Sparrow Clinton Hospital celebrates Nurses Week

Published: May 13, 2020

ST. JOHNS, MI – Sparrow Clinton Hospital celebrated National Nurses Week with special recognition of the hospital’s entire nursing staff. This year marks the 200th anniversary of the birth of Florence Nightingale, the founder of modern nursing, making 2020 the Year of the Nurse.

During this unprecedented time, Sparrow Clinton chose not to give accolades to a single nurse, but to honor all 70 nurse caregivers as the 2020 Nurses of the Year. Their compassionate care for patients, their families, and the community as a whole reflects the true spirit of Florence Nightingale.

“The Coronavirus has changed our lives,” said Sparrow Clinton Hospital President Beth Daugherty, BSN, MPH, RN, CRRN. “The comfort and reassurance Sparrow Clinton nurses provide daily has a whole new meaning. Our healing touch has been redefined. Nurses have learned to smile with their eyes, hug without touching, and celebrate life from a distance.”

All 70 Registered Nurses at Sparrow Clinton Hospital are the Nurse of the Year, including Nicola Bailey, BSN, RN, CCM; Melissa Ball, RN; Sally Batis, BSN, RN; Robert Beals, RN; Steven Blodgett, BSN, RN, CCRN; Regina Buhr, RN; Brandon Burton, RN; Cynthia Bush, BSN, RN; Teri Carey, BSN, RN; Kylie Conrad, BSN, RN; Belinda Cook, BSN, RN, MM; Lisa Cook, RN; Billie Curtiss, BSN, RN; Beth Daugherty, BSN, RN, MPH, CRRN; Heather Dunn, BSN, RN, OCN, CMS-RN; Wendy Embs, BSN, RN, CEN; Sarah Fabus, BSN, RN;, Laura Fanning, MSN, FNP-C; Elizabeth Guillaume, RN; Brittany Hagerman, BSN, RN; Mariah Hesse, BSN, RN, CENP; Jodie Hills, BSN, RN, CMS-RN; Nicole Hudson, BSN, RN; Angela Hufnagel, BSN, RN, CEN; Kelli Isralson-Brown, DNP, APRN, ANP-C; Natasha Karek, BSN, RN; Melanie Kotowicz, BSN, RN, CNOR; Grace Kresge, RN; Stefanie Lombard, BSN, RN; Natalie Longoria, RN; Richard McCoy, MSN, FNP-C; Jamie McMullen, RN; Amarily Mendez, RN; Teresa Miller, RN; Rachael Munro, BSN, RN, CPN; Cynthia Nakfoor, BSN, RN, CMS-RN,; Billi Ney, MSN, RN; Amy Norris, BSN, RN; Derrick Ostrander, BSN, RN; Jennifer Petritz, BSN, RN; Connie Phelps, RN, CNOR; Teresa Pickens, RN, CEN; Carol Pickott, BSN, RN; Chad Piggott, RN; Amber Piper, RN, CMS-RN; Gretchen Priess, BSN, RN, CMS-RN; Mary Rathbun, RN, CEN; Leticia Riley, BSN, RN; Beverley Ross, BSN, RN; Adriann Sanders, MSN, RN; Kristen Sarata, BSN, RN; Julie Schafer, RN; Ashley Scott, BSN, RN, CMS-RN; Brenda Simmer, BSN, RN; Diane Simon, MSN, RN, CEN; Kari Simon, RN,; Marcy Snyder, MSN, RN,CCRN-P; Lori Sparks, BSN, RN; Angela Stebbins, BSN, RN; Kelsey Thelen, MSN, FNP-C; Lisa Thornburg, BSN, RN; Laura Tipps, BSN, RN; Melissa Torp, BSN, RN; Julieta Van Etten, BSN, RN; Sarah Veith, BSN, RN,; Aubree Verlinde, BSN, RN; Sandra Ward, BSN, RN; Paula Wiles, RN, RNC-OB; and Bridget Willis, RN.

National Nurses Week highlights the role every nurse plays in promoting health and wellness for patients in all healthcare environments. It begins each year on May 6 and ends on May 12 to coincide with Florence Nightingale's birthday.

Photo caption: CUT THE CAKE – Following Sparrow Clinton Hospital tradition, the least tenured nurse, Julie Schafer, RN, (from right) joined SCH President Beth Daugherty, BSN, MPH, RN, CRRN, and the most tenured nurse, Gretchen Priess, RN, in cutting the cake to celebrate National Nurses Week.

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Sparrow, a member of the prestigious Mayo Clinic Care Network, is Mid-Michigan’s premier healthcare organization and includes hospitals in Lansing, Charlotte, St. Johns, Ionia and Carson City as well as Physicians Health Plan, Sparrow Care Network, Sparrow Medical Group and the Michigan Athletic Club. Sparrow is affiliated with Michigan Medicine through the Sparrow Children’s Center and Michigan State University’s three human health colleges. Through these partnerships and the dedication of our 10,000 Caregivers, Sparrow pursues a vision to be nationally recognized as a leader in quality and Patient experience. For more information, visit Sparrow.org.