In celebration of National Nurses Week, Madison.com is honoring outstanding nurses in our area who go above and beyond to deliver exceptional care. This year’s Nurses: The Heart of Health Care program celebrates nurses who have made a significant impact on the lives of others, as nominated by their colleagues and members of the community.
Nurses from the SSM Health Wisconsin Region were well represented. Congratulations to the following nurses and thank you for all you do!
- 5E Nursing Staff, SSM Health St. Mary's Hospital - Madison
I am so pleased to be able to nominate a group of nursing/care staff at SSM Health St. Mary's Hospital - Madison. I had cardiac surgery just before Christmas last year and spent a week on floor 5E being looked after by the most amazing group of nurses, CNAs, PAs and more. Everyone was patient, caring and positive. They worked long hours, often short-staffed, and showed extraordinary compassion to people in their worst hours. They were inspiring.
- Jaime Glessner, SSM Health St. Mary's Hospital - Madison
Jaime is a charge nurse at SSM Health St. Mary's Hospital - Madison. She is a fantastic leader, coworker, team worker and confidant. Jaime goes above and beyond daily to make sure that her co-workers and patients are well taken care of. She sets up rooms, makes pre-op phone calls, answers questions, makes assignments and always does it with a smile. Jaime is very kind to each patient as well. She sits down and talks to them, makes sure that they feel comfortable with their hospital stay and answers all questions to help ease their minds.
- Connor Hagarty, SSM Health St. Clare Hospital - Baraboo
Connor works at SSM Health St. Clare Hospital - Baraboo. He has only been a registered nurse for two years after graduating from Viterbo University. He is one of the most kind and compassionate nurses I have ever met. He cares about everyone but has a special place in his heart for the elderly, which I find refreshing given his young age. He works hard and never complains.
- Diann Holzhuter, SSM Health St. Mary’s Hospital - Madison
Diann is a nurse in the Cardiac Cath Lab. Diann absolutely loves her job and her patients. Diann has a way of helping her patients feel calm during moments when they are most afraid. She is very knowledgeable and professional. Diann is very modest about her skills but not about her love for her job and what she does. Diann is the nurse everyone expects when they find themselves in difficult situations.
- Kathy McKillips, SSM Health St. Mary's Hospital - Janesville
Lt. Col. Kathy McKillips is the epitome of an excellent nurse. She has been a nurse for over 22 years, working the past 12 years at SSM Health St. Mary's Hospital - Janesville in our ICU. As a leader at our hospital, she takes great pride in teaching and mentoring new nurses to ensure a successful start to their careers. She is continually looking for opportunities to improve both her practice and our departments. She takes the time to get to know her patients on a personal level, frequently being recognized by patients and families for her exceptional care. Her clinical expertise and knowledge is evident every day she works, and she has the respect of the entire multidisciplinary team. Outside of her civilian career, Kathy has served in the U.S. Army Reserve since 1998. Her leadership has continued throughout her military career. In 2023, she was named commander of the 452nd Field Hospital in Milwaukee. In 2003, she was deployed to Bagram Air Base in Afghanistan as part of Operation Enduring Freedom. In 2018 she was sent to Camp Arifjan, Kuwait, where she served as assistant chief nurse for the 452nd Field Hospital. And then in 2020, she was sent to New Jersey to support the Urban Augmentation Medical Task Force to assist medical personnel who were overwhelmed during the COVID-19 pandemic. Outside of her responsibilities, she volunteers her medical services for the VetsRoll organization, helping facilitate trips to Washington, D.C., for veterans. Without volunteers like Kathy, those trips would not be successful. We are blessed to have Kathy as a part of our team!
- Sarah Osborne, SSM Health Dean Medical Group (Madison East Clinic)
Sarah is a fantastic charge nurse at SSM Health Dean Medical Group's department of family medicine. She goes above and beyond for not only her patients, but her coworkers and providers as well. Sarah is an outstanding team player. Her areas of expertise are great. She handles direct patient care, triage phone calls and acute staffing challenges. Sarah will always put her team in front of herself with the end goal of making the unit more efficient and better for everyone involved. She deeply cares for her patients by showing them all patience, kindness and grace. The world is a better place because of people like Sarah!
- Donelle Rippe, SSM Health St. Mary's Hospital - Madison
Donelle's passion for postpartum, newborn and NICU patients is evident daily. She individualizes her care to meet the needs of her patients, wherever they may be on the continuum. Donelle treats every patient as if they were a family member, making a connection with each interaction. She is frequently recognized by fellow staff members and patients for her dedication and compassion and is most deserving of the recognition because if you asked her, she would say, "I'm just doing my job."
- Tara Shale, SSM Health Dean Medical Group (Janesville Clinic)
I am nominating Tara Shale, RN, from SSM Dean Medical Group. Having had the privilege of having her on the SSM Palliative Care team for two years, I cannot say enough about her exceptional skills, dedication and compassion in providing care to patients. Tara possesses a remarkable ability to establish rapport with patients and their families, creating a supportive and comforting environment during difficult times. She is all about patient-centered care with any patient she comes across, even if the patient is not hers. Her empathetic approach and active listening skills enable her to understand the unique needs and concerns of each patient, ensuring personalized care that respects both their physical and emotional well-being. Not only does she support the patient but also the patient's loved ones during a difficult time.
- Peggy Weber, SSM Health St. Mary's Hospital - Madison, retired
Peggy Weber's life commitment is: "Once a nurse, always a nurse." After 45 years working at SSM Health St. Mary's as a mental health advocate for patients and staff, a grief counselor, facilitator for "Can Cope" and parish nurse, Peggy retired, but her passion for nursing did not. Today, she continues to organize grief support groups throughout the community. As a certified grief counselor, she has implemented programs for survivors of suicide, death and loss, cancer and their support people. She shares her wisdom as an active member on a variety of community boards. She volunteers at St. Mary's and helps with the "No One Dies Alone" program. She has great energy, insight and love for all who need a listening ear and a kind voice of reassurance. It is a pleasure to nominate Peggy Weber as one of the most outstanding nurses serving our community.
- Dana Welling, SSM Health Davis Duehr Dean Surgery Center
I have had the pleasure to know Dana since I started at SSM Health two years ago. From the moment I met her, she was so kind and warmhearted. She always has a smile on her face for our patients even on the hardest of days. Her bubbly personality is contagious and creates happiness all around the clinic. Patients and nurses alike love her. Just simply talking to her each day makes work much more fun. I feel lucky to have her as not just a coworker, but also a friend.
You can read the full list of 'Nurses: The heart of health care' honorees online at madison.com
