Nurses Week

COMMITTED

COMPASSIONATE

CARING

CELEBRATING NATIONAL NURSES WEEK 2021

issoulian

may 9, 2021

NURSES WEEK 2021

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Nurses Week

Best. Nurses. Ever.

This year, Nurses Week holds an especially prominent place in our hearts as we thank those who give so much.

Please join Providence Montana in thanking our nurses, today and every day, for their commitment to care for us all.

Montana.Providence.org

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may 9, 2021

Thank you to our nurses!

The quality care we provide to our residents and families would not be possible without each member of our nursing team.

REHABILITATION | LONG-TERM CARE | MEMORY CARE 2651 South Avenue West, Missoula, Montana 59804 | 406-728-9162 | villagehealthcare.com

Community Nursing Inc. d/b/a The Village Health & Rehabilitation complies with applicable Federal civil rights laws and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, age, disability, or any other protected status.

LANGUAGE ASSISTANCE SERVICES

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ATENCIÓN: si habla español, tiene a su disposición servicios gratuitos de asistencia lingüística. Llame al 1-844-674-8457 (TTY: 711).

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Saluting Western Montana Nurses

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ach day, thousands of nurses toil to improve the health and well-being of their communities. This week, celebrate those who choose a career of compassion in the nursing field with Nurses: The Heart of Health Care. In conjunction with National Nurses’ Week, this publication recognizes the dedication of nurses across Montana, and the world.

National Nurses’ Week takes place every year from May 6 through May 12, ending on the anniversary of Florence Nightingale’s birthday. The event is an opportunity to give back to nurses everywhere, with specific dates for National School Nurse Day (May 6), National Student Nurses Day (May 12), and International Nurses Day (May 12).

A nurse and Montanan herself, Becky Kloker, RN, CCM, is also the unit manager, clinical operations, in the Health Care Management Department of Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Montana. With 24 years of nursing experience, and 12 years at Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Montana, Kloker understands the significance of focusing on the ‘care’ within health care.

“We in Montana, we just genuinely care about one another. And we really want to help our neighbors, help our friends, help our co-workers, help everyone -- which is a very important value that nurses have,” says Kloker.

“Being a nurse requires patience; you're a motivator, a good communicator, a caring person with critical thinking skills, and a hard worker. You

also need to have physical and mental endurance to make it through the day in and day out situations at hand,” Kloker says.

To honor the service of nurses across Montana, local health care organizations and communities were asked to nominate outstanding nurses who made a difference in their lives. From these extraordinary submissions, nine nurses were selected by a panel of local healthcare professionals. This year’s panel of judges includes Linda Barnes, Nursing Program Director at Missoula College; Eric Beyer, RPh; Judy Koppang, RN (retired); and Shaun Stuto, DC. The tenth selection, Reader’s Choice, was voted on by the community.

day, and making their own family sacrifices, to care for others and to help us get through this pandemic together. This is truly a year to celebrate nurses,” says Kloker.

“The best way to thank local nurses is to prevent COVID. Vaccinations are highly effective in preventing COVID, and even more effective at preventing severe COVID. The other thing that communities can do is to continue to wear masks when gathering and to social distance,” Kloker says Kloker, who leads a team of nurses that helps members navigate their healthcare journey, says this past year the global pandemic affected every facet of nursing.

“COVID-19 hit every pressure point of the health-care delivery system: access, safety, infrastructure, and affordability.

And nurses played an absolutely critical role in ensuring that our health-care system didn't get overwhelmed. Because of the tireless work and dedication of nurses, Montana was able to rise to the occasion and take care of our citizens,” says Kloker.

“Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Montana knows what an integral role nurses play in health care and in helping our members on their various health-care journeys. And as a company, we also recognize that not a single community in Montana could have made it through this pandemic without the support of the nursing profession. Whether nurses were helping with critical or end of life care, testing Montanans for COVID, or vaccinating our fellow citizens, nurses played a pivotal role in the successful navigation of this crisis,” says Kloker.

