Six MHP Nurses Named “100 Great Iowa Nurses”
Mahaska Health Partnership’s Top 100 Iowa Nurses, front row, from left: Laura Doscher, Lisa Nelson, ARNP, and Kerri Boender. Back row, from left: Lisa Cox, ARNP, Renee Edgar and Hillary Kutcher.
MAHASKA COUNTY – Mahaska Health Partnership nurses Kerri Boender, RN, Laura Doscher, BSN, Renee Edgar, RN, Hillary Kutcher, RN, and Lisa Nelson, ARNP, all of Oskaloosa, and Lisa Cox, ARNP of Albia, have been named to the ninth annual listing of “100 Great Iowa Nurses.”
This award recognizes outstanding nurses whose exceptional contributions to patients, colleagues and their profession are truly remarkable. Hundreds of nominations from around the state of Iowa were first evaluated by reviewers and final selection was determined by representatives of the Iowa Hospital Association, Iowa Nurses Association and the Iowa Nurses Foundation. Recipients will be honored at a special celebration recognizing National Nurses Week on May 5 in Des Moines.
According to MHP Chief Nursing Officer Darlene Keuning RN, BSN, MS, those chosen for this honor are to be commended for advancing and leading the profession of nursing. “It is a great affirmation of the skill, quality and compassion of the nursing staff at Mahaska Health Partnership,” Keuning said. “I’m extremely proud that six of our nurses received this independent, external recognition. It reaffirms our belief that we have the best nursing staff in the region.”
Kerri Boender has been employed at MHP as House Supervisor for six years. Nurses and physicians praise Boender for the way she interacts with patients. She is always there to support staff and make sure the right decisions are made for patients. She is also cited by staff for her mentoring and ability to positively impact their work and the patient’s wellbeing with her knowledge and unwavering support. She puts patient safety and quality of care as the number one priority not only in her day-to-day work, but in each and every nurse that she educates, mentors and coaches.
After 18 years specializing in Psychiatric/Mental Health Nursing, Lisa Cox recently received a master’s degree in nursing with a Family Psychiatric/Mental Health concentration. She passed her boards and is now a Family Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner. She will soon be leaving her role as the director of MHP’s Inpatient Geriatric Psychiatry unit but will remain at MHP as a provider, which has her staff very excited. It is her care for patients along with her expertise and compassion that makes her shine as one of MHP’s great nurses!
Laura Doscher has worked at MHP as the Utilization Review Coordinator for nine years. She is a strong advocate for patients and does whatever she thinks is needed to serve her patients with compassion; often giving of her personal time to ensure they are well taken care of even after they leave our facility. Doscher is excellent at pulling all the resources the team has to offer together so that the patient gets the most comprehensive care available. She said she always thinks of her own tight-knit family and treats her patients like she wants her family to be treated.
Renee Edgar worked at MHP for a total of seven years and has been in her current role at the cardiopulmonary rehabilitation nurse for two years. She is very passionate about making a positive influence in her patients’ quality of life, and finds the key to motivate each individual, making the cardiac rehabilitation program a huge success. Edgar’s most significant contribution is her ability to get people involved and motivated. She often volunteers for hospital-sponsored community events and is a strong advocate for a heart-healthy lifestyle.
Hillary Kutcher has been a staff nurse in the Emergency Department for 14 years. She is an advocate for those who can’t speak for themselves, and is consistently mentioned in patient satisfaction surveys for her compassion and concern. As one of MHP’s trained Sexual Assault Nurse Examiners, Kutcher participates in a community-wide DART/SART team to improve care for victims of domestic and sexual abuse. She does a remarkable job in minimizing the physical and psychological trauma to the victim while making sure she preserves vital evidence.
Adult Nurse Practitioner Lisa Nelson is consistently mentioned in patient satisfaction surveys for the excellent care she gives. Nelson feels strongly about educating her patients regarding their disease processes and works with her patients to find the best fit for them and their definition for quality of life. Lisa believes strongly in giving back to the community, and remains a regular volunteer at the Oskaloosa Free Clinic and many other MHP community activities. Nelson always puts the needs of her patients first, providing most of her volunteerism during her personal time.
Keuning said that MHP’s six nurses honored as “100 Great Iowa Nurses” are true leaders who represent the best that the nursing profession has to offer. “The compassion, high quality care and leadership our nurses provide every day is truly exceptional. We are so proud and thankful that we work with many great nurses at MHP and because of their care, our patients benefit.”
