May 12, 2019
Congratulations to
Lee Hogg!
Nurses Week Heart of Health Care 2019 Honoree
20 New Assisted Living Apartments Opening in May ~ Reserve your New Home Now!
Country Meadow Place Assisted Living and Memory Care Community Call Tony Buhr, manager at 641-423-7722 or Kim Boyd, Regional Operations Manager, 319-389-0332 to schedule a tour.
(641) 423-7722
manager@countrymeadowplace.com
17396 Kingbird Avenue, Mason City, Iowa 50401 www.countrymeadowplace.com
Making Memories Matter.
NURSES: THE HEART OF HEALTH CARE
GLOBE GAZETTE
SUNDAY, MAY 12, 2019 |
F3
OUR JUDGES LINDSEY JAMES VISIT MASON CITY
NURSES: THE HEART OF HEALTH CARE
We could not have picked a better title to honor the nursing vocation. Indeed, nurses are the heart and soul of hospitals, clinics, schools, residential facilities, in-home care, and much more. Nurses educate, console, relate, comfort and endear themselves to patients and families. Nursing is a demanding profession that requires extraordinary skill and compassion. These tireless professionals deserve every bit of recognition they will receive during National Nurses Week, which ends this week. Locally, the Globe Gazette took part in honoring the area’s own nurses with a contest, section and awards event.
JUDGING THE TOP 10:
Four independent judges: Brandi Hiscocks, Julie Kolker and Chrysten Dohrmann from North Iowa Area Community College, and Lindsey James from Visit Mason City reviewed all of the nominees and chose the 10 winners revealed within this section. Read about each winner within this section.
THE AWARDS:
The final 10 nurses were honored at the Heart of Healthcare Luncheon held from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m May 9 at the Historic Park Inn in Mason City. Sam Gett, Publisher at the Globe Gazette, opened the ceremony and introduced special guest speaker Kim Chamberlain, the Chief Nursing Officer for MercyOne. Each guest left with a gift bag full of giveaways. “NURSES: THE HEART OF HEALTH CARE” IS PUBLISHED BY THE GLOBE GAZETTE (NORTH IOWA MEDIA GROUP)
Jerry Smith/Special Projects Editor – jerry.smith@globegazette.com Olivia Stalker/Advertising Coordinator – olivia.stalker@globegazette.com Greg Wilderman/Circulation Director – greg.wilderman@globegazette.com Jaci Smith/Editor – jaci.smith@globegazette.com Sam Gett/Publisher – samuel.gett@globegazette.com Advertising Department: 1-800-421-0546 – advertising@globegazette.com Circulation Department: 1-800-433-0560 – getmyglobe@globegazette.com
THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS: MercyOne North Iowa Medical Center ABCM Corporation North Iowa Area Community College Country Meadow Place
Lindsey serves as the Executive Director of Visit Mason City. With over 17 years combined experience in marketing, administration, sales, and event coordination, her passion lies in promoting Mason City and North Iowa as a great place to live, work, and play. She has been recognized as an Outstanding Young North Iowan and a recipient of Main Street Iowa’s Leadership Award. Lindsey is a member of the Mason City Noon Lions, Mason City Jaycees, President of the Iowa Group Travel Association, and serves as a Family Liaison for the National Foundation for Ectodermal Dysplasia.
CHRYSTEN DOHRMANN, INSTRUCTOR NORTH IOWA AREA COMMUNITY COLLEGE
Chrysten has served as an instructor for North Iowa Area Community College for two years, teaching cardiac and vascular content to Nursing students in the ADN program. Prior to working at NIACC, she gained significant cardiac knowledge when working for eight years as a leader on the Cardiac Stepdown Unit at Mercy One in Mason City, and multiple ERs/ICUs in Wyoming, Montana, South Dakota, and in Des Moines. Chrysten received her masters degree in Nursing in Leadership and Management from Walden University and her bachelors degree in Nursing from Allen College in Waterloo.
BRANDI HISCOCKS, INSTRUCTOR NORTH IOWA AREA COMMUNITY COLLEGE
Hiscocks has been an instructor at North Iowa Area Community College in the Practical Nursing program for the last 15 years. She also assists with clinical for Nursing I of the NIACC ADN program. She holds a bachelor’s degree in nursing from Winona State University.
JULIE KOLKER, INSTRUCTOR NORTH IOWA AREA COMMUNITY COLLEGE
Julie has been an Associate Degree Nursing Instructor at North Iowa Area Community College for past 15 years, working closely with the Nursing IV students. She has a Bachelor of Science degree in Family Services from Iowa State University, an Associate of Science degree in Nursing from NIACC and a Master’s Degree in Nursing from the University of Iowa.
