MCMC Receives Four New Oregon Nurse of the Year Awards
Once again, Mid-Columbia Medical Center nurses have proved they are among
the state’s most outstanding patient-care providers. For the fifth
consecutive year, MCMC nurses are among the exclusive group of Oregon
care professionals selected to receive the 2015 March of Dimes Nurse of
the Year Award.
MCMC’s nurses have been recognized by the March of Dimes every year
since the award’s inception. The organization selects one outstanding
nurse in 16 different categories, an MCMC nurse was at the top of four
of those in 2015.
While praising all nurses for their profound impact on the lives of patients,
the March of Dimes says the 16 nurses singled out this year “were
acknowledged for their constant care, compassion and dedication to improving
the quality of other’s lives through service.”
“This year’s honored nurses are just the latest in a long succession
of MCMC nurses who have been honored among their peers statewide,”
says MCMC President and CEO Duane Francis. “It is really a remarkable
achievement that a hospital the size of ours has been so frequently and
consistently honored by the March of Dimes. It is a great testament to
the outstanding quality of care our nurses have long delivered, and I
couldn’t be prouder, not only of the four winners but of the other
MCMC nurses who were nominated for the award.”
Here is a look at MCMC’s honored nurses.
Rachel Crowder: The “Oregon Small Hospital Nurse of the Year”
is a nursing supervisor at MCMC who also works as a nursing educator and
assistant emergency management coordinator.
“Rachel is a highly motivated self starter who has been involved
in many crucial MCMC projects,” says Regina Rose, MCMC’s chief
nursing officer. As a nursing supervisor, Crowder ensures the hospital
is running smoothly with the nursing units appropriately staffed so that
MCMC can provide consistently excellent bedside patient care. “Rachel
is an excellent clinician and resource for our nurses and is not afraid
to jump in and assist with a challenging patient situation or mentor and
teach nurses on a moment’s notice,” Rose adds.
Lisa Sosa was named the 2015 Oregon Nurse of the Year in the Nurse Specialty
category. Sosa plays many roles in her job as MCMC’s risk manager.
She helps ensure optimal inpatient safety by reviewing laws, rules and
regulations that govern how hospitals provide patient care and communicates
this information to employees, patients and their families. She’s
also led an interdisciplinary team in the development of the MCMC “Raise
a Hand for Safety” program.
The program puts patient and employee safety at the forefront of all activities
at MCMC and encourages all employees to “speak up for safety.”
According to Rose, “Lisa provides support and is an advocate for
all of MCMC’s patients as well as the greater community.”
The daughter of an Air Force chaplain, Sosa grew up all over the world.
She earned her bachelor of science in nursing degree from Loma Linda University.
Before joining MCMC she worked at Loma Linda, where she was also a nursing
instructor, and Kaiser Permanente.
Sosa and her husband Joe have eight children. She loves being outdoors
where she gardens, hikes and paddle boards in the summer.
Jayme Alsup was named the 2015 Oregon Emergency Nurse of the Year. Alsup
has been a nurse for 14 years with a background in intensive care in addition
to emergency nursing. As a trauma coordinator at MCMC, Alsup is responsible
for ensuring MCMC’s Emergency Department meets or exceeds all Oregon
state standards for trauma care. MCMC recently underwent the Oregon State
Trauma Survey and passed with exceptional marks. Surveyors indicated they
were impressed with the high level of trauma care MCMC provides to the
community as well as the active process improvement in the area of trauma care.
“Jayme is a strong leader and is known for her positive attitude
and excellence in nursing practice,” says Rose.
Alsup has lived most of her life in Sherman County, where her parents owned
a wheat farm. She credits them with much of her success. “They instilled
in me a great work ethic and the importance of loving your career and
doing everything with respect, responsibility and a positive attitude,” she says.
It was volunteering at MCMC during high school that led Alsup to nursing.
Graduating with honors from the OHSU School of Nursing, she was named
Nursing Student of the Year. She went on to work at Providence St. Vincent’s
Medical Center before coming to MCMC.
After 13 years at MCMC, Alsup says, “It’s an organization that
recognizes its hard- working employees and a place I will call my second
home until I retire.”
The mother of twin 4-year-old boys loves to snowboard, hike, bike and run
in her free time.
Anna Dillon was named the 2015 Oregon Nurse of the Year in the Critical
Care category. She is a clinical leader in the Intensive Care Unit at
MCMC and demonstrates purpose and pride when caring for the most critically
ill in the local community.
“She is recognized by her colleagues for her compassionate care,
patient advocacy and critical care nursing skills both here at MCMC and
abroad,” Rose says.
Dillon has done extensive volunteer work globally, providing care for populations
that do not generally receive high-quality healthcare. She loves the profession
of nursing because it is “heartwarming, heartbreaking, an endless
learning opportunity and unsubtly meaningful.”
Dillon grew up in Atascadero, Calif., the youngest of five kids raised
by a single mother. Despite challenging circumstances, she was always
encouraged to “dream big, think globally and travel.”
Of her work at MCMC she says, “I never imagined a hospital like MCMC
could exist. They take such good care of their employees, which allows
us to take good care of our patients.”