mu n it i e s a c ro s s t he M idwe st. T h roug h a robu st a nd f u l ly i nt eg r at e d he a lt h c a r e d el ive r y s yst e m , t he org a n i z at ion e mploys 4 0,0 0 0 t e a m m e mb e r s a nd h a s mor e t h a n 12 ,80 0 prov id e r s w it h c a r e d el ive r y s it e s i n I l l i noi s , M i s s ou r i, Ok l a hom a a nd Wi s c ons i n. T he he a lt h c a r e s yst e m i n clu d e s 23 ho sp it a l s , mor e t h a n 30 0 phys i c i a n of fic e s a nd ot he r out p at ie nt a nd v i r t u a l c a r e s e r v i c e s , 13 p o st- a c ut e fa c i l it i e s , c ompr e he n s ive hom e c a r e a nd ho s p i c e s e r v i c e s , a ph a r m a c y b e ne fit c omp a ny, a he a lt h i n s u r a n c e c omp a ny a nd a n a c c ou nt abl e c a r e org a n i z at ion. Wit h t he s e i mpr e s s ive a c c ol a d e s , it i s prou d ly one of t he l a rg e st e mploye r s i n eve r y c om mu n it y it s e r ve s But t he he a r t of t he s yst e m i s t he i r d e d i c at e d t e a m of nu r s e s “T h roug hout my nu r s i ng c a r e e r, I h ave c om e to r e a l i z e t h at t he r e i s s om et h i ng d i ffe r e nt ab out fa it h-b a s e d he a lth c a r e, ” s ays

Je n n i fe r Tu rl ey-Na sh, nu r s i ng d i r e c tor “T he M i s s ion t h at d r ive s it a nd it s p e opl e i s d i f fe re nt , a nd t h at r e s on at e s w it h m e a nd c ont i nu e s to m a ke m e wa nt to b e he r e eve r y d ay, prov id i ng c a r e for p e opl e. ”

A ft e r work i ng i n fi n a n c e a nd mor tg ag e s for 15 ye a r s b e for e b e c om i ng a nu r s e, Tu rl ey-Na sh wa s look i ng for a way to s e r ve p e opl e She h a s b e e n a nu r s e s i n c e 2012 a nd a nu r s e l e a d e r s i n c e 2015.

“I c a m e to SSM He a lt h St. Ma r y ’ s Ho sp it a l – St L ou i s i n 2020, r ig ht i n t he m idd l e of t he p a nd e m i c, ” s ays Tu rl ey-Na sh “I love d t he pr ev iou s he a lt h s yst e m t h at I worke d for but s aw t h at SSM He a lt h wou ld g ive m e t he abi l it y to st r et c h my goa l s eve n f u r t he r. ”

To d ay, Tu rl ey-Na sh i s a prou d m e mb e r of t he Nat ion a l A s s o c i at ion of He a lt h S e r v i c e s Exe c ut ive s a nd t he Urb a n L e ag u e a nd h a s r e c e nt ly b e e n n a m e d a fi n a l i st for t he 2023 St L ou i s Exc el l e n c e i n Nu r s i ng awa rd I n he r rol e, she h a s help e d i mpl e m e nt s eve r a l SSM He a lt h prog r a m s t h at c at e r to nu r s e d evelop m e nt prog r a m s

TH E S S M H E A LTH D I F F E R E N C E

I n a dd it ion to s e r v i ng it s m a ny c om mu n it i e s , SSM He a lt h i s d e d i c at e d to s upp or t i ng c a r e e r a dva n c e m e nt for it s nu r s e s , i n clu d i ng prov id i ng c ont i nu e d e du c at ion w it h t u it ion a nd profe s s ion a l d evelop m e nt r e i mbu r s em e nt , nu r s i ng c e r t i fic at ion s c hola r sh ip s a nd m e ntor sh ip prog r a m s T h i s e s p e c i a l ly c a m e to f r u it ion i n t he p a st few ye a r s.

SSM He a lt h c r e at e d t he St u d e nt Nu r s e Ext e r n sh ip P rog r a m i n May 2022 i n t he St L ou i s r eg ion, wh i c h a l lows nu r si ng st u d e nt s to work a long s id e a nu r s e a s t he i r s c hool a nd l i fe s c he du l e a l lows Si n c e t he i n it i a l l au n c h,

SSM He a lt h h a s prov id e d i nva lu abl e h a nd son exp e r i e n c e a nd t r a i n i ng to 366 st u d e nt nu r s e ext e r n s T he prog r a m ’ s ove r whel m i ng s u c c e s s i n St L ou i s prompt e d SSM He a lt h to ext e nd t he opp or t u n it y to a l l five r eg ion s

T he p a nd e m i c a l s o h ig h l ig ht e d t he ne e d for work flex ibi l it y, s o SSM He a lt h e st abl i she d t he F l ex ibl e Nu r s i ng Employ m e nt O pt ion RNs qu a l i f y for sh i ft d i f fe r e nt i a l s (ext r a p ay) a nd c r it i c a l b onu s p ay

A l s o, RNs a r e g ive n t i m e to c ompl et e t he i r C l i n i c a l L a dd e r P rog r a m. T h i s prog r a m prov id e s r ewa rd s a nd r e c og n it ion for c a r e e r a dva n c e m e nt a nd profe s s ion a l d evelop m e nt wh i l e of fe r i ng va r i et y, opt ion s a nd pr e m iu m p ay

“A s a he a lt h c a r e s yst e m , we ’ ve r e a l i z e d t h at whe r e you work ne e d s to b e a c a r i ng e nv i ron m e nt , ” s ays Tu rl ey-Na sh. “SSM He a lt h h a s put a s ig n i fic a nt fo c u s on c r e at i ng a n e nv i ron m e nt t h at e mbr a c e s not on ly profe ss ion al g row t h but r e stor at ion a nd r e s p it e ”

A few ex a mpl e s of t h i s a r e t he new L ave nd e r L ou ng e a nd Z e n Room s a nd t he i r C h i e f Snug g l e O f fic e r c a mpu s t he r apy dog.

Fi nal ly, Tu rley-Nash c re d it s the re c ent i mple ment ation of the Cr itic al Re spons e Nu rs e s as a c r uc ial add ition to SSM He alth’s cu lt u re

T h is te a m of s e asone d nu rs e s act as the front l i ne for the b e dside nu rsi ng t e a m. T hey prov ide 24/7 suppor t to help the b e dside nu rs e evalu at e a patient and prov ide i n-the -moment e duc ation to help d i re ct patient c are “T he r e a r e new c h a l l e ng e s eve r y d ay a s a he a lt h c a r e prov id e r, ” s ays Tu rl ey-Na sh. “L e a r n to c el ebr at e eve r y w i n, no m at t e r how s m a l l A nd whe n t ho s e h a rd d ays h app e n a nd t hey w i l l h app e n no m at t e r wh at rol e you h ave, t he c on ne c t ion s you m a ke w it h p at i e nt s a nd t he i r fa m i l i e s c h a ng e l ive s ”

H OW TO A PPLY

I nt e r e st e d i n work i ng for SSM He a lt h?

Vi s it job s s s m he a lt h.c om

JOR DA N JOHN S TON

O n a d ay m e a nt for l e a r n i ng ab out t he p h a r m a c y i n d u s t r y, Jo r d a n Jo h n s t o n ’ s t i m e s p e nt sh a dow i ng a ph a r m a c i st i n SSM He a lt h’s i nt e n s ive c a r e u n it ig n it e d he r p a ss ion for s om et h i ng el s e nu r s i ng

A s a n RN at SSM He a lt h St. Jo s e ph Ho sp it a l - St. C h a rl e s , Joh n ston s e e s f u l l d ays c a r i ng for p at i e nt s who r e qu i r e a dva n c e d l evel s of m e d i c a l at t e nt ion a nd s upp or t , s om et h i ng she d i s c ove r e d wa s a c r it i c a l t r a it for ICU nu r s e s.

Ac c ord i ng to Joh nston, p at i e nt s oft e n a rr ive w it h a pr i m a r y c onc e r n, s u c h a s low bloo d pr es s ur e, se p s i s or s urg e r y. Howeve r, nu r s e s k now t h at t r e at i ng t he p a ti e nt e f fe c ti v e l y an d p r ov id i n g e x c e p t i o n a l c a r e r e qu i r e s look i ng at t he big p i c t u r e a nd c ons id e r i ng a l l a s p e c t s of t he p at i e nt ’ s he a lt h a nd wel l-b e i ng.

“T h i s hol i st i c a nd c ompr e he n s ive approa c h r e s on at e s w it h m e a nd c ont i nu e s to b e one of t he r e a s on s why I fi nd t he nu r s i ng profe s s ion s o f u l fi l l i ng , ” she s ays “Pa r t i c ip at i ng i n ICU rou nd s a nd w it ne s s i ng t he exc e pt ion a l d et a i l e d l evel of c a r e prov id e d by t he nu r s e s to c r it i c a l ly i l l p at i e nt s h a d a profou nd i mp a c t on m e ” P r ior to t h i s exp e r i e n c e, Joh n ston wa s work i ng a s a Pat i e nt Sa fet y Sit t e r at SSM

He a lt h She t he n t r a n s it ione d to b e i ng a C a r e Pa r t ne r a nd float e d to a l l t he u n it s i n t he ho s p it a l O n c e she b e c a m e a nu r s e, she got he r fi r st RN job work i ng i n t he ICU at SSM

He a lt h St. Jo s e ph Ho s p it a l - St. C h a rl e s.

She’s b e e n t he r e eve r s i n c e. Joh n ston a l s o s e r ve s a s a c r u c i a l m e mb e r of t he Cr it i c a l Re s p on s e Te a m A s a c r it i c a l r e s p on s e nu r s e, she i s c h a rg e d w it h qu i ck ly a s s e s s i ng p at i e nt s w it h a h ig h d et e r ior at ion r i sk u s i ng he r cl i n i c a l k nowl e dg e a nd exp er i e n c e to eva lu at e e a c h p at i e nt ’ s c ond it ion a nd d et e r m i ne whet he r t hey ne e d a dd it ion a l i nt e r ve nt ion s or a h ig he r l evel of c a r e a rol e t h at r e qu i r e s sh a r p c r iti c a l t h i n k i ng sk i l l s , exc el l e nt c om mu n i c at ion, a nd a c a l m a nd fo c u s e d

approa c h

W h i l e t h e r e i s a lot t o love ab out nu r s i ng , Joh n s t o n c r e d it s t h e e n d l es s o p p o r t u n i t i es av a i l ab le t o h e r a s o n e of h e r favor it e t h i ng s ab out t h e p rofe s s io n

“I f a p a r t i c u l a r a r e a of h e a lt h c a r e d o e s n’t work out , t h e r e i s a lw ay s a not h e r s p e c i a lt y t o e x p lor e , ” s h e s ay s

w it h fi n a n c i a l a s s i st a n c e a nd r e i mbu r s em e nt s ava i l abl e to e n s u r e eve r yone h a s e qu a l a c c e s s to t he s e prog r a m s Si n c e he r t i m e at SSM He a lt h, Joh n ston h a s held mu lt ipl e rol e s a nd nu m e rou s opp or t u n it i e s for g row t h. C u r r e nt ly, she i s explor i ng opt ion s for he r next rol e w it h SSM He a lt h a nd r e c e nt ly d e c id e d to sh a dow a hou s e s up e r v i s or to l e a r n mor e a nd a s s e s s whet he r it m ig ht b e a goo d fit

O f c ou r s e, c h a l l e ng e s a r i s e i n t h i s profe s s ion, s om et h i ng Joh n ston s ays she’s i nt im at ely fa m i l i a r w it h. T he s e c h a l l e ng e s c a n r a ng e f rom n av ig at i ng c ompl ex p at i e nt c a r e ne e d s a nd st a f fi ng shor t ag e s to t he e mot ion a l tol l of c a r i ng for p at i e nt s a nd t he i r fa m i l i e s.

