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
r
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
r
r
March of Dimes Staff
r
Mackenzie Hawkins, Development Specialist
Kristin Schemahorn, Development Manager
Kristina Debus, Development Manager
r
r
r
Nurse of the Year
r
r
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.
r r
r
Rising Starr |
r
Family Choice Awardr |
r
Excellence in Academicsr |
rrBetsy Miller-Methodist Hospital, Cardiac Care | rrMiriah Jansonius-Methodist Women’s Hospital, Labor & Delivery | rrJudi Dunn-Clarkson College, Continuing Education |
r
Excellence in Advanced Practicer |
r
Excellence in Advocacyr |
r
Excellence in Clinical Excellencer |
r
Judy Placek-Nebraska Medicine, Plastic Surgery/Burn Surgery r |
r
Maria Lander-Nebraska Medicine, Solid Organ Transplant Unit r |
r
Sylvia Hanousek-CHI Health, Labor & Delivery, Post Partum and Mother-Baby r |
r
Excellence in Informaticsr |
r
Excellence in Leadership & Mentoringr |
r
Excellence in Pediatricsr |
r
Ryan Zulkoski-Children’s Hospital & Medical Center, Nursing Education/Nursing Informatics r |
r
Anne Thallas-Methodist Hospital, Medical Surgical r |
r
Megan B. Sorensen-Children’s Hospital & Medical Center, Transport r |
r
Excellence in Pediatrics in School Healthr |
r
Excellence in Research & Evidence Based Practicer |
r
Excellence in Service to Veteransr |
r
Twlya Kleen-Storm Lake Community Schools, Elementary School Nurse r |
rBernadette Vacha-Nebraska Medicine, Lung Transplantr | r
(No Photo Available) Lisa Crouch-Veterans Health Administration, Ambulatory Care r |
r
r
Spirit of Nursing Awardr |
r
Spirit of Nursing Awardr |
r
Spirit of Nursing Awardr |
rLindsey Ayles-Nebraska Medicine, Cardiothoracic Surgeryr | rJoan Blum-Clarkson College, Oncology Nursingr | rMichelle Brester-Children’s Hospital & Medical Center, Pediatric Surgeryr |
r
Spirit of Nursing Awardr |
r
Spirit of Nursing Awardr |
r
Spirit of Nursing Awardr |
rCathrin Carithers-UNMC College of Nursing, Kearney Divisionr | r
Tiffany Keller-CHI Health Creighton University Medical Center, Post Partum—Lactation RN r |
r
Jaki Kenney-Nebraska Medicine, Werner Special Care Unit r |
r
Spirit of Nursing Awardr |
r
Spirit of Nursing Awardr |
r
Spirit of Nursing Awardr |
r
(No Photo Available)Jennifer Lantis-Great Plains Health, Infection Prevent r |
r
Kimberly Marsh-Children’s Hospital & Medical Center, Neonatal Intensive Care Unit r |
r
Barbara Petersen-Great Plains Health, Quality r |
r
Spirit of Nursing Awardr |
r
Spirit of Nursing Awardr |
r
Spirit of Nursing Awardr |
r
Kimberly Peterson-Children’s Hospital & Medical Center, Performance Improvement r |
r
Julie Sundermeier-Nebraska Medicine, NICU r |
r
Danielle Treska-CHI Health Lakeside Hospital, ICU r |
r
Spirit of Nursing Awardr |
||
r
Anne Wilber-UNMC College of Nursing, Northern Division (Norfolk) r |
r
r
Student Nursing Awardr |
r
Student Nursing Awardr |
r
Student Nursing Awardr |
r
Taira Anderson-University of Nebraska Medical Center College of Nursing, Northern Division r |
r
Dania Cervantes Ayala-College of Saint Mary r |
r
Racheal Dawn Daigger-UNMC College of Nursing, Kearney Division r |
r
Student Nursing Awardr |
r
Student Nursing Awardr |
r
Student Nursing Awardr |
r
(No Photo Available) Katherine Glaser-Creighton University College of Nursing r |
r
Sara Glaser-Bryan College of Health Sciences r |
r
Sarah Henry-Purdue University Global School of Nursing r |
r
Student Nursing Awardr |
r
Student Nursing Awardr |
r
Student Nursing Awardr |
r
Kathryn Noble-Nebraska Wesleyan University r |
r
Tiffany Pardew-Clarkson College r |
r
Megan Reiten-Nebraska Methodist College r |
r
Student Nursing Awardr |
r
Student Nursing Awardr |
r
Student Nursing Awardr |
r
Jiosajandy Garcia Reyna-University of Nebraska Medical Center College of Nursing r |
r
Stephanie Shoning-College of Saint Mary r |
r
Breanna Swanson-Bryan College of Health Sciences College of Nursing r |
r
Student Nursing Awardr |
||
r
Ashley Tagart-College of Saint Mary r |
r
Nurse of the Year Nominees
r
Boys Town Clinicsr
r
- r
- Sara Pfeifer, Pediatric Clinic
r
rBoys Town National Research Hospitalr
- r