F4 | Sunday, May 12, 2019
NURSES: THE HEART OF HEALTH CARE
VICKIE DIEKHUIS
Globe Gazette
RN, MERCYONE NORTH IOWA MEDICAL CENTER, MASON CITY
JERRY SMITH
V
jerry.smith@globegazette.com
ickie Diekhuis gets to act like a kid every day because she works with kids every day. The Clear Lake registered nurse at MercyOne North Iowa Medical Center has been working with kids as a pediatric nurse for 28 years with one mission. “I have kids, but they aren’t mine, but I love to make them feel better,” Diekhuis said. “ It’s a different kind of love.” To help relate to the kids she is helping and to make them feel better, Diekhuis said she has learned what different age groups Diekhuis are in to. “I have to keep up on all the kids’ cartoons,” she said. “It’s just a part of making them feel good when they are in a scary place.” Get to know Vickie Diekhuis a little better: Q: When did you know you wanted to be a nurse and what got you interested in the medical field? A: I decided five years after graduating from high school that I wanted to be a nurse to help others. I saw that the nursing profession was diverse and you could impact many aspects of helping others through health situations by being a nurse. Additionally, I purposefully waited and investigated other occupations to make sure that I wanted to invest time and money into a career I would love and be passionate about as a life long opportunity. Q: What does job entail? A: I am a pediatric nurse, so I care for infants 3 days and older up to 18 years of age. I act as a physical caregiver meeting needs while a child is hospitalized that an infant, toddler school age, and teenage child may need through use of medical interventions. Those could include oxygen delivery, starting IVs to provide administration of necessary fluids, delivering oral or IV antibiotics or any other necessary medications as ordered by physician, advocate for families and their child by communicating
JERRY SMITH, THE GLOBE GAZETTE
Vickie Diekhuis (right) works with pediatrics nurse Linda Ward on the pediatrics floor of MercyOne North Iowa Medical Center. with physicians regarding a child’s medical condition. I also act as an educator to parents to teach them about a child’s medical condition, act as a mandatory reporter for child if abuse is suspected – literally being the “voice” for that child who often is not able to communicate due to their age. There are many other job requirements so these are only a “few” and I could never give you all the details of what nursing is about. Q: What is the favorite part of your job? A: Loving up children and getting them
and their parents through the stress of any illness. I love being a teacher as the impact of teaching through nursing potentially can deter medical problems and prevent future health issues. I love being able to see the resilience that children have, which includes seeing them at their sickest but then how quickly a child can get better when the right medical interventions are provided through the means of nursing. Crazy love is that many of the children I have cared for have photographs with me and want to invite me their graduation or
special events as I made a difference and that child or parent still remembers me and my nursing efforts, even if it was a lot of years ago. Oddly, I have no biological children of my own, but am constantly told that I have mothered thousands of children in over 23 years in nursing by my coworkers, families and even physicians. Q: What would you like people to know about you outside of work? A: I enjoy riding my bike or walking, gardening, photography, scrap-booking, attending concerts, and volunteering at school when my work schedule allows.
NURSES: THE HEART OF HEALTH CARE
Globe Gazette
LEE HOGG
Sunday, May 12, 2019 | F5
RN, COUNTRY MEADOW PLACE, MASON CITY
JERRY SMITH
L
jerry.smith@globegazette.com
ee Hogg has worked at a few facilities in her long career in the health care industry. The last three years have been the best, said the healthcare coordinator at the Country Meadow Place assisted living facility in Mason City. “I’ve done everything in my career, and when I was looking for a job I came here and just loved it,” the registered nurse said. Hogg said the aging population is unique and they deserve the best of care. “I’m a big kid at Hogg heart,” she said. “I love working with them all.” Getting to know Lee Hogg a little better: Q: When did you know you wanted to be a nurse? A: I wanted to become a nurse ever since I was 5 years old and had my tonsils out. The nurse in the pediatric unit was so kind and caring and I was so scared. My mom could not stay with me since my little sister and brother (twins) were just barely newborns and my other sister was 3 and of course my brother was 7. After surgery the next day, the nurse picked me up in her arms and took me where they stored the bottled pop and let me pick any flavored I wanted except red. The nurse took the place of my parent. I remembered all this from the age of 5 and it left a powerful impression. Q: What got you interested in the medical field? A: I am not for sure what got me interested, I just knew I wanted to be a nurse. Besides, when I was trying to choose a career, a secretary wasn’t for me because I typed about 40 words a minute. Q: What does your job entail? A: I wear many different hats at my current position. I assess all potential residents for admission to our community both in memory care and assisted living. I develop ISPs, which stands for individual plan of care.
JERRY SMITH, THE GLOBE GAZETTE
Lee Hogg, the healthcare coordinator at the Country Meadow Place assisted living facility in Mason City, goes over a medication list with resident assistant Lori Lawyer. I manage medication and order all medications from different pharmacies. I assist the residents with their cares, and when every a problem arises with their health. I do the training for the resident assistance on cares and medication management. I do a blood pressure clinic at the senior citizen center monthly and I lead a support group for the caregivers on dementia once a month. Q: What is the favorite part of your job? A. The residents. They are unique in each there own way. I have had residents from all walks of life, including being at
Pearl Harbor during the attack to dairy farmers with eighth-grade education that has made a very successful living. Nurses, doctors, professors, factory workers, all that have experienced life and can share their stories and the wonderful history that is becoming long forgotten. Q: What would you like people to know about you outside of work? A. I would like people to know that I have three grown children who are married and between them I have 11 grandchildren. I am proud of all their accomplishments. That they are compassionate and full of fun. Also, I have a wonderful partner that is supportive and makes me
laugh every day. Q: What do you like to do in your spare time? 6. I enjoy trying new adventures, like drawing and art, kayaking, hiking. I am interested in my ancestors and where they came from, why they came to America from Italy, Denmark. How my uncle died on the USS Squalus. The human side of life interests me. I am thrilled with the ventures my partner and I share. Of course, my grandchildren are priceless. I love being a gram and spending time with all of them. I hope I pass a little piece of how we became and a small legacy of who we were on to them.
