By Megan Sprague

Nurses can play a crucial role in a patient’s health and recovery, but their contributions can sometimes be overlooked.

“Sometimes, folks don’t realize that we do more than just hand out pills,” said Tammy Pond, BSN. “It’s a calling. Sometimes you’re the only person that can help a patient, and knowing you’re touching someone’s life is what keeps me going.”

To reward and encourage nurses like Pond and her co-workers, the staff at Lake Norman Regional Medical Center dedicated last week to honoring some of their hardest working employees.

“We wanted to show appreciation for everything the nurses do year-round,” said Pam Rudisill, Chief Nursing Officer for the hospital. “Since there was a week of celebration, we figured we’d follow suit with something different every day of the week.”

The LNRMC nurses were treated to breakfast wheeled in for them at their stations, ice cream socials, cookies and pretzels. And, at a ceremony last Thursday, they received a big congratulations to them for a job well done.

Mayor Bill Thunberg read a proclamation from the town of Mooresville about how nurses make a difference every day.

“Today’s nurses are devoted caregivers as well as responsible professionals,” the mayor said. “They must have the commitment to remain involved in continuing education throughout their careers and must have the compassion it takes to provide hands-on patient care at the bedside as they have done throughout the centuries.”

An awards banquet was held after the mayor’s speech to recognize nurses who were continuing their education and earning higher degrees.

“Nurses deserve recognition. They are basically at their patient’s bedside 24/7, coordinating a plan of care and doing all they can to involve themselves with the family and the patient,” Rudsill said. “Not every patient has the outcome that we would hope for, but even so, the nurses are making a difference regardless by just being there.“

Stephanie James, who was presented with “Nurse of the Quarter” recognition, said she enjoys the variety of her job as a nurse.

“You meet a lot of people, and they become your friends as well as your patients,” she said. “I can’t express in words how rewarding it is. In a hospital this small, you really are a team and you end up sending far more home healthy than you lose.”

James joked that she sometimes grumbles about how nurses are underappreciated.

“But this week is all about us, and we need that!” she laughed. “We’re a pretty fantastic group. Pam makes sure of that.”

Pond said she appreciated the focus on continuing education.

“I enjoyed that the ceremony recognized those of us continuing to go to school. It really encourages those who are still students to accomplish more,” she said.

Second to motherhood, Pond said she believes nursing is the noblest profession.

“You touch people in all aspects: physical, emotional and spiritual,” she said. “There are so many avenues you can take with a nursing degree, that even when the world changes, nurses will still be a part of it. Always.”

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