Nurses: The Heart of Health Care

Thisyear,wehonorall

BYERICAMILLS

St.Louisisproudtobeanationalleader inhealthcareandmedical/lifesciences research.Ourmedicalinstitutionsdraw toptalentfromaroundtheglobe.

Fortheninthconsecutiveyear,the St.LouisPost-Dispatchreaffirmedthis reputationandhonoredthearea’snurses withtheNurses:TheHeartofHealthCare program-acontestandsectionsupported bypresentingsponsorBJCHealthCare andtitlesponsorMercy.

Thenursesencounteredthroughout theprogramshareseveralidentifying characteristics:compassion,respectand empathy.Theyworkinhospitals,clinics, schools,residentialfacilities,in-homecare andevenvirtually.Theyeducate,console, relate,comfortandendearthemselvesto patientsandfamilies.

ABOUTTHENOMINATIONS

Theprogrambeganwithacallfor nominations.Thepublicwasencouragedto nominatenursingprofessionalswhomade animpactonthelivesoflovedonesand thecommunityatlarge.Thecommunity answeredwithover100nominations.

ABOUTTHESECTION

Peers,patients,friendsandfamily sharedtheirstoriesandgratitudefor nursingprofessionalsacrossthearea. Nursenominationsweresubmittedbythe communityfromtheirpointofview.The threenurseprofilesincludedwithinthis sectionwereselectedbyoursponsorsas outstandingnursesintheirorganizations.

Celebratethesetirelessprofessionals andtheirunfadingrecognitionduring NationalNursesWeek,May6-12,2025.

ABOUTTHECOVER

CONGRATULATIONS

CARDIACCARE

CHARLENEPOWELL

MERCYHOSPITALST.LOUIS

TO A L L O F T H I S Y E A R ’ S N O M I N E E S

TOALLOFTHISYEAR’SNOMINEES

COURTNEYAVERY

ST.LOUISCHILDREN’SHOSPITAL

Sheputsherheartandsoulintoherjob. She’sverycompassionate.

JENNIFERSWINEY

Forbeingthemostwonderful,all-around womanIknow.

DANIELLECHURCHILL

BARNES-JEWISHHOSPITAL

Shetaughtmehowtobeanextraordinary nurse.Sheisaleader,abeacontoothernurses andheadstheCardiacSurgeryStepdownUnit atBJH.Thesepatientscomefromacrossthe regiontoreceivethebestcareafteropenheart surgery,andDanielleistheverycoreofit.

KELLIGIBBS

MERCYHEARTANDVASCULARHOSPITAL

ST.LOUIS

Forgoingaboveandbeyondduringmy husband’sheartprocedures.Kellialways answeredourquestionswithcompassionand carenomatterhowbigorsmall.

MICHELEFUSE

MERCYHEARTANDVASCULARHOSPITAL

ST.LOUIS

Michelleisefficient,knowledgeable,dedicated, canbecountedontofollowupanddoesitall withagreatsenseofhumor!Wearegratefulto havehersupport.

DOCTOR’SOFFICE

JOSEPHLENNARTZ

JOHNJ.COCHRANVETERANSHOSPITAL

NursePractitionerJosephLennartzcares deeplyforhisneurologyandendocrinology veteranpatients.Heisalwaysstrivingtobetter hispracticeandismovingthefieldforwardin newresearch.

MARIAWALLS

WESTCOUNTYMEDICALASSOCIATES

Forgenuinelylisteningtomyconcerns.

SHANNAZWICK,PA-C

BARNES-JEWISHWESTCOUNTYHOSPITAL

Forbeingprofessionalandsensitive. Thanksforallyoudo!

EMERGENCYROOM| TRAUMA

CLAREWUESTHOFF

SSMHEALTHCARDINALGLENNON

CHILDREN’SHOSPITAL

Forworkinghardthroughherpregnancy.

REDBUDREGIONALHOSPITAL

Foralwaysgoingaboveandbeyondherjob. Shelovestolearnmoreandmore.Sheis workingonherdoctorateinnursing.