F6 | Sunday, May 12, 2019
NURSES: THE HEART OF HEALTH CARE
CONRAE HUINKER
Globe Gazette
RN, BSN - MERCYONE NORTH IOWA HOSPICE, MASON CITY
JERRY SMITH
F
jerry.smith@globegazette.com
or some medical professionals, caring for people at the end of their lives wouldn’t be their first choice of jobs. Conrae Huinker might be in the minority, but she believes it’s the perfect job for her. The Garner nurse is an advocate for the patients and families of MercyOne North Iowa Hospice and is able to empathize with them for the best possible experience at the Mason City hospice center. Huinker looks forward to going to Huinker work every day. “I love my job,” said Huinker, the patient care coordinator at MercyOne North Iowa Hospice in Mason City for the past five years. “I love the relationships with patients, families and my co-workers. We work so well as a team.” Get to know Huinker a little better: Q: When did you know you wanted to be a nurse? A: I knew I wanted to be a nurse when I started working as a nurse aide in high school. I knew then that I truly wanted to care for people. Q: What got you interested in the medical field? A: I got interested in the medical field by starting as a nurse aide and working with nurses who encouraged me to go into the nursing profession. Q: What does your job entail? A: I am the nurse patient care coordinator for the hospice inpatient unit. I assist in managing the unit and provide care for our patients and our families while in the unit. I also assist in coordinating care for our home care patients and work closely with the home care RNs. I provide support to all of our nursing staff to ensure that our patients, families and staff are well taken care of. Q: What is the favorite part of your job? A: The relationships that I have made
JERRY SMITH, THE GLOBE GAZETTE
Conrae Huinker (right) interacts with RN nurse Cheryl Blakely at MercyOne North Iowa Hospice. while working for hospice is the most favorite part of my job. The relationships that I have made with patients, families, co-workers and all the people we serve is the best part. I truly feel it is a blessing to be with someone at the end of their life.
The interdisciplinary team I work with A: That I have a strong faith and enjoy each day is also the best part of what I do, spending time with people. they also strive to ensure our patients and Q: What do you like to do in your families are well taken care of. spare time? A: Riding bikes, crocheting and spendQ: What would you like people to ing time with my family. know about you outside of work?
Globe Gazette
NURSES: THE HEART OF HEALTH CARE
CINDY PAPPAS
Sunday, May 12, 2019 | F7
BSN - MERCYONE NORTH IOWA MEDICAL CENTER, MASON CITY
JERRY SMITH
C
jerry.smith@globegazette.com
indy Pappas has provided North Iowa with more than 40 years of compassionate service as a nurse. As a clinical expert in the orthopedic unit at MercyOne North Iowa Medical Center, she says her job never gets boring. As a leader, a mentor and a consumer advocate, Pappas’ colleagues say she always puts her patients first and has shown hundreds of nurses what it means to be a good caregiver. Pappas says she loves her job. “I get to help peoPappas ple on their worst days,” she said. “And I get to be around people every day who have the same goals as I do, and that is to take the best care of people as possible.” Get to know Cindy Pappas a little better: Q: When did you know you wanted to be a nurse? A: I decided I wanted to be a nurse when I was a freshman in high school. My aunt and cousin were nurses and I admired them both for their kindness and work ethic. I decided I wanted to be like them. I loved being around people and always interested in helping others. My father also encouraged me to be a nurse “so I would always have a job.” He was right. I have always had a job and I love it. Q: What does your job entail? A: I have been a clinical leader for over 20 years. I am a Charge Nurse on the floor, which means I make sure staffing for our patients are covered, round on all patients and with physicians, support all staff especially newer nurses as they need. I evaluate staff nurses performances, audit, support and mentor nurses and nurse aides on our floor. When I pick up extra shifts, I work on the floor directly taking care of patients which I enjoy. I not only get to meet my patients on a closer level but I also get to see what our nurses deal with every day by seeing first hand. I graduated from NIACC with my asso-
JERRY SMITH, THE GLOBE GAZETTE
MercyOne North Iowa Medical Center orthopedics clinical leader Cindy Pappas (left) works with registered nurse Marianne Lunning as she logs on a computer to look at a patient’s medical records. ciates degree in Nursing, but as my clinical leader position evolved, I needed to get my bachelor’s degree, so in 2010 I graduated from the University of Iowa with my bachelor’s degree in Nursing. My position allows me to do many levels of nursing. I am never bored.
Q: What is the favorite part of your job? A: My favorite part of my job is interacting with patients and families, helping them in times of stress and fear. Q: What would you like people to know about you outside of work?
A: I enjoy the outdoors and working in the yard. Q: What do you like to do in your spare time? A: I have 10 grandchildren, so I enjoy spending time with them when I get the chance.