Becky Kloker

Printed in no particular order, these nurse profiles provide insight into the individuals that give so much. When it comes to giving back, sometimes the best way to show appreciation is with action.

This third-annual edition of Nurses: The Heart of Health Care is made possible by the Missoulian and the Ravalli Republic, statewide sponsor Blue Cross Blue Shield of Montana, title sponsor Providence Health and Services Montana, and supporting sponsors Marcus Daly Memorial Hospital and Village Health & Rehabilitation. Other sponsors include City Brew, Draught Works, Fresh Market, Jakers Bar & Grill, Metro Express, Missoula Health & Rehab, the Montana Hospital Association, and Polson Health & Rehab.

“Nurses Week 2021 allows us to acknowledge all of the nurses out there who are doing their best each and every

TO OUR HEALTHCARE HEROES, WE SALUTE YOU. A heartfelt thank you to Montana’s nurses for your extraordinary efforts this past year. We are humbled by your dedication and commitment to the patients and communities you serve.

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Nurse feels calling to save lives in intensive care jordan.hansen@missoulian.com

It takes a particular type of person to work in an intensive care unit.

For Jack Lowney, a critical care registered nurse, the calling to help anyone and everyone has been strong.

He knew from a young age he wanted to go into health care. After graduating with degrees from both the University of Montana and Montana State, he has spent the better part of 10 years in the area.

Working in intensive care is difficult and challenging, he said, which was part of what brought him there.

"I like to impact people's lives, and I love to have the opportunity to save someone's life," Lowney said.

There have been different hurdles during the pandemic, but the goal remains the same — save lives. There are lows, but seeing people come out of them and achieving better health has been one of the most

rewarding parts of his job.

He's humble, and the compassion he has for those in his care is evident from how Lowney speaks about his work.

Primarily at Community Medical Center, he also works at Partnership Health in its catheterization laboratory. At Community, he is the intensive care charge nurse, the go-to person for any questions that arise when caring for some of the sickest patients in the hospital.

At busy times, he is doing that as well as caring for his own patients. He has been an intensive care nurse for seven years.

"There were many times we felt helpless this past year in the fight against the coronavirus," said Hope Evans, a nurse at Community Medical Center. "Jack was there in those moments, lifting us up and listening to our pain all while going through it himself. He is a devoted husband, loving father, and friend of many.

We are honored to work alongside him and Missoula is lucky to have him."

Jack Lowney

TOM BAUER, Missoulian

JORDAN HANSEN

“I love to have the opportunity to save someone’s life.”

Those intense situations were certainly part of the calling.

"Regardless of the pandemic, you don't pick and choose your patients, you don't

pick and choose when a pandemic happens," Lowney said. "You just, you know, put on your work boots, and you show up and you get the job done."

Celebrating National Nurses Week NATIONAL NURSES WEEK, MAY 6 - 12, 2021

Thank you nurses for your courage and commitment over the past year.

During COVID-19, nurses have worked tirelessly on the front lines to ensure that people who need help get the care they need. They hold up our healthcare system with kindness and compassion.

This week we celebrate our nurses, always there, helping us through some of the hardest times of our lives.

MORE than essential, nurses are the heart of healthcare!

TOP

100

CRITICAL ACCESS HOSPITAL

(406) 363-2211 • 1200 Westwood Drive, Hamilton, MT • MDMH.org

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Missoula nurse in COVID trenches at Community Medical Center laura.scheer@missoulian.com

When Bri Verlanic got COVID-19 in November, she was scared despite being a young, healthy woman in her 20s.

“I’ve seen people get intubated and be really sick,” said Verlanic, a nurse at Community Medical Center. “It was freaky … just having seen so many patients — their condition changes so quickly. The first thing I did was buy an oxygen monitor.”

One of the Missoulian’s 2021 Nurses Week honorees, Verlanic didn’t hesitate to return to work as soon as she had recovered.

“As far as getting back in the trenches again, I feel like if you asked all the nurses at the hospital, they’d just say, ‘It’s what we signed up for. It’s what we do.’”

