Nurse wins Mercy Jefferson Co-worker of the Month Award

Therapy Services co-worker Kayla Warden, RN, BSN, with the Acute Rehabilitation Unit, was selected as the Mercy Jefferson Co-worker of the Month. She was nominated by Acute Rehab social worker Stacey Gillette.

Nominations are reviewed based on how a co-worker lives out the Mercy values of dignity, justice, service, excellence and stewardship. The excerpts from Kayla’s nomination answer those questions specifically:

Dignity: While I was on Maternity leave, Kayla helped take over my role as social worker. One thing that I have the privilege to do is pick up donated equipment for patients. Kayla continued that tradition without being asked while I was out.

Justice: Kayla is very supportive of discharge planning for self-pay patients. Although I am back in the role of the social worker on the rehab unit, she is always available to toss around ideas and help me with discharge planning for self-pay patients.

Service: In November I became sick at work and was taken to the ER and admitted to the hospital. Kayla stayed with me in the ER until my husband was able to get there and went to pick up my baby from daycare and took her home until my mom could pick her up. If that’s not an example of going above and beyond and serving others, I don’t know what is.

Excellence: When anyone on the team is carrying a workload that is unusually hard, Kayla is the first one to jump in and help where she can to make sure the patients’ needs are met.

Stewardship: Kayla is a steward of Mercy resources because she helps in whatever position is vacant. Whether tit be from maternity leave, open positions, etc. Kayla consistently performs responsibilities that are not her own to help out.

On September 24 with a large contingent of administrators and co-workers on hand for the presentation, Kayla received her recognition along with a special Co-worker of the Month parking space marker, license plate frame and badge attachment.