Sanders named O'Berry Center Nurse of the Year
By Phyllis Moore
Published in News on May 18, 2006 1:48 PM
Nancy Sanders, an LPN in the nursing profession for 31 years, has been named O'Berry Center's first "Nurse of the Year."
Ms. Sanders works the night shift in Cluster 5 and has been employed at O'Berry for 13 years.
She said she first visited O'Berry when she was fresh out of nursing school. She toured the grounds but said, "It was a different picture back then."
Later, unhappy in her job, she visited a friend at O'Berry. Patti Howe, now retired, was also a nurse who later became Director of Nursing.
"She took me around. It was like a family-type situation and I fell right into place," Ms. Sanders said.
Jan Heath is now director of nursing at O'Berry and called Ms. Sanders a perfect example for all nurses.
"She dedicates a lot of time and effort, goes beyond what's expected of her," she said.
Ms. Heath said this is the first year the center has established the honor. The process began in the fall of 2005, with the idea of selecting a "Nurse of the Quarter" and from that pool, later naming a "Nurse of the Year." Selection is based on such criteria as evaluations and attendance record. Nominees can be full- or part-time permanent employees who have worked at O'Berry for at least a year.
This year's winner was chosen from the past three quarters, with the announcement to coincide with Nurses' Week celebrations. In the future, selection will be made from all four quarters, Ms. Heath said.
Andi Stewart, RN, was the first Nurse of the Quarter in the fall, followed by Ms. Sanders in the winter, and Suzanne Kolbeck, RN, this spring.
Quarterly recipients receive a holiday of their choice off from work. As the Nurse of the Year, Ms. Sanders also received two holidays of choice off next year, a plaque, and will have her name featured on a plaque displayed in the Health Services building.