In August, I will have worked with Dana Pace for 15 years at Mahaska Health. Over the years, I’ve come to know her very well, and she is honestly one of the kindest, caring, dependable, and loyal people I’ve ever met. She is an amazing nurse who just has a big heart for everyone. Both of my children were patients until their doctor recently retired, and for many years, she was our nurse. She was just the best nurse I’ve ever had, and I always trusted her. She would never leave me hanging; she always returned my phone calls and consulted with her provider.

I will always remember a time when my daughter, only 6 weeks old, was having reflux and constipation. I had just come back to work, and we were transitioning to bottle feedings while at work, and my baby girl had so much discomfort. I can still remember the conversation with Dana and how she told me what the doctor would typically do, but then said, “But hold off on that. That’s just what he normally does. Let me talk to him, and I will give you a call back.”

Later that day, she called me back, and the doctor wanted me to try faster bottle nipples first before going the other route. It worked like a charm. The doctor and Dana were an amazing team. Not just for me, but I witnessed it with many of their patients. Many kids only wanted Dana to give them their shots. I watched her give other patients the same respect that she gave our family. I’d call back to try and work a patient in with them. She and the doctor would be so far behind because the doctor was always behind. She would always give me a slight sigh, a little giggle, tell me how far behind they were, but then she would say, “Give me a second and I’ll ask him. He will most likely want to work them in.” And they would.

Dana respected her doctor and our patients so much, and I wish more clinics ran like theirs used to. Years later, Dana is now in a leadership position as our Nursing Coordinator, and she continues to amaze me as both a nurse and a human being. I watch her take call-offs and figure out the nurse schedule for 50+ nurses. We help each other navigate the ever-changing landscape for providers, ensuring everything is taken care of and communicated, and always maintaining adequate nursing coverage. Even when she is busy or frustrated, and I have to reach out for assistance on something, she is always kind and helpful.

Our scheduling team is constantly emailing her about referrals and orders, and she will work through each scenario with us until we resolve the issue and determine the necessary actions. Our referral specialists hold a standing monthly meeting, and Dana always attends – answering our questions, working on workflows with the various clinics, and ultimately making things better for us and her nursing teams. It’s been an honor to know and work with such an amazing nurse, both as a patient and a co-worker. Thank you, Dana, for all that you do for our clinics, our scheduling team, and for patients!