Mindie Ottke, BSN, RN, CCRN, TCRN

Mindie Ottke exemplifies what it truly means to Own It through her extraordinary commitment to injury prevention, community safety, and trauma survivorship. While Mindie formally works part-time at both AdventHealth Parker and AdventHealth Littleton, the scope, accountability, and impact of her role are more accurately described as two full-time jobs—and she does both exceptionally well.

Mindie pours her whole heart and soul into her work. She independently owns and manages injury prevention efforts across two hospital campuses while simultaneously extending that work throughout the surrounding community. Despite limited allocated hours, Mindie consistently goes above and beyond, ensuring programs are not only created but thoughtfully planned, implemented, and sustained.

She develops and leads fall prevention classes for the community and, after identifying the need for evidence-based balance training, taught herself Tai Chi so she could personally instruct participants. This selfless initiative reflects her deep sense of responsibility—she identified a gap, took ownership, and followed through to provide meaningful education that directly reduces fall risk and improves quality of life.

Mindie also organizes Stop the Bleed education throughout the entire South Metro area, coordinating classes across multiple settings to ensure community members have access to life-saving hemorrhage control training. In addition, she routinely runs community helmet distribution events, providing protective equipment and education to reduce head injury risk for children and families—often reaching populations that otherwise lack access to safety resources.

Her commitment to trauma patients extends well beyond acute care. Mindie brought the Trauma Survivor Network to the hospital, ensuring survivors and their families have access to peer support, resources, and connection during recovery. She is currently organizing Race to Rebuild for Trauma Survivor Day, an event that honors trauma survivors, raises awareness, builds community, and reinforces that healing continues long after discharge. This work reflects her ability to see the whole patient and the ongoing impact of trauma on individuals and families.

Most recently, Mindie secured a grant from the Colorado Department of Transportation to support the Choose Safe teen driving program. This significant accomplishment required persistence, detailed planning, and accountability, and it has resulted in a program now actively used in local high schools. Through this effort, Mindie is preventing injuries and saving lives before they ever become trauma patients.

Mindie consistently demonstrates selflessness by giving far more time, energy, and commitment than her role requires, without expectation of recognition. She follows through on every commitment, owns projects from idea to execution, and balances the demands of two campuses and a broad regional footprint with professionalism, compassion, and unwavering dedication.

Mindie Ottke does not simply meet expectations—she exceeds them in every way. Her passion, accountability, and ability to fully own her work embody the spirit of the DAISY Award and represent the very best of nursing.