At only 25 years old, Verlanic is the shift lead, or charge nurse, on the hospital’s medical surgical floor, which she called “the heart and center of COVID” treatment.

“I do feel really proud to be a charge on

that floor because it is one of the busiest floors,” she said. “I learn something new every day and of course with the pandemic, it’s been very interesting.”

While Verlanic could have never predicted she’d work through a global pandemic, she said she’s wanted to be a nurse her whole life.

“As a little kid, I was obsessed with anything medical. My dad and I would go to garage sales and I’d be like, ‘Oh my god, look!

An old pair of crutches.’ I’d want them.”

She ended up attending the nursing program at Missoula College through the University of Montana and graduated with her bachelor’s degree last year.

Her very first job as a certified nursing assistant was at a nursing home in Missoula, and she still has an affinity for working with the elderly.

“Personally, I just have a real soft spot for the elderly population,” she said.

The best part of being a nurse, she said, is getting to know her patients and making a tough situation a bit brighter for them.

Bri verlanic

TOM BAUER, Missoulian

LAURA SCHEER

“I just have a real soft spot for the elderly population.”

“I don’t go to work like, ‘I’m going to save a life.’ I just go to work because I like people and it feels good to make people feel better

as much as I can and make a scary time in their life a little less scary with my dorkiness.”

DURING NATIONAL NURSES’ WEEK

WE COMMEND ALL NURSES

To the nurses of Community Medical Center & Community Children's, we extend our gratitude for the excellent care you provide to every person, today and every day.

Congratulations to our nurses for being nominated as one of Missoula’s best.

Jack Lowney, RN ICU

Bri Verlanic, RN Medical / Surgical Unit

Maria Gurreri, RN Pediatric Infusion

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From Peace Corps in Africa to Missoula public school nurse david.erickson@missoulian.com

As the Missoula County Public Schools nurse for the past six years, Bev Wiaczek has to manage many different responsibilities.

Along with dealing with the day-to-day needs that arise in the three schools she oversees, she also develops and monitors health care plans for the students with acute or chronic health concerns and provides staff training. She coordinates and conducts health screenings and guides the Medical Emergency Response Team.

"During COVID-19 times, Bev has answered questions and provided staff with research-based information to enable us to ensure our school is safe and clean for students and staff alike," said Hawthorne Elementary teacher Rhonda Krause. "As if the job of a school nurse weren’t overwhelming to begin with, her role as a school nurse has expanded to include ad-

ditional unexpected responsibilities such as contact tracing and testing."

Wiaczek was a Peace Corps volunteer in The Gambia, West Africa.

"That experience made me interested in pursuing a career in both public health and nursing," Wiaczek explained. "I got a degree in public health and worked in the field for a few years before I went back to school for a nursing degree. I have worked on a liver transplant floor, the emergency room, the post anesthesia care unit, day surgery centers and for an infectious disease research firm before becoming a school nurse."

Every day is different at her job and the diversity of responsibilities keeps her engaged, she said.

"Nursing provides a tangible aspect to helping people and learning about the human body," she said. "As well, it has the bonuses of lifelong learning and diversity of experiences built into the career."

Although she gets curveballs thrown

bev wiaczek

TOM BAUER, Missoulian

DAVID ERICKSON

"Nursing provides a tangible aspect to helping people.”

into her routine on a daily basis, Krause said Wiaczek always keeps a positive attitude.

"While Bev is incredibly busy, she remains consistently approachable and always upbeat," Krause said. "She genu-

inely cares about the well-being of every individual in the schools she oversees. Her impact on the lives of the students and staff in the buildings that she works in is immeasurable​."

Polson Health and Rehab would like to thank our nurses for the hard work and dedication provided to our patients.