“Un l e s s you h ave worke d a s a nu r s e, it c a n b e c h a ll e ng i ng to f u l ly u nd e r st a nd t he s e job st r e s s or s a nd t he e mot ion a l i nvolve m e nt we fe el,” she s ays. “But for t ho s e of u s i n t he profe s s ion, it ’ s a c a l l i ng t h at we t a ke

s e r iou sly, a nd we a r e c om m it t e d to m e et i ng t he s e c h a l l e ng e s he a d- on to prov id e t he b e st p o s s ibl e c a r e for ou r p at i e nt s ”

D e s p it e t he h a rd d ays , Joh n ston fi nd s i ns p i r at ion a nd mot ivat ion i n he r p at i e nt s

“I fe el i n c r e d ibly for t u n at e to work i n a field whe r e I c a n m a ke a m e a n i ng f u l i mp a c t on t he l ive s of ot he r s , a nd I a m c om m it t e d to prov id i ng exc e pt ion a l c a r e to e a c h p at i e nt I h ave t he pr iv i l eg e of s e r v i ng ”

To l e a r n mor e ab out job opp or t u n it i e s at SSM He a lt h, v i s it job s.s s m he a lt h.c om.

“

T h e nu r s i ng fi e l d p rov i d e s e nor m ou s ro o m for g row t h a n d a d i ve r s e r a ng e of s p e c i a lt y a r e a s t o h e lp you f u l fi l l you r c a l l i ng. ”

A s a m at t e r of fa c t , SSM He a lt h of fe r s a r a ng e of prog r a m s d e s ig ne d to help t he i r e mploye e s a c h i eve t he i r profe s s ion a l goa l s For ex a mpl e, t hey h ave p a r t ne r sh ip s w it h lo c a l c om mu n it y c ol leg e s to prov id e opt ion s to b e c om e c a r e p a r t ne r s. At t he s a m e t i m e, t hey work a long s id e u n ive r s it i e s a nd c ol l eg e s to of fe r prog r a m s t h at e n abl e a dva n c e m e nt i n nu r s i ng , s u c h a s LPN, RN, N P a nd b eyond Add it ion a l ly, SSM He a lt h prov id e s c e r t i fic at ion opp or t u n it i e s i n va r iou s s p e c i a lt y a r e a s ,

I CU nur s e prov ide s excep tional c are through a comprehensive approach

I feel incredibly fortunate to work in a field where I can make a meaningful impact on the lives of others.

JORDAN JOHNSTON

BR I AN NA M E S Z AR O S

Inspire d at a young age, this nur s e f ollowe d her dream to care f or o ther s

Br i a n n a Me s z a ro s h a rb or e d t he d r e a m of b e c om i ng a nu r s e eve n b e for e she k new it wa s a profe s s ion

“My g r a nd fat he r h a d op e n he a r t s u rg e r y whe n I wa s ve r y you ng a nd e nd e d up exp e r ie n c i ng c ompl i c at ion s a ft e r wa rd s , ” she s ays. “I wat c he d my g r a ndm a t a ke c a r e of h i m She wa s n’t a nu r s e, but she d id eve r y t h i ng i n he r p owe r to m a ke h i m b et t e r. She took cl a s se s , r e a d b ook s on c a r e, s p e nt ton s of t i m e w it h h i m a l l i n a n e f for t to m a ke h i m he a l, a nd I ju st k new I wa nt e d to b e ju st l i ke he r a nd h ave p at i e nt s of my ow n s om e d ay.”

With ti me, her g randfather heale d and Me szaro s g r a du at e d nu r si ng s c hool, m a k i ng he r dr e am com e t r u e.

T he 32-ye ar- old has b e en a c ard iovas cular ICU nu rs e at BJC

He althCare’s Ch r istian Nor the ast Hospit al for ne arly a de c ade. She fi rst appl ie d there wh i le i n her s e c ond s e me st er at Cha mb erlai n Un iversit y Nu rsi ng, a BSN prog ra m i n St Lou is Her i nt ent was to work as a floati ng nu rs e t e ch n ic ian, i n itial ly c onv i nc e d that p ed iatr ic nu rsi ng was her end goal upon g radu ation. But aft er rot ati ng th roug h p e d iatr ic s and work i ng w ith ch i ld ren, and then lat er sw it chi ng to the c ard iac floor w ith he ar t patient s, Me sz aros k new she had fou nd her c al l i ng

“For s om e, it c a n b e ve r y ove r whel m i ng b e i ng exp o s e d to t he c r it i c a l a c u it y of t he p at i e nt s i n t he c a rd i a c u n it d ay a ft e r d ay,

but I love t a k i ng c a r e of t he c r u c i a l ly s i ck p at i e nt s , ” s ays t he Woo d R ive r n at ive “You a r e doi ng s om et h i ng for s om e one el s e to m a ke t he m b et t e r a nd t he i r st ays br ig ht e r You a r e w it h c r it i c a l p at i e nt s one - on- one a lot. I n c a rd i a c, we l e a r n s o mu c h ab out e a c h p at i e nt a nd l e a r n fi r sth a nd how t he d i f fe r e nt pro c edur es , m ed i c i nes a nd pr a c t i c e s work for e a c h one of t he m It ’ s d e fi n it ely a s p e c i a l n i c he for s om e one to wa nt to b e i n t h i s p o s it ion ”

A not he r b e ne fit to t he c a rd i a c ICU floor i s t h at t he l e a r n i ng neve r stop s. Wit h 20 to 30 ye a r s of exp e r i e n c e u nd e r t he i r b elt s , Me s z aro s ’ c ol l e ag u e s c ont i nua l ly s e r ve a s rol e mo d el s for he r a nd t he up - a ndc omi ng nur ses.

“E a c h a n d e ve r y nu r s e h e r e r e a l l y t r u l y c a r e s ab out t h e i r p at i e nt s , ” s h e s ay s “ T h e y are wonder fu l re sou rc e s for me and are able to t e ach me th i ngs that others m ig ht not have the oppor t u n it y to exp er ienc e on a d ai ly basis.”

For nu rs e s ju st c om i ng out of s chool, Me sz aros says the avai lable c are er paths are so var ie d, e sp e c ial ly w ith i n the BJC He althCare syst e m With over 14 he alth s er v ic e organ i z ations and a par t nersh ip w ith Wash i ng ton Un iversit y ’ s School of Me d ic i ne, the ext ensive he alth syst e m c an c re at e g row th and profe ssional development oppor t u n itie s for it s nu rse s and other e mploye e s With 21 national ly ran ke d sp e c ialtie s and five Mag net Hospit al de sig nations, there are mu ltiple oppor t u n itie s

for nu rs e s to move b et we en sp e c ialtie s and role s as thei r c are er prog re s s e s

“I’ve h a d f r i e nd s who st a r t e d doi ng c hemo i n f u s ion s r ig ht out of s c hool a nd a r e now nu r s e pr a c t it ione r s , ” she s ays “O t he r s h ave gone f rom t he OR to t he ER. Som e c hoo s e work i ng i n ho s p i c e c a r e or i n s c hool s. T he l i st of c a r e e r opp or t u n it i e s i s e nd l e s s i n t h i s profe s s ion.”

No m at t e r wh at p at h t hey c hoo s e, Me s z aros r e c o m m e n d s n u r si n g st u d e nt s a nd r eg i st e r ed nur ses c ont i nu e to sh a dow one a not he r a nd t a ke a dva nt ag e of on- s it e l e a r n i ng opp ort u n it i e s “You ju st neve r k now whe n you m ig ht st u mbl e up on s om et h i ng el s e t h at you love eve n mor e i n t h i s field ”

W h i l e t he p a nd e m i c prove d to b e a n ext r e m ely st r e s sf u l t i m e for t ho s e i n he a lt h c a r e “ t he r e we r e t e a r s , joys a nd f r u st r at ion,” she

s ays it forg e d a st rong e r b ond a nd work et h i c a mong he r t e a m m e mb e r s t h at ex i st s to t h i s d ay.

For Me s z a ro s , nu r s i ng h a s b e e n t he e nda l l i n t e r m s of r e a l i z i ng he r d r e a m

“K now i ng I’m m a k i ng a d i f fe r e n c e i n my p at i e nt s ’ l ive s i s t he big g e st b e ne fit a nd I wou ld n’t t r a d e it for a ny t h i ng ”

For more i n for mation on BJC He althCare, v isit bjc oppor t u n it y org

Knowing I ’m making a dif ference in my patient s’ lives is the biggest benefit and I wouldn’ t trade it for any thing .

JAN IE MU LLIN NA X

PROG R E S S WE S T H O S PI TA L

Z ACH BAGWE LL

B AR N E S - J E W I SH H O S PI TAL

Z a c h ta k e s exc e l l e n t c a re of h i s p a t i e n ts a n d a l wa ys t r i e s to m a k e th e m l a u gh a n d fe e l c a re d fo r

BROOK E KOSTECK I

PROG R E S S WE S T H O S PI TA L

T h a n k yo u fo r yo u r wo rk o n th e Pe r i n a ta l B e re a ve m e n t Te a m Yo u a re s o s we et , k i n d a n d c o m p a s s i o n a te I l ove th e i d e a s th a t yo u b r i n g to o u r te a m We a re l u c k y to h a ve yo u !

BROOK LYN DUNIHOO

B AR N E S - J E W I SH H O S PI TAL

Fo r o u ts ta n d i n g l e a d e rs h i p

CH RI STIN E L . G ILM E R

M E R CY H O S PI TA L S T LO U I S

I wa n t to th a n k C h r i s fo r h e l p i n g d e l ive r my d a u gh te r w h o wa s b o r n w ith s o m e m e d i c a l i s s u e s C h r i s wa s ext re m e ly h e l pf u l d u r i n g th i s d e l ive r y a n d s h e wa s ve r y c a r i n g a n d l ov i n g a s we l l

CORI REGOT

PROG R E S S WE S T H O S PI TA L

T h a n k yo u fo r b e i n g th e d i a b ete s c h a m p i o n a n d yo u r wo rk o n th e Pe r i n a ta l B e re a ve m e n t Te a m

CYNTHIA E ARLEWINE

PROG R E S S WE S T H O S PI TA L

T h a n k yo u fo r yo u r rol e i n th e Pe r i n a ta l

B e re a ve m e n t Te a m . We c o u l d n ot d o w h a t we d o w ith o u t yo u r s u p p o rt .

DAN IE LE REUTH E R

PROG R E S S WE S T H O S PI TA L

T h a n k yo u fo r yo u r p a rt i c i p a t i o n i n th e Pe r i n a ta l

B e re a ve m e n t C o m m itte e I l ove th e i d e a s yo u h a ve b ro u gh t to o u r g ro u p

GR ACE NAPPIE R

B AR N E S - J E W I SH H O S PI TAL Fo r o u ts ta n d i n g l e a d e rs h i p

HAN NAH RIDE NOU R

PROG R E S S WE S T H O S PI TA L T h a n k yo u fo r yo u r h e a rt of gol d a n d a g re e i n g to c o - c h a i r th e Pe r i n a ta l B e re a ve m e n t C o m m itte e

HE ATHE R DECK E R

PROG R E S S WE S T H O S PI TA L

T h a n k yo u fo r yo u r l e a d e rs h i p a n d yo u r s u p p o rt of th e Pe r i n a ta l B e re a ve m e n t Te a m We c o u l d n ot d o w h a t we h a ve d o n e w ith o u t yo u r k n owl e d ge an d su p p o rt

HONE YB E E NUR S

Fo r c a r i n g fo r Ma ve r i c k

T h a n k yo u fo r yo u r d e d i c a t i o n to p rov i d i n g exc e l l e n t p a t i e n t c a re Yo u a re a l wa ys l e a r n i n g a n d re s e a rc h i n g to s ta y a b re a s t of th e l a te s t e v i d e n c e - b a s e d p ra ct i c e T h a n k yo u fo r l e a d i n g th e d e p a rt m e n t ’ s u n it p ra ct i c e c o u n c i l a n d p a rt i c i p a t i n g i n th e Pe r i n a ta l B e re a ve m e n t

C o m m itte e

J E N N IFE R KOSKEL A

PROG R E S S WE S T H O S PI TA L T h a n k yo u fo r l e a d i n g th e Pe r i n a ta l B e re a ve m e n t C o m m itte e I l ove th e i d e a s th a t yo u r a re b r i n g i n g to o u r te a m Yo u h a ve s u c h a b i g h e a rt !

K A S S I POOLE M E R CY H O S PI TA L S T LO U I S Fo r b e i n g a wo n d e r f u l , c a r i n g n u rs e a n d m oth e r a nd d a u gh te r- i n - l a w

K AYL A BE HNE N

PROG R E S S WE S T H O S PI TA L T h a n k yo u fo r b e i n g a c o - c h a i r fo r th e Pe r i n a ta l B e re a ve m e n t Te a m Yo u a re s o th o u gh t f u l a n d c a r i n g We a re l u c k y to h a ve yo u !

