Ever since Verónica López Ericksen joined the Multnomah County Health Department, the community health worker saw something special in nurse Beth Elkin.
On their first home visit together in 2001, López Ericksen watched how, as a community health nurse, Elkin put the client at ease despite language differences.
Elkin became a certified lactation counselor and started a cross-department effort to support mothers breastfeeding. She connected her church to her team, ensuring moms received generous gifts. Elkin encouraged López Ericksen to return to school -- and become a nurse herself.
“I am honored to know her and work with her,’’ said López Ericksen. On Wednesday, May 16, Elkin was one of five Multnomah County nurses recognized by Multnomah County for their excellence at an annual gathering at the Crowne Plaza hotel.
“A dedicated nurse, a tireless breastfeeding promoter, a cancer survivor, a hero; this is Beth,” López Ericksen said.
Diane Guta, Melanie Humberston, Helen Rodman and Diane Ruminski were honored alongside Elkin. Co-workers who nominated the winners described why their colleagues embodied the ethics, compassion and care ideals of a public health nurse.
Kim Toevs, manager of adolescent health promotion and the STD/HIV/Hepatitis C program, said clients are often embarrassed when they arrive at the county STD clinic for care. They often feel physically uncomfortable and expect to be judged.
Those feelings evaporate they meet Diane Guta, a family nurse practioner who makes them feel safe and in good hands. Toevs said Guta is a leading reason why clients report high levels of satisfaction with the clinic.
Guta has also long recognized that many of her young clients desperately also needed basic health care.
When the Affordable Care Act passed, Guta saw an opportunity. She began educating clients that they remain eligible for their parent's insurance up to 26 and could see a primary care provider.
“She has taken that on to get patients the information they need,’’ Toevs said as she presented Guta with an award.
Two environmental health managers described the initiative that community health nurse Helen Rodman has shown. She studied nearly a year on her own time to become a certified asthma educator. Rodman worked alongside clients since to empower them to overcome multiple barriers to health, said Kim Tierney, program supervisor. Rodman is a compassionate listener and creative problem-solver. For instance, she led an effort to get clients a low-cost oxygen meter so that families could determine when a child needed to see a doctor and when they were fine.
Diane Drum, lead nurse for Healthy Homes and Families program, said Rodman exemplified the spirit of the founder of American community nursing, Lillian Wald.
“No person honors the strength of the individual and the community better than Helen,’’ said Drum.
Licensed Practical Nurse Melanie Humberston was also praised as a model. Humberston joined the North Portland Health Center a year ago, but quickly became a highly-effective panel manager handling the records of patients with chronic diseases and engaging the patients to take more proactive steps with their health, said Margaret Thiele, program manager.
Humbertson is able to engage patients in better managing their diabetes, hyperlipidemia and other illnesses by returning for center visits sooner.
Working with community health nurse Melissa Wheeler, Humberston also helped ensure continuity of care when new providers joined the health center. She helped identify patients needing chronic disease management, and helped develop the best uses of the electronic health record system. Her team’s approach inspired other teams to work to close the communication loop with patients. She has also been part of an effort to help reduce suicide risk.
“She has an uncanny sense of what our patients need on an individual level and on a systemic level to meet these needs,’’ Thiele said. Humberston is also a certified lactation specialist and “can work with any of our patients from birth to old age, across all cultures and races.”
Nurse manager Diane Ruminski was also lauded on Wednesday. Loreen Nichols, director of Community Health Services, said Ruminski tackled the role of Early Childhood Services director two years ago. Faced with a drumbeat of budget cuts, she’s worked to support staff and changes in the organization.
“She knows public health nursing from many angles. Although she does not currently work as a front-line nurse, she carries that role in her heart and in her management approach,’’ said Nichols. She also spoke of the skills Ruminski brings to the job.
“She’s first and foremost ethical, compassionate, and hard-working. She’s a tremendous advocate for people and on top of everything else, she has a great laugh,’’ Nichols said. Ruminski laughed as she accepted the award.
“I’m completely taken aback’’ Ruminski said. “After almost 31 years as a community health nurse, I’m just so privileged to be a part of it.’’
At the Wednesday celebration, Michelle Chau, a licensed practical nurse, and Brinn Culver- Pond, a community health nurse, were each awarded a $2,500 scholarship to continue their nursing studies.