Nurse of the Week Cathy Scholtens is known as a nurse who will go the extra mile for her neighbors and her pediatric patients… So well-known in fact, that the Missoula, Montana pediatric ICU nurse received two awards in one month!
First, Cathy’s hospital, Community Medical Center, presented her with their 2020 Mercy Award. The Mercy Award recognized her “Relentless dedication to go beyond the call of duty to serve patients and the community,” citing numerous instances in which Scholten extended her nursing work beyond the walls of the hospital, including fundraising efforts to get lung transplants for two young brothers with congenital pulmonary disease, organizing the donation of thousands of N-95 masks for her hospital, and providing home bedside care—from changing dressings and administering injections to managing medical appointments—for an elderly neighbor with cancer.
In her response to the Mercy Award, Scholtens’ first thought (unsurprisingly) was of others: “You don’t get this kind of award in a vacuum. To me it’s kind of my whole unit’s award. We have amazing doctors, amazing nurses and amazing staff. But I’m really proud to have my name on it.”
Later that month, when Scholtens rounded a corner and found a hall filled with staff, family, and friends, naturally “I thought it was a surprise party for having received the Mercy Award.” Or, so she thought until she saw the giant daisy displayed on a large wall-screen. Cathy, who has often made videos for Daisy Awards, realized that she was receiving yet another award, a Daisy Foundation Award for Extraordinary Nurses! According to the comments from her co-workers, her Daisy Award was also well-deserved. As one staffer said, “If Cathy could give CPR with one hand while keeping her arm around the parent with the other, she would do it.”
As she is retiring in two years, Scholtens found the recognition especially moving: “It’s nice to know that your life’s work is appreciated and that you are doing the right thing and you are doing it right.” Again, however, she is quick to share credit. Of the dual award accolade, she said, “It’s neat. I’m super proud,” but added, “I’m also blessed with a family that lets me do all this extra stuff while they do all the stuff that runs this house. I’m down on my computer making silly magnets for people and they are up there doing the dishes. Like I said, you don’t do anything in a vacuum.”
For more on Cathy Scholtens and her awards, see the story in the Bitterroot Star.
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