F8 | Sunday, May 12, 2019
NURSES: THE HEART OF HEALTH CARE
HOLLY RASMUSSEN
Globe Gazette
LPN, CONCORD CARE CENTER, GARNER
JERRY SMITH
I
jerry.smith@globegazette.com
n her more than three decades working as a nurse at Concord Care Center in Garner, Holly Rasmussen has taken care of generations of families. She’s also taken care of the parents of friends she went to school with and people she knows from the community. Concord Care Center, which is owned by ABCM Corp., has been providing health care services to the community since 1963. Rasmussen has been there 33 of those years and has forged many great relationships. “When you’ve Rasmussen grown up and lived in a community for so long, you get to know a lot of people,” Rasmussen said. “Since 1986, I’ve seen relatives and relatives of those relatives come through here. It’s a very rewarding job.” Getting to know Holly Rasmussen a little better: Q: When did you know you wanted to be a nurse? A: I believe I always wanted to be part of helping people and make things better. Q: What got you interested in the medical field? A: My mother was involved in health care at Mercy Hospital Physical Therapy for many years. She is now deceased, but definitely she was the “wind beneath my wings.” Q: What does your job entail? A: I have the privilege to take care of neighbors, family, friends, and community in the many aspects of long term care. From rehabilitation to return home after hospitalization or surgery and the rewards received of caring for seniors that have so much to give and offer. ABCM’s motto of “choose your day your way” and “enhancing relationships” are forging the way of long term care. Q: What is the favorite part of your job? A: I have been employed with ABCM Corporation at Concord Care Center in
JERRY SMITH, THE GLOBE GAZETTE
Holly Rasmussen (center) checks on medications with Roseann Duryee and Marlene Leuerke at the nurse’s station at Concord Care Center in Garner. Garner since 1986. Prior employment was Q: What would you like people to at Mercy Hospital in the 1970s and early know about you outside of work? 1980. Nursing has been extremely rewardA: I have been blessed with five wonderful ing to me. children (now adults) and eight grandchil-
dren. They all live around this area and enjoy them so much. With the awesome residents, the residents’ families, and my wonderful co-workers, I am thoroughly enjoying life.
Globe Gazette
NURSES: THE HEART OF HEALTH CARE
KAREN RAYHONS
Sunday, May 12, 2019 | F9
RN, MERCYONE NORTH IOWA MEDICAL CENTER, MASON CITY
JERRY SMITH
F
jerry.smith@globegazette.com
or Karen Rayhons, being a nurse is more than just a job. It’s her life. As a nurse in MercyOne North Iowa’s Cancer Center, the longtime Ventura caregiver has touched countless lives in her 39 years of service. Her wide array of knowledge and skills and different roles at MercyOne has made her versatile and in high demand. Rayhons said her recipe for success is simple: “I love to take care of patients and make people happy,” said the RN. “I get to do it every day.” Get to know Karen Rayhons Rayhons better: Q: When did you know you wanted to be a nurse? A: When I was a junior in high school, my father had a heart attack and was brought here to Mercy hospital (back then St. Joseph’s Mercy Hospital) and he was in the Coronary Care Unit. I saw how the nurses took care of him and he said “why don’t you go and be a nurse and help others?” So, because of him and his experience I decided to go to nursing school at NIACC. I have loved it since. Q: What got you interested in the medical field? A: I love taking care of the sick and helping them. I love to bring them some joy and make it a better experience. Q: What does your job entail? A: I have worked in a lot of areas in this facility over several years. The past 11 years I have worked in the Cancer Center where I assess the patients, start IVs and give chemotherapy. We also are an Infusion Center and do many other IV medication and blood transfusions. We do what we can to make the patients better. Q: What is the favorite part of your job? A: I love to make the patients and their families feel good while they are here in our care. Whether its warm blankets, a warm smile, a friendly touch, or a hug to brighten their day. We are here for educa-
JERRY SMITH, THE GLOBE GAZETTE
Karen Rayhons (second from left) poses with her colleagues at MercyOne North Iowa’s Cancer Center. tion and to keep everyone informed. I love to also make it a better place by decorating the setting with seasonal decorations on the hall boards or in our outside garden to make it calm and soothing for the patients so they can enjoy the animals. My favorite part of my job is visiting and getting to know my patients and helping the patients get better. I enjoy teasing, laughing and joking with my patients.
I find out their “life’s milestones and events.” Making each of them feel important and special. Q: What would you like people to know about you outside of work? A: Outside the hospital, I love to spend time with my family. When my sisters, my daughters and niece get together, we are always laughing and making memories. We do some traveling and go to escape
rooms. Q: What do you like to do in your spare time? A: I like to bake and read books. My favorite TV shows is NCIS (all three of them). Fishing is another activity that I enjoy, especially going to Canada with family and friends and catching the biggest fish. Once a nurse always a nurse. Your job is never done. we take care of others.