KATIEMOORE

HANNIBALREGIONALHOSPITAL

Katiewentintonursingtoprovidecare forherpatients.Sheconsistentlydelivers excellentserviceinafast-pacedanddynamic environmentintheER.

LIZZBARNETT

ST.LOUISCHILDREN’SHOSPITAL

Lizzisanincredible,dedicatednursewhohas beenstellarineverythingshesaysanddoes. Sheisgreattoworkwithandsheislikeno otherwhenitcomestomeetingandexceeding allgoals,especiallyinthefaceofadversity.

HOMEHEALTH| HOSPICE

ASHLEYRIDE,CNA

SERENITYHOSPICECARE

Ashleyhasgoneaboveandbeyondinproviding caretomyin-lawsintheir90s.Forboth myfather-in-lawandmother-in-law’s96th birthdays,sheandherteamshowedupin costumetocelebratetheirspecialday.

DIANEFAIR

GENTIVAHOSPICE

Forfightingforotherstolivelifetothefullest asahospicenurse.

HOMEHEALTHNURSES

MERCYHOMEHEALTH

Inominatethegroupthathascometoour hometohelpwithmyhusband:Jennifer, Melissa,CaliandJenn.Alloftheladieshave beencomingtwiceaweekandhavetakensuch greatcareofmyhusband.

JOICEWESTFALLHOLLINGSWORTH

SELF-EMPLOYED

Forover50yearsofnursingcareservice.

JONISTEVENSKI

MERCYHOSPITALST.LOUIS

Foralwaysbeingthereforpatients.

TERRISWIDER

PRIVATEHIRE

WhetherTerriisonthejoboroff,sheattends tothephysicalandmedicalneedsoffriends andclients.

INTENSIVECAREUNIT

ALECHOFFMAN

MERCYHOSPITALST.LOUIS

Alechasacompassionateandcaringattitude thathedeliverstoeachpatientandfamilyheis takingcareof.

AMYKUEHN

CHRISTIANHOSPITAL

Forherdedicationtoherjob.

ANGELADELEAL

MERCYHOSPITALJEFFERSON

Angie’sheartiswithforherpatientsandtheir families.Iamblessedtonotonlycallhermy coworker,butalsomyfriend.ThankyouAngie forallthatyoudo!

CAITLINZAHN

SSMHEALTHCARDINALGLENNON

CHILDREN’SHOSPITAL

ForCaitlin’scompassionanddedicationto providingexcellentpatientcare,especiallyfor thepreciousbabies.Shetrulyisoneinabillion!

DEBBIE

BARNES-JEWISHHOSPITAL

Thanksforallyoudo!

EMILYGOLDSTEIN

BJCHEALTHCARE

Foralwaysshowingempathy,kindnessand compassion,andgoingtheextramilefor patientsandtheirfamilies.

JUDYHUFFMAN

MERCYHOSPITALJEFFERSON

IwanttothankJudyforhermanyyearsas aMercyICUnurse,managerandeducator. Shehascaredforandtaughtsomanyover theyears.

Everynurse,techandphysicianlookstoherfor guidanceonourpatients.Somanyofuslook atJudyasourmentor.Withouther,wewould notbetheexcellentICUwearetoday.

Thankyouforbeinganamazingnurse, educatorandleader.Youhavetouchedthelives ofthousandsofnursesatMercyJeffersonover your38yearsofservice.

Judyhasbeenaninspirationtomefrom themomentIdecidedIwantedtobeanurse. Shehasgivenherwholelifetonursingandthe educationofnurses.Sheisoneofthesmartest andmostcompassionatenursesIhaveeverhad thepleasureofworkingfor.

LAURENKAUNE

MERCYHOSPITALST.LOUIS

FormakingpersonalgiftsforNICUbabies whentheygohome.

TIFFANYHAZZARD

ST.LUKE’SDESPERESHOSPITAL

Whetherit’sanorthopedicsurgeryoracritical careneedintheICU,she’syourperson. Sheprovidesperson-centeredcareinevery moment,andherpatients’healthoutcomesare anattestationtoherhardwork.

