2018 March of Dimes Nurse of the Year
Jan 16, 2019 12:24PM ● By Daisy Hutzell-Rodman
Nursing is the largest profession in health care, and one of the most recognizable. Professionals from psychiatrists to surgeons use nurses each day to help care for patients with tasks from administering medicines to handing them tools of their trade.
Nurses labor tirelessly, often for 12 or more hours at a time. On Nov. 15, 2018, the March of Dimes took an evening to thank those vital professionals taking vital signs, and Omaha Magazine was in attendance as an event partner.
Nominations are blinded, then scored by the volunteer committee. Scores were based on credentials, certifications, their proudest outcomes, leadership, professional associations, and achievements. The Nurse of the Year is determined by the nurse with the highest overall score.
We again thank the nurses nominated for the March of Dimes awards, for taking care of us, each and every day.
Nurse of the Year Committee
Nicole Caswell, CHI Health Immanuel
Teresa Hultquist, UNMC College of Nursing
Cindy Mirfield, Methodist Women’s Hospital
Wendy Muir, Bryan Health
Christine Murphy, Nebraska Medicine
Sue Nuss, Nebraska Medicine
Melissa Schmaderer, Madonna Rehabilitation Center
Kris Stapp, VNA
Lisa Strasheim, CHI Health
Judy Thomas, Children’s Hospital & Medical Center
Judy Timmons, Children’s Hospital & Medical Center
Susie Ward, Methodist College
Chrissy Wilber, Boys Town National Research Hospital
March of Dimes Staff
Mackenzie Hawkins, Development Specialist
Kristin Schemahorn, Development Manager
Kristina Debus, Development Manager
Nurse of the Year
Jean Armstrong has been devoted to creating and implementing a Shaken Baby Task Force. She has developed an educational curriculum, organized a conference, and created multiple educational videos. Her efforts were first recognized on a national level in 2000 when First Lady Laura Bush made a stop at her hospital.
Armstrong has helped Iowa Senator Amanda Regan support Senate Bill 349 to establish a Shaken Baby Syndrome Prevention Program through the Iowa Department of Health.
This Nurse of the Year was also instrumental in creating the only national 24-hour Crying Baby Helpline in the U.S.
Rising Star |
Family Choice Award |
Excellence in Academics |
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Excellence in Advanced Practice |
Excellence in Advocacy |
Excellence in Clinical Excellence |
![]() Judy Placek-Nebraska Medicine, Plastic Surgery/Burn Surgery |
![]() Maria Lander-Nebraska Medicine, Solid Organ Transplant Unit |
![]() Sylvia Hanousek-CHI Health, Labor & Delivery, Post Partum and Mother-Baby |
Excellence in Informatics |
Excellence in Leadership & Mentoring |
Excellence in Pediatrics |
![]() Ryan Zulkoski-Children’s Hospital & Medical Center, Nursing Education/Nursing Informatics |
![]() Anne Thallas-Methodist Hospital, Medical Surgical |
![]() Megan B. Sorensen-Children’s Hospital & Medical Center, Transport |
Excellence in Pediatrics in School Health |
Excellence in Research & Evidence Based Practice |
Excellence in Service to Veterans |
![]() Twlya Kleen-Storm Lake Community Schools, Elementary School Nurse |
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![]() (No Photo Available) Lisa Crouch-Veterans Health Administration, Ambulatory Care |
Spirit of Nursing Award |
Spirit of Nursing Award |
Spirit of Nursing Award |
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Spirit of Nursing Award |
Spirit of Nursing Award |
Spirit of Nursing Award |
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![]() Tiffany Keller-CHI Health Creighton University Medical Center, Post Partum—Lactation RN |
![]() Jaki Kenney-Nebraska Medicine, Werner Special Care Unit |
Spirit of Nursing Award |
Spirit of Nursing Award |
Spirit of Nursing Award |
