When you picture a cheerleader in action, the image in your head is likely not someone walking the halls of a long-term care community.
For the residents and staff at Good Samaritan Society – Wagner, South Dakota, they don’t have to imagine. They see it every day in director of nursing Kammy Ellwanger, RN.
“Kammy is the biggest cheerleader in this building,” says administrator Whitney Podzimek.
“She walks in and everybody instantly knows that there's somebody there that cares about them genuinely,” adds activities supervisor Darby Krug. “You don't meet those people every day.”
Nursing has always been the calling for Kammy. Since kindergarten, she’s never wanted to be anything different. The journey has included nursing home jobs as early as her teens, hospital work and even her own home health business. Then Good Samaritan provided a new place to call home.
“This is a really big family, and I know that that probably gets overused, but when it's real, it is the most truthful thing about the profession,” Kammy says. “We see these people more than a lot of their family do. If you can make their day bright for just a little bit, it's ginormous.”
Those little bits of brightness add up to something special in Wagner.
“Kammy’s a lover. She loves so big and so hard,” Whitney says. “It doesn't matter if it's a resident, staff or resident’s family. And there's no doubt in my mind that they feel that every single day.”
‘Data dork’ keeps people first
Kammy’s love for people is met in equal measure by her love for doing things right and finding ways to do them better.
“I am a data dork,” she says with a laugh. “I am a process improvement person.”
Kammy joined the Wagner location to handle QAPI – or quality assurance and performance improvement – a role that is a significant source of pride for her.
“If we have a process improvement that is needed, we're not going talk about it for days, weeks, months,” she says. “It's going to start today, as soon as we know that we need to fix something.”
That’s where Kammy the cheerleader becomes indistinguishable from Kammy the coach. The director of nursing, nowhere near her desk, but instead teaching out on the floor and working shoulder to shoulder with nurses, nursing assistants and medication aides.
“I don't worry an ounce about the care that our residents get because of the leadership that she provides and the way that she leads by example,” Whitney says.
“When it don't come from the top, it ain't gonna just start from the bottom,” Kammy adds.
The people in Kammy’s care recognize her dedication to the details, too.
“She's always there whenever you have a problem. She really makes this place work,” says resident Bruce Jespersen. “She does what she's supposed to do to help you get well and keep an eye on you.”
At the root of every process improvement plan, you’ll find the people who are part of this growing family in Wagner.
“She's very systems-minded, but in those systems, she does not forget about people,” Darby says. “It's not very often you find somebody that can keep in mind systems and people – and be good at both.”
Fire and faith
Keeping things in working order was never more important – or more challenging – than the morning of Nov. 8, 2022. A building fire on campus sent staff into action, moving more than 40 residents out of their home and onto the front lawn.
“I knew it was bigger than what we could put out on our own,” Whitney says. “And then I saw my team go into action like they always do. They didn't even blink, it seemed.”
In the face of the emergency, Kammy’s composure and the connection with residents set the tone for a safe and efficient evacuation.
“We had a couple residents who didn't have an understanding of what was going on,” Darby recalls. “And she was right there, gently but firmly, directing, ‘I need you to walk with me this way.’ As soon as Kammy stepped in, they were like, ‘Oh, we trust her.’”
Outside, Kammy’s attention to detail kicked in again.
“I remember Kammy had resident names written all over her arms with marker, trying to account for people. She looked like a tattooed lady,” Whitney says. “She had markings all over her arms, just trying to keep track of who was going to the hospital for evacuation, who was going to the armory.”
Kammy had also cleared the medication shelves, filling a laundry bin to take to residents located at the armory, along with some hope.
“She was there very gently offering support in what each individual person needed,” Darby says. “Some people needed to laugh, some people needed to cry on her shoulder, and she was right there to do both.”
Kammy also had a message for everyone.
“We were sitting there down in the armory the day of the fire,” she recalls, “and I said, ‘We will be back. I know it.’”
‘We’re going back’
Residents from Wagner were moved across locations in three neighboring towns.
Kammy served residents in each location, picking up shifts on holidays, and keeping spirits as high as she could.
“She supported the whole team along that time, keeping us together as a family. She kept telling me, ‘We're going back,’” Whitney says. “Without Kammy’s positivity, I don't know that many of us would've been able to see the light because there were some dark days for us.”
Three years later, in November of 2025, the first residents moved back to a renovated Good Samaritan campus in Wagner. A cheerleader welcomed each one home.
“Those residents were welcomed with the biggest, most open arms ever. We were so excited to bring them back to their community, back home,” Whitney says. “Kammy was there at the front door to greet them when they got here.”
It was an emotional day, years in the making.
“It was so wonderful,” Kammy says. “The faces of the people when they got to come back and the ones that had been with us, we shared a lot of tears and a lot of smiles.”
Ever Forward Champion
Kammy admits that her attention to detail has some gaps when it doesn’t involve providing care.
She celebrated a birthday in March alongside family, friends and Good Samaritan CEO Nate Schema, who made a special visit to the newly reopened location.
“I usually don't get the picture until people paint it,” Kammy laughs. “I don't get the gray area, and I won't read between the lines.”
Therefore, it wasn’t a surprise to anyone but Kammy when the celebration revealed that she was the National Ever Forward Director of Nursing Champion.
“I can't take any credit because I don't feel like it's me. It's the rest of the staff that work here every day doing those things that make us unbelievably great.” Kammy says. “It's one thing to feel like you're in a job, but it's another thing to really feel like you are loved and you are a part of a team.”
Bruce, who was among the residents Kammy personally evacuated during the fire, called her a top nurse and said he’s happy she’s being recognized.
Her colleagues are happy to celebrate their biggest cheerleader.
“She embodies all of the characteristics that somebody would want in this leader,” Whitney says. “She is steadfast, she's faithful, she's a true servant of God. Her belief and her faith in her team is what's always going to push us forward.”
