UNC Health Johnston names Ambassadors of the Month

Submitted by UNC HEALTH JOHNSTON

SMITHFIELD — UNC Health Johnston has recognized Jonathan Wuntke, an emergency department tech in Smithfield, as Ambassador of the Month for October, Aimee Wehner, a cardiac recovery nurse in Smithfield, as Ambassador of the Month for November and Steven Hicks, department secretary for behavioral health, as Ambassador of the Month for December.

During a recent presentation, CEO Tom Williams said Wuntke greets teammates by name and always with a smile and encouraging words. “He is genuinely proud to work at UNC Health Johnston,” Williams said. “He holds teammates accountable for practicing Carolina Care and for having a positive attitude.”

Wuntke, who has worked in the emergency department for about 18 years, says he likes the noise, the fast pace and the variety of tasks. He has never missed a day of work. “I enjoy learning new things and working with the doctors,” he said.

Recently, Wuntke had the opportunity to use his emergency skills outside the hospital. He was playing tennis at Lake Wilson Tennis Club when a man collapsed on the next court. Wuntke did chest compressions and used the club’s automatic external defibrillator to shock the man’s heart back into rhythm. He survived and was transported to a hospital where he received two heart stents.

Wuntke says the grateful patient texted him the next day to say thanks. And ever since, the ED tech has shared his story in hopes of encouraging others to learn lifesaving skills. “That was somebody’s dad, somebody’s son,” Wuntke said. “I think of how all of our patients belong to someone's family, and so it matters that we do our best."

Wuntke says it’s also important at work to boost spirits among teammates. “It’s a long day, so I try to make people feel good,” he said. “If people feel appreciated then I think they do more.”

Wuntke grew up in Fayetteville and now lives in Goldsboro. In his spare time, he enjoys playing tennis, riding bikes along the Neuse River trail and spending time with family and friends. Before giving up running, he completed six marathons, two of which were the Marine Corps Marathon in Arlington, Va. Williams said Wehner helps out wherever she’s needed in her home department on Second Bright Leaf and is always upbeat and positive. “She’s best described as ‘selfless’,” he said. “As soon as she gets to work, she looks for ways to help others. And she’s always a strong advocate for her patients.”

Wehner, who joined UNC Health Johnston four years ago, says the hospital is her favorite of all the places she’s worked during her 17 years of nursing. “I love everybody, my manager, my teammates and all the other departments. I’m so happy to be here,” she said.

In addition to cardiac recovery patients, Wehner takes care of patients under observation, others who are recovering from stroke and those who need outpatient infusions. She also precepts nursing students from Johnston Community College.

She grew up in Boston. After earning her nursing degree from North Shore Community College, she worked at hospitals in San Diego, North Dakota and Idaho in areas such as labor and delivery as well as medical and surgical.

Wehner started out with a bachelor’s degree in journalism and ended up working in advertising. But she wasn’t happy sitting behind a computer. After some reflection, she decided to take a class to become a certified nursing assistant, and loved it, she said. Soon afterward, she enrolled and was accepted in the nursing program at the community college. “I can’t imagine doing anything else,” Wehner said. “Nursing is what I was meant to do. And I love all of it.”

She and her husband, Thomas, live in Newton Grove and have four sons, ranging in age from 6 to 13.

Williams said Hicks is courteous, friendly and professional, and enjoys resolving issues. “He strives for excellence, leads by example, and wants to provide the very best patient care,” he said.

Hicks, who joined Johnston eight years ago, is also the department’s safety officer and a key liaison to the county court system. In addition, he tracks and stores the belongings of patients during their stay, and works to ensure that the department gets adequate supplies, linens, meals and trash pickups on a timely basis.

“I enjoy multi-tasking and tackling a variety of tasks during my day,” Hicks says. “I get satisfaction from seeing patients get better and from working as a team to make a difference.”

Williams says Hicks, a certified nursing assistant, encourages and supports patients, helps them while they are in crisis, and celebrates with them when they accomplish goals. “Because he builds beneficial therapeutic relationships with patients, he can tell if they are upset, not eating or behaving differently,” Williams said.

Before coming aboard, Hicks worked as an emergency room technician at WakeMed in Raleigh and as a customer service representative for a private lab. But he found his passion working part time as a mental health technician at Holly Hill. It lead him to seek a full-time position at Johnston.

Hicks recently completed an associate degree in psychology and is planning to work toward a bachelor’s degree in health care management.

Hicks and his wife, Rachel, a nurse, live in Clayton and they have a grown daughter and granddaughter. In his spare time, he enjoys spending time with family.

Through the ambassador program, Johnston recognizes teammates who go above and beyond the call of duty. They deliver quality care, foster teamwork and offer excellent service.

In addition to a designated month-long parking space, Wuntke, Wehner and Hicks each received eight hours of paid time off.

Jonathan Wuntke, an emergency department tech in Smithfield, was named the UNC Johnston Health Ambassador of the Month for October. From left are Tracey Carson, vice-president of clinical operations; Ruth Marler, chief operating officer and chief nursing officer; CEO Tom Williams, Wuntke, Leah Garner, director of emergency services and Ruth Jordan, manager of emergency services.

Aimee Wehner, a cardiac recovery nurse in Smithfield, was named the UNC Johnston Health Ambassador of the Month for November. From left are Tracey Carson, vice president of clinical operations; Brenna Stanley, manager of the Second Bright Leaf nursing unit; CEO Tom Williams, Wehner and Ruth Marler, chief operating officer and chief nursing officer.

Steven Hicks, department secretary for behavioral health, was named the UNC Johnston Health Ambassador the Month for December. From left are Dr. Uzma Faheem, psychiatrist; Shelly Malone, director of behavioral health; Ruth Marler, chief operating officer and chief nursing officer; CEO Tom Williams, Hicks, Elizabeth Lowenhagen, manager of behavioral health and Amy Hamby, vicepresident of clinical operations.