![]() (No Photo Available)Jennifer Lantis-Great Plains Health, Infection Prevent |
![]() Kimberly Marsh-Children’s Hospital & Medical Center, Neonatal Intensive Care Unit |
![]() Barbara Petersen-Great Plains Health, Quality |
Spirit of Nursing Award |
Spirit of Nursing Award |
Spirit of Nursing Award |
![]() Kimberly Peterson-Children’s Hospital & Medical Center, Performance Improvement |
![]() Julie Sundermeier-Nebraska Medicine, NICU |
![]() Danielle Treska-CHI Health Lakeside Hospital, ICU |
Spirit of Nursing Award |
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![]() Anne Wilber-UNMC College of Nursing, Northern Division (Norfolk) |
Student Nursing Award |
Student Nursing Award |
Student Nursing Award |
![]() Taira Anderson-University of Nebraska Medical Center College of Nursing, Northern Division |
![]() Dania Cervantes Ayala-College of Saint Mary |
![]() Racheal Dawn Daigger-UNMC College of Nursing, Kearney Division |
Student Nursing Award |
Student Nursing Award |
Student Nursing Award |
![]() (No Photo Available) Katherine Glaser-Creighton University College of Nursing |
![]() Sara Glaser-Bryan College of Health Sciences |
![]() Sarah Henry-Purdue University Global School of Nursing |
Student Nursing Award |
Student Nursing Award |
Student Nursing Award |
![]() Kathryn Noble-Nebraska Wesleyan University |
![]() Tiffany Pardew-Clarkson College |
![]() Megan Reiten-Nebraska Methodist College |
Student Nursing Award |
Student Nursing Award |
Student Nursing Award |
![]() Jiosajandy Garcia Reyna-University of Nebraska Medical Center College of Nursing |
![]() Stephanie Shoning-College of Saint Mary |
![]() Breanna Swanson-Bryan College of Health Sciences College of Nursing |
Student Nursing Award |
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![]() Ashley Tagart-College of Saint Mary |
Nurse of the Year Nominees
Boys Town Clinics
- Sara Pfeifer, Pediatric Clinic
- Kayla Gentrup, Pediatric Gastroenterology
- Stephanie Hernandez, Surgical Floor
- Nerissa Imada, Surgery Center
- Autumn Rowe, Surgery Center
- June Root, Pediatrics - Inpatient
- Christie Bartelt, Rehabilitation
- Julie Bratt, Care Management
- Sarah Barker, Family Birth Center
- Susan Brill, Intensive Care Unit
- Rebecca Gardner, Good Samaritan Surgery Department
- Sylvia Hanousek, LDRP: L&D, Post Partum, and Mother Baby
- Katelyn Henriksen, Orthopedics
- Jennifer Lemmons, Hospital
- Debra Saldi, Behavioral Serivces
- Rebecca Seier, Infection Prevention
- Lowellyn Steinkraus, Plainview Hospital Specialty Clinic
- Heidi Gall, Rural Health clinic
- Aaron Allen, ICU
- Kara Aldana, NICU
- Alicia Buechler, HVI - Cardiac Universal Unit
- Kara Johnson, Obstetrics
- Tara Kiichler, NICU
- Sarah Kumm, Neonatal Intensive Care Unit
- Rhonda Meyer, Heart and Vascular
- Tracy Meyers, NICU
- Donna Myers, NICU
- Emily Oppel, Intensive Care Unit
- Elena Oquendo, NICU
- Erin McQuinn, House Operations
- Guylah, Med/Surg/Ortho/Intermediate/Dialysis
- Heather Reese, ER
- Tiffany Keller, Post Partum-Lactation
- Kelsey Daake, Leadership
- Del Miller, Orthopedics/Oncology
- Hannah Baldwin, PCCU
- Crisann Hannum, Critical Care
- Mandy Iverson, Labor and Delivery
- Mandy Iverson, Obstetrics
- Mandolyn Klinkhammer, Labor and Delivery
- Cynthia Lesch-Busse, Nursing Administration
- Kay Maguire, Medical Surgical
- Carrie Meyer, Labor and Delivery
- Jaclyn Seiboldt, Medical Surgical Oncology
- Elizabeth Steadman, Critical Care
- Christy Todd, Labor and Delivery
- Lisa, Labor and Delivery
- Christine Enterline, Surgery
- Emily Mass, Med/Surg/Oncology
- Jordan Novak, Med-Surg/Oncology
- Katie Swanson, Med-Surg/Ortho
- Danielle Treska, ICU
- Jill Yosten, Ambulatory Infusion Center
- Hanah Zehnder, Float Pool
- Aysha Classen, ED
- Chimene Cobb, Outpatient Specialty Clinic
- Marie Baker, Critical Care Unit
- Ranita Hiller, Post Critical Care