LABOR&DELIVERY| MATERNALCARE| NEONATAL| WOMEN’SHEALTH

ANGELAHALL

ST.LUKE’SHOSPITAL

Thankyouforalwaysbeingthereforme. Yougoaboveandbeyondwhatisaskedofyou. You’reamazing!

ANNIERETZER

BARNES-JEWISHHOSPITAL

Annie’spassionfornursingistrulyadmirable. ThishasbeenalifelonggoalofhersandIknow howmuchsheloveshelpingpeople.

Foryourincrediblecareandsupport.Allof yourcalmandkindnesshasalastingeffect duringyourpatients’mostvulnerablemoments.

EMILYMCDONIEL

ST.LOUISCHILDREN’SHOSPITAL

Emilyhassomuchpassionandloveforher patients.Itisatoughdepartmenttoworkin andshebringssomuchexpertiseandcareto thosebabiesandtheirparents.

ForherdedicationandhardworkintheNICU.

HALEYVENABLE

MERCYHOSPITALST.LOUIS

Forherhardwork,compassion,determination andalwaysdoingtherightthing.Thankyoufor alwaysbeingyou.

HARLEIGHSCHENCK

MERCYHOSPITALST.LOUIS

Thisnurseputsherentireheartintoherjob. Sheengagesnotonlywithherpatients,but withherpeers.

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ThisNursesWeek,we wanttoextendour heartfeltgratitude totheincredible nurseswhomakea differenceeveryday. Yourunwavering compassion,expertise, anddedicationtoyour patientstransformlives andinspireallofus. Thankyouforyourhard work,yourkindness, andforbeingtheheart ofhealthcare. HappyNursesWeek!

AtMercy,we’renot justateam—we’reafamily. Together,wedeliverexceptionalcare toourcommunityeveryday. Readytojoinus? ScantheQRcodetoapply andlearnmoretoday!

Mercyofferssign-onbonuses,loan forgiveness,flexibleschedulingand benefitsstartingondayone.

Nursingopportunitiesareavailable atallofourhospitallocations withintheSTLarea: MercyHospitalSTL, MercyHospitalSouth, MercyHospitalJefferson, MercyHospitalWashington andMercyHospitalLincoln.

MercyInnovationUnit advancescaresystemwide

SPONSOREDCONTENTBYMARYMCHUGH,BRANDAVE.STUDIOSCONTRIBUTINGWRITER

It’sforthepatientsinthebedsrightat thismoment—and10yearsfromnow.

That’shownurseAngelaNovakdescribesthepurposebehindMercy’snew InnovationUnit.

“Theimpetusbehindtheunit’screationisbasedontheideasof‘howdowe keepnursesworkingeffectivelyatthe bedside,happyintheirposition,with aneyeoncaringforeverysinglepersoncomingthroughourdoorsnowand intothefuture?’”Novaksaid.“Inother words,canwemakethedocumentation processmorest reamlined?Howcanwe integratetechnologytohelpourprocessesworkseamlessly?Thosearethe kindsofthingswe’retryingtoidentify throughoutoursystem.”

Theinnovationunithasateamof92 medicalprofessionals,nurses,andcommunicationsandtechprofessionalsand wasformedtwoyearsagotohelproot

outinefficiencies,createinnovativesystems,andreplaceantiquatednursing policiesandpractices.AnyMercyemployee,regardlessoftheirposition,can submitideasthroughanonlinesuggestionform.Theinnovationunit’sleadershipteamthenreviewsthesuggestions anddetermineswhichonestotestout.

“What’sabetterwaytoreceiveideas thanfromthosecaregiversworkingat thefrontlineofcare?”saidJoeSchmitz, executivedirectorofoptimizationat Mercy.“Theyareourchangeleaders— afantasticgroupthatgoesaboveand beyondtheirjobdescriptionstotestthe ideasoutandtakethetimetoprovide theessentialfront-linefeedb ack.”

MercyHospitalSt.LouisOrthopedicsUnitservesasthepilotsitefor testing.Earlierlastyear,asecondinnovationunitwasselectedasatrialsiteat MercySpringfield.

