2019 March of Dimes Nurse of the Year

Nursing is one of the largest professions in health care. According to a survey by the Nebraska Center for Nursing, Douglas County has 10,202 registered nurses, or 19 RNs per 1,000 people. These professionals work tirelessly, with more than half of them working over 40 hours per week (9% of those work more than 50 hours per week). They also predominately enjoy their jobs, as 97% of them say they are satisfied and 87% of them would recommend others choose nursing as a career.

On November 14, 2019, the March of Dimes hosted the Nurse of the Year Banquet to thank those vital professionals taking vital signs, and Omaha Magazine proudly sponsored that event. 

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.

Nurse of the Year Committeerr

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Teresa Hultquist, UNMC-College of Nursing

Chrissy Wilber, Boys Town National Research Hospital

Cindy Mirfield, Methodist Women’s Hospital

Judy Timmons, Children’s Hospital & Medical Center

Julie Lazure, Nebraska Medicine

Kris Stapp, VNA

Wendy Muir, Bryan Health

Judy Thomas, Children’s Hospital & Medical Center

Lisa Strasheim, CHI Health

Melissa Schmaderer, Madonna

Nicole Caswell, Immanuel Medical Center

Sue Nuss, Nebraska Medicine

Susie Ward, Methodist College

Anne Thallas, Methodist

Melanie Tuamoheloa, Nebraska Medicine – Bellevue

Pam Jacobsen, Methodist College

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Nurse of the Year

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Joanna Smith’s heart lies in advocating for women who experience disparity in the health care system. She is fluent in Spanish and often takes extra time to visit with those women who are Spanish- speaking. Smith is passionate about insuring that all patients have an amazing experience. She was able to showcase some of her great work by presenting “Healthcare, Design on a Dime” at last year’s national Becker’s Healthcare Conference in Chicago. She is an avid Disney lover and uses their guest philosophy in designing a patient experience. The linens are folded a certain way, the washcloths are folded into swan shapes, she has a comfort cart and every baby has a hand-knitted Minnie or Mickey hat. Her entire team has this guest philosophy and those outcomes have been seen in great patient experience scores for her unit.

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r Academic Excellence r	r Advanced Practice r	r Advocacy r
rKari WaderNebraska Methodist College	rTheresa DiederichrNebraska Medicine	rr(Photo Not Available)rShannon EnglerrBryan Health
r Clinical Excellence r	r Evidence Based Practice r	r Family Choice r
rAngela VasarNebraska Medicine	rJennifer BaumertrCHI Health Lakeside Hospital	rStacey SandersrNebraska Medicine
r Leadership r	r Pediatrics r	r Pediatrics r
rRachelle HeserrCHI Health	rAnne ThallasrMethodist Hospital, Medical Surgicalr	rMelissa RenterrChildren’s Hospital & Medical Center
r Rising Star r	r r	r r
rrTiffany WhitneyrNebraska Mediciner

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r Spirit of Nursing Award r	r Spirit of Nursing Award r	r Spirit of Nursing Award r
rMeghan FalkerNebraska Medicine	rChristine WoellrChildren’s Hospital & Medical Center	rr(Photo not available) Paige HardyNebraska Mediciner
r Spirit of Nursing Award r	r Spirit of Nursing Award r	r Spirit of Nursing Award r
rDawn StraubrNebraska Mediciner	rEllen StuvarNebraska Medicine	rrMelissa ParadisrChildren’s Hospital & Medical Centerr
r Spirit of Nursing Award r	r Spirit of Nursing Award r	r r
r Amanda Hunnel CHI Health Lakeside Hospital r	r Christy Todd CHI Health Immanuel r	r

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r Student Nursing Award r	r Student Nursing Award r	r Student Nursing Award r
r Priscilla Petsch Bryan College of Health Sciences r	r Jocelyn Ramos Clarkson College r	r (Photo Not Available) Olivia Koontz Creighton University r
r Student Nursing Award r	r Student Nursing Award r	r Student Nursing Award r
r Michael Griffith Nebraska Methodist College r	r (Photo Not Available) Payden Hunke UNMC College of Nursing Kearney Division r	r Monica Arens UNMC College of Nursing Northern Division r
r Student Nursing Award r
r Mallory Woods UNMC College of Nursing Omaha Division r