Tia Hanson- Director of Nursing

Deb Burchinal-RN

Austin Jubb-LPN

Sandi Blevins- MDS Coordinator

Laci Raley-RN

Erica Graham-LPN

Cindy St. Clair- Infection Control

Crystele Fischer-RN

Tina Nordlund-LPN

Mandi Gullotta- RN

Dana Kirsch-RN

Lori Robinson-LPN

Skilled Nursing, Rehabilitation Therapy, Memory Support, Respite Stays, Hospice Services, Supplementary Care Options

Nine, 14th Ave W, Polson, MT 59860 Get Directions • Tel: (406) 883-4378

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may 9, 2021

Nurses Week

Amy David • John Brewer • Alicia Galahan • Abe Christianson • Allison Maricich • Amy Harrison • Andrew Schneller • Angie Johnson • Anna Sacry • Brittany Girolami • Caitlyn Patera • Cindy Farr • Cole Brilz • Cynthia Asbury • Deianeira Hill • Elize Cline • Evan Thompson • Hailey Seedall • Hannah Johnson • Jaime Evans • James Harris • Jamie Bagley • Jenifer Swigart • Jen Buscher • Jennifer Walsh • Jessie Kristof • Jennifer Hawkins • Jessica Lindsay Jordyn Rollins • Katie Hanson • Katie Waits • Kathleen Wilkins • Katie Lee

• Kelli Robinson • Kendra Lloyd • Kirk Fuzesy • Kristie Noonan • Kristin Steinke • Laura Rear • Lisa Marcille • Makenzie Chamberlin • Maggie Phillips • Mary Hall • Matthew Grigsby • Megan Moran • Megan Cady • Meghan Erickson • Michael Sanders • Michelle Herron • Mikel Allen • Natalie Tocas • Nikki Larue • Paula Strand • Phillis Asiata • Rehanna Neace • Russ Biddle • Sara Stoeckel • Shane Gabriel • Sheri Onstott • Tabitha Cole • Terri Sanchez • Tonya Dehaven • Tracy Horton • Trevor Greene • Willow Sheehan

To heal, help and inspire hope Helena • Butte • Missoula

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Caring is passion for Village Health nurse tandy.neighbor@missoulian.com

Registered nurse Collette Pendon treats the residents of Village Health & Rehabilitation as more than patients. She treats them like family.

Her reputation is of a compassionate nurse who always puts her residents before herself, so it's not surprising she was chosen as one of this year's honorees for the Missoulian's Nurses Week recognition.

“One of the main reasons I came to Village Health for rehab was because of Collette,” said Thelma “Sis” Gilbert. Pendon had taken care of Gilbert’s husband when he needed rehabilitation.

“He was a joker,” Gilbert explained, “and Collette under-

stood that and gave it right back to him. She is one of the sweetest people — I don’t think you’ll find a nicer gal.”

Pendon's coworkers sing her praises as well.

“She is a team player,” said Amy Michels, a certified nursing assistant. “Collette always helps her coworkers.”

Subacute Manager Sarah Rohde added, “Collette is willing to float between long-term, subacute and memory care units and is flexible to working various shifts. She’s even willing to help out at our local sister facilities.”

A clinically strong nurse, Pendon is skilled with high acuity patients. She was truly a health care hero during the COVID pandemic.

"It was a difficult transition from regular long-term care to

the COVID unit," Pendon said. "I had to deal with more health incidents and the residents needed more monitoring. It was physically and emotionally stressful.

But my coworkers and managers are an amazing support system.

“We are a team; always there for each other. And you must be flexible to be a nurse."

Pendon’s passion for her profession is in her lineage.

"Nursing runs in our family,” she said. "My brother and sister are nurses. My cousins are nurses.”

She has been a nurse for 16 years, and has worked at The Village Health & Rehabilitation for the last three; it’s her first job in the U.S. She was recruited from the Philippines by the Goodman Group.

"The adjustment was easy,”

collette pendon

TOM BAUER, Missoulian

TANDY NEIGHBOR

"I find such joy in helping my patients even with the small things.”

she said. “Everyone was so nice and friendly."

“Collette is very quick to shy away from attention,” said Rohde, “but she deserves this recognition because of her compassion and drive to help others.”

