Laura Gray
Registered Nurse
Keokuk Area Hospital

As a veteran registered nurse, Laura Gray is known not only for her technical competence, but for her leadership and professionalism as well. Her nursing career has been distinguished and admirable, but perhaps a recent event captured the scope and meaning of what it means to be a hero better than anything else.

It was a typical winter evening in Iowa, with sleet and blowing snow.  For veteran nurse Joyce Aldridge, it was a good night to just stay in. While tending to household chores, she experienced some pressure in her chest that just wouldn’t go away.  Joyce decided to call her husband, Darrell, who was miles away.  Darrell suggested Joyce call her long-time friend, Laura Gray. 

Joyce and Laura had worked together as nurses at Keokuk Area Hospital (KAH) for 20 years.  Knowing that Laura keeps busy at home with her family, Joyce didn’t want to bother her.  Darrell heard the concern in Joyce’s voice and took it upon himself to make the call to Laura.  Immediately, Laura understood the severity of the situation and with her husband James, they arrived at Joyce’s house and witnessed the intense pain her friend was in; Laura insisted they go to the emergency room as fast as road conditions would allow. 

Arriving at KAH, Joyce was able to walk into the trauma room, but within minutes was in a full code situation.  While the physicians and emergency room staff were responding to this crisis, it was Laura who insisted on doing CPR and carrying out her promise to Joyce that she would not leave her. 

Today, Joyce is doing great and is back to work.  She credits many individuals for her happy ending, but had it not been for the persistence and life-saving work of her friend, Laura, she knows things might have turned out quite differently.

Among more than 71,000 employees, Iowa hospitals have countless examples of amazing people doing outstanding work.  Each year, IHA honors some of those employees as Iowa Hospital Heroes.  In the coming weeks, IHA will share the stories of our 2009 Iowa Hospital Heroes.  Below is our Hero for this week: 

Edra Fouts
Stoddard Care Coordinator
Iowa Methodist Medical Center, Des Moines

At the John Stoddard Cancer Center at Iowa Methodist Medical Center, Registered nurse Edra Fouts makes a difference in the lives of her patients and their families on a daily basis. From the first day she arrived at Stoddard, Edra did everything possible to make sure her breast cancer patients received the best care possible.  She cares for each and every one of them with her whole heart.

Recently, Edra spent several hours at the end of her day with a dying patient to help write cards to the patient’s three children and mother for special events (birthdays, Mother’s Day, graduations). Edra didn’t think twice about spending countless hours with the patient to make sure the cards were finished.

Somehow, Edra still finds time to dedicate herself to a number of other projects, including Pink Saturdays, a free mammogram screening partnership; serving on the Polk Metro Breast Cancer Committee; traveling to Washington, D.C. to lobby for breast cancer implants for her patients; serving as a Komen for the Cure board member for one year; facilitating a multidisciplinary breast cancer conference; and mentoring new Stoddard Care Coordinators. Edra has also made herself available for countless presentation requests on breast cancer, traveling to area businesses, churches and leadership groups to share her knowledge.

Edra is a Hospital Hero because of her endless dedication to her patients and in the fight against breast cancer. Watching patients who have become friends pass away from the disease is not an easy thing to do. But Edra strives to do everything possible to make sure her patients are receiving the best care and support they need to fight cancer. She never thinks twice about giving of herself and is truly an amazing nurse, friend and hero.

Among more than 71,000 employees, Iowa hospitals have countless examples of amazing people doing outstanding work.  Each year, IHA honors some of those employees as Iowa Hospital Heroes.  In the coming weeks, IHA will share the stories of our 2009 Iowa Hospital Heroes.  Below is our Hero for this week: 

Sharon Ferguson
Registered Nurse
Mahaska Health Partnership, Oskaloosa 

Sharon Ferguson has been employed at Mahaska Health Partnership (MHP) in Oskaloosa for a little more than a year, but she has already made a tremendous impact.  Sharon has been a nurse for 36 years, working in many different arenas before landing her current position as Diabetes Educator for MHP Community Health.

Sharon spent many hours of her own time learning everything she could about the diabetes disease process. In a short amount of time, she has established great partnerships with many professionals and her relationship building efforts have allowed her to offer free blood glucose screenings at the local Hy-Vee pharmacy on two different occasions, screening more than 150 people and providing valuable information regarding diabetes maintenance and follow-up care.

Sharon started a free monthly diabetes support group in January and already has an average of 20 people attending. She organized and offered Diabetes Wellness in

Self-Management Education (WISE) classes, which currently boasts 39 participates completing the 10-hour classes. Thanks to her leadership and persistence, the Diabetes WISE program recently received certification from the American Diabetes Association.

Many patients and community members have benefited from Sharon’s wealth of knowledge and the compassionate care she gives to every individual, treating each person like family. Sharon has integrity, always placing her patients’ needs first.  Recently, she heard about a co-worker’s elderly neighbor who was traveling 30 miles to receive free diabetes supplies and offered to make a home visit to see how she could assist him.

Sharon whole heartedly deserves this award for exemplifying honesty, integrity, humanity, courage and commitment. She has worked through many obstacles throughout her endeavors and continues to persevere in her personal mission to educate the community about diabetes and help prevent some of the devastating complications it can cause when left unchecked. She has used her talents and expertise to improve our organization and the health and well being of our community. She truly is a living hero.

On August 18 the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services announced the availability of $13.4 million to support loan repayments for nurses who agree to practice in facilities with critical shortages. The funds for these efforts were made available by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) signed by President Obama in February of this year.

These funds come from two programs under HHS’ Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA): the Nurse Education Loan Repayment Program and the Nurse Faculty Loan Program.

• $8.1 million will go to the Nurse Education Loan Repayment Program (NELRP), which will help 100 registered nurses pay their debts accumulated during their nursing education. The program repays 60 percent of the loan balance for an individual in exchange for two years of service working in a facility with a critical shortage of nurses.
• $5.3 million goes to the Nurse Faculty Loan Program (NFLP), being awarded to schools of nursing to support 500 masters and doctoral nursing students planning to become nurse faculty after completing their schooling. Upon graduation, recipients may cancel up to 85 percent of the loan principal and interest in exchange for four years of service as a full-time nursing faculty at a school of nursing.

The program assisting with loan repayments for nurses practicing in facilities with critical shortages is similar to one pursued by Iowa Congressman Bruce Braley in June, called the Frontline Providers Loan Repayment Act. Braley’s bill sought loan repayment options for medical professionals working in areas that have a shortage of frontline care services.

For additional information about the Loan Repayment Program and other Recovery Act programs for health care professionals, see http://bhpr.hrsa.gov/recovery/

Several weeks ago IHA hosted a board meeting in our offices for the Iowa Organization of Nurse Leaders. While they were in the building, we talked with a few nurse leaders about why they love their work and what advice they had for others interested in the nursing profession.

Watch the video below to see what these leaders had to say

IONL members in the video included:

• Peg Bradke, Director, Heart Center at St. Luke’s Hospital
• Colleen Meggers, Director, Maternal Child Services at Mercy Medical Center – Clinton
• Dar Elbert, Assistant Administrator, Nurse Executive at Kossuth Regional Health Center
• Janet Naset-Payne, Director, Inpatient Services at Pella Regional Health Center
• Neal Loes, Vice President, Chief Nursing Officer at Mary Greeley Medical Center

Looking for more information on nursing?

For further reading you can see all of our blog posts about nurses, or visit any of the websites below:

• Iowa Organization of Nurse Leaders
• Iowa Board of Nursing
• Nurses for a Healthier Tomorrow

If you have questions about nursing or anything related, ask below in the comments.