- Kayla Gentrup, Pediatric Gastroenterology
- Stephanie Hernandez, Surgical Floor
- Nerissa Imada, Surgery Center
- Autumn Rowe, Surgery Center
- June Root, Pediatrics – Inpatient
r
r
r
r
r
rBryan Healthr
- r
- Christie Bartelt, Rehabilitation
- Julie Bratt, Care Management
r
r
rCHI Healthr
- r
- Sarah Barker, Family Birth Center
- Susan Brill, Intensive Care Unit
- Rebecca Gardner, Good SamaritanrSurgery 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
- rLowellyn Steinkraus, Plainview Hospital Specialty Clinicr
- Heidi Gall, Rural Health clinic
r
r
r
r
r
r
r
r
r
r
rCHI Health CUMC – Bergan Mercyr
- r
- 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
r
r
r
r
r
r
r
r
r
r
r
r
r
r
rCHI Health Creighton University Medical Centerr
- r
- Tiffany Keller, Post Partum-Lactation
r
rCHI Health Good Samaritanr
- r
- Kelsey Daake, Leadership
- Del Miller, Orthopedics/Oncology
r
r
rCHI Health Immanuelr
- r
- 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
r
r
r
r
r
r
r
r
r
r
r
r
rCHI Health Lakeside Hospitalr
- r
- 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
r
r
r
r
r
r
r
r
rCHI Health Mercy Corningr
- r
- Chimene Cobb, Outpatient Specialty Clinic
r
rCHI Health Mercy Council Bluffsr
- r
- Marie Baker, Critical Care Unit
- Ranita Hiller, Post Critical Care
- Lori Woodrow, Psychiatric Nurse
r
r
r
rCHI Health Midlandsr
- r
- Vicki Gall, Medical/Surgical
- Julie Nichols, Surgical Services
r
r
rCHI Health Missouri Valleyr
- r
- Jodi Potts, Rural Health clinic
r
rCHI Health St. Elizabethr
- r
- 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
r
r
r
r
r
r
r
rCHI Health St. Francisr
- r
- Darla Cleveland, Medical Oncology
- Lacey Pavlovsky, Quality Management-Infection Control
r
r
rCHI Health St. Mary’sr
- r
- Loree Mort, Labor and Delivery
r
rChildren’s Hospital & Medical Centerr
- r
- 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
r
r
r
r
r
r
r
r
r
r
r
r
r
r
rChildren’s Physicians—Bellevuer
- r
- Nicole Wallin, Lactation
r
rChildren’s Physicians—Plattsmouthr
- r
- Rebecca Robbins, Pediatrics
r
rChildren’s Physicians—Gretnar
- r
- Amy Wortmann, Pediatrics
r
rClarkson Colleger
- r
- rJoan Blum, Oncology NursingJudi Dunn, Continuing Educationr
r
rCraig HomeCarer
- r
- Amy Lauby, Pediatric Home Health Care
r
rFremont Healthr
- r
- rDesa Clark, NursingTerese Moore, Labor and Deliveryr
r
rGreat Plains Healthr
- r
- Jennifer Lantis, Infection Prevention
- Jill Stevenson, Joint Replacement-Orthopaedics
- Wendy Ward, Quality-Risk Management
- Barbara Petersen, Quality
r
r
r
r
rMadonna Rehabilitation Hospitalr
- r
- Jane Bilau, Traumatic Brain Injury Rehabilitation
- Mari Ramsey, Acute Rehab
r
r
rMethodist Hospitalr
- r
- 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
r
r
r
r
r
r
r
r
r
r
rMethodist Jennie Edmundson Hospitalr
- r
- Jean Armstrong, Family Resource Center and Shaken Baby Task Force
r
rMethodist Women’s Hospitalr
- r
- Miriah Jansonius, Labor & Delivery
- Sheri Kimmey, NICU/Outreach
- Shonda Knop, High Risk Obstetrics
- Amy Rapp, GYN, Postpartum
r
r
r
r
rNebraska Mediciner
- r
- 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
r
r
r
r
r
r
r
r
r
r
r
r
r
r
r
r
r
r
r
r
r
r
r
r
r
r
r
r
r
r
r
r
r
r
r
r
rNebraska Methodist Colleger
- r
- Alice Kindschuh, DNP
r
rOmaha Public Schoolsr
- r
- Sharon Wade, School Health
r
rSaunders Medical Centerr
- r
- Patricia Kucera, Long Term Care
r
rSkinner Magnet Elementary Schoolr
- r
- Shannon Cunningham, Health Office
r
rStorm Lake Community Schoolsr
- r
- Twlya Kleen, Elementary School Nurse
r
rUnityPoint Health St. Luke’sr
- r
- Christi-Ann Bullock, NICU
- Brenda Crank, Mother Baby
r
r
rUNMC College of Nursingr
- r
- Cathrin Carithers, Kearney Division
- Anne Wilber, Northern Division (Norfolk)
r
r
rVeterans Administration Health Carer
- r
- rLisa Crouch, Ambulatory Care
r
rVNA of the Midlandsr
- r
- rJennifer Dannen, Maternal Child
r
rWest Holt Memorial Hospitalr
- r
- rJessica Thomassen, Med/Surg, ER, Surgery
r
rWest Central District Health Departmentr
- r
- rBrandi Lemon, Outreach Director
r
rThis list was printed in the January/February 2019 edition of Omaha Magazine. To receive the magazine, click here to subscribe.
r
r
r