One of the sweetest things

that Pendon has been heard doing is making rounds before she leaves the building to bid goodnight to each of her patients.

"I find such joy in helping my patients even with the small things,” she said. “It is so rewarding."

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Nurses Week

Team effort crucial to Mineral County COVID fight JIM VAN NOSTRAND

jennifer donovan

Nursing can be a difficult profession, both physically and emotionally, even in the best of times.

Throw in a worldwide pandemic, and the need to set up mass vaccination clinics literally overnight, and the nature of the job changed completely.

Nurses Jennifer Donovan and Barb Jasper of the Mineral County Health Department met the challenge with dedication and good cheer, according to their peers, who chose them for Nurses Week recognition by the Missoulian.

“I am deeply honored to help these tremendous nurses work to get Mineral County vaccinated against COVID-19,” wrote Christina Airhart, the former director of nursing at Mineral Community “I like people, and it was just a natural fit.”

Hospital.

“They have organized drive-through vaccination clinics which occur weekly at her to work in an Alaska hospital when she MCH into a smooth and efficient experi- was 8 years old, she said. She has been a ence,” Airhart added. “They usually know registered nurse for about 15 years now, 10 all the participants by name even with their of those working in public health. masks on! It is a treat to see their enthu“I like people, and it was just a natural siasm spill over to all those getting vac- fit,” she said. cinated. I know they spend a lot of time Jasper, 50, has been a registered nurse for working to make the vaccine clinics enjoy- 28 years. As a public health professional, she said the demands of the pandemic able and easy.

“They also do so much for the health of made it more important than ever to come our community: serving as school nurses, into work every day.

“I’m not the kind of person who likes to managing the WIC program, contact tracsit down,” she said. ing, epidemiology reporting, safety programs, childhood vaccinations, etc. They The hardest part of the past year has been are heroes in Mineral County and have han- trying to lift the spirits of people who are dled the pandemic with grace and dignity.” frustrated and tired, she said. Many are Both Donovan and Jasper credited their dealing with a severe loss of income and the coworkers for helping them manage the fear of a positive COVID diagnosis. added workload. The county health de“You’re delivering news that’s really destructive to people,” she said. partment numbers about a dozen people.

“They are an amazing team of rock stars,” Jasper credited the efforts of the commusaid Donovan, 37, the department’s direc- nity volunteers who show up every week, tor. “We supported each other every day, rain or shine, to help run the vaccination and we just got through it … we’re like a clinics. They try to keep the mood upbeat, with music and food. family.”

The biggest challenge during the panFor some elderly clients, the clinics are demic was “just keeping all of the balls in their first time out of the house in more the air,” Donovan said of the need to keep than a year. Jasper enjoys the interaction the department’s regular programs running with them — especially meeting their dogs. in addition to the vaccination clinics. “It “They usually leave with a smile, even though they got poked by a needle,” she was hard to keep a balance.”

Donovan’s mother was a nurse who took laughed.

barb jasper

Ben allan smith, Missoulian

jim.van@missoulian.com

“They usually leave with a smile, even though they got poked by a needle.”

is celebrating our nurses!

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Thank you to our entire medical community!

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Intensive care for kids a source of strength for St. Pat's nurse rchaney@missoulian.com

A midlife career shift turned into a dream come true for Angie Seal.

“I came to nursing late in life,” the Providence-St. Patrick Hospital neonatal intensive care nurse said.

“When I gave birth to my youngest daughter, I had this incredible nurse," she said. "And I was working at the (Stimson Lumber Co. plywood) mill in Bonner and realized that was going down. I was a forklift driver and ran some of the different (production) lines there. I think I left a few months before it closed for good.”

Seal made it into the extremely competitive nursing program run through Montana State University on Missoula’s University of Montana campus. While she initially focused on labor and delivery skills, a training rotation in the neonatal intensive care floor convinced her

to add to her options.

“I just fell in love with NICU aspect of childbirth,” Seal said. “Babies are incredibly strong. Even though they can’t talk, you can understand what they need.