K AY L A HOLLING S H E AD

PROG R E S S WE S T H O S PI TA L T h a n k yo u fo r b e i n g a g re a t l e a d e r a n d yo u r a m a z i n g c re a t iv it y s k i l l s Yo u r i nvolve m e n t i n th e Pe r i n a ta l B e re a ve m e n t Te a m a n d yo u r c r i s i s i n te r ve n t i o n p roj e ct h a s m a d e a h u ge i m p a ct o n o u r p a t i e n ts a n d te a m m e m b e rs

KIM BE RLY BROY LE S

A LTO N M EMO R I A L HO S PI TA L Fo r a l wa ys goi n g a b ove a n d b e yo n d a n d k n ow i n g w h a t to d o w h e n th i n gs ta k e a t u r n fo r th e wo rs e

KIM BE RLY YOU NG

Fo r th e n o n s to p a n d exc e pt i o n a l c a re th a t s h e p rov i d e s

K YNE I S HA LEWI S

PROG R E S S WE S T H O S PI TA L T h a n k yo u fo r j oi n i n g th e Pe r i n a ta l B e re a ve m e n t Te a m I c a n’t wa it to h e a r w h a t i d e a s yo u h a ve a t th e n ext m e et i n g

L AU R A PARK

M E R CY H O S PI TA L S T. LO U I S Fo r h e r u nwa ve r i n g d e d i c a t i o n to h e r p a t i e n ts a n d fa m i ly

MAGG IE FRE I S E

PROG R E S S WE S T H O S PI TA L

T h a n k yo u fo r yo u r te n d e r h e a rt I a m l o o k i n g fo r wa rd to h e a r i n g yo u r i d e a s a t th e n ext Pe r i na ta l B e re a ve men t Te a m me et i n g

RE N E E DE RE M IAH

PROG R E S S WE S T H O S PI TA L

T h a n k yo u fo r yo u r k i n d n e s s a n d c o m p a s s i o n Yo u m a k e a l l of yo u r p a t i e n ts fe e l s p e c i a l

A n d th a n k yo u fo r yo u r wo rk o n th e Pe r i n a ta l

B e re a ve m e n t C o m m itte e T h e wo rk th a t yo u a re d oi n g w i l l h a ve a p rofo u n d ef fe ct o n th e c a re th a t o u r b e re a ve d p a re n ts re c e ive

SAR AH BORDE RS

PROG R E S S WE S T H O S PI TA L

T h a n k yo u fo r j oi n i n g th e Pe r i n a ta l B e re a ve m e n t

Te a m I a m exc ite d to h e a r yo u r i d e a s !

S YDNE Y GIE LOW

PROG R E S S WE S T H O S PI TA L

T h a n k yo u fo r yo u r wo rk o n th e Pe r i n a ta l

B e re a ve m e n t Te a m Yo u h a ve s u c h a k i n d a n d c o m p a s s i o n a te h e a rt We a re s o l u c k y to h a ve yo u o n o u r te a m

E LINOR MA STE R

CA N C E R CA R E AT B J C H E A LT H CA R E

Fo r h e r k i n d n e s s a n d c o m p a s s i o n

E LI SE H E RRIE S

S T. LO U I S C H I L D R E N ’ S H O S PI TA L

E l i s e i s a va i l a b l e w h e n e ve r fo r w h o e ve r w ith th a t b e a u tif u l s m i l e

IMAN I DE NTON

S S M H E A LT H

Fo r a l wa ys b e i n g s o c a r i n g a n d l ov i n g

IN FUSION CE NTE R N U RSE S

M E R CY HO S PI TA L S O UT H

T h e I n f u s i o n C e n te r n u rs e s a re c a r i n g, c o m p a s s i o n a te a n d h a ve a g re a t a tt it u d e

J U LIE RI S K

S I T E M A N CA N C E R C E N T E R

S O U T H S T LO U I S C O U N T Y

Fo r a l l s h e d o e s o n a n d of f th e c l o c k

L AURE N S MITH , AG NP

M E R CY C L I N I C O N C O LO GY A N D H E M ATO LO GY -

DAV I D C PR AT T CA N C E R C E N T E R

L a u re n i s a m e m b e r of my o n c ol og y te a m I h a ve s ta ge 4 c a n c e r a n d s h e i s o n e of my p rov i d e rs S h e i s s o c o m p a s s i o n a te , u n d e rs ta n d i n g, w i s e a n d c a r i n g S h e c a re s a b o u t my v i cto r i e s a n d my s et b a c k s a n d k e e p s m e l i fte d u p a n d re a d y to b a ttl e fo r my 15 - m o n th j o u r n e y

MAGG IE K AVANAUGH

B J C H E ALT H CAR E Fo r c a r i n g fo r my m o m l i k e fa m i ly Fo r b e i n g th e re fo r my m o m w h e n I c o u l d n’t b e Fo r h e l p i n g h e r th ro u gh th e m o s t d i f fi c u lt t i m e a n d b e i n g a c h e e rl e a d e r fo r h e r Fo r b e i n g th e re fo r m e f ro m th e fi rs t t i m e I m et h e r a fte r b e i n g d i a g n o s e d w i th a ra re , i n c u ra b l e d i s e a s e Pl u s , c o n t i n u i n g to ta k e go o d c a re of m e a n d b e i n g a va i l a b l e to m e a ny t i m e I n e e d h e r g u i d a n c e a n d a d v i c e A n d fo r a l wa ys c a l l i n g m e b a c k p ro m ptly

M E AGAN A . B IE S IADECK I Fo r h e r k i n d n e s s , c o m p a s s i o n a n d s e l fl e s s n e s s

M E LI SSA

MOLLY BALE NTIN E

M E R CY H O S PI TA L S T LO U I S

Mol ly t r u ly c a re s a b o u t h e r p a t i e n ts’ a n d c owo rk e rs ’ we l l b e i n g d a y i n a n d d a y o u t , e ve n o n h e r d a ys of f

N ICOLE HAY DE N , RN

S T. LU K E ’ S H O S PI TA L

O n c e a m o n th fo r th e p a s t s e ve ra l ye a rs , I h a ve b e e n goi n g to th e i n f u s i o n c e n te r to get I V I G

T h e p ro b l e m i s th a t I h a ve n o ve i n s l eft to s t i c k Ni c ol e wa s th e a n ge l th a t h e l p e d get a c e n t ra l i n f u s i o n p o rt fo r m e , a n d it h a s c h a n ge d my l i fe ! I l ove my n u rs e s !

PEGGY MYLE S A ND

Fo r b e i n g s u c h a wo n d e r f u l f r i e n d , p e rs o n a n d n u rs e S h e ’ s a l wa ys a n s we re d a ny of my m e d i c a l q u e s t i o n s a n d h e l p e d m e n a v i ga te th ro u gh my b ra i n c a nce r

PH Y LICIA BE ARPAW

KOOT E N A I H E A LT H - C O E UR D ’A L E NE Fo r b e i n g w ith h e r p a t i e n ts th ro u gh th e go o d a n d b a d Fo r b e i n g a fa m i ly m e m b e r a n d f r i e n d to th o s e th a t fe e l a l o n e i n th e i r h a rd e s t t i m e s

SAR AH MU E LLE R , RN , M S N

B AR N E S - J E W I SH H O S PI TAL Fo r h a v i n g a wo n d e r f u l h e a rt

SUSAN NAY LOR

S S M H E A LT H S A I N T LO U I S U N I V E R S I T Y H O S PI TA L S u s a n p r i o r it i ze s w i s e ly

TIFFAN Y M . , BECK Y K . AN D

M E LI SSA P.

WA S H I N GTO N U N I V E R S I T Y I N S T LO U I S , O B S T E T R I C S & GY N E C O LO GY Fo r c re a t i n g a s a fe a n d we l c o m i n g e nv i ro n m e n t fo r my c h e m oth e ra py t re a t m e n ts T h i s i s a te a m ef fo rt

TRICIA GADDY

M E R CY H O S PI TA L S T. LO U I S S he i s c o m p a s s i o n a te, u nd e rs ta nd i n g a nd p rofe ss i o n al

VALE DA K E YS

VA L E DA’ S HO PE Fo r h e r c o n t i n u a l wo rk i n th e c o m m u n it y by p ro m ot i n g th e i m p o rta n c e of m a m m og ra m s .

AM BE R BET TL ACH

S S M H E A LT H S A I N T LO U I S U N I V E R S I T Y H O S PI TA L Fo r h e r m a ny ye a rs of s e r v i c e a t S a i n t L o u i s U n ive rs it y Ho s pita l

,

S T LU K E ’ S H O S PI TA L S h e t re a ts h e r p a t i e n ts w ith s u c h d i g n it y a n d c o m p a s s i o n S h e d o e s e ve r yth i n g to m a k e yo u c o m fo rta b l e w ith yo u r s it u a t i o n a n d t re a t m e n t

PREVENTING BURNOUT

Make time for self-care in a stressf ul profession

Nurses are the backbone of the health care system. It’s a profession that requires long hours and is often stressful. They face challenging situations as they provide emotional and physical support to patients and their families.

In fact, they’re often so focused on caring for others that they forget to care for themselves. However, self-care is not a luxury or an option. It’s an essential task for nurses so that they can continue to care for others. In fact, the American Nurses Association Code of Ethics explicitly states that nurses must adopt self-care as a duty.

The World Health Organization defines self-care as “the ability of individuals, families and communities to promote health, prevent disease, maintain health, and to cope with illness and disability with or without the support of a health care provider.”

Importance of self-care

Self-care can help alleviate some of the toll that the demands of the profession take on nurses, tolls that include chronic stress, anxiety, depression, fatigue, back pain and headaches

In 2022, the American Nurses Association conducted a “Healthy Nurse Survey” and found that there was an urgent need to improve the health of nurses and their quality of life. It found that 70% of nurses put their patient care needs over their own.

Self-care methods

Different nurses will find different ways to engage in self care, depending on what best feeds their soul and their body.

Nursejournal.org recommends five different forms of self-care: physical, mental, social, spiritual and personal. Others add professional and medical. These activities can take many different forms from yoga classes to playing music to creating a new skincare regime.

Some other suggestions:

„ Practice mindfulness. Mindfulness is the practice of being present and fully engaged in the moment. It ranges from taking a few deep breaths to meditating to going for a walk in nature.

„ Exercise regularly. Set goals to walk 10,000 steps, work out a few times a week or participate in a fitness class. It can even be something as simple as going for a walk during a lunch break or taking the stairs instead of the elevator

„ Eat well. Choose nutritious food and drink lots of water Pack healthy snacks. Take advantage of any healthy meal plans available in a hospital cafeteria or in other workplaces.

„ Get enough sleep. It’s hard to sleep when stressed. So, create a relaxing bedtime routine. Use aromatherapy and provide yourself a peaceful environment.

„ Connect with others. It’s hard to create work-life balance, but try to make time to spend with family and friends. Participate in a hobby. Go out to dinner with friends

More resources

Need more ideas for self-care?

There are several nursing organizations that provide resources on self care, including the American Nurses Association, the National Council of State Boards of Nursing, Sigma Theta Tau International Honor Society of Nursing, nurse.org and The Journal of Nursing Education. There isn’t a wrong way to do self-care except to not do it at all. Schedule time and don’t feel guilty because what you are doing is essential.