NURSES: THE HEART OF HEALTH CARE
F10 | Sunday, May 12, 2019
JAIME RIECK
Globe Gazette
RN, WESTVIEW CARE CENTER, BRITT
JERRY SMITH
jerry.smith@globegazette.com
J
aime Rieck thinks nursing homes sometimes get a bad rap. That’s why she and her colleagues at the Westview Care Center in Britt try to do all they can to make a difference in the lives of their patients. To that end, Rieck and another nurse at the Britt nursing home once honored the request of a patient who wanted to go golfing. “We try to go above and beyond here,” said Rieck, the director of nursing. “She swung the club and even had a screwdriver. We all had a fun time.” Rieck Rieck said the best part of her job is working with the older population and trying to tamp down all the negatives about nursing homes. That means trying to lift patients’ spirits and trying to have a good time with them and making them laugh. Sometimes, that hits close to home for some of the health care professionals at Westview. “My grandma is here and a lot of the staff have relatives here,” said Rieck, who has worked at the facility since 2004. “It’s nice that we have family here and we get to interact with them. We treat everybody here like family.” Getting to know Jaime Rieck a little better: Q: When did you know you wanted to be a nurse? A: I had always been interested in being a nurse since high school. I have family members that are nurses and was interested in what they did. Q: What got you interested in the medical field? A: I was interested when I started my Lifeguard training class in high school. I knew once I took the CPR class that it was something I was really interested in. Q: What does your job entail? A: I am the Director of Nursing at Westview, so I have a lot of responsibility. I oversee the nursing department, which includes the nurses and CNAs. I do QAs, ensure pol-
ASHLEY STEWART, THE GLOBE GAZETTE
Jaime Rieck (right) works with a colleague at the Westview Care Center in Britt. icies and procedures are followed. I help with scheduling, ordering supplies, setting up physician rounds, staff reviews, assist with hiring new staff, care conferences with residents and families, ensure orders are inputted correctly and followed by staff, oversee infection control/antibiotic stewardship. I also oversee Medicare and MDS assessments.
Q: What is the favorite part of your job? A: The staff that I get to work with. The residents and the residents’ families. Helping others, not only the residents but the staff. Q: What would you like people to know about you outside of work? A: I am married to my husband Ben and
have four children – Hannah-19, Hunter-15, Hayden-14, and Bentley-8. I keep busy with my kids with activities. Q: What do you like to do in your spare time? A: I like to hang out with my family and friends, go to sporting events for my kids, and I’m a big fan of the Hawkeyes and Minnesota Vikings.
Globe Gazette
NURSES: THE HEART OF HEALTH CARE
DEBORAH SCHUPANITZ
Sunday, May 12, 2019 | F11
LPN, CONCORD CARE CENTER, GARNER
JERRY SMITH
D
jerry.smith@globegazette.com
eborah Schupanitz didn’t get into the health care field to have people say how great a job she is doing. But the LPN nurse at Concord Care Center in Garner said that when it happens, its confirmation that she picked the right career. Schupanitz said there is nothing better than when they say she and her colleagues at Concord make a difference in their lives. “When they say ‘we’re glad you are a caregiver and you treat us like family,’ that is very rewarding,” she said. Schupanitz Schupanitz said that the person-directed care offered at Concord Care Center allows patients there to make choices about their care and that is key to the relationships she has with patients and staff. “I love my job and I love to help people,” she said. “I’m definitely in the right place. This is where God leads me to be. This is home to me.” Getting to know Deborah Shupanitz a little better: Q: When did you know you wanted to be a nurse? A: I have always been interested in the medical field. I knew that I wanted to become a nurse when I was in the military. I enjoy taking care of people and serving others. Q: What got you interested in the medical field? A: I was serving in the Navy as a hospital corpsman. This service excited my interest in perusing nursing as a career. Q: What does your job entail? A: I am an LPN at Concord Care Center, owned and operated by ABCM Corporation. Q: What is the favorite part of your job? A: I believe that nurses see patients at their most vulnerable times in their lives. As an advocate, nurses can improve the outcomes of their patient’s illness. I en-
JERRY SMITH, THE GLOBE GAZETTE
Deborah Schupanitz (left) has been taking care of patients at Concord Care Center in Garner since 2001. The LPN said she loves making a difference in peoples’ lives. joy seeing my residents smile. That’s what keeps me coming back every day. Q: What would you like people to know about you outside of work? A: I enjoy volunteering at my church and
in the community as much as I can. I am currently in charge of our community food pantry at United Methodist Church “God’s Pantry.” Q: What do you like to do in your
spare time? A: I enjoy traveling, riding as a passenger on husband’s motorcycle, reading devotional, spending time with family and watching birds.
F12 | Sunday, May 12, 2019
NURSES: THE HEART OF HEALTH CARE
ELAINE STEINBERG
Globe Gazette
RN, ST. ANSGAR CLINICMITCHELL COUNTY REGIONAL HEALTH CENTER
JERRY SMITH
E
jerry.smith@globegazette.com
laine Steinberg has been taking care of patients as a registered nurse for more than 20 years. As the RN Supervisor at St. Ansgar-Mitchell County Regional Health Center, Steinberg has not only touched the lives of hundreds of patients, but also those of the nurses who have learned from her. Steinberg says her colleagues all have the same high standards and a desire to keep the community in which they work healthy, which makes coming to work rewarding and fun every day. “I love my job,” she Steinberg said. “The people I get to work with and the people I get to take care of makes this a very rewarding job.” Get to know Elaine Steinberg a little better: Q: When did you know you wanted to be a nurse? A: I grew up on a farm and helped my dad outside and one day he got kicked by a cow and I decided then I wanted to know what to do when someone got hurt. Q: What got you interested in the medical field? A: I wanted to be able to help people, and I wanted a job I could do in the community I grew up in. Q: What does your job entail? A: In a small clinic off site from the hospital we are very diversified. We room patients, draw blood, take limited x-rays, handle phone calls, and do prior authorizations for procedures and medications. I also fill in for the receptionist when needed. Q: What is the favorite part of your job? A: All the good people I work with and all the good people I take care of. Q: What would you like people to know about you outside of work? A: I try to do my best every day. Q: What do you like to do in your spare time? JERRY SMITH, THE GLOBE GAZETTE A: Spend time with my family. I am very lucky to have all my kids close so we can en- Elaine Steinberg (right) interacts with colleagues working at the nursing station at the St. Ansgar Clinic-Mitchell County Regional Health Center. joy our grand kids.
