The Morning Journal (Lorain, OH)
Hospital nominates nurse for award
Fisher-Titus has nominated registered nurse Kelly Schaffer for the Ohio Hospital Association’s Albert E. Dyckes Health Care Worker of the Year Award, according to a news release.
“I am truly honored,” Schaffer said of being nominated. “Fisher-Titus really means community to me.
“It is wonderful to be making a difference in patients’ lives right here at home with my amazing coworkers and the true reward comes from the gratefulness of our patients that entrust their care to us here at Fisher-Titus.”
The Albert E. Dyckes Health Care Worker of the Year Award is presented by the Ohio Hospital Association each year to one Ohio caregiver who personifies a leader, gives back to the community, reflects the mission and values of his or her organization, and routinely goes beyond the call of duty, according to the release.
“Kelly has dedicated her career to nursing excellence by providing consistent and exceptional care to her patients as well as attentiveness and a calming presence to their families, all while mentoring her peers with exceptional leadership and support,” said Heather Wierzba, vice president of Nursing Services at Fisher-Titus.
Schaffer is a critical care specialist in the Emergency Department and has been at Fisher-Titus for 30 years.
In addition to her daily job responsibilities, Schaffer is involved in the Fisher-Titus Stroke Committee, Quality Council and the Trauhealth carema Program Team, according to the release.
In these roles, she helps ensure protocols and standards at Fisher-Titus are appropriate based on industry standards.
Schaffer is also very involved in clinical education, helping teach nursing orientation, providing instruction during annual clinical competency days, and helping lead the first Critical Care Education Day focusing on trauma and cardiac services education.
“Kelly’s passion for patient care is inspiring; she embraces the opportunity to impact someone’s life, every person, every day, with unconditional compassion,” Wierzba said. “Despite the ever-changing health care landscape, Kelly has an unwavering spirit and motivates her team to rise to their best, while balancing an amazing ability to calm a patient during an emergency or to help families make emotional decisions in the darkest of times.”
Schaffer will attend the Ohio Hospital Association’s annual conference in June where they will name the winner of the Health Care Worker of the Year award.