GREEN SHOOT MEDIA

Geriatric nursing of fers a special kind of job satisfac tion

Nat ion a l Nu r s e s We ek t h i s ye a r, May 6 t h roug h 12 r e c og n i z e s a nd c el ebr at e s t he c ont r ibut ion s of t he s e e s s e nt i a l worke r s a c ro s s a w id e s p e c t r u m of m e d i c a l c a r e a nd e mploy m e nt s et t i ng s Ma ny nu r s e s who c hoo s e to work i n long-t e r m c a r e fa c i l it i e s fi nd r ewa rd i ng profe s s ion a l a nd p e r s on a l f u l fi l l m e nt i n b e i ng abl e to prov id e c omp a ss ion at e c a r e to p at i e nt s a nd t he i r fa m i l i e s A s t he b aby b oom e r p opu l at ion ag e s a nd l i fe s p a n s c ont i nu e to i n c r e a s e, s o do e s t he ne e d for a s s i st e d l iv i ng a nd long-t e r m he a lt h c a r e. Un l i ke a ho s p it a l, fa c i l it i e s t h at prov id e t he s e e nv i ron m e nt s c at e r pr i m a r i ly to eld e rly p at i e nt s a nd r e s id e nt s w it h t he i r ow n u n iqu e s et of he a lt h c a r e r e qu i r e m e nt s , oft e n e nt a i l i ng c h ron i c c ond it ion s a nd d i s abi l it i e s to m a n ag e “L ong-t e r m c a r e fa c i l it i e s prov id e c a r e i n a hom e -l i ke e nv i ron m e nt w it h a m e n it i e s s u c h a s c om mu n a l d i n i ng room s , a c t iv it i e s , g a rd e n s a nd l iv i ng a r e a s d e s ig ne d to promot e s o c i a l i z at ion a nd wel l-b e i ng , ” says M ic hel e Blu nt , v i c e pr e s id e nt of cl i n i c a l s e r v i c e s a nd c ompl i a n c e at D el m a r G a rd e n s

W h i le hospit als t y pic al ly prov ide c are for a shor t er, more fi n it e p er iod to add re s s u rgent, cl i n ic al and acut e me d ic al ne e ds, nu rs e s who work i n long-t er m fac i l itie s prov ide ongoi ng c are to re sident s over an extende d ti me, someti me s up to end- of-l i fe

“Nu r s e s i n long-t e r m c a r e a r e r e s p on s ibl e for a broa d r a ng e of t a sk s , i n clu d i ng a dm i n i st e r i ng m e d i c at ion s , m a n ag i ng c h ron i c c ond it ion s a nd prov id i ng e mot ion a l s upp or t to r e s id e nt s a nd t he i r fa m i l i e s , ” Blu nt s ays “T he e mph a s i s i s on m a i nt a i n i ng a nd i mprov i ng r e s id e nt s ’ qu a l it y of l i fe. T h i s r equ i r e s t a k i ng a hol i st i c approa c h to c a r e t h at fo c u s e s on m e et i ng t he i r phys i c a l, e mot ion a l a nd s o c i a l ne e d s ”

Nu r s e s who work i n long-t e r m c a r e m ay a l s o fi nd t he m s elve s ove r s e e i ng nu r s i ng a ss i st a nt s; mon itor i ng a nd a s s e s s i ng p at i e nt s for c h a ng e s to t he i r c ond it ion s; a nd sh a r i ng i n for m at ion w it h do c tor s , ot he r prov id e r s a nd fa m i l i e s a s p a r t of a c ol l ab or at ive c a r e t e a m Work i ng w it h t he s a m e p at i e nt s ove r t he c ou r s e of mont h s , a nd s om et i m e s ye a r s , a l lows t he s e nu r s e s to bu i ld clo s e r el at ionsh ip s w it h t he p e opl e t hey’r e c a r i ng for.

“Work i ng i n long-ter m care can b e a fu lfi l l i ng care er choic e for nurses as they real ly get to k now thei r patients as i ndiv idu als and prov ide p ersonal i zed care, ” Blu nt says “Prov idi ng end- of-l i fe care can b e emotional ly chal leng i ng, but many nurses fi nd it to b e a de eply mean i ng fu l and a rewardi ng asp e ct of the job.”

A s i n ot he r s et t i ng s , nu r s e s who work i n long-t e r m c a r e fa c i l it i e s shou ld b e pr ep a r e d for he av y work loa d s , long hou r s

a nd o c c a s ion a l ly st r e s sf u l sh i ft s. Exc el l e nt t i m e -m a n ag e m e nt sk i l l s , flex ibi l it y a nd t he abi l it y to pr ior it i z e t a sk s u nd e r pr e s s u r e a r e a mu st “Eld e rly, i l l or d i s abl e d r e s id e nt s i n longt e r m c a r e oft e n h ave c ompl ex m e d i c a l ne e d s , ” Blu nt d e s c r ib e s. “T h i s r e qu i r e s a h ig h l evel of nu r s i ng exp e r t i s e a nd exp e r i e n c e i n ord e r to prov id e e f fe c t ive r e s id e nt- c e nt e r e d c a r e ”

A lthoug h sp e c i fic qu al i fic ations var y by st at e and by fac i l it y, most long-t er m c are organ i z ations re qu i re nu rs e appl ic ant s to e ar n a nu rsi ng deg re e from an ac c re d it e d i nstit ution, hold a val id nu rsi ng l ic ens e and pas s the National Cou nc i l Lic ensu re Exa m i nation ( NCLEX-RN or NCLEX-PN ) Conti nu i ng e duc ation may also b e exp e ct e d, either by st at e or e mployer In add ition, a basic (or b ett er yet, advanc e d) k nowle dge of c omput ers, me d ic al prog ra m soft ware syst e m s and d ig it al t e ch nolog y oft en prove s to b e a major as s et

Nu rs e s who are c onsider i ng a new job or c are er transition to a long-t er m c are env i ronment shou ld thoroug h ly re s e arch any prosp e ctive work plac e to fi nd out about it s reput ation, st af fi ng and s er v ic e s. Blu nt re c om mends sp e ak i ng w ith a few cu r rent e mploye e s to get a s ens e of the act u al work cu lt u re

“O n c e you ’ r e h i r e d , bu i ld r el at ion sh ip s w it h c ol l e ag u e s i n t he i ndu st r y by joi n i ng profe s s ion a l org a n i z at ion s; t hey a r e a fa nt a st i c r e s ou r c e, ” she u rg e s , “ a nd pr a c t i c e s el f- c a r e a nd s e ek s upp or t whe n ne e d e d It ’ s d i f fic u lt to c a r e for ot he r s whe n you r ow n p e r s on a l ne e d s a r e n’t b e i ng m et.”

LO O K I N G FO R A N E W J O B ?

Ac ro s s t he b oa rd , nu r s e s r e m a i n i n h ig h d e m a nd , p a r t i c u l a rly i n long-t e r m c a r e fac i l it i e s D el m a r G a rd e n s m a i nt a i n s e ig ht long-t e r m c a r e fa c i l it i e s a nd five r et i r e m e nt c om mu n it i e s t h at i n clu d e a s s i st e d l iv ing a nd m e mor y c a r e t h roug hout t he St L ou i s a r e a For i n for mation on job oppor t u n itie s, v isit del margardens c om or c al l Del mar Gardens at 636 733 70 0 0 and ask for Mar n ic e Ban ks

C HRI S M A S T E R S

Geriatric care nurse • Delmar Gardens of O’Fallon

C h r i s Ma st e r s i n it i a l ly d e c id e d to explor e a c a r e e r i n nu r s i ng b e c au s e of t he e mploym e nt opp or t u n it i e s , job s e c u r it y a nd t he st e a dy p ay it of fe r s But t he p e r s on a l f u l fi l lm e nt she’s fou nd i s wh at ’ s ke pt he r i n t he field now for mor e t h a n 17 ye a r s.

“I g r ew up a s a C h r i st i a n S c i e nt i st , s o I r e a l ly h a d no pr ior k nowl e dg e ab out nu r s i ng at a l l b e for e I b e c a m e

one, ” she r e c a l l s “At t he t i m e, I h a d you ng c h i ld r e n at hom e a nd a m a r r i ag e t h at wa s n’t goi ng wel l I ju st wa nt e d to g et i nto a job t h at I k new wou ld a l low m e to s upp or t my fa m i ly ” E a r n i ng he r l i c e n s e d pr a c t i c a l nu r s e d eg r e e f ro m S a n fo r d - B row n C ol l eg e i n 20 0 6, Ma st e r s e nt e r t a i ne d t houg ht s of work i ng i n a n exc it i ng , fa st-p a c e d e nv i ron m e nt l i ke a n e m e rg e n c y room.

I n st e a d , she took a job at a nu r s i ng hom e whe r e she l e a r ne d fi r st h a nd t he i n s a nd out s of g e r i at r i c c a r e A ye a r l at e r, she joi ne d t he st a f f at D el m a r G a rd e n s of O’Fa l lon, whe r e she st i l l h app i ly work s.

For Ma st e r s , work i ng w it h t he eld e rly a nd long-t e r m r e s id ent s h a s prove n to b e a s u r pr i s i ng a nd eye - op e n i ng exp e r i e n c e

“I ab s olut ely love it , ” she s ays “It ’ s s o mu c h mor e r ewa rd i ng t h a n I eve r t houg ht it c ou ld b e. I n t h i s k i nd of s et t i ng , you r e a l ly g et to k now t he r e s id e nt s a nd t he i r fa m i l i e s on a d e e p l evel I don’t fe el l i ke you g et to do t h at a s mu c h i n ot he r nu r s i ng field s or i n a ho s p it a l ”

Work i ng 4 0 hou r s a we ek on ave r ag e, s om et i m e s mor e, Ma st e r s ’ sh i ft s st a r t at 6:30

a.m. a nd r u n t h roug h 3:30 i n t he a ft e r noon. No t wo d ays a r e ex a c t ly t he s a m e a s t he c onst a nt ly evolv i ng ne e d s of he r r e s id e nt s sh ap e how she s p e nd s he r t i m e Ty p i c a l r e s p on s ibi l it i e s a r e c he ck i ng r e s id e nt s ’ bloo d s ug a r l evel s a nd a d m i n i st e r i ng m e d i c at ion s , helpi ng t he m g et d r e s s e d , mon itor i ng t he i r he a lt h t h roug hout t he d ay a nd r el ay i ng i n for m at ion to do c tor s a nd fa m i ly m e mb er s

Ma st e r s s ays t h at one of t he mo st d i f fic u lt a nd c h a l l e ng i ng a s p e c t s of he r job i s a l s o one of t he mo st r ewa rd i ng

“ W h e n I’m work i ng w it h lo ng- t e r m c a r e r e si d e nt s , t h e m o s t f u l fi l li ng p a r t for m e i s p r ep a r i ng t h e m for e n d of l i fe , ” s h e s ay s “D e at h i s go i ng t o h ap p e n t o a l l of u s e ve nt u a l ly B e i ng ab l e t o h e lp t h e i n d iv i du a l a n d t h e i r fa m ily k now wh at t o e x p e c t a n d ke e p i ng t h e m c o m for t ab l e a s t h e y go t h rou g h t h e p ro c e s s i s ve r y m e a n i ng f u l ”

O ne of Ma st e r s ’ mo st c he r i she d work m e mor i e s wa s a c c omp a ny i ng a r e s id e nt on a n Honor F l ig ht to Wa sh i ng ton, D.C., wh i c h i s a way to t h a n k A m e r i c a n s for t he i r s e r v i c e i n t he m i l it a r y

“I wa s c a r i ng for a r e s id e nt who was a form e r Ma r i ne, a nd he r e a l ly wa nt e d to do one of t ho s e fl ig ht s , ” Ma st e r s r e m e mb e r s. “He h a d a lot of he a lt h i s s u e s a nd wa s told t h at he c ou ld n’t m a ke t he t r ip b e c au s e he r e qu i r e d too mu c h c a r e I’m a l s o a for m e r Ma r i ne, a nd t he r e a s on he fi n a l ly got to go wa s b ec au s e I wa s goi ng to b e w it h h i m It wa s s u c h a hug e honor for m e. He p a s s e d away ab out

t wo we ek s a ft e r we got b a ck.”

Ta k i ng a c omp a s s ion at e approa c h to c a r e i s s om et h i ng D el m a r G a rd e n s pr id e s it s el f on a nd promot e s a s a c u lt u r e, not ju st for r e s id e nt s , but for st a f f a s wel l

“Eve r yone look s out for e a c h ot he r a nd we r e a l ly t r y to b e s upp or t ive of ou r fel low st a f f m e mb e r s , ” Ma st e r s s ays “It ’ s a whol e fa m i ly v ib e a nd m i nd s et ”

Work i ng i n a nu r s i ng hom e or long-t e r m c a r e fa c i l it y r e qu i r e s a s p e c i a l k i nd of t e mp e r a m e nt , flex ibi l it y a nd a g r e at d e a l of e mp at hy

“You r e a l ly h ave to pr a c t i c e p at i e n c e w it h you r r e s id e nt s , t he ot he r st a f f a nd w it h you r s el f,” Ma st e r s p oi nt s out “A lot of t i m e s , ou r r e s id e nt s ju st ne e d s om e one to s it wit h t he m for a l it t l e wh i l e You h ave to b e w i l l i ng to stop wh at you ’ r e doi ng to hold t he i r

h a nd a nd c on s ol e t he m whe n t hey ne e d it.”