Globe Gazette
NURSES: THE HEART OF HEALTH CARE
JAMIE WILLIAMS
Sunday, May 12, 2019 | F13
RN, BSN - MERCYONE NORTH IOWA MEDICAL CENTER, MASON CITY
JERRY SMITH
jerry.smith@globegazette.com
W
hen Jamie Williams puts on her scrubs and clocks in at MercyOne North Iowa Medical Center, she is prepared for
anything. The longtime versatile Mason City nurse says her biggest job is a problem-solver, whether it is working as the weekend nursing supervisor or as an instructor in the Northern Iowa Area Community College nursing program. Williams says it’s a two-way street and that she always gets satisfaction from her job. Williams “I learn something different every day,” said Williams, a nursing supervisor in Administration Nursing. “I get to work with good people in a positive atmosphere.” Get to know Jamie Williams a little better: Q: When did you know you wanted to be a nurse? A: In college, I knew I wanted to be a nurse. I wanted to make a difference and have a profession that offered a lot of opportunities. Q: What go you interested in the medical field? A: I really like science and I think it is fascinating how the human body can be similar in so many aspects, yet each individual is completely different. I like to learn and I knew that everyday in the medical field I could learn something new. Q: What does your job entail? A: At Mercy One, I am a nursing supervisor every weekend and in a nutshell (because there are so many responsibilities) it is my job to make sure the hospital is run smoothly. I complete staffing for all units, go to codes, traumas, assist families and patients with additional needs, and am a continual problem-solver for the entire hospital. I am there to assist in whatever comes my way from simple to complex. No task is
JERRY SMITH, THE GLOBE GAZETTE
Jamie Williams (far right) consults with colleagues during a shift at MercyOne North Iowa Medical Center. every to big or small for me to accomplish. At NIACC, I am a clinical nursing instructor with the ADN program. I teach nursing students in the hospital setting and get them prepared for the workforce. I also help with Ellsworth Community College ADN nursing students during the summer hours and pick up extra shifts on the surgical/oncology unit when I can. Q: What is the favorite part of your job? A: My absolute favorite part of my job is that I truly love my job. I have a job that
I enjoy and look forward to. I get to learn something new every single day and that keeps me interested. I also am fortunate to be able to work every weekend at Mercy One because that offers me flexibility with home life, kid’s activities, and allows me to teach for NIACC. I am again, very fortunate that I have leaders that support my growth and we have developed trusting relationships with each other. I work with great staff at the hospital and NIACC, which makes it en-
joyable because work doesn’t really seem like work when you love what you do. Q: What do you like to do in your spare time? A: My favorite thing to do is to spend time with my family. I absolutely love watching my kids grow up, attending their sports and school activities, and having the blessings of their friendships and laughter. One of the things I enjoy for my “me time” is going to next level extreme fitness every day with my husband and incorporating healthy exercise into part of our day.
F14 | Sunday, May 12, 2019
NURSES: THE HEART OF HEALTH CARE
Globe Gazette
THE LIFE OF A MODERN MILITARY
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NURSE
ince the dawn of the republic, military nurses have played an important role in treating and caring for our nation’s wounded returning from battle. From the Revolutionary War to America’s global war on terrorism, military nurses are on the front lines and true heroes in their own right.
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Horoho
Here are brief profiles of just two modern military nurse legends.
Thank you To
Carol Sullivan LPN, RCC
Army Lt. Gen. Patricia Horoho
Born in 1960 on Fort Bragg, North Carolina, the daughter of an Army officer, Horoho is the first woman and the first nurse to become Army surgeon general and commanding general of the Army Medical Command. Horoho grew up in North Carolina. She received her nursing degree from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in 1982 and earned her
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master’s degree in as a clinical trauma nurse from the University of Pittsburgh 10 years later. She earned a second master’s degree from the Industrial College of the Armed Forces. In her long, distinguished career, from 1982 to 2016, Horoho treated the injured in the 1994 “Green Ramp” disaster at Fort Bragg, in which an F-16 fighter clipped the wing of a C-130 transport plane while on a training exercise. While the pilots ejected safely, the fighter crashed into an area known as the “Green Ramp,” where paratroopers were waiting to board aircraft. The explosion killed 23 and injured more than 100. At the time, Horoho was head nurse of the fort’s emergency room and led the care of the injured. Horoho went on to serve in Afghanistan, and was honored by the Red Cross for her actions at the Pentagon on the fateful date of Sept. 11, 2001. In 2008, Horoho led the 9,000-strong Army Nurse Corps and the Walter Reed Health Care System in Maryland. Nominated by President Barack Obama to become commanding general of the Army Medical Command in 2011, Horoho led a health care system rivaled only the Veterans Administration, serving more than 3.5 million patients. Horoho retired in 2016 and was succeeded by her contemporary in her command by another “first woman,” Maj. Gen. Nadja West, the first black woman — and first active-duty black major general — to lead the Army Medical Command.
