"Kathy looks out for patients' welfare
and comfort," said the anonymous co-worker who nominated Hopwood for
the honor. "She is always busy, whether assisting a patient, asking
staff if they need help, or even straightening shelves in the
storage area. She gives constant attention to our patients and the
Acute Care staff."
Hopwood's association with ALMH
began early as she was born at ALMH when it was located on Eighth
Street. She started her career at ALMH in Acute Care.
Hopwood found the right calling in
nursing as it provides her the opportunity to help people and meet a
lot of people.
"I really enjoy interacting with
everyone who comes through the doors of ALMH. I love spending time
with patients and their visitors, working next to skilled employees,
and providing a great experience," said Hopwood.
Hopwood is also grateful to ALMH
for the educational opportunities she has had available to her from
the beginning of her career.
"I've been lucky to work in health
care for most of my life. After graduating from high school I took a
career path that afforded me many on-the-job training opportunities.
After completing my certified nursing assistant certification, I
remain committed to higher education in my field. Part of the spirit
of ALMH has always been providing the best care, and they give us
the knowledge and skills to make that happen," said Hopwood.
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As a nurse technician, Hopwood
spends the majority of her days working directly with patients. She
also coordinates with the nursing staff to provide medical and
personal care to all the ALMH patients.
Hopwood would recommend a career in
nursing and offered this advice to those interested in the field:
"CNAs are vital to a hospital and
are always needed. Earn your CNA certification and look into nursing
school," she said. "If you love being a CNA, like I do, then stick
with the job and take advantage of educational opportunities.
Helping people is a great career choice, and I would seriously
encourage anyone interested to fully explore all of the great things
about becoming a CNA. Also, I would tell them to invest in a pair of
really comfortable shoes!" said Hopwood.
ALMH, at 200 Stahlhut Drive in
Lincoln, is a 25-bed critical-access hospital affiliated with
Memorial Health System. The hospital employs 315 in a variety of
roles. For more information, visit
www.almh.org. |