A lt houg h she do e s n’t yet k now wh at t he f ut u r e m ig ht hold , Ma st e r s fe el s t h at for r ig ht now, she’s ex a c t ly whe r e she ne e d s to b e

“I love my job s o mu c h,” she s ays “I c a n’t i m ag i ne doi ng a ny t h i ng el s e. ”

Ve teran nur s e love s making a dif f erence in her patient s ’ live s

I t ’s s o much more rewarding than I ever thought it could b e.

ORTHOPEDICS

A S H LE Y GOLDS M ITH

V

LETA

Fo r b e i n g a n o u ts ta n d i n g n u rs e a n d a l wa ys p u tt i n g h e r p a t i e n ts fi rs t .

MONIQUE DANIE L S

C H R I S TI A N H OS PI TA L

Fo r b e i n g th e b e s t n u rs e e ve r

OTHER

4TH FLOOR N U RS ING TE AM

T h e e n t i re s ta f f wa s k i n d , h e l pf u l a n d u n d e rs ta n d i n g d u r i n g my w i fe’s s ta y My w i fe re c e n tly h a d a h e a lth i s s u e a n d I wa s b e s i d e mys e lf T h e y we re c o m p a s s i o n a te a n d m a d e s u re s h e wa s c o m fo rta b l e a n d we l l c a re d fo r

ALI S MUGAL A

M E R CY HO S PI TA L S O UT H

Al i i s a n a m a z i n g m o m a n d w i fe

ALLI COM BS

S S M H E A LT H S T. C L A R E H O S PI TA L

Fo r b e i n g a n a m a z i n g n u rs e ! No o n e c a re s fo r th e i r p a t i e n ts m o re th a n s h e d o e s Ve r y p ro u d of h e r fo r b e i n g a g re a t n u rs e a n d m a k i n g a p o s it ive d i f fe re nce !

ALVE RTA MOON E Y S M ITH

C I T I E S O F S T LO U I S A N D U N I V E R S I T Y C I T Y Fo r h e r u n s e l fi s h c o m m it m e n t to h u m a n i t y

AMAN DA BE RTHOLOM E Y

M E R CY H O S PI TA L S T LO U I S A m a n d a h a s c o m p a s s i o n a n d e m p a thy fo r h e r p a t i e n ts

AMY KOSANK E

M I D W E S T A NE S T H E S I A PA R T NE RS Fo r b e i n g a n a m a z i n g m o m a n d p e rs o n

AM Y WILLIAM S

S S M H E A LT H S T C L A R E H O S PI TA L Fo r yo u r a m a z i n g c a re a n d d e vot i o n to yo u r j o b !

AN DRE A FOLLIN S PE RK IN S

M E R CY HO S PI TA L S O UT H I wo u l d l i k e to th a n k h e r fo r b e i n g s u c h a c a r i n g a n d s u p p o rt ive n u rs e He r l ove fo r h e r p a t i e n ts i s p h en o mena l

A S H LE Y DAN IE L

S S M H E A LT H S A I N T LO U I S U N I V E R S I T Y H O S PI TA L Fo r h e r d e d i c a t i o n a n d d e vot i o n to h e r wo rk

We wo u l d l i k e to th a n k h e r fo r b e i n g s u c h a c a r i n g a n d c o m p a s s i o n a te p e rs o n , a n d fo r a l wa ys b e i n g th e re w h e n we n e e d h e r Fo r b e i n g a k i n d a n d c a r i n g n u rs e

A S H LE Y TITCH E NAL

WA S H I N GTO N U NIV E RS I T Y M E D I CA L C E N T E R Fo r exc e l l e n t c a re

B IANC A AN DREWS

S T LO U I S C O U N T Y D E PA R T M E N T O F P U B L I C H E A LT H , N URS E - FA M I LY PA R T NE RS H I P Fo r h e r d e d i c a t i o n to h e r c l i e n ts a n d i m p rov i n g m a te r n a l - c hi ld h e a lth

BL AK E TRUC ANO

B J C H E ALT H CAR E Fo r c a r i n g a n d g iv i n g h i s b e s t c a re

BROOKE WIL SON

M E R CY V I R TUA L CA R E C E N T E R Ma ny p e o pl e a re a l ive to d a y, d u e to B ro o k e ’ s exc e l l e n t n urs in g s k i l l s in c l ud in g pl a c in g u lt ra s o u n d g u i d e d I Vs q u i c k ly a n d s u c c e s s f u l ly i n th e Me rc y B a l l a s E R S h e i s a n a n ge l o n e a rth !

C AR A DICK IN SON S T LO U I S C H I L D R E N ’ S H O S PI TA L Fo r b e i n g s o g re a t w ith a l l h e r p a t i e n ts a n d h a v i n g s o m u c h k n owl e d ge a b o u t e ve r yth i n g

C AROL DILLON M E R CY HO S PI TA L S O UT H Fo r b e i n g a n o u ts ta n d i n g m e n to r

C AROL K RUMME NACHE R YO U N G I N S PI R I T A D U LT DAY CA R E C a rol m a k e s h e rs e lf a va i l a b l e a ny t i m e fo r h e a lth q u e s t i o n s , e m ot i o n a l s u p p o rt o r a n e n c o u ra g i n g wo rd

C ARRIE BET TL ACH

WA S H I N GTO N U NIV E RS I T Y M E D I CA L C E N T E R Fo r exc e l l e n t c a re

CHANTAYA KING

A LTO N M E N TA L H E A LT H C E N T E R Fo r h a rd wo rk a n d d e d i c a t i o n , to t re a t i n g p a t i e n ts w ith d i g n it y a n d re s p e ct a n d b e i n g a te a m pl a ye r !

CON N IE WILK IN SON

MI S S OU R I P OI S O N CE N T ER | WA S HI NGTO N U NI V E R S I T Y CH I L D R E N ’ S A F T E R HO UR S | S S M H E A LT H Fo r e ve r yth i n g s h e d o e s fo r h e r fa m i ly a n d h e r p a t i e n ts

Fo r b e i n g s o fa ith f u l to h e r p a t i e n ts a n d c a r i n g fo r th e m i n a o n e - of- a - k i n d m a n n e r Yo u d o n ot get h e r k i n d of c a re f ro m a nyo n e e l s e S h e c a re s fo r p e o pl e f ro m th e e l d e rly to i n fa n ts a n d th e y e a c h get th e i r ow n k i n d of s p e c i a l c a re

CRYSTAL BAILE Y

S T LU K E ’ S H O S PI TA L

Fo r b e i n g a n a m a z i n g rol e m o d e l a n d l e a d e r.

DAN IE LLE BALDWIN

S S M H E A LT H

D a n i e l l e i s a wo n d e r f u l n u rs e w ith a g re a t h e a rt S h e u s e s h e r k n owl e d ge to te a c h f u t u re n u rs e s S h e i s a n a s s et to a ny te a m a n d a j oy to b e a ro u n d D a n i e l l e i s a b l e to a d a pt c r it i c a l th i n k i n g s k i l l s to a ny s it u a t i o n S h e ’ s th e b e s t n u rs e !

DAN IE LLE BE ILE R

Al wa ys goi n g a b ove a n d b e yo n d h e l p i n g oth e rs

DE L AYNE IVANOWS K I

M E R CY H O S PI TA L S T LO U I S

D e l a y n e i s a b ra ve yo u n g wo m a n , d e d i c a t i n g h e r l i fe to h e l p i n g a n d s a v i n g oth e rs S h e n ot o n ly h e l p s p e o pl e s h e d o e s n’t e ve n k n ow o n a d a i ly b a s i s , b u t a l s o j u s t d o n a te d h e r k i d n e y to h e r fath e r !

DE N I S E GOODE

M E R CY R E S E A R CH Me rc y R e s e a rc h re c og n i ze s D e n i s e fo r h e r d e d i c a te d s e r v i c e to h e r te a m a n d c o m p a s s i o n a te c a re to p a t i e n ts S h e go e s a b ove a n d b e yo n d to s u p p o rt c owo rk e rs n e e d s , p rov i d e e d u c a t i o n a n d g u i d a n c e a n d e n c o u ra ge g rowth a ro u n d h e r

E BE N E Z E R Y E BOAH

M E R CY HO S PI TA L S O UT H E b e n e ze r go e s a b ove a n d b e yo n d fo r p a t i e n ts a n d oth e r te a m m e m b e r e ve r y s i n gl e t i m e h e wo rk s

E ’ LI SA MOS S

CA R E R E V T R AV E L R EG I S T E R E D N URS E |

U S D E PA R T M E N T O F AG R I C ULTUR E ’ S N ATUR A L

R E S O UR C E A ND C O N S E R VAT I O N S E R V I C E

T h a n k yo u fo r h e a l i n g th e c o m m u n it y a n d e nv i ro n m e n t th ro u gh yo u r wo rk a s a reg i s te re d n u rs e a n d s oi l c o n s e r va t i o n i s t Yo u h a ve t r u ly s h ow n m e h ow to h e a l mys e lf th ro u gh c a r i n g fo r o u r e a rth a n d e nv i ro n m e n t

E M ILY

S S M H E A LT H S A I N T LO U I S U N I V E R S I T Y H O S PI TA L E m i ly d i s pl a ys o u ts ta n d i n g c a re a n d k i n d n e s s

E M ILY E STOPARE

S T LO U I S C H I L D R E N ’ S H O S PI TA L Fo r g iv i n g h e r a l l e a c h a n d e ve r y d a y, a n d b e i n g a n a d vo c a te fo r th e c h i l d re n s h e ta k e s c a re of w h e n th e y c a n’t d o it th e m s e lve s

E VE RY NUR S E T h a n k yo u fo r a l l yo u d o !

FR ANCE S J E AN C AM PBE LL Fo r b e i n g c o m p a s s i o n a te

GAIL FARLE Y WILKE RSON

G a i l wa s a reg i s te re d n u rs e fo r 4 8 ye a rs wo rk i n g i n o n c ol og y a n d ge r i a t r i c s G a i l we n t f ro m a s ta f f n u rs e to n a t i o n a l d i re cto r of re s i d e n t c a re fo r a s e n i o r l iv i n g c o m p a ny

GLORIA ADZ AM LI

B J C B E H AV I O R A L H E A LT H

G l o r i a i s c a r i n g a n d p a t i e n t w ith o u r c l i e n ts

B

HE ATHE R WIL SON

He a th e r wo rk s h a rd to c a re fo r p a t i e n ts

Fo r d oi n g a g re a t j o b

J E AN CE RMAK

I wo u l d l i k e to th a n k my m o m Je a n fo r goi n g a b ove a n d b e yo n d fo r ove r 4 0 ye a rs w h i l e wo rk i n g i n s e ve ra l s u rge r y d e p a rt m e n ts , c o m fo rt i n g p a t i e n ts i n t i m e s of fe a r a n d t re a t i n g c owo rk e rs w ith re s p e ct

J E AN ET TE GAY LORD

B J C H E ALT H CAR E

S h e wo rk e d h e r ta i l of f to get h e r n u rs i n g d eg re e a t a yo u n g a ge w h i l e h a v i n g t wo k i d s u n d e r t wo S h e k n e w f ro m d a y o n e s h e wa s p u t o n th i s e a rth to h e l p p e o pl e I c o u l d n ot h a ve a s k e d fo r a b ette r rol e m o d e l to h e l p s h a p e m e i n to th e n u rs e th a t I a m to d a y.

J E NNI O’ BRIE N

M E R CY HO S PI TA L S O UT H

I wo rk e d w ith Je n n i fo r n e a rly 3 0 ye a rs S h e i s th e u lt i m a te p rofe s s i o n a l , k n owl e d ge a b l e a n d e m p a th et i c n u rs e S h e vol u n te e rs fo r va r i o u s c h a r it y o rga n i za t i o n s a n d g ive s of h e r f re e t i m e a ro u n d S t L o u i s

J E NNIF E R BECK ET T

M E R CY HO S PI TA L S O UT H

Fo r h e r a m a z i n g d e d i c a t i o n to p e o pl e

J E N N IFE R GR AVE RT S T LO U I S C

H

Fo r h e r d e d i c a t i o n to h e a lth e q u it y a n d m a te r n a lc hi ld h e a lth

JUDY WE I S S

A L HAM B R A RE HA B & H E A LT H CA RE Fo r c o m i n g o u t of ret i re m e n t a n d wo rk i n g a t a n urs in g h o m e d ur in g C OV I D - 19

J U LIE HOLT Z

B A R NE S - J E W I S H S T PE T E RS HO S PI TA L Fo r h e r exc e l l e n t c a re , c o m p a s s i o n a n d i n c l u s ive n e s s to a l l .

