Lori Rancik
May 2021
Lori
Rancik
,
RN, BSN, CDCES
Diabetes Nutrition Wellness Center
Penn Highlands DuBois
DuBois
,
PA
United States
Lori greets each patient with a smile; her manner is always one of friendly professionalism.
Lori has been a nurse for many years, and it is obvious that nursing is her vocation and calling, rather than merely her job. She is one of the most inspiring and caring individuals with whom I have had the pleasure to work during my many years of nursing. I met Lori a few years ago when she began her job at the Penn Highlands Diabetes and Nutrition Wellness Center. Prior to that, she directed the Penn Highlands “Strong Women” program, worked in Labor and Delivery, Emergency Room, and other positions about which I do not know all the details. Though I did not know her during these years, I am confident that she excelled in these positions and made a meaningful difference in the lives of many individuals.
As soon as Lori joined our Diabetes Team she worked hard to become totally familiar with all aspects of educating patients with diabetes. She challenged herself to become proficient in using the multiple insulin pumps and continuous glucose monitors that are now so essential for managing a diabetic patient. She met all the requirements and passed a difficult exam to become a Certified Diabetic Educator.
Lori greets each patient with a smile; her manner is always one of friendly professionalism. She listens to each patient’s story and is gifted in tailoring their training time to their disease burden and life situation, as well as their health literacy. She consistently uses encouragement and her coaching skills and is empowering many to take ownership of their chronic disease; we see the impact when these patients return with improved glycemic control and a more hopeful outlook. It is typical for Lori to go “above and beyond” to help patients. Most patients leave with some educational information that she has searched for to tailor-meet their needs. She found sample diabetic meals made solely from food purchased at the Dollar Store to give to our many low-income patients. She calls to check up on patients, particularly those whom she has just trained on an insulin pump, and gives them her phone number to call her if they have problems.
I benefit from her desire to continue to learn and grow professionally; we share research articles we have read and questions we both have; she has ideas for studies that we might incorporate into our practice if we were not too limited by time at this point. Lori has been a wonderful teacher to the medical assistants in our office. She was able to determine their most pressing educational needs and meet with them regularly to help them grow in their knowledge of diabetes, insulin, and insulin pumps, and how to triage phone calls from diabetic patients. She has designed and taught classes over the past year to new RNs at Penn Highlands. She is gifted as a teacher and her kind manner makes her very approachable. Lori is a great team player. My medical assistant and I look forward to the days when she joins us at our satellite clinics for the day. She is always ready to help a co-worker. I find that combining our knowledge, insights, energy, and compassion amplifies the impact we have on our patients. I am sure many who have worked with her in previous positions could share more about her as an exemplary nurse, leader, and role model.
As soon as Lori joined our Diabetes Team she worked hard to become totally familiar with all aspects of educating patients with diabetes. She challenged herself to become proficient in using the multiple insulin pumps and continuous glucose monitors that are now so essential for managing a diabetic patient. She met all the requirements and passed a difficult exam to become a Certified Diabetic Educator.
Lori greets each patient with a smile; her manner is always one of friendly professionalism. She listens to each patient’s story and is gifted in tailoring their training time to their disease burden and life situation, as well as their health literacy. She consistently uses encouragement and her coaching skills and is empowering many to take ownership of their chronic disease; we see the impact when these patients return with improved glycemic control and a more hopeful outlook. It is typical for Lori to go “above and beyond” to help patients. Most patients leave with some educational information that she has searched for to tailor-meet their needs. She found sample diabetic meals made solely from food purchased at the Dollar Store to give to our many low-income patients. She calls to check up on patients, particularly those whom she has just trained on an insulin pump, and gives them her phone number to call her if they have problems.
I benefit from her desire to continue to learn and grow professionally; we share research articles we have read and questions we both have; she has ideas for studies that we might incorporate into our practice if we were not too limited by time at this point. Lori has been a wonderful teacher to the medical assistants in our office. She was able to determine their most pressing educational needs and meet with them regularly to help them grow in their knowledge of diabetes, insulin, and insulin pumps, and how to triage phone calls from diabetic patients. She has designed and taught classes over the past year to new RNs at Penn Highlands. She is gifted as a teacher and her kind manner makes her very approachable. Lori is a great team player. My medical assistant and I look forward to the days when she joins us at our satellite clinics for the day. She is always ready to help a co-worker. I find that combining our knowledge, insights, energy, and compassion amplifies the impact we have on our patients. I am sure many who have worked with her in previous positions could share more about her as an exemplary nurse, leader, and role model.