Sunday, May 12, 2019 | F15
Rear Adm. Sylvia Trent-Adams
While her tenure was brief, Rear Arm. Sylvia Trent-Adams was the first female nurse to serve as United States Surgeon General. Trent-Adams led the public health agency as acting surgeon general from April to September 2017, following the dismissal of Vice Adm. Vivek Murthy, who was relieved of his post by the Trump administration. But the role as the first practicing registered nurse to lead U.S. Public Health Service was just another achievement for Trent-Adams. Born in 1965 in Concord, Virginia, Trent-Adams heard the calling of being a nurse early in life, serving as a so-called “candy striper” at a local hospital at the tender age of 12. She followed her dream to Hampton University in Virginia, earning her nursing degree with the aid of an ROTC scholarship. Drawn to public service, Trent-Adams followed her military career by joining the USPHS, where she managed the Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program. She later became deputy administrator for the Department of Health and Human Service’s HIV/AIDS Bureau. Along the way, Trent-Adams earned her master’s degree in nursing and doctorate degree in public policy. While she did not serve long as the country’s top medical officer, she elevated the profile of nursing and continues to champion the role of nurses. “There is so much out there for us as a profession,” she told nursing graduates at a University of Maryland commencement ceremony.
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F16 | Sunday, May 12, 2019
NURSES: THE HEART OF HEALTH CARE
Globe Gazette
NURSE STEREOTYPES ARE CHANGING
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hat we see on TV and in movies shapes our impressions about the occupations actors portray in film and on television. No less is true than the representationof nurses in popular media. Perhaps among the most famous portrayals is that of Loretta Switt as Maj. Margaret Houlihan in the hit 1970s and ‘80s TV show “M*A*S*H.” Another is Louise Fletcher’s performance as Nurse Ratched in the 1975 film, “One Flew Over The Cuckoo’s Nest.” Both these portrayals underscore extreme stereotypes — “Hot Lips” Houlihan is a romantic/sexual interest of several characters at a surgical hospital during the Korean War and Ratched is presented as a cold-hearted tyrant at state mental hospital — but neither is representative of the real-life world of nurses. Of course, these characters are presented for entertainment purposes but those images have real impact on viewers. In “Celluloid Angels: A Research Study of Nurses in Feature Films, 1900-2007,” author David Stanley, a nurse and lecturer at Australia’s Curtin University of Technology, reviewed more than a century of nurses as predominant characters in movies. He found that “Nurses and the nursing profession are frequently portrayed negatively or stereotypically in the media, with nurses often being portrayed as feminine and caring but not as leaders or professionals capable of autonomous practice.” To combat these portrayals, the Baltimore-based group the Truth About Nursing seeks to challenge stereotypes and to educate the world about the value of nursing. Its mission is to foster a better understanding that nurses are autonomous, college-educated science professionals to strengthen nursing care, education and research, allowing nurses to save more lives. Of course, the “truth about nursing” is that nurses save lives and work long, hard hours and make many sacrifices to provide healing and care at hospitals, clinics and in a variety of environments where nurses serve patients who may not otherwise come in contact with a healthcare provider. Nurses have a long history of pioneer-
© ADOBE STOCK
ing heroes, from Florence Nightingale, the founder of modern nursing, to Clara Barton and Mary Breckinridge. Fortunately, the image of the nurse in TV, movies and in the media is improving. More recently, movie nurses are “intelligent, strong, and passionate characters,” Stanley says. An example is “Nurse Jackie.” At first condemned by nursing organizations for her drug abuse, the Truth About Nursing says, “Jackie turned out to be arguably the strongest and the most skilled nurse ever depicted on serial U.S. television.” As it developed, “Nurse Jackie” was commended for standing up to organizations that threatened safe and equitable care, recalls Canadian nurse Lori Campbell. Jada Pinkett Smith’s portrayal of Christina Hawthorne in “HawthoRNe” featured a nurse as its main character. As the chief nursing officer at Richmond Trinity Hospital, Hawthorne presented a positive portrayal of nursing, advocating for her patients and staff. “These are vital messages to increase public understanding of nursing and funding for nursing practice, education, research and residencies,” the Truth About Nursing reports.
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NURSES: THE HEART OF HEALTH CARE
GLOBE GAZETTE
MEN FIND PLACE IN NURSING FIELD
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emand for nurses has never been higher. It’s a career, and a calling, that is enduring an ongoing shortage into the next decade, if estimates are correct. That’s why more men are being encouraged to enter a field traditionally dominated by women. Only 9 percent of the estimated 4 million nurses in America today are men, according to the Kaiser Family Foundation. But those numbers are growing, with the number of active male RNs enrolled in graduate or doctoral programs increasing three-fold since the turn of the century. So why aren’t more men becoming nurses? Studies point to both stereotypes and barriers to gender diversity. In fact, in one recent study attempting to identify the few numbers of men in nursing, 70 percent of respondents cited stereotypes as a major challenge. But in this new era, those challenges are beginning to change. “Patients are much more receptive to health care providers of similar cultural and ethnic backgrounds, and that may well translate to gender as well,” said Vernell DeWitty, deputy director of New Careers in Nursing, a program funded by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation in an article on the foundation’s website. “The shortage of the future will likely not be solved unless men are part of the equation,” added male nurse William T.
