In celebration of National Nurses Week, May 6 through 12, St. Mary Medical Center administration and staff have recognized the top performing caregivers at the hospital. The 2015 Nursing Pillar Awards honor nurses who go above and beyond their duties, striving for the best in patient care across five categories: Service, Quality, Finance, Growth and People, as well as a Super Star for the nurse who best exemplifies the characteristics of all categories combined.
“The Pillar Awards provide the opportunity to appreciate our outstanding clinical staff at St. Mary Medical Center,” said Tammie Jones, chief nursing officer at St. Mary Medical Center. “Our nurses are the leading advocates for our patients. They continually work hard to deliver quality care – these awards highlight just a few of the many extraordinary healthcare professionals in our system.”
“Every day our nurses walk in our patients’ shoes, caring for them with compassion and dignity,” said Janice Ryba, CEO of St. Mary Medical Center. “The pillar awards showcase their commitment to improving the lives of others. We are privileged to serve this community and look forward to continuing to provide exceptional care.”
The St. Mary Medical Center 2015 Nursing Pillar Awards are:
Service – Mary Beth Munro, R.N., Portage
Munro has worked at St. Mary Medical Center for more than 13 years. She is respected by her peers, physicians, patients and their families, efficiently completing tasks assigned to her and mentoring new staff members. Munro never hesitates to lend a hand to her coworkers and her patients often comment that they feel they’ve been cared for by her in the same manner she would care for a member of her own family.
People – Lisette Echterling, R.N., DeMotte
Echterling has been at St. Mary Medical Center for more than two years. She is seen as a great mentor, always willing to help, with a positive demeanor. Echterling is a patient person who consistently promotes the strengths of others instead of weaknesses. She exemplifies compassion when interacting with patients and their families.
Growth – Nicole McKee, R.N., Portage
McKee has served at St. Mary Medical Center for nearly 14 years. She is always proactive in her patient care and is the first to volunteer for educational opportunities and in-services. McKee is regularly supportive of changes within the organization and maintains a positive attitude when it comes to growth of the hospital, department and improvements in patient care.
Quality – Candice Wojnaroski, R.N., Portage
Wojnaroski has worked at St. Mary Medical Center for more than two years. She is described as the “go-to clinical resource” on her unit, always administering care according to policy and procedure. Wojnaroski is recognized for thoroughness, leaving her shift handoffs clear, concise and organized.
Finance – Elizabeth Rossi, R.N., Valparaiso
Rossi has served at St. Mary Medical Center for two years. She creates an environment of true teamwork in her department, assigning duties to make the unit run smoothly. Rossi is also helpful with the unit payroll, monitoring quality, making calls to patients after discharge and checking on patients above and beyond her duties.
Super Star – Bridget Ladra, R.N., Portage
Ladra has been at St. Mary Medical Center for nearly five years. Staff, patients and families value her high level of compassionate care. Ladra treats everyone with respect and is courteous to everyone she encounters. Her co-workers describe her as someone they all love to work with and as a team player who is always willing to lend a helping hand. She is a great resource to her unit, completing tasks efficiently and adhering to policy, a self-motivated asset. Ladra is an advocate for patient safety, working hard to create a safe, healing environment. She truly embodies what it means to be a “super star” nurse.