Kathy Hopwood is the March ALMH Employee of the Month

[March 16, 2013]  Kathy Hopwood of Lincoln has been named the March Employee of the Month at Abraham Lincoln Memorial Hospital in Lincoln. She works as a nurse technician in Acute Care.

"Kathy looks out for patients' welfare and comfort," said the anonymous co-worker who nominated Hopwood for the honor. "She is always busy, whether assisting a patient, asking staff if they need help, or even straightening shelves in the storage area. She gives constant attention to our patients and the Acute Care staff."

Hopwood's association with ALMH began early as she was born at ALMH when it was located on Eighth Street. She started her career at ALMH in Acute Care.

Hopwood found the right calling in nursing as it provides her the opportunity to help people and meet a lot of people.

"I really enjoy interacting with everyone who comes through the doors of ALMH. I love spending time with patients and their visitors, working next to skilled employees, and providing a great experience," said Hopwood.

Hopwood is also grateful to ALMH for the educational opportunities she has had available to her from the beginning of her career.

"I've been lucky to work in health care for most of my life. After graduating from high school I took a career path that afforded me many on-the-job training opportunities. After completing my certified nursing assistant certification, I remain committed to higher education in my field. Part of the spirit of ALMH has always been providing the best care, and they give us the knowledge and skills to make that happen," said Hopwood.

As a nurse technician, Hopwood spends the majority of her days working directly with patients. She also coordinates with the nursing staff to provide medical and personal care to all the ALMH patients.

Hopwood would recommend a career in nursing and offered this advice to those interested in the field:

"CNAs are vital to a hospital and are always needed. Earn your CNA certification and look into nursing school," she said. "If you love being a CNA, like I do, then stick with the job and take advantage of educational opportunities. Helping people is a great career choice, and I would seriously encourage anyone interested to fully explore all of the great things about becoming a CNA. Also, I would tell them to invest in a pair of really comfortable shoes!" said Hopwood.

ALMH, at 200 Stahlhut Drive in Lincoln, is a 25-bed critical-access hospital affiliated with Memorial Health System. The hospital employs 315 in a variety of roles. For more information, visit www.almh.org.