Lecher, president of the American Assembly for Men in Nursing, in the same article. “We really have to figure out how to provide more gender inclusion and balance in the nursing workforce.” Similar studies show men who are drawn to a career in nursing typically pursue advanced degrees and often out-earn their female counterparts. That has contributed to the 11 percent rise in male nurses in the past few years, according to statistics collected by Montana State University. That data also shows that overall men are more inclined to pursue careers as nurses in hospitals. Nearly 70 percent of male RNs worked in hospitals, as opposed to 61 percent of female RNs in 2015. The study said male nurses may be more drawn to the types of care — emergency departments and critical care units — than women. All the data and statistics point toward a challenging and lucrative career for men in nursing, where average salaries top $60,000. Now is an excellent time for men to consider careers in nursing — and to get over the stigma. “Forget about the stigma,” Jorge Gitler, an oncology nurse manager, told The New York Times in an article focused on men who had left other careers to pursue nursing. “The pay is great, the opportunities are endless and you end up going home every day knowing that you did something very positive for someone else.”
SUNDAY, MAY 12, 2019 |
Touching hearts, saving lives… All in a Day’s Work. During Nurses Week we want to take the time to thank our wonderful crew of nurses for their dedication to Manly Specialty Care. Long term care is a challenging but rewarding career. Through the many long shifts and countless hours on your feet, you manage to provide award winning care to those who need us. We are truly grateful for all that you do. You are an inspiration to those around you, and a shining example of the integrity of the long-term care nursing profession.
Congratulations to
MiChele lawson
RN, Director of Nurses at Manly Specialty Care for her recognition as one of the 100 Great Iowa Nurses for 2019!
Manly Specialty Care 601 East South St. Manly, IA 50456
641-454-2223 www.careinitiatives.org
Her commitment to her profession and to caring for our residents is unmatched. We are grateful for her strength of character, leadership and dedication to long term care nursing. Thank you for being a compass for others nurses and for those who aspire to be a nurse.
F17
F18 | Sunday, May 12, 2019
Congratulations 2019 Nurse Honorees!
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Globe Gazette
NURSES: THE HEART OF HEALTH CARE
Sunday, May 12, 2019 | F19
THE EVOLUTION OF MODERN SCRUBS
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crubs have long since entered lexicon and moved from uniforms for nurses, doctors and medical staff, to being embraced as a true mode of fashion. Because they allow freedom of movement and comfort to hard-working medical professionals, the garments have become as popular as warm-up suits for those in and out of the field. Scrubs were born of necessity and at first were worn by physicians which provided ease of movement and sanitary dress in operating rooms that could be quickly disposed of. According to an article on dressamed.com, nurses once wore long, bulky gowns for protection but were prone to transmutation diseases. Modern scrubs were pioneered by Dr. William Hasted, who also developed the first pair of latex gloves. But it took decades before what we now recognize as scrubs spread from operating-room wear to the de facto uniform of almost every hospital
Its biggest hit is a line in partnership with the popular, long-running medical drama, “Grey’s Anatomy.” The show — and the scrubs — proved so successful that Barco turned from making scrubs for fictional TV shows to a line based on that show for real-world medical wear. medical staffer. While most medical facilities provide the drab green or blue scrubs most are familiar with, those in the medical field have sought out an even-more comfortable and fashion-forward look and uniform companies have responded. It’s no mistake that people who wear any sort of uniform want to invest in a look that feels good, wears well and expresses some individuality. And manufacturers have responded.
Among them is Barco, a California-based uniform supplier that has been in business since 1929. The company claims to have created “the world’s first fashion scrubs” in 1965, and also makes uniforms for such fast-food chains as McDonald’s and Taco Bell, according to an article in The New York Times. But Barco also has a close connection to the entertainment world, supplying scrubs for a range of television and movies for decades, the article notes. Its biggest hit is a line in partnership with
the popular, long-running medical drama, “Grey’s Anatomy.” The show — and the scrubs — proved so successful that Barco turned from making scrubs for fictional TV shows to a line based on that show for real-world medical wear, the Times article reported. On their website, Barco features no fewer than five signature “Grey’s Anatomy” lines of scrubs for women and men made from soft, stretchable fabric that “drapes elegantly and conveys a polished professional image.” But Barco is not alone in producing fashion-forward scrubs. Several companies, including Med Couture, Jaanuu and Cherokee are changing the look of medical uniforms, introducing bold colors, patterns and prints. As an article on WorkingNurse.com pointed out,” looking good makes you feel good, and feeling good makes you perform your job even better. And that’s never out of style.”
Congratulations from your MercyOne colleagues! Personalized care comes in many forms. Our newly combined MercyOne team has more highly-rated specialty services than any network in Iowa. And more than 20,000 health-focused team members with one mission—to help you live your best life. Join our caring circle—apply today: MercyOne.org/northiowa/careers EEO employer F / M / veteran / disabled / sexual orientation / gender