And on the labor side, it’s an honor to be there when a new life comes into the world — to see that strength.”

Seal graduated from the nursing program in 2009 and has been at St. Pat's since 2013.

A former patient who nominated Seal for Nurses Week recognition recalled how Seal focused on the family and helped them understand the sometimes frustrating range of decisions needing to be made.

“Angie was very attentive to my son and my husband and I while we were in the NICU,” the nominator wrote. “She went out of her way to make sure we knew what was going on and ask if we had questions or if she could help ...

Thank you so much, Angie, for every-

angie seal

Ben allan smith, Missoulian

ROB CHANEY

“it’s an honor to be there when a new life comes into the world — to see that strength.”

thing you did for us. You deserve more than a simple award to show how much

we appreciate you. You are an amazing person!”

Nurses, we see you, we support you, we appreciate you.

Stop by Draught Works & show us your badge through May 12th for a pint on us.

915 Toole Ave.

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Nurses Week

Nurse helps Trapper Creek Job Corps students start new lives cory.walsh@missoulian.com

In Melissa Langfield’s job, helping others create a “healthy life” has a holistic meaning.

She’s the health and wellness manager at Trapper Creek Job Corps in Darby, where students ages 16 to 25 years old from most any demographic or background come to learn skills to help them succeed in the work force.

“Watching them morph into productive members of society is just awesome. I love that,” she said. “That’s what keeps me there, and that’s what gives me my drive every day.”

She decided to become a nurse after working with people with developmental disabilities, and she noticed that they sometimes had difficulties getting care when they needed to go the hospital.

After earning her bachelor of science in nursing at Regis University, she began

looking for a position that was holistic.

She started at Trapper Creek three years ago, which, like her previous job, covers residential, medical and vocational aspects.

She helps make sure applicants are a good fit and are healthy with no underlying issues that could hinder their ability to be successful. Then there’s day to day assessments, and work with the doctor, dentist and hygienist.

Students can enter the program with issues around self-confidence, trust, or apprehension about the medical field.

We “empower them and give them the education so they can advocate for themselves and [see] what a healthy lifestyle really looks like,” she said.

They work closely with trades, so if a student needed accommodations they can help arrange for them.

The past year presented new difficulties for the staff and the students. The center had to close. If students had to return home to places like Arizona or Colorado, she

melissa langfield readers’ choice

Ben allan smith, Missoulian

CORY WALSH

"You could just see the relief flood over them.”

helped them find resources and support in their area. If students had nowhere to go, she helped find places in the community.

She helped draft the plan to reopen the center in January, and now has 64 students who are excited to be back.“Just the smiles on their faces when they walk in the door,

and just to see them," she said. "You could just see the relief flood over them.”

Sometimes she’ll hear from graduates a few years after they’ve left the program.

“Most of our students who graduate are still gainfully employed, making well above minimum wage and doing phenomenal,” she said.

Thank you to all of our extraordinary nurses!

Happy Nurses Week 2021!

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Tim Buhl brings humor and care to Providence during COVID-19 Tim Buhl has spent the past 12 months in the emergency room and intensive care unit tirelessly helping his fellow community members and bringing smiles to patients’ faces.

Buhl, 51, has spent his past four years as a nurse working at Providence St. Patrick Hospital after coming from Marcus Daly Memorial Hospital in Hamilton.

He transitioned to the nursing field later in his career after years working as an outdoor educator and guide.

“I always wanted to do a job that was actually meaningful,” he said. “At the end of the day I (wanted to) feel proud of what I did and do something where I was giving back to my community.”

In addition to finding inspiration in spending each day helping to improve the lives of people, Buhl also was encouraged by a mentor nurse at his first job at Marcus Daly.

“I feel really lucky I had a mentor. She would never give me the fish, she would teach me how to fish,” he said.

Buhl works as a resource pool nurse at Providence, meaning he bounces among departments in the hospital. Every morning when he comes into work, he’s assigned something different than the day before.