K AITLIN SUT TE R S T LO U I S C O U N T Y D E PA R T M E N T O F P U B L I C H E A LT H , N URS E - FA M I LY PA R T NE RS H I P Fo r th e d e d i c a t i o n to h e r c l i e n ts a n d m a te r n a lc hi ld h e a lth

K ALI DUNDON S S M H E A LT H S T C L A R E H O S PI TA L Fo r wo rk i n g s o d i l i ge n tly d u r i n g th e p a n d e m i c a n d a l wa ys

K ARIN SCOT T B AR N E S - J E W I SH H O S PI TAL I th a n k K a r i n fo r h e r a b i l it y to c o n n e ct to p a t i e n ts a n d m a k e th e m fe e l th a t s o m e o n e re a l ly c a re s K a r i n i s a n a d vo c a te fo r p a t i e n ts e ve r y w h e re

K A S SIE K LE PPE R Fo r h e r c o m p a s s i o n a n d d e d i c a t i o n to h i gh e s t l e ve l of q u a l it y p a t i e n t c a re

K ATIE E DWARDS

B A R NE S - J E W I S H S T PE T E RS HO S PI TA L

K a t i e i s d e d i c a te d to h e r p a t i e n ts

K ATIE J ET T

G O L D FA R B S CHOO L O F N URS I N G

Fo r h e r o n goi n g w i l l i n g n e s s to h e l p a nyo n e i n n e e d S h e s h ows p rofe s s i o n a l i s m a n d e m p a thy e a c h d a y.

K E LLI MARS HALL

M I S S O UR I B A P T I S T M E D I CA L C E N T E R

K e l l i i s a n o u ts ta n d i n g n u rs e l e a d e r !

K E LLY E A STMAN

S S M H E A LT H S T M A RY ’ S H O S PI TA L - S T LO U I S

K e l ly i s a n i n c re d i b l e n u rs e ! S h e i s a we a lth of k n owl e d ge a n d s e r ve s a s a re s o u rc e to n u rs e s a l l ove r th e h o s p ita l S h e t re a ts e ve r yo n e w ith k i n d n e s s a n d re s p e ct S h e h a s a g re a t s e n s e of h u m o r a n d m a k e s th o s e a ro u n d h e r s m i l e S h e w i l l a l wa ys j u m p i n a n d h e l p !

K E LLY MCCOY GROS S

WA S H I N GTO N U NIV E RS I T Y A L S C E N T E R Fo r h e r o u ts ta n d i n g c a re fo r a l l of th e p a t i e n ts (a n d e s p e c i a l ly my m o m) a t th e re s e a rc h c e n te r fo r A L S

K E LLY MCK INNE Y

B AR N E S - J E W I SH H O S PI TAL P SYC H I AT RI C CAR E Fo r b e i n g a va l u a b l e p e rs o n , l ov i n g a n d c o m p a s s i o n a te to a l l of h e r p a t i e n ts He r w i s e m i n d a n d a tt it u d e fo r i n d iv i d u a l s d e a l i n g w ith m e n ta l h e a lth i s i n c re d i b l e

K E RRIE KOCS

B AR N E S - J E W I SH H O S PI TAL

K e r r i e wo rk s h a rd w ith p a t i e n ts a fte r th e y re c e ive t ran s pl an ts

KIM BE RLY GR AY

WA SH I N GTO N U N I V E R SI T Y DI V I SI O N O F

I N F E CT I O US D IS E A S E C L I N I C Fo r h e r c o n c e r n a n d d e d i c a t i o n fo r h e r p a t i e n ts a n d h e r c o m m u n it y

K RI STA WALL ACH

S S M S T C L A R E S U R G I CA L C E N T E R K r i s ta i s h a rd - wo rk i n g a n d a ve r y c a r i n g ca regive r

L AK EI SHA PE RRY

AF F I N I A H E ALT H CAR E |

S S M H E A LT H D E PAU L H O S PI TA L - S T. LO U I S

I a m n o m i n a t i n g L a K e i s h a fo r h e r o u ts ta n d i n g p e r fo r m a n c e towa rd h e r p a t i e n ts , h e r p a t i e n c e a n d fo r b e i n g a tte n t ive to e ve r y p a t i e n t ’ s n e e d s S h e h a s a go o d l i s te n i n g e a r, a n d h a s a n a l l a ro u n d a b i l it y to m a k e u s s m i l e

L AK I S HA WH ITE

T R AV E L N URS E AC R O S S A M E R I CA Fo r r i s k i n g yo u r h e a lth to m a k e s u re oth e rs a re we l l ! A t r u e h e ro

L AU RE N HAN SON

H A N SO N H O L IST I C H E A LT H Fo r a l wa ys b e i n g th e re to h e l p

LE S LIE GAN E R

Fo r k i n d n e s s , c o m p a s s i o n a n d d e d i c a t i o n

LI SA GABRIE LE

WA S H I N GTO N U NIV E RS I T Y M E D I CA L C E N T E R Fo r o u ts ta n d i n g a n d k i n d p a t i e n t c a re

LOL A ROB IN SON

S T LU K E ’ S H O S PI TA L

T h a n k yo u fo r b e i n g o u r h o m e n u rs e w h e n we n e ed ed yo u

LORI CE BUL S K I

J O H N J C O C H R A N V E T E R A N S H O S PI TA L L o r i l ove s h e l p i n g o u r vete ra n s i n a ny wa y s h e ca n

LY R A B ROWN

S S M H E A LT H S T M A RY ’ S H O S PI TA L - S T LO U I S T h a n k yo u fo r a l l yo u d o – yo u m a k e a d i f fe re n c e !

MADDY SLUS SE R

S SM H E A LT H CA R D I N A L GL ENN ON C H IL D R E N ’ S H OS PI TA L Ma d d y i s ve r y c a r i n g a n d d e d i c a te d to h e l p i n g oth e rs

MARIAN N E TORB E RT, N P

C H R I S TI A N H OS PI TA L T h a n k yo u fo r b e i n g a c c e s s i b l e a n d w i l l i n g to h e l p th o s e w h o re a c h o u t to yo u ta k e c a re of th e i r p a t i e n ts

MARYB ETH FUNK HOUS E R , DNP

S S M H E A LT H S A I N T LO U I S U N I V E R S I T Y H O S PI TA L Ma r yB eth h a s b e e n a s ta u n c h a d vo c a te fo r S LU A PPs , a m e n to r, s u p p o rt ive c ol l e a g u e a n d c h a m p i o n fo r h e r s ta f f s i n c e a r r iv i n g a t S LU H We a re s o l u c k y to h a ve h e r !

MAT TI S HAE

B AR N E S - J E W I SH H O S PI TAL Ma tt i wa s my d a d ’ s n u rs e l a s t ye a r. S h e n ot o n ly to o k c a re of h i m , b u t m a d e a l l of o u r fa m i ly m o re c o m fo rta b l e d u r i n g a d i f fi c u lt t i m e . A s b u s y a s s h e wa s , s h e n e ve r c o m pl a i n e d . A c owo rk e r s a i d s h e wa s “ o n e of th e go o d o n e s . ”

M E LI SSA BU RK AM P PROG R E S S WE S T H O S PI TA L Fo r b e i n g th e b e s t n u rs e e ve r !

M E LI S SA CHATFIE LD S T LO U I S C H I L D R E N ’ S H O S PI TA L Fo r h e r g ra c e

M E RCY RE SE ARCH N U RSE S

M E R CY H O S PI TA L S T LO U I S Me rc y R e s e a rc h th a n k s a n d re c og n i ze s its n u rs e s fo r th e i r c o m m it m e n t a n d c o m p a s s i o n i n h e l p i n g fi n d c u re s fo r o u r p a t i e n ts

MICHE LLE BIRK E

M E R CY S PI N E C E N T E R A N D PA I N M A N AG E M E N TWA S HI NGTO N T h a n k yo u fo r yo u r s e r v i c e a n d c o m m it m e n t to o u r te a m !

MICHE LLE BURN S

M E R CY HO S PI TA L S O UT H

Mi c h e l l e w i l l wo rk a l l h o u rs of th e d a y W h e n th e h o s p ita l i s s h o rt , s h e i s th e re c l e a n i n g ro o m s , t ra n s p o rt i n g p a t i e n ts a n d h e l p i n g a ny wa y s h e c a n S h e i s n’t yo u r a ve ra ge m a n a ge r S h e i s a l wa ys goi n g a b ove a n d b e yo n d fo r o u r s ta f f

M IN DY ADAM S

Mi n d y i s d e d i c a te d to h e r p rofe s s i o n a n d h e l p i n g oth e rs S h e h a s b e e n a n u rs e s i n c e 2 012 a fte r goi n g b a c k to s c h o ol a s a n a d u lt w ith t wo yo u n g c h i l d re n S h e i s h e l d i n h i gh rega rd a m o n gs t h e r p e e rs a n d oth e rs Mi n d y a l wa ys p u ts h e r p a t i e n ts fi rs t

MOLLY COUTU RE

S T LU K E ’ S H O S PI TA L Mol ly s h ows c o n s ta n t c a re a n d c o n c e r n fo r h e r p a t i e n ts

M Y 5 30 0 B JC LN U

B J C H E ALT H CAR E

Fo r th e k i n d n e s s , ge n e ro s it y a n d l i s te n i n g e a r yo u d i s pl a y to yo u r p a t i e n ts Yo u u n d e rs ta n d th e n e e d s of e a c h of th e m a n d yo u r a p p ro a c h to c a re i s wo rth rem emb e r i n g

MY UNG

B AR N E S - J E W I SH H O S PI TAL

T h a n k yo u fo r h a v i n g th e c a p a c it y fo r c o m p a s s i o n th a t yo u d o I ’ m g ra tef u l th a t I ’ ve h a d th e p r iv i l ege to wo rk a l o n gs i d e yo u fo r a s l o n g a s I h a ve

NICOLLE MYE R S

WA S H I N GTO N U NIV E RS I T Y M E D I CA L CA M P U S

Ni c ol l e i s a n o u ts ta n d i n g n u rs e a n d a n e q u a l ly a m a z i n g te a c h e r S h e h a s a p a s s i o n fo r p a t i e n t c a re a n d c u s to m e r s e r v i c e Al l th a t m a tte rs a re h e r p a t i e n ts , h e r s t u d e n ts a n d th e i r we l l - b e i n g

N IV Y R AO

B AR N E S - J E W I SH H O S PI TAL

Niv y i s o n e of th e m o s t c o m p a s s i o n a te , d e d i c a te d n u rs e s I h a ve h a d th e o p p o rt u n it y of wo rk i n g w ith i n my c a re e r. S h e h a s h e l p e d g row c o u n tl e s s n u rs e s a n d h a s to u c h e d th e l ive s of e ve n m o re p a t i e n ts a n d fa m i l i e s th ro u gh h e r ye a rs of s e r v i c e .

N U RS E HONOR GUARD ST. LOU I S

T h a n k yo u fo r g iv i n g yo u r f re e t i m e , g iv i n g t r i b u te to a l l n u rs e s w h o s e r ve d

PAM AM E RSON

S S M H E A LT H S T. M A RY ’ S H O S PI TA L - S T. LO U I S

I L OV E wo rk i n g w ith Pa m ! I h a ve s e e n h e r get s o m e of th e m o s t c h a l l e n g i n g p a t i e n ts to l a u gh

W h e n I ’ m h a v i n g a ro u gh d a y a q u i c k h u d d l e w ith Pa m i s a l l I n e e d

PAM E L A TH U RSTON

B AR N E S - J E W I SH H O S PI TAL Fo r h e r t i re l e s s ef fo rts a n d s u p p o rt fol l ow i n g my o rgan t ran s pl an t

B

PAY

C

Fo r c o m p a s s i o n a n d s a v i n g a l i fe

Fo r b e i n g s t ro n g a n d h e l p i n g oth e rs n o m a tte r wh a t

Fo r a l l h e r d e d i c a t i o n to h e r p a t i e n ts

R ACHAE L S IM PSON

R a c h a e l i s th e i d e a l n u rs e – ve r y d e d i c a te d , l oya l , p a s s i o n a te a n d c o m p a s s i o n a te S h e i s a g re a t s u p e r v i s o r a n d l e a d e r w h o wo rk s w i th h e r e m pl oye e s a s a te a m

R ACH E L GREGORY

DAV I TA N O R T H C O U N T Y K I D N E Y CA R E D I A LYS I S R a c h e l wa s o n e of my u n c l e ’ s h e m o d i a lys i s n u rs e s b efo re h e t ra n s it i o n e d to p e r ito n e a l d i a lys i s S h e to l d u s f ro m d a y o n e th a t s h e wo u l d ta k e c a re of h i m l i k e h e wa s h e r ow n fa m i ly My u n c l e d i d n ot l i k e goi n g th re e d a ys a we e k fo r t re a t m e n ts , b u t o n c e h e got th e re , R a c h e l a l wa ys b r i gh te n e d h i s d a y w ith h e r k i n d n e s s a n d h u m o r

REG INA SCH ROE DE R

M I S S O UR I B A P T I S T M E D I CA L C E N T E R G i n a i s a n o u ts ta n d i n g n u rs i n g l e a d e r !

