Rhonda maintains a positive attitude and reassuring composure at all times. When any problem/concern is brought to her attention she calmly gathers all of the necessary information to look into the matter and addresses the issue in a fair, timely and professional manner. Her follow up is phenomenal and greatly appreciated by all her staff and peers. She advocates not only for her staff and peers but for patients and the community that has come to know and admire her in her role at SSM. She doesn't walk through the patient care area without seeing the familiar face of a patient or a family member smiling at her, reassured by her presence.
Rhonda has worked hard to develop education tools, update policies, and implement new processes within the departments to keep the staff functioning efficiently and safely within their scope of practice. She has developed good working relationships with physicians and their medical staff to provide exceptional care for patients.
Rhonda always has an open ear for her fellow nurses/staff and is constantly looked up to for advice both professional and personal. She goes out of her way to follow up with employees who may be going through a difficult time to give words of encouragement and provide the support they need. On a busy day, Rhonda will take over the charge phone to help ensure all her staff members are able to take their lunch break in a timely manner. She stays late if necessary and frequently helps cover staff members if they have an important family event, appointment, etc. Continuing education is important to Rhonda and she encourages and helps her staff to advance their education by setting goals with them as well. Rhonda has received her certifications in Medical Surgical Nursing as well as Ambulatory Nursing. Many of the nurses in the outpatient department have followed her example and have received certifications as well. She is great at recognizing the hard work her staff put forward to achieve their goals.
Rhonda comes to every situation without judgment to do what is best for each and every person she encounters. Whether that person is a fellow co-worker, patient or family member, or vendor, she is always making the person she is working with her priority and treating each of them with respect. Rhonda is an active member of many organizations within SSM. Just to name a few, she is part of the St. Mary's Auxiliary, Heart Walk Team, Golf/Tennis Committee, and Chairman of Nursing Leadership Council. She keeps herself involved in the community with organizations such and United Way and March of Dimes as well.
Rhonda has become a vital part of SSM. Her wealth of knowledge has contributed to so many positive outcomes in our entity. She has fulfilled a variety of roles throughout the hospital both full time and on an as-needed basis to assist in any way she can. She has strategically managed multiple departments to keep the organization functioning in a positive way. She has worked hard to build strong relationships in the workplace and the morale displayed by her employees is the strongest I've ever witnessed. Her involvement in the community is endless. She is constantly volunteering for various organizations and supporting anywhere she possibly can. She is the best example of fulfilling "The Mission" for co-workers, patients, and their family members, and the community that SSM could possibly encounter.
Upon reading the eligibility criteria for this award, Rhonda Shimmens immediately stood out as a person who not only meets but exceeds all of the criteria listed. Rhonda has been a part of the SSM family for 43 years. She displays the utmost commitment to the nursing profession both at work and throughout her involvement in the community. She is actively involved in multiple organizations as noted above. She served 10 years on the Missouri State Board of Nursing while continuing to successfully manage multiple departments. The compassion Rhonda shows through her daily interactions not only directly affects her staff members but the many patients and their loved ones as well. She is frequently answering call lights and interacting with patients and visitors. Her calm effect always seems to put them at ease, and they are reassured by her presence. She always finds the positive in every situation and works to improve wherever possible. With all of her experience, Rhonda is frequently contacted for questions/concerns which she accepts without hesitation and works until she finds the answer. The respect she displays both at work and in the community is a strong example to all those she encounters. She comes to every situation without judgment and works to find a resolution that will improve the procedure or process to assist not only the current situation but, in the future, as well.
Rhonda strives to promote teamwork not only within the departments she supervises but between other units of the entity as well. She frequently reassesses the ability of her units to send assistance to other floors when needed and if staffing on the units does not allow this, Rhonda will offer her own time to assist on other floors. Rhonda is a good steward of resources as she remains vigilant of the expenses for supplies, equipment, staffing needs, etc. on a daily basis in the departments she oversees. She does this while providing the necessary tools to maintain the safest environment for her staff, patients and their loved ones. Rhonda Shimmens fulfills The Mission of SSM on a daily basis through everyone she encounters and in everything she does. She is a true example of "exceptional" and deserves the DAISY Lifetime Achievement Award as she had devoted her career to this organization and the community around it.