Ideasthathavegonefromtrialtosystemwideusagehaveincludedeverything fromthewayapatient’scallbuttonalert isreceivedbythestafftohowmedications aredeliveredtothepatient’sbedside.

Inthepast,forexample,whena patientpushedtheircallbuttonforassistance,thealertwouldimme diately appearonthemobiledevicenursesuse duringtheirshifts.Butifanursewasin themiddleofamedicalcallorupdating documentationonthephone,thealert wouldimmediatelyopenupanother screenontheirdevice,interruptingwhat thenursewasdoingatthetime.

Toalleviatetheinterruptions,theinnovationteamtestedabanneralertthat wouldappearonlyatthetopofnurses’ phonescreens.Thenursecouldchoose tostopandaddressthesituation,ifit wasaneme rgency,orquicklyfinishwhat theyweredoingbeforefollowingup.

“Itwassuchahitamongthestaff andweknewwithinaweekthatthis wasreallyworking,”Novaksaid,“so weintroduceditthroughoutMercy immediately.”

Regardingprescriptions,thepharmacyhospitaltypicallyfillsthembefore thepatientisdischarged.Inthepast,the nurseswereusuallynotalertedbythe pharmacystaffastowhen,orevenif, themedsweredelivered.Theinnovation teamcameupwithalow-techsolution: alaminatedsigntobedisplayedonthe patient’sdoortoconfirmthemedshad beendelivered.

Thissimplesystemdrasticallyreducedthetimespentduringthedischarge

processacrossthehospital. Mercycontinuestolookforways tooptimizeworkflowsforthehospital, creatingbetteroutcomesfornursesand theirpatients.

FormoreinformationonMercy, pleasevisitmercy.net.

Personaljourneyleadsthisyoungnurse backtotheMercyER

BYMARYMCHUGH,BRANDAVE.STUDIOSCONTRIBUTINGWRITER

MackenzieBrownwas13whenher motherpassedawayand16whenher fatherdied.

Thepatientcareandsupportshe andhersiblingsexperiencedatMercy Hospitalduringeachofthoseincrediblytryingtimeswasimmeasurable. Itwasalsotheimpetusbehindherdecidingtobecomea nurse.Butittookanother12yearsforher torealizethatdream.

INSPIREDFROM

AYOUNGAGE

Theyoungestof five,Brownwentto livewithher23-yearoldsisterafterherfather’sdeath.Family andfriendshel pedto keepherontrack.She graduatedfromhigh school,becameacertifiedorthodontistassistantandworkedin thedentistryfieldfor thenextnineyears.

“Inthebackofmy mind,though,there wasalwaysthatmemoryofthecompassionandsympathyof thenurseswhocared formyparentsand supportedmeandmysiblingsthrough thoseincrediblytryingyears,”Brown said.“Theywerejustamazing.Their familiarfaceswereinandoutofour livesoveralongperiodoftimethrough illnessandd eath.AndIfinallyrealized thatIreallywantedandneededthat interactionwithpatientsatadifferent

levelinahospitalsetting.”

Sheenrolledinnursingschooland spentthenextthreeyearsjugglingher part-timejobwithclassworkandclinicalrotations,oneofwhichwas,ironically,atMercySouth.

“WhileIenjoyedbedsidenursing,I thinkmyheartwasalwaysintheER. Itjusthitsachordfor me,”Brownsaid.“In theERyouareprettymuchimmersedin apatient’ssituation andveryhandson. Whileworkingwith them,Itrytodisplay thesamecompassion, empathyandsupport inthesamewayit wasdisplayedtome andmyfamilyduring ourmostcritical moments.”

TAKINGONA NEWROLE

Today,Brownmarks herthirdyearasanER nurseatMercySouth, andsecondweekinto hernewroleassupervisor.“It’sbeenanincrediblejourneytoget tothispoint,”Brown said.“Ilovemyjob, andmyco-workersarefantastic.We’re likealittlefamilyhereintheERunit. Mydirecto rshavehelpedmegrowand ifitwasn’tforthemandtheirsupport, Iwouldnotbeinthisleadershipposition.Theyhavebuiltmeup,takenme outofmycomfortzoneandmademea betterperson.”