SAMANTHA N E E LE Y

S O UT H E A S T M I S S O UR I M E N TA L H E A LT H C E N T E R S a m i s a wo n d e r f u l n u rs e w h o i s h i gh ly d e d i c a te d to d e l ive r i n g th e h i gh e s t l e ve l of c a re to h e r p a t i e n ts S h e wo rk s ve r y h a rd to g ive e ve r y p a t i e n t s h e wo rk s w ith th e c a re th e y n e e d

S HAN NON DAVI S

M IS SO U R I B A P T IST S U L L I VA N H O S PI TA L Fo r s a v i n g my m oth e r ’ s l i fe

S HARON DAVI S S M ITH

B AR N E S - J E W I SH H O S PI TAL

T h a n k yo u S h a ro n fo r th e c o m p a s s i o n a n d ex p e rt i s e yo u g ive d a i ly i n to p a t i e n ts a t B a r n e sJe w i s h Ho s p ita l D u r i n g C OV I D - 19, yo u we re r i gh t th e re d e l ive r i n g th e exc e l l e n t s e r v i c e yo u a l wa ys h a ve W h e n my d a u gh te r C y n th i a h a d s ta ge 3 b re a s t c a n c e r, yo u we re my ro c k

S HE LBY RICK E Y

S T. LO U I S C H I L D R E N ’ S H O S PI TA L Fo r b e i n g s o k i n d

SH E RI BE E Z LE Y

S O UT H C O U N T Y H A B I L I TAT I O N C E N T E R S h e r i i s u p b e a t , f u l l of p o s it ive e n e rg y, a c ol l a b o ra to r a n d ta k e s i n it i a t ive to i nvolve h e rs e lf w ith p roj e cts a n d ta s k s S h e i s a s t ro n g a d vo c a te fo r c l i e n ts O u r te a m i s s o fo rt u n a te to h a ve S h e r i a s a te a m m e m b e r

Walt Whitman, POET & NURSE

When most people hear the name of Walt Whitman, they think of him as the famous American poet who wrote “Leaves of Grass.” However, he also served as a nurse during the American Civil War and his experiences influenced his later work as a poet.

Early on in the Civil War, Whitman was working as a freelance writer and started visiting New York hospitals to interview soldiers and was profoundly affected by their suffering. He traveled to Washington, D.C., in 1862 to care for his wounded brother. It was then he became motivated to volunteer as a nurse.

At the time, there were not formal education or training requirements or standards for nurses. They learned by doing and most nurses were volunteers.

The American Association for the H istory of Nursing reports that he earned the trust and respect of doctors and on Jan. 1, 1863, was put in charge of a trainload of wounded soldiers who were being transferred to a hospital. He met with soldiers, acting as a scribe for their messages to families and comforting them with his calm and concern.

It was at that point he decided to stay and work in hospitals until the war was over.

Whitman took a low-paying job as a clerk to provide enough money so he could volunteer at hospitals, which is where he spent almost all his free time. He would care for the wounded and the sick, bringing soldiers food and writing letters for them. He often spent what little money he had on supplies and would stay at a soldier’s side as he died.

Nursing poetr y

Those experiences would influence his poetry, with nurses and their labor showing up in his writing.

In “The Wound-Dresser,” Whitman describes the work of a nurse caring for wounded soldiers and the deep emotional connection that develops:

“With hinged knees and steady hand to dress wounds, I am firm with each , the pangs are sharp yet unavoidable , One turns to me his appealing eyes—poor boy! I never knew you , Yet I think I could not refuse this moment to die for you , if that would save you . ”

In other writing, “Nursing the Wounded and the Dying,” he talks at length about his experience, naming names and describing what he did as a nurse. He explains how being a nurse forever changed him as a poet:

“I saw the wounded and the dead , and never forget them ,

I recall the experience sweet and sad , I send my love sincerely to each and all , For every sick and wounded soldier is dear to me as a son or brother

Ever since have they been with me , They have fused ever since in my poems, They are here forever in my poems— No poem proud , I chanting bring to thee , But a cluster containing night’s darkness and blood-dripping wounds, And psalms of the dead ”

Whitman described his years of service as a privilege and said it was the most profound lesson of his life.

H istorically, Whitman’s writings also provide insight into what the nursing profession was like during the Civil War period and what the conditions of the hospitals were. He was considered a minister of mercy and his legacy continues to inspire.

Walt Whitman Statue, 3100 S Broad St in Philadelphia; sculpted by Jo Davidson.

NICOLINO GIOVANNUCCI

G REEN SH OOT M EDIA

E RRIE BR A X TON

CY H O S PI TA L S T LO U I S

I wa n t to th a n k th i s wo n d e r f u l n u rs e fo r b e i n g a n a m a z i n g a n d c o m p a s s i o n a te l e a d e r of o u r s u rg i c a l d e p a rt m e n t , w h o ta k e s a n d s h ows h o n o r i n b e i n g a n a d vo c a te fo r o u r p a t i e n ts

T h a n k yo u fo r a l wa ys p u tt i n g oth e rs fi rs t a n d n e ve r c o m pl a i n i n g a b o u t it T h a n k yo u fo r a l l th a t yo u d o fo r oth e rs w ith o u t ex p e ct i n g a nyth i n g in ret ur n

I wa n t to th a n k th i s n u rs e fo r c a r i n g s o m u c h a b o u t a ny p a t i e n t th a t c o m e s h e r wa y !

ST. LOU I S VA M E DIC AL CE NTE R ,

OPE R ATING ROOM N U RS E S

S T LO U I S VA M E D I CA L C E N T E R -

J E F F E RS O N B A R R AC KS

T h a n k yo u ve r y m u c h fo r yo u r h a rd wo rk a n d d e d i c a t i o n We re a l ly a p p re c i a te th e s a c r i fi c e s th a t yo u a re m a k i n g to ta k e c a re of th o s e of u s i n n e ed

STE PHAN IE DOUGL A S

S SM H E A LT H CA R D I N A L GL ENN ON

C H IL D R E N ’ S H OS PI TA L

S te p h - a s my s o n c a l l e d h e r - wa s o u r s a v i n g g ra c e My s o n re c ove re d f ro m b ra i n s u rge r y, th e n c o n t ra cte d b a cte r i a l m e n i n g it i s a n d h a d a b ra i n b l e e d S te p h wa s w ith u s th ro u gh it a l l S h e wa s th e b e s t n u rs e to h i m a n d th e b e s t e m ot i o n a l s u p p o rt fo r m e a s a m o m

SU E Z E S SINGE R

F R E S E N I U S K I D N E Y CA R E W E N T Z V I L L E S u e i s a n exc e pt i o n a l m a n a ge r S h e i s fa i r a n d t r u ly c a re s a b o u t h e r e m pl oye e s a n d p a t i e n ts

SUSAN NA S H

U NIV E RS I T Y I N T E R N A L M E D I C I NE & D I A B E T E S

A S S O C I AT E S , A D I V I S I O N O F WA S H I N GTO N

U NIV E RS I T Y C L I NI CA L A S S OC I AT E S S u s a n h a s b e e n c o m m itte d to p a t i e n ts fo r ove r 35 ye a rs , c o n s ta n tly h e l p i n g e m p owe r th e m to i m p rove th e i r q u a l it y of l i fe a s d i a b ete s n u rs e e d u c a to r.

SUZ AN N E S IRKO - C ARN E Y Fo r h e r u nwa ve r i n g d e d i c a t i o n to h e r p a t i e n ts i n th e p o s t - a n e s th e s i a c a re u n it

TANE S IA RUNNE L S

S S M H E A LT H S A I N T LO U I S U N I V E R S I T Y H O S PI TA L T h a n k yo u fo r wo rk i n g h a rd a n d p rov i d i n g th e u t m o s t c a re fo r p a t i e n ts

TAY LOR DA Z E Y

S U M NE R R EG I O N A L M E D I CA L C E N T E R Fo r h e r c o n t i n u o u s h a rd wo rk a n d d e d i c a t i o n to m a ny p a t i e n ts a s s h e t ra ve l s to d i ffe re n t h o s p ita l s

TON YA MOODY

To nya i s my u n c l e ’ s p e r i to n e a l d i a lys i s n u rs e S h e i s a n a m a z i n g n u rs e S h e h a s th e h e a rt of a te a c h e r a n d ta u gh t m e h ow to g ive my u n c l e p e r ito n e a l d i a lys i s t re a t m e n ts a t h o m e To nya i s a h a rd wo rk e r a n d k n ow n fo r b e i n g a t th e c e n te r b r i gh t a n d e a rly i n th e m o r n i n g !

TRI S HA C APLE S

S T. LU K E ’ S H O S PI TA L Tr i s h a i s a ve r y c a r i n g a n d th o ro u gh n u rs e S h e t re a ts h e r te a m m a te s a n d p a t i e n ts l i k e exte n d e d fa m i ly a n d p rov i d e s th e u t m o s t c a re fo r th e m

TRU DY VILCE K

B AR N E S - J E W I SH H O S PI TAL

I h a ve h a d th e pl e a s u re of wo rk i n g w ith Tr u d y fo r th e l a s t 15 ye a rs S h e h a s ta u gh t m e th ro u gh h e r ow n a ct i o n s h ow to b e a n i n d e p e n d e n t , k i n d , p a t i e n t a n d h e l pf u l n u rs e S h e w i l l a n s we r yo u r q u e s t i o n s , s ta rt a n I V, h e l p t u r n a PT a nd p rov id e exc e l l e n t c a re fo r h e r ow n te a m

UNIT 2 A

S S M H E A LT H S T J O S E PH H O S PI TA L Fo r e ve r yth i n g

VICK Y PECK

WA S H I N GTO N U NIV E RS I T Y M E D I CA L C E N T E R Fo r exc e l l e n t p a t i e n t a d vo c a c y

Z AKKIY YA BRE NT

M A X I M H E ALT H CAR E S TAF F I N G Fo r h a rd wo rk , d ete r m i n a t i o n a n d b e i n g c a r i n g a n d c o u ra ge o u s

PEDIATRIC

GARRET T SAN SOUCIE , RN , BS N

R A N K E N J O R DA N PE D I AT R I C B R I D G E H O S PI TA L Fo r h i s k i n d n e s s a n d c o m p a s s i o n

QU IN I SHA K E E LY

T h a n k yo u fo r c a r i n g fo r th e c h i l d re n .

SCHOOL NURSE

ANGE L A M IDN IGHT- OE ST

W E S T R I D G E E L EM E N TA RY S CHOO L S h e i s a l wa ys goi n g a b ove a n d b e yo n d to h e l p th e s t u d e n ts a t We s t r i d ge E l e m e n ta r y, a n d ofte n oth e r s t u d e n ts i n th e R o c k wo o d S c h o ol D i s t r i ct S h e a l s o h e l p s h e r s c h o ol n u rs e p e e rs th ro u gh o u t th e s ta te of Mi s s o u r i !

ANN B ECK E R

Fo r b e i n g a n a m a z i n g n u rs e to o u r s p e c i a l e d u c a t i o n st u d e nts !

A S H LE Y CR AIG

G AT E WAY S T EM H I G H S CHOO L Fo r t r u ly b e i n g th e re S h e a ct u a l ly l i s te n s

We th a n k h e r fo r k i n d n e s s a n d ge n u i n e c o n c e r n fo r u s e ve r yd a y !

