Berta B Kaemmerling
May 2024
Berta B
Kaemmerling
,
RN, MSN
Nursing Administration
Healdsburg Hospital
Healdsburg
,
CA
United States
She motivates those in her presence to be the best that they can be, no matter their role. She is an advocate for excellence and understands the dynamic nature of collaboration that is necessary to provide excellent care. She has led our teams to enhance patient experience and the quality of care provided in our community.
Berta is a shining example of a professional nurse. She has impacted every patient, caregiver, hospital, and community she has served.
I have had the opportunity throughout the last five years to hear stories of Berta’s life as a nurse. Berta joined the healthcare world in high school as a CNA through a job placement class where she worked 15 hours a week for a whopping $1.25 an hour. After high school, Berta applied for the in-house LVN program at this hospital and not shockingly, was awarded the one and only scholarship for the program. Again, not shockingly, despite still working as a CNA, she received straight A’s and became an LVN in no time. She grew in her career and nursing skills through working in settings such as the ICU and Surgery. Eventually, Berta had and took the opportunity to get her RN license, and after that, she began conquering the world (Texas) as a nurse leader. Through her unique blend of determination, excellence, passion, and charm, she continued to excel in her career, working as a DON for large hospitals, small hospitals and everything in between. When she was almost done with her Master's program, Berta was called to serve as a nurse in Desert Storm, so she went to serve and put her Master's on hold. Upon her return to Texas, she finished her Master's Degree while working full time during the night and going to school full time during the day. If that does not relay her dedication to the advancement of her nursing practice, I will also share that during the time of her Master's, she had to retype every word on every single page of her thesis each time she turned it in, which she told me, was many times! She eventually took her talents outside of Texas to Utah and Arizona. While in Arizona, she visited friends up here in Northern California where a casual dinner with friends turned into a job offer in Clearlake. A few years later, she got a phone call from the CMO of a hospital in Jordan, who had been told that if he needed a DON to be his righthand woman, Berta was the best candidate in the world. Berta has told me that her role in Jordan was one of the highlights of her career and that the only other hospital that shares that special spot in her heart is Healdsburg Hospital.
Berta has led us through multiple fires, an evacuation, the re-opening from the evacuation, a pandemic, an acquisition, more surveys than should be allowed in a single facility, the transition to a new EMR, and so much more. Throughout all of this, a few things stick out to me about Berta.
First, Berta is a motivator. She motivates those in her presence to be the best that they can be, no matter their role. She is an advocate for excellence and understands the dynamic nature of collaboration that is necessary to provide excellent care. She has led our teams to enhance patient experience and the quality of care provided in our community.
She is a fierce patient advocate, never forgetting that we are treating real-life humans who need to be handled as such. She makes tough decisions when needed, and in my years at Healdsburg has been an unwavering and unstoppable force. Her advocacy for our hospital, our caregivers, and our patients is the epitome of a professional nurse.
While I know I don’t know her whole story, what I do know is that Berta has dedicated her life to being a nurse. She has shared her nursing expertise throughout our country and the world. The impact of her nursing excellence and dedication to the profession is unmeasurable. I know I am not alone in knowing that her shining example of nursing excellence and professionalism will impact my career for decades to come.
Berta, I want to recognize you for your 50 years of dedication to the compassionate care of others. The world is truly a better place because you decided to be a nurse and I can think of no better person to award our first DAISY Lifetime Achievement Award to! From the bottom of my heart and on behalf of not only Healdsburg Hospital but also the thousands of lives you have impacted throughout your amazing nursing career, congratulations!!
I have had the opportunity throughout the last five years to hear stories of Berta’s life as a nurse. Berta joined the healthcare world in high school as a CNA through a job placement class where she worked 15 hours a week for a whopping $1.25 an hour. After high school, Berta applied for the in-house LVN program at this hospital and not shockingly, was awarded the one and only scholarship for the program. Again, not shockingly, despite still working as a CNA, she received straight A’s and became an LVN in no time. She grew in her career and nursing skills through working in settings such as the ICU and Surgery. Eventually, Berta had and took the opportunity to get her RN license, and after that, she began conquering the world (Texas) as a nurse leader. Through her unique blend of determination, excellence, passion, and charm, she continued to excel in her career, working as a DON for large hospitals, small hospitals and everything in between. When she was almost done with her Master's program, Berta was called to serve as a nurse in Desert Storm, so she went to serve and put her Master's on hold. Upon her return to Texas, she finished her Master's Degree while working full time during the night and going to school full time during the day. If that does not relay her dedication to the advancement of her nursing practice, I will also share that during the time of her Master's, she had to retype every word on every single page of her thesis each time she turned it in, which she told me, was many times! She eventually took her talents outside of Texas to Utah and Arizona. While in Arizona, she visited friends up here in Northern California where a casual dinner with friends turned into a job offer in Clearlake. A few years later, she got a phone call from the CMO of a hospital in Jordan, who had been told that if he needed a DON to be his righthand woman, Berta was the best candidate in the world. Berta has told me that her role in Jordan was one of the highlights of her career and that the only other hospital that shares that special spot in her heart is Healdsburg Hospital.
Berta has led us through multiple fires, an evacuation, the re-opening from the evacuation, a pandemic, an acquisition, more surveys than should be allowed in a single facility, the transition to a new EMR, and so much more. Throughout all of this, a few things stick out to me about Berta.
First, Berta is a motivator. She motivates those in her presence to be the best that they can be, no matter their role. She is an advocate for excellence and understands the dynamic nature of collaboration that is necessary to provide excellent care. She has led our teams to enhance patient experience and the quality of care provided in our community.
She is a fierce patient advocate, never forgetting that we are treating real-life humans who need to be handled as such. She makes tough decisions when needed, and in my years at Healdsburg has been an unwavering and unstoppable force. Her advocacy for our hospital, our caregivers, and our patients is the epitome of a professional nurse.
While I know I don’t know her whole story, what I do know is that Berta has dedicated her life to being a nurse. She has shared her nursing expertise throughout our country and the world. The impact of her nursing excellence and dedication to the profession is unmeasurable. I know I am not alone in knowing that her shining example of nursing excellence and professionalism will impact my career for decades to come.
Berta, I want to recognize you for your 50 years of dedication to the compassionate care of others. The world is truly a better place because you decided to be a nurse and I can think of no better person to award our first DAISY Lifetime Achievement Award to! From the bottom of my heart and on behalf of not only Healdsburg Hospital but also the thousands of lives you have impacted throughout your amazing nursing career, congratulations!!