Nurses: The Heart of Healthcare winners for 2022 in Lincoln
Today is International Nurses Day, the birthday of Florence Nightingale. Meet the honorees of the Journal Star's Heart of Healthcare award. Nominations were reviewed by independent judges.
Watch Now: Heart of Healthcare winners
Angie Gaughen
Angie Gaughen, BSN, RN, is a charge nurse for the children’s rehabilitation unit at Madonna Rehabilitation Hospital. She was drawn to the profession when her older sister, Abby, was attending nursing school. “I always enjoyed talking to her about everything she was learning, and I found it all so interesting,” said Angie. Around the same period, she was involved in a serious car accident and spent a length of time in the hospital. It was after that experience that Angie knew for sure she wanted to be a nurse — so she could help others in the same way they had helped her. She earned her certified nursing assistant license in high school and ultimately received a bachelor’s degree in nursing from the University of Nebraska Medical Center.
The opportunity to help others is Angie’s favorite part of nursing. “Each patient has their own story, and being able to witness and be part of their recovery is very rewarding,” she shared. For new nurses entering the field, Angie encourages patient-focused care and an understanding of how this care impacts a person’s life. She expressed that a simple smile can really make a patient’s day. “Through all of the changes we’ve faced over the past couple of years, Angie has led with positivity and encouragement,” her nominator said. “She takes joy in her patients’ accomplishments, especially when they meet and exceed their goals.”
Elaine Van Volkenburg
Elaine Van Volkenburg, RN, BSN, a retired nurse who worked for 41 years at Gateway Manor, said the most enjoyable part of her occupation was the people — the many nurses, staff and patients she met along the way. “It’s a good profession; there is always a need for nurses,” she commented. “You have to have empathy towards helping people. You have to go with the flow and be able to take whatever is thrown at you.” Elaine said two of the hardest things she ever did as a nurse were transitioning from manual charting to computers and giving up her nursing license after 60 years. For her, nursing was a way of life.
Nominated for the outstanding contributions she made to her profession, as well as to the health, welfare and happiness of so many, Elaine wants those nurses who are just starting out to know that while it’s hard work, it’s very rewarding. “She is an example worthy of emulation by those beginning a career in nursing,” her nominator said.
Teri Feit
Teri Feit, RNC-NIC, a nurse in the neonatal intensive care unit at Bryan Medical Center East, served as a hospital candy striper in high school after her dad encouraged her to start volunteering. She went on to earn a bachelor’s degree from South Dakota State University and has been working as a nurse for nearly 26 years. Teri started in the cardiac progressive care unit at Bryan, where she continued for more than 12 years before transitioning to the NICU. In her current role, Teri cares for the youngest and most vulnerable patients. “The babies are born sick or tiny, tiny, and I get to be a part of the journey with the families and teach them how to take care of their babies when they go home,” she said.
Teri’s nominator got to know the nurse during the 159 days her twin grandchildren spent in Bryan’s NICU. Working the night shift frequently throughout this time, Teri calmly explained the different procedures and encouraged the grandmother to read to the twins. “She made some of the hardest moments so much easier,” her nominator recalled. “I knew she was fighting for them as hard as we were.”
Vicki Coffin
Vicki Coffin, RN, BSN, a faculty member at Southeast Community College, originally wanted to be a teacher. But first she earned her licensed practical nursing diploma and began working as a nurse, with the intention to obtain her teaching degree at a later time. She fell in love with nursing. Now she works as a nurse who teaches and says she is living out her dream. Vicki’s favorite thing about nursing is the opportunity to advocate for patients when they can’t advocate for themselves and to care for them no matter their ages or circumstances. The person who nominated Vicki, describes her as being generous with her time and having a wonderful spirit.
Vicki tells her nursing students who are close to completing the program to start a file with the notes, drawings and thank you cards they receive from patients. “When these nurses are having a tough day, they should open that file and it will remind them of the good they do and the good they have in their hearts,” she said. “It will reinforce that they are exactly where they need to be.”
Jennifer Smith
Jennifer Smith, RN, BSN, a nurse at Madonna Rehabilitation Specialty Hospital, became interested in nursing during high school. Her best friend’s parents were both nurses, and she was inspired after learning about their professions. Holding a bachelor’s degree in nursing and an associate’s degree in biotechnology, Jennifer likes the science of nursing and the fact that no two shifts are ever the same. “You really have to be able to roll with it. Things are constantly changing; your plan is always evolving,” she said. In her role at Madonna, Jennifer enjoys watching patients heal. “You see them later when they come back to visit and you’re like, ‘no way, you’re the same person?’”
Nominated for her strength and dedication, Jennifer continued to care for others as a bedside nurse while receiving intensive treatment for a rare form of leukemia. “When COVID hit hard and nurses were in short supply, she stepped up and enrolled in a staffing incentive to ensure patients continued to receive excellent care,” her nominator said. “She is an inspiration to all who know her.”
Jeanine Worley
Jeanine Worley, RN, is a nurse in the neuro trauma intensive care unit at Bryan Medical Center West. Always interested in medical TV shows, she originally hoped to become a paramedic. This led Jeanine to join the Ambulance Explorer program in Lincoln, and she began riding along in an ambulance once a week. Ultimately, though, she wanted to get to know her patients and decided on a career as a bedside nurse. Jeanine said she loves nursing because it’s a challenging and rewarding profession, and she can make a difference in someone’s life. “Sometimes it’s a happy ending and sometimes it’s a sad ending, but I feel like I can be a part of their journey,” she said. In her role as a nurse, she says, it’s important to be compassionate, empathetic and a good listener.
The person who nominated Jeanine received care from her after being critically injured in a car accident. “She went above and beyond the call of duty to keep me comfortable and content during the scariest time of my life, and when I was in the most indescribable amounts of pain,” her nominator said. “She also assisted my family in getting me to the next level of care when I was ready.”
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