PLESS NAMED 2008 NURSE HERO AT STEPHENS COUNTY HOSPITAL

2008 Nurse Hero Janice Pless receives the award plaque from Faye Taylor, Director of Nurses during the National Nurses Week celebration.

TOCCOA, GA - Nurses and hospital staff at Stephens County Hospital gathered in the hospital cafeteria on Thursday morning for a breakfast reception to recognize Janice Pless –a ward clerk on the Medical Floor - as the 2008 Nurse Hero. “It’s our way of recognizing the efforts and contributions of the nursing staff”, said Faye Taylor, Director of Nursing. “This is an annual event where the entire nursing staff make nominations based on a specific set of criteria. There are 300 employees in the Nursing Department and these nominees represent the best of the best”.

After introducing the hospital’s eight nominees for the year’s top nurse, Taylor shared several comments from fellow nurses and managers submitted during the nomination process. Among them was that Pless “has one of the most difficult and stressful jobs“. As a ward clerk, Pless keeps the nursing unit running smooth by coordinating multiple requests from many sources. “She deals directly with nursing staff, medical staff and has a love for her job”, says Taylor. Pless has been employed at Stephens County Hospital for 18 years and says she “love my job” . Other nominees include: Sara Lee Jennings, RN (Intensive Care), Hilliary White, RN (Emergency Department), Tabitha Smith, LPN (Surgical), Tammy Singletary, RN (Obstetrics), Matthew McCarthey, SDT (Intermediate Care), Misty Cash, CNA (Surgical) and Lola Lawson, RN (Intermediate Care).

Nurse Hero nominees include: (L/R) Pless, Lola Lawson, RN, Tabitha Smith, LPN, Tammy Singletary, RN, Sara Lee Jennings, RN, Misty Cash, CNA, Hilliary White, RN, Matthew McCarthey, SDT and Taylor

The Nurse Hero award is presented as part of the Hospital’s celebration of National Nurse Week held May 4th through the 10th and is designated to recognize the contributions of the nursing profession to their communities.