Pruitt honored as Patient Choice Nurse

Chief Nursing Officer Sallie Adkins laughs as Sandra Pruitt makes a joke while accepting accolades as the Patient Choice Nurse for Dyersburg Regional Medical Center. Pruitt received a bouquet of roses and a check. [Click to enlarge]

Dyersburg Regional Medical Center patients declared Sandra Pruitt the hospital's best nurse.

She was named the Patient Choice Nurse during a luncheon in her honor Thursday. She received a bouquet of pink and white roses and a check. Her husband, Robert Pruitt, joined her for the luncheon.

Pruitt, a registered nurse who works in the hospital's education department, said she was stunned when she learned she'd won. She said she cried. "I was very pleased," she said. "It was nice to be recognized."

Nominees for the Dyersburg Regional Medical Center's Patient Choice Nurse Award include (front row, from left): Paige Throgmorton, Dixie Hickerson, Nikki Rodriguez, winner Sandra Pruitt, Andria Holder, Belinda Epperson, Jennifer Asher and (second row) Charlotte Gardner, Faye Sigman, Patsy Brown, Gina Farrow, Jenny Arguello, Heather Lanier, Crystal Prince, Anna Lovell and (third row) Lisa Todd, Nicole Key, Sue Ann Cloar, Andy Hughes and James "Bubba" Tetleton.

Pruitt started nursing at the hospital in October 1977 on 3 North, a medical/surgical unit and eventually worked her way through the intensive care unit, pediatrics, the recovery room and surgery. She transferred to the education department in 2004.

Hospital Marketing Director Judy Boehmler said the patient choice award is special. "The Patient Choice Award is not from us but from the people you take care of," she told award nominees during Thursday's luncheon.

Assistant Chief Executive Officer Ben Youree agreed. "When I think about this award, it leads back to what I learned in kindergarten - the Golden Rule. This award is a perfect example of that," he said.

Larry White, chairman of the hospital board, said he's often asked who is most important to the hospital: the doctors or the nurses. "Today," he said, "it's the nurses."

Then, on a more serious note, White admitted that the board frequently looks at the numbers and hospital admissions, but they also have to consider customer satisfaction. "One occupation in which customer satisfaction is most important is nursing," he said.

Chief Nursing Officer Sallie Adkins said a record 35 nurses were nominated for the award this year. She praised the nurses for their efforts.

"You do make a difference and the care you are providing does make a difference," Adkins said.

Pruitt received five nominations from patients. The nominations included the following comments:

* "Sandra is very caring and compassionate. She exhibits a genuine concern for the comfort and well-being of both her patients and the families of her patients."

* "Very caring for patient, but also for family members of patient."

* "Ms. Pruitt was so kind and helpful. She makes one feel as if you are the only person in the world, even though she has a very busy schedule. She is very professional and has the welfare of the patient at heart."

* "My wife had to be transferred from Dyersburg Manor to the hospital due to many issues. She has Alzheimer's and Parkinson's. She cannot communicate at all so I have to really watch after her. We had a very bad day Monday with her care and I was very concerned. Sandra has been my wife's guardian angel. She stepped in and has made sure my wife has been properly cared for. Sandra's actions have put my mind at ease and she has gone beyond the call of duty. It's been a difficult time for me and Sandra has helped me deal with the situation with more ease. It's nice to know someone out there cares."

* "She helps every patient with information they need and at times when needed helps with their personal care."

Also nominated for the award were:

√ Emergency department: Rodney Roberson, James "Buddy" Tetleton, Paige Throgmorton, Sue Ann Cloar, Patsy Brown and Gina Farrow.

√ Medical and pediatrics care on 1 East: Shelly Hutson (who now works for a local doctor's office), Christy Woody, Crystal Prince, Carol Ann McLain, Andy Hughes, Kim Campbell, Anna Lovell, Heather Lanier, Nicole Key, Nikki Rodriguez, Ramona Moore, Jennifer Asher, Diane Paris, Andria Holder and Addie Salinas.

√ Medical and surgical care on 3 North: Lisa Todd and Liz Baker.

√ Medical and surgical care on 3 East: Jackie Reeves, Dixie Hickerson and Jenny Arguello.

√ Obstetrics: Charlotte Gardner and Faye Sigman.

√ Intensive care unit: Angie Quick and Laura Beth West.

√ Surgery: Janet Jones, Betty Sells and Belinda Epperson.

√ Case management: Kitty James.