“For pool nurses, we have no home base. I don’t know what my assignment will be in the morning,” he said. “At 6:30 I’ll call in and they have a phone answering machine with a recording that tells me what my assignment for the next four hours will be.”

Buhl was scheduled to retire in June 2020, but decided to stay on board when COVID-19 hit.

When the pandemic first started, Buhl was spending most of his time in the emergency room. Eventually, he transitioned to working in the intensive care unit, where he took care of COVID-19 patients.

“I like to jokingly refer to myself as King COVID,” he said.

One patient that Buhl left an impres-

tim buhl

Ben allan smith, Missoulian

ZOË BUCHLI zoe.buchli@missoulian.com

“Knowing I’m fulfilling a need gets me out of bed.”

sion on passed away from COVID-19 in the intensive care unit, according to a statement from the team at Providence which nominated him for Nurses Week recognition.

After the patient passed, the family contacted Providence and found a notebook in the patient’s belongings, describing how supportive and great Buhl was during those last days.

The statement emphasizes how he always has a smile on his face and improves the care of patients and attitude of hospital staff.

“I always try to put myself in someone else’s shoes,” Buhl said. “What kind of care would I want for my parents?

Knowing I’m fulfilling a need gets me out of bed.”

Buhl also loves bringing a sense of humor to the job and lifting the spirits of everyone he interacts with at the hospital.

“The best part of being a nurse is that I get to come into work and joke with people all day long,” he said.

THANK YOU Nurses!

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Providence nurse makes caring connections with patients tyler.christensen@lee.net

Even before COVID-19 arrived in Montana, Dean Christian was known for going above and beyond the call of his regular nursing duties at Providence St. Patrick Hospital.

He received the Daisy Foundation Award, an international honor for nurses, in recognition of his outstanding service to patients before the pandemic began. Then, as cases of coronavirus began to appear in Missoula, he started volunteering to help care for COVID patients.

From supplying a homeless patient with outdoor gear to spending extra time researching symptoms to help ease the fears of a young patient with an unknown condition, Christian has built a reputation for making connections that go beyond the cardiology/respiratory unit where he works as a registered nurse.

“Dean is so kind, informative, attentive,

friendly and just simply one of the best nurses we have ever encountered,” recounted the mother of one of Christian’s patients, nominating him for Nurses Week recognition. “My son, as the patient, raved about what an excellent nurse Dean was and this was even when he was super sick.”

Nurses are often the only personal contact a COVID patient will have for long stretches of time. Whereas an entire interdisciplinary team would have provided care for seriously ill patients before the virus outbreak, COVID forced hospitals to limit exposure to additional people.

“My first death on the COVID unit, I realized nobody else is coming in that room,” Christian recalled. “Having to body bag the person you’ve been caring for for four months — that’ll stick with me forever.”

Christian has helped care for patients from all walks of life, people with a wide range of personality types and all kinds of health concerns. He considers it an honor to provide care for anyone during the most vulnerable

dean christian

BEN ALLAN SMITH, Missoulian

TYLER CHRISTENSEN

“You make connections with people, which is more than just being their nurse.”

time of their lives.

“It feels really nice to be able to help people like that,” he said. “You make connections

with people, which is more than just being their nurse. All the different kinds of people — that’s my favorite part.”

Missoula Health and Rehab would like to thank our nurses for the hard work and dedication provided to our patients.

Vince, DDCO Jesse, RN, NPC Doris, RN, DNS

Callen, LPN, ADON Bev, LPN, MDS

Cheryl, RN

Karen, RN

Ryland, RN

Margaret, LPN

Rafael, RN

Garry, LPN

Skilled Nursing, Rehabilitation Therapy, Memory Support, Respite Stays, Hospice Services, Supplementary Care Options

3018 Rattlesnake Drive, Missoula, MT 59802 Get Directions • Tel: (406) 549-0988

Nurses Week

THANK YOU

may 9, 2021

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Nurses are always on the front lines of health care.

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Thank you to every nurse – for all you do every day, and for all you have done to help us navigate this crisis.

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