Fo r a l wa ys b e i n g th e re fo r n ot o n ly th e s t u d e n ts , b u t th e e n t i re s ta f f O u r n u rs e h e l p s e ve r yo n e S h e n e ve r s h ows f r u s t ra t i o n o r p a n i c a n d a l wa ys h a s a ver y c al mi n g a p p roa c h

C AROLY N BOWE RS

A F F TO N E A R LY CH I L D HOO D S PE C I A L SC H O O L D IST R I CT Fo r t re a t i n g my d a u gh te r a s i f s h e we re h e r ow n a n d l ov i n g h e r a s m u c h a s we d o

C J LUT TRE LL

S E LV I D G E M I D D L E S CHOO L C J i s a c a l m i n g s o u rc e fo r a l l s t u d e n ts a n d s ta f f W h e n we h a ve a n e m e rge n c y, s h e i s q u i c k to re s p o n d i n a c a r i n g, s ta b l e wa y s o th a t s h e i s a b l e to d e - e s c a l a te w h a t m i gh t b e h a p p e n i n g

DAN IE LLE BOGE RT

A LTO N SC H O O L D IST R I CT Fo r a l wa ys b e i n g s o k i n d a n d p a t i e n t w ith e ve r y s t u d e n t a n d s ta f f m e m b e r yo u i n te ra ct w ith !

DAVIA BU RN S

Fo r b e i n g d e d i c a te d a n d d e vote d

DIANA ORLOS K I

WO E R T H E R E L EM E N TA RY S CHOO L

D ia na i s c o m p as s i o na te a n d re l ia b l e

EILE E N MAY BE RRY

OA K V I L L E M I D D L E S CHOO L I wa n t to th a n k Nu rs e E i l e e n fo r a l l of h e r h a rd wo rk a t O a k v i l l e Mi d d l e S c h o ol ! S h e i s n ot o n ly o n e of th e b e s t n u rs e s we h a ve h a d , s h e c o m e s to wo rk e ve r y d a y w ith a s m i l e o n h e r fa c e a n d l ove i n h e r h e a rt fo r th e k i d s a n d s ta f f

E RIN RIM KUS

K I R K WOO D S CHOO L D I S T R I C T E r i n i s a n i n c re d i b l e n u rs e S h e p rov i d e s c o m p a s s i o n a te c a re a n d i s k i n d a n d e m p a th et i c to a l l S h e a l wa ys go e s th e ext ra m i l e fo r h e r te a m a n d c o m m u n it y.

MARY WIE S E HAN

S T E G E NE V I E V E D U B O I S S CHOO L S h e re c og n i ze d a n o n c o m i n g s t ro k e i n a k itc h e n wo rk e r a n d p re ve n te d it

M E LI S SA GROFF

C R E S T V I E W M I D D L E S CHOO L Me l i s s a wa s a fa n ta s t i c s u p p o rt fo r m e a s a p r i n c i p a l a s we n a v i ga te d th ro u gh th e p a n d e m i c S h e h a d a fo c u s o n s t u d e n t h e a lth th a t e n s u re d we d i d w h a t wa s b e s t fo r e a c h s t u d e n t He r c a l m d e m e a n o r a n d p a t i e n c e a l l owe d u s to m a k e it th ro u gh e a c h d a y

M ICH E LLE LORD

W I L D WOO D M I D D L E S CHOO L

Fo r h e r p a t i e n c e i n wo rk i n g w ith a l l s t u d e n ts a n d s ta f f a t W i l d wo o d Mi d d l e S c h o ol S h e a l wa ys go e s a b ove a n d b e yo n d to e n s u re th e we l l n e s s , s a fet y a n d b e s t p ra ct i c e s fo r o u r s t u d e n ts a n d sta f f

Fo r goi n g a b ove a n d b e yo n d e ve r y d a y to s e r ve o u r s t u d e n ts a n d s ta f f S h e i s th e k i n d e s t , m o s t u p b e a t , p o s it ive f r i e n d a n d c ol l e a g u e

M IN ET TE WIL SON

R OX A N A SC H O O L D IST R I CT

Mi n ette i s a fa n ta s t i c n u rs e S h e wo rk s s o h a rd fo r e ve r y s t u d e n t a n d s ta f f a t h e r s c h o ol S h e i s h a rd wo rk i n g a n d k i n d ! S h e t re a ts e ve r yo n e w ith c o m p a s s i o n a n d s h e ’ s a g re a t n u rs e !

S EQU INA JON E S

R IV E R V I E W G A R D E N S S CHOO L D I S T R I C T Fo r a l wa ys goi n g a b ove a n d b e yo n d fo r th e s c h ol a rs .

STE PHAN IE BE N N ET T

W ith o u t S te p h a n i e , o u r s c h o ol wo u l d b e l o s t ! S h e h a s a h u ge h e a rt , i s g re a t a t m u lt ita s k i n g, a n d s h e ’ s te r r i fi c a t c o m m u n i c a t i n g w ith a l l of a fte r a l l o u r s t u d e n ts , s ta f f a n d p a re n ts S te p h a n i e i s a m a zi n g!

TE RI H E RE LL

B UD E R E L EM E N TA RY S CHOO L

T h a n k yo u fo r a l l yo u d o !

VIC TORIA M INOR -YOU NG

R IV E R V I E W G A R D E N S S CHOO L D I S T R I C T

V i cto r i a i s d e d i c a te d a n d m a k e s th e s c h ol a rs fe e l c o m fo rta b l e u n d e r a ny c i rc u m s ta n c e

WE N DY SHAW

R OC K WOO D S CHOO L D I S T R I C T Fo r h e r o n goi n g d e d i c a t i o n to th e s t u d e n ts of th e R o c k woo d S c h ool D i s t r ict

SKILLED NURSING | ASSISTED LIVING | MEMORY CARE

ADRIAN NA “AN DI ” JORDAN , RN

D E L M A R G A R D E N S O F O ’ FA L LO N , S K I L L E D

N URS I N G A ND R E H A B I L I TAT I O N C E N T E R Ad r i a n n a “A n d i ”Jo rd a n , R N, i s o n e of o u r n e we s t n u rs e s w h o s ta rte d h e r c a re e r w ith u s a t D e l m a r G a rd e n s of O ’F a l l o n . A s a re h a b u n it n u rs e , A n d i h a s p rove n to b e ve r y e a ge r to l e a r n ! S h e h a s a ge n tl e n a t u re a n d s oft a p p ro a c h w ith o u r d e a r re s i d e n ts a n d th e i r fa m i l i e s . S h e i s a g re a t s u p p o rt a n d f r i e n d to a l l h e r c owo rk e rs . We fe e l b l e s s e d to h a ve s u c h a b l o s s o m i n g s u p e rs ta r o n o u r te a m !

ADRIAN N E M ILLE R

S S M H E A LT H Fo r ye a rs of d e d i c a t i o n to h e r j o b

SKILLED NURSING| ASSISTED LIVING | MEMORY CARE

A S IA BU RN S

S T LU K E ’ S D E S PE R E S H O S PI TA L

Fo r goi n g a b ove a n d b e yo n d

BET T Y LOVE L ACE

S h e h a s d e d i c a te d h e r l i fe to h e l p i n g th e e l d e rly

DARLE N E COSBY

B E TH E S DA S O U THG AT E

Fo r D a rl e n e ’ s i n c re d i b l e l e a d e rs h i p s k i l l s w h e n th e s ta f fi n g wo rl d i s fa l l i n g d ow n a ro u n d u s

JA S MINE BURN S

Fo r b e i n g a n a we s o m e n u rs e

J E NNIF E R SCHMIT TLING

B E L L E V I L L E M EMO R I A L CA R E C E N T E R Fo r h e r d e d i c a t i o n

K ARE N JACK SON , LPN

G A R DEN VI L L A S N O RT H I N DE PEN DEN T A N D

A S S I S T E D L IV I N G C OMM U NI T Y

K a re n i s o n e of th e m o s t c o m p a s s i o n a te a n d c a r i n g n u rs e s i n S t L o u i s S h e l e a d s by ex a m pl e a n d i s a l wa ys a te a m pl a ye r T h e re i s n ot a re q u e s t m a d e by a re s i d e n t , fa m i ly m e m b e r o r s ta f f m e m b e r th a t i s to o m u c h fo r K a re n

K ARE N SCH ROE DE R

D E L M A R G A R D E N S HOM E CA R E

K a re n c a re d fo r my h u s b a n d Wa l l i e a t h i s e n d of h i s l i fe

L AK E S HA COOK

B E T H E S DA H AW T H O R N E PL AC E

I wo u l d l i k e to th a n k L a k e s h a fo r th e k i n d n e s s , d e d i c a t i o n a n d c o m p a s s i o n s h e s h ows o u r re s i d e n ts a n d h e r te a m o n a d a i ly b a s i s

LORI S M ITH

T h a n k yo u fo r yo u r h a rd - wo rk i n g s p i r it a n d s a c r i fi c i n g s o m u c h i n o rd e r to h e l p th o s e i n n e e d !

M E RCE DE S JACK SON

B E TH E S DA S O U THG AT E Fo r b e i n g a te a m pl a ye r a n d s u p p o rt i n g h e r e m pl oye e s 10 0 % !

PATRICIA “ CH RI S ” MA STE RS

D E L M A R G A R D E N S O F O ’ FA L LO N , S K I L L E D

N URS I N G A ND R E H A B I L I TAT I O N C E N T E R

W h e n yo u wo rk i n a n u rs i n g h o m e , it i s l i k e c a r i n g fo r a s e c o n d fa m i ly C h r i s Ma s te rs wo u l d n ot h a ve it a ny oth e r wa y ! He r c a r i n g a n d p a t i e n t d e m e a n o r i s c o n s i s te n t w h e n s h e c a re s fo r h e r re s i d e n ts o r s u p p o rts c owo rk e rs w h e n th e y n e e d ext ra a s s i s ta n c e C h r i s wo rk s to m a k e it a go o d d a y fo r e ve r y s i n gl e re s i d e n t s h e s e e s

T i n a i s th e m o s t a m a z i n g n u rs e I h a ve h a d th e pl e a s u re to wo rk w ith S h e s a c r i fi c e s h e r t i m e to m a k e s u re a l l of h e r re s i d e n ts a re ta k e n c a re of S h e ra l l i e s h e r te a m to d o th e i r b e s t a n d g ive th e i r a l l fo r th e go o d of oth e rs S h e i s a m a s te r m ult i -ta s ke r !

TINA ROB IN SON , LPN

B E TH E S DA S O U THG AT E

Fo r b e i n g th e u t m o s t te a m pl a ye r ! S h e h a s L PN b e h i n d h e r n a m e , b u t i s a l wa ys d oi n g w h a te ve r n e e d s to b e d o n e , i n c l u d i n g wo rk i n g a s a C NA i f th e s it u a t i o n c a l l s fo r it

TR ACY CHANCY

B E TH E S DA S O U THG AT E Fo r h e r e m p a thy a n d e n d l e s s h o u rs s h e wo rk s to k e e p n i gh t th e s h i ft goi n g !

VICK I CH I S M

B E TH E S DA S O U THG AT E Fo r b e i n g a g re a t re h a b n u rs e e ve n i f th a t ’ s n ot h e r a ct u a l j o b !

TELEMEDICINE

M ICHAE L STOL Z E

H I C U I T Y H E A LT H | S S M H E A LT H S T M A RY ’ S H O S PI TA L - S T. LO U I S Fo r b e i n g a we s o m e ! Fo r o u ts ta n d i n g n u rs i n g a t h i s wo rk a n d fo r m e , h i s w i fe

Fo r a l wa ys d oi n g w h a t ’ s b e s t fo r th e p a t i e n t a n d g iv i n g u p m a ny ye a rs to n u rs i n g

TAR A LIN S E Y

C H R I S TI A N H OS PI TA L

Ta ra a d vo c a te s fo r h e r p a t i e n ts e n s u r i n g th e y get th e b e s t c a re a va i l a b l e S h e h a s p ra ye d , c r i e d a n d l a u gh e d w ith th e m

Celebrate Waino’s final season and enter to win the chance to throw out a ceremonial first pitch!

WINNER ALSO RECEIVES:

• Two all-inclusive tickets on October 1

• Autographed Adam Wainwright item

• Adam Wainwright Final Season collectible item

• PLUS a pair of 2024 season tickets!