Year One Heroes

The Bayada Nurses Hero of the Year Program was launched in the third quarter of 1999, and the first National Heroes of the Year were announced and recognized in April 2000 at the Bayada Nurses Awards Weekend. The links below provide information on the National Heroes of the Year plus all the National and Division Heroes for the 3rd quarter of 1999, the 4th quarter of 1999, and the 1st quarter of 2000. It is from these three quarters that eligible nominees for the first Heroes of the Year were chosen.

First Annual National Heroes of the Year
By rising to the challenge of meeting our high standards for skilled, caring, and reliable home care, our national heroes represent all we can be proud of at Bayada Nurses. Their work epitomizes our noble purpose of helping people live with independence and dignity in the comfort of their own home, despite illness or disability. Having gained the respect of both their supervisors and their clients, we are excited to honor them with the recognition they deserve.

RN Category: Betsy Earnhardt, Winston Skilled (WS) Office, Winston-Salem, NC
LPN Category: Elsie Hartigan, Mt. Laurel Pediatrics (MLP) Office, Mt. Laurel, NJ
HHA Category: Ina Howell, Pinellas Park (PP) Office, Pinellas Park, FL

1st Quarter 2000 National and Division Heroes
4th Quarter 1999 National and Division Heroes
3rd Quarter 1999 National and Division Heroes

Betsy Earnhardt, RN, has worked for Bayada for more than 6 years but has been dedicated to the same high-tech, pediatric case for the past 11 years. Service Director Robin McCarson explained that Betsy's client was the first very high-tech, pediatric case in the Winston-Salem area. Betsy ensured that the coverage was stable ever since-often going above and beyond reasonable expectations for care. The client's mother indicated, "Betsy has been a back-up when I was out of town and acts as a resource to the other nurses (without pay). You cannot pay someone to care, and Betsy really cares." Robin added that Betsy went so far as to be on-call with a pager when the client's mom was away just to ensure quality care. The mother of Betsy's client also took note of Betsy's strong clinical skills and ability to coordinate care with the other nurses: "Betsy has excellent technique-she has worked with a patient with a central line for 8 years with no infection." In comparison, the client's mother said hospital staff couldn't keep the line free of infection for a week. Furthermore, the client's mother says: "When supplies come in, she will inventory and restock them." Betsy's initiative makes the workload easier for the other nurses. In all, Staff Supervisor Emily Downs says, "Betsy helps out with coverage whenever she can on this 24-hour case. She really is a hero to her client through her dedication, professionalism, and caring attitude."

Elsie Hartigan, LPN, has the ability to put the families of her pediatric clients at ease by earning their trust and confidence in her skill and manner of care. Elsie cared for one client for 7 years. The family says: "From the first day that we met Elsie, our family was and continues to be impressed with her dedication to her job, continuing education, and family. By her example, she has impressed upon our children the resilience of the human spirit. We feel secure knowing (the client) is in her capable and loving hands." Another client's family endorsed Elsie's nomination as well. The mother, who is a nurse, proclaimed, "Elsie has initiative and is always looking for ways to better meet (my son's) medical, physical and emotional needs. She cares for the total child and is food for his soul." The client's sister added, "She puts her heart into her nursing career. She makes everyone laugh and makes everything right. She handles and loves (my brother) as if he was her own son." Staff Supervisors Kim Laipple and Meredith Miller sum it all up: "Working whenever needed, Elsie has provided a level of comfort and commitment unsurpassed."

Ina Howell, HHA, has not only won the acclaim of the Pinellas Park, FL office staff where she works, but also the acclaim of many clients and coworkers, who have provided her with unsolicited letters of commendation over the years. Staff Supervisor Wanda Reyburn praises Ina for bringing stability to her clients' lives, as she typically commits to working with a client until the service ends. In one instance Ina cared for an elderly couple for a total of 6 years, working through the death of the husband, providing emotional support to the widow, then remaining until the widow's death. Wanda says Ina provides loving care in a quiet, gentle manner and goes the extra mile in meeting her clients' needs. Ina is