Yvonne Cope, a registered nurse in the obstetrics and intensive care departments at Texas County Memorial Hospital, was named the 2008 nurse of the year during last week’s annual National Nurses’ Week.
Wes Murray, chief executive officer at TCMH, presented the award to Cope at the Friday luncheon.
“Yvonne excels in every aspect of nursing – patience, knowledge and skills,” Murray said. “But above all, she knows how to relate to people in a way that makes them feel at ease no matter what department she’s working in.
Murray noted that Cope “exemplifies pure customer service. Yvonne is a nurse whose quality of work remains the same regardless of what comes her way personally or professionally.”
The nurse managers chose Cope for the award. The TCMH medical staff donated a $100 gift certificate to nurse of the year, $250 cash, a trophy and fresh flowers.
Nurses’ week is celebrated annually at TCMH. Nurses work in many departments of the hospital – medical surgical, obstetrics, emergency room, surgery, intensive care, home health, hospice and clinics.
On Tuesday and Wednesday, the TCMH nurse managers held a “skills lab” training session for all TCMH licensed practical nurses and registered nurses. It included 12 hands-on training stations for nursing activities such as chest tubes, quality measures, transfer forms, oxygen equipment, lab, X-ray, central lines and more.
“We had very good participation from our nurses,” said Doretta Todd-Willis, TCMH director of nursing. Eighty-one nurses participated in the skills lab.
The nurse managers at TCMH hold the annual skills lab training during nurses’ week as a way to help nurses keep up with in-house educational needs.
Culminating Nurses’ Week, a casino-themed breakfast or lunch was provided to all nursing staff. The TCMH nurse managers, administration and area businesses donated gifts for the nurses. Each nurse was given an umbrella with the TCMH 50-year anniversary logo.
The Uniform Shoppe from West Plains came to TCMH to allow nurses and other employees the opportunity to shop for uniforms during the day.