- Lori Woodrow, Psychiatric Nurse
- Vicki Gall, Medical/Surgical
- Julie Nichols, Surgical Services
- Jodi Potts, Rural Health clinic
- Emily Bachman, Ortho/PEDS
- Lori Birdzell, Observation
- Nicole Ragon, Critical Care Unit
- Tricia Topolski, Emergency
- Christine Vogt, OBGYN
- GayAnn Wagner, NICU
- Kelly Watton, Primary Care
- Darla Cleveland, Medical Oncology
- Lacey Pavlovsky, Quality Management-Infection Control
- Loree Mort, Labor and Delivery
- Carol Beare, Med-Surg 6 - Nursing Informatics
- Alicia Bremer, Performance Improvement
- Michelle Brester, Pediatric Surgery
- Erin Hartman, Emergency
- Chase Hinzmann, Critical Care Transport
- Jill Jensen, Performance Improvement
- Vanessa Le, NICU, Nursing Informatics
- Kimberly Marsh, Neonatal Intensive Care Unit
- Katherine McCollough, Dialysis
- Kimberly Peterson, Performance Improvement
- Kathy Powers, CARES/PACU
- Katherine “Kitty” Rasmussen, 5 Med-Surg
- Megan B. Sorensen, Transport
- Ryan Zulkoski, Nursing Education/Nursing Informatics
- Nicole Wallin, Lactation
- Rebecca Robbins, Pediatrics
- Amy Wortmann, Pediatrics
- Joan Blum, Oncology NursingJudi Dunn, Continuing Education
- Amy Lauby, Pediatric Home Health Care
- Desa Clark, NursingTerese Moore, Labor and Delivery
- Jennifer Lantis, Infection Prevention
- Jill Stevenson, Joint Replacement-Orthopaedics
- Wendy Ward, Quality-Risk Management
- Barbara Petersen, Quality
- Jane Bilau, Traumatic Brain Injury Rehabilitation
- Mari Ramsey, Acute Rehab
- Jean Beumler, Palliative Care
- Ashley Colburn, Rehabilitation
- Rachael Coufal, Progressive Care Unit
- Carrie Kelseth, Cardiac Care
- Kelly Menousek, Emergency Department
- Betsy Miller, Cardiac Care
- Tiffany Pettit, Ortho-Neuro
- Mandy Stockdale, Rehabilitation
- Anne Thallas, Medical Surgical
- Catherine Wolpert, Medical Surgical
- Jean Armstrong, Family Resource Center and Shaken Baby Task Force
- Miriah Jansonius, Labor & Delivery
- Sheri Kimmey, NICU/Outreach
- Shonda Knop, High Risk Obstetrics
- Amy Rapp, GYN, Postpartum
- Megan Armbrust, Women’s and Infant’s Services
- Lindsey Ayles, Cardiothoracic Surgery
- Claire Baweja, Emergency Department - BMC
- Lindsie Buchholz, Enterprise Practice Support
- Ashley Carne, Medical ICU
- Barabara Cowden, Werner Intensive Care Unit
- Lyndie Farr, Critical Care Anesthesia
- Stephanie Floth, UNL Student Health Center
- Caitlin Hagen, Cardiology-Progressive Care
- Terri Heineman, Oncology Treatment Center at Werner Cancer Center
- Samantha Jordan-Schaulis, Pediatric ICU
- Jaki Kenney, Werner Special Care Unit
- Teresa Kerkman, Medical ICU
- Susan Knutson, NICU
- Margee Langer, Oncology
- Maria Lander, Solid Organ Transplant Unit
- Riley Lyons, Werner Progressive Care Unit
- Courtney Marshall, Nursing Development Specialist
- Megan Myers, Medical ICU
- Denise McGrath, Women and Infant Services
- Sarah Newman, NICU
- Sara Neumann, Cardiology
- LeaAyn Norton, Clarkson Family Medicine Clinic
- Megan Pierce, Women’s Services
- Judy Placek, Plastic Surgery/Burn Surgery
- Lori Schmida, Kidney/pancreas transplant
- Michael Schrage, Emergency Department
- Danielle Schulz, Emergency Department
- Carmen Shannon, SICU
- Amy Steinauer, Community & Corporate Relations
- Angie Strain, Heart and Vascular
- Julie Sundermeier, NICU
- Gisele Tlusty, Specialty Care Unit
- Tina Twymon, Clarkson Family Medicine Clinic
- Bernadette Vacha, Lung Transplant
- Lisa Wulf, Emergency
- Alice Kindschuh, DNP
- Sharon Wade, School Health
- Patricia Kucera, Long Term Care
- Shannon Cunningham, Health Office
- Twlya Kleen, Elementary School Nurse
- Christi-Ann Bullock, NICU
- Brenda Crank, Mother Baby
- Cathrin Carithers, Kearney Division
- Anne Wilber, Northern Division (Norfolk)
- Lisa Crouch, Ambulatory Care
- Jennifer Dannen, Maternal Child
- Jessica Thomassen, Med/Surg, ER, Surgery
- Brandi Lemon, Outreach Director