Lisa Uphold named a 2018 “100 Great Iowa Nurse”

Lisa Uphold

MAHASKA COUNTY – Mahaska Health Partnership Keokuk County Hospice Nurse Lisa Uphold has been named to the 2018 listing of “100 Great Iowa Nurses.”

Uphold will be honored with other recipients at a special ceremony recognizing National Nurses Week on Sunday, May 6 in Des Moines. This year’s nominees were nominated by colleagues, patients, doctors, friends and family members representing over 40 Iowa counties.

The field of nominees were narrowed to 100 by a panel of reviewers, including nursing professionals, and previous honorees based off of the nominee’s concern for humanity, contribution to the profession, leadership and mentoring.

Since she joined MHP in 2013, Uphold has proven to be an outstanding example for fellow nurses. “Lisa has focused her work in nursing not only on providing the highest quality care possible, but also on passionately teaching others about the benefits of hospice care,” said MHP Director of Home Health and Hospice Travis Johnson, who nominated Uphold for the award.

“Lisa does her job very well, while also taking time to advocate for what she cares most about. The care she provides is not just technical. It’s heart-touching, emotional and spiritual care,” Johnson continued. “Lisa takes the time to get to know the individual characteristics of each patient and of each family member she works with.”

Uphold said she loves the work she does and feels honored to be recognized. “There are so many other wonderful nurses who do great things every day,” Uphold stressed.

Uphold said she feels blessed every day to have the opportunity to do what she does. “My passion comes from God working through me,” she said. “I am blessed every day by my patients and their families. I love helping them through the process and figuring out how we can best serve them. My mother was placed in hospice in 2004 and she had the most compassionate hospice nurse, Donna Hahn, who has since been a huge inspiration to me in my work.”

In the winter of 2017, Uphold was assigned to care for a patient who had a unique situation and had no electricity at home. Johnson applauded Uphold’s willingness to go above any beyond for the patient.

“Lisa worked tirelessly to track down new vendors who could help meet this patient’s unique needs,” Johnson explained. “Despite the many challenges, Lisa built a strong bond with the family and after the patient passed, they invited her to the visitation, dinner and funeral. Lisa was invited not just as a caregiver, but as part of the family.”