Brownattributesthissupportto theMercymission,whichisfounded oncompassionatecareandexceptional service,somethingthatisimplemented throughoutitsentirehealthandhuman servicesministry.

“Ifeellikeweare helpingthesepatients outonthemostcriticaldaysoftheirlives, treati ngeveryonewho walksthroughour doorsasanequaland beingthatshoulder forthemtoleanon,” shesaid.

SURPASSING STATISTICS

Brownknowsthat herlifecouldhave takenmyriadturns withoutthesupportandcareofher family,friendsand co-workers.

“Ihavecomealong waywiththecardsI

wasdealtandcontinuedon,surpassing thosestatisticsofnotbeingsomething, andinsteadturningintosomething.”

Brownsaidshethinkshermomand dadwouldbeveryproudofher.

OTHER

TAMMYTAYLOR

MERCYCLINICPRIMARYCARECHESTERFIELDVALLEY

Forgenuinelycaring.

WENDYTAYLORSON

ST.LOUISVAMEDICALCENTER

Fordedicationtotheveterans.

SCHOOLNURSE

KAYDEEWISE

GILSONBROWNELEMENTARYSCHOOL

Forbeinganawesomecoworker,nurse andperson!Youaresopatientandkindto everyoneandalwayswillingtohelpanyoneout. Weappreciateyoumorethanwecansay!

LISAMCDADE

CLAYTONHIGHSCHOOL

NurseLisa’sreputationprecedesheratClayton HighSchool!She’screatedanenvironment whereherstudentsknowtheywillfeelseen andheard.Youcan’tfindakidatClaytonthat doesn’thaveanicethingtosayabouther.

SKILLEDNURSING|

ASSISTEDLIVING| MEMORYCARE

ALALIAKRAFT

FRIENDSHIPVILLAGECHESTERFIELD

Alaliahasalwaysbeenapersonwholikesto fixthingsandhasbeenapersonwholovesto helppeople,sonursingcombinesthosetwo thingsperfectly.Workinginalong-termcare communityreallyisforher.

BRENDASCHMIDT,RN

DELMARGARDENSWEST

Forherdedicationtoourgeriatricresidentsat DelmarGardensWest.

DANA

MOUNTCARMELSENIORLIVING

Shewaswonderfulduringmymonthinrehab.

JESSICALEMONS

FRIENDSHIPVILLAGECHESTERFIELD

Jessicaisateamleaderandgoesaboveand beyondfortheresidents.

JessicaLemonshasbeenservingtheresidents ofFriendshipVillageChesterfieldforoverfour yearsasalicensedpracticalnurse.Residents benefitfromnotonlyherexcellentnursingskills butthecompassionandencouragementshegives atthemostvulnerablestageoftheirlives.

JUDYWEISS

GREENVILLENURSING&REHABILITATIONCENTER

Shehasbeenanursefor44years.Sheretired andwentbackduringCOVID-19.

MARGARETCHAPUT

OVERLOOKMEDICALCENTER

SUMMIT,NEWJERSEY

DoinggreatserviceatOverlookMedicalCenter for25years.

Thanksforallyoudo!

RACHAELSIMPSON

SUNRISESENIORLIVING

Forherdedicationandherpassionforherwork.

RELEABURNS

SHIFTKEY,LLC

Hercareandcompassionfortakingcareof herpatients.

SUSANLACHANCE

CORIMANORHEALTHCARE& REHABILITATIONCENTER

Susanputherselfthroughnursingschoolin hermid-30swhilesimultaneouslyworkingfull timeasawaitressandraisingfourchildrenasa singlemother.Herselflessnessandresilienceare unparalleled.

URGENTCARE

DJGROSS

OZARKSHEALTHCAREMEDICALGROUP

Sheishonored,cherishedandrespectedforher outstandingcaringnature.Herpatientsareher lifeinthesmallcountryclinicwhereshecares forsomanypeople.

DJP.

SHANNONCOUNTYHEALTHCENTER

Hercontinuingdedicationtoherprofessionand, moreimportantly,hercommunity.

MORNING POST

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