Jeanny Camden, LPN, knew she wanted to be a nurse from a young age. The inspiration came to her following a bad experience when she was 11.
“My appendix ruptured, and I ended up in the hospital. I was hospitalized for about six weeks,” remembers Jeanny, a nurse at Good Samaritan Society – Villisca in Iowa.
Dealing with pain and a fever, Jeanny says she’ll never forget how poorly she was treated by two nurses who dismissed her pleas for help. She even developed MRSA (methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus) while in their care.
“I want to be better than that. I want to do better than that and I don’t want to be that person to somebody else,” says Jeanny, whose mom was a CNA in nursing homes and whose mother-in-law is a longtime nurse as well.
“I think the most important part about nursing is making people feel like people and not like something less.”
This core memory drives how she treats residents at her long-term care center in a small town of 1,100 people in western Iowa.
“I love my people. I love them all,” Jeanny says.
'I wish I had 10 more of her'
85-year-old John Thomas moved in four months ago. He admits to indulging in the facility’s tasty food a little too much and spends much of his time crocheting in his room.
“I love it. This place has been fabulous," says John. "All the nurses are so friendly and nice."
Count Jeanny in that crew. She stops by often to see John’s latest crafty creations. Pieces of art he freely shares with staff and neighbors.
“I don’t get very much company,” John adds. “And she’s jolly.”
Jolly Jeanny is in charge of the Quality Assurance Performance Improvement program and infection control at the Good Samaritan location.
“She has so many people who can’t do things for themselves and she’s here to help them,” John says.
The center has improved by leaps and bounds in each of these categories over the past year, according to administrator Mike Early.
“Jeanny is one of those people that really advocates for the resident and makes sure everything we do is for the right reason and that we do live up to our mission of serving our resident and their family,” Mike says.
“I wish I had 10 more of her.”
National Ever Forward Nursing Champion
Jeanny is quick to call out her teammates when it comes to location success. Recently, she did just that when she was surprised with the National Ever Forward Nursing Champion award, which is given to employees who best embody the values of Good Samaritan.
“I’m not a spotlight person,” Jeanny says laughing. “I did cry. I was rather shocked.
“It makes you feel good. We have great staff here and we show it every day but that just kind of shows the world that we’re good people.”
Activities supervisor Emma Lee says she nominated Jeanny for the award because she is selfless.
“She gives 110% every day without trying. She sees something that needs done and she is just instantly there. No asking or second guessing, she just jumps in. She’s a saint around here,” Emma says.
Phoenix Gaunt, RN, adds, “I don’t even know if I can put into words how many reasons that Jeanny deserves this award.
“She is a huge team player. She is willing to do everything she can for the residents, employees.”
'Our Florence Nightingale'
A Good Samaritan team member for nearly 30 years, business office coordinator Kelly Fletcher says nurses like Jeanny set the organization apart from others.
“It means the world to the community. Everybody is just so thankful that we’re here and doing the good job we’re doing,” Kelly says.
“She’s our Florence Nightingale of the facility is what I think of her as. Jeanny is just amazing.”
While she’s hesitant to receive all these compliments, Jeanny is grateful for the recognition.
“They support me. They have for years,” Jeanny says about her coworkers.
“It means the world to me. It means I’m doing something right. It means I’ve made an impact on somebody’s life.”
The work isn't over in her mind. Jeanny pledges to continue to inspire her team to provide the highest quality of care.
