Caption: At a reception in honor of the 2007 SRC School of Nursing graduates, Heather Martin was named 2007 MDH/SRC Nurse of the Year. Heather is a registered nurse in Acute Care at MDH.
Martin receives 2007 MDH/SRC Nurse of the Year Award: Spoon River College (SRC) and McDonough District Hospital (MDH) are pleased to announce Heather Martin, RN, as a winner of the 2007 McDonough District Hospital/Spoon River College Nurse of the Year award. Martin was selected for the honor by students in the second year nursing program at Spoon River College. Martin is currently working in the hospital’s Acute Care department as a staff registered nurse. The MDH/SRC Nurse of the Year award recognizes an outstanding LPN or RN who has been involved with the clinical training of the SRC nursing students. The award is based upon the nurse’s generosity with nursing students, integrity with the care of clients, mentoring ability with students, and knowledge of nursing. Martin has been with McDonough District Hospital since 1995. She started her employment as an aide in the Food Service department, but became a nursing assistant in the Acute Care department in 1998 while studying to be a registered nurse at Graham School of Nursing in Canton. Martin stated, “I enjoy taking care of people, and the most rewarding part about my job is when the patients really appreciate the care. I feel that I have done my job when a patient can tell me “The care was great here.” When asked about her experience with the students, Martin comments, “Working with the students brings back memories of when I was in nursing school. Seeing them grow is an awesome feeling!” In nominating Martin, the students praised her patience and words of wisdom. Her nominators went on to say, “Heather is an exemplary nurse who guides students in prioritizing patient care, offering advice, and re-directs students’ attention to the matters on hand” and “She has an enthusiastic personality and makes students feel more at ease with new experiences and skills.” Martin lives in Industry with her husband Jerry and their two children, Addi and Gavin. She has a long history with nursing at MDH as her mother, Janet Sullivan, is a registered nurse in the Obstetrics department. Martin appreciates her mother’s influence on her nursing career: “Receiving the Nurse of the Year award was a nice surprise. I have to give my mother credit for showing and teaching me the true role of a nurse. She is my inspiration and my best friend.” Spoon River College offers a two-year, Associate Degree in Nursing program on the college’s Macomb and Canton campuses. After the first year of coursework, students can sit for the Practical Nursing licensure exam and obtain their LPN certification. After successful completion of the second year, the students are eligible to sit for the Registered Nurse licensure exam. For more information about the nursing program at Spoon River College, contact the nursing department at (309) 649-6227.
Caption: Pictured, left to right: Julie Auger, SRC Nursing Educator; Betty Sherwood, RN, Director of MDH Acute Care and ICU; Stephen Hopper, MDH President/CEO; Heather Martin, RN, Nurse of the Year; Peg Shroyer, SRC Dean of Macomb Campus/Outreach Education; Katie Schaapveld, Student Nurse of the Year; and Sandy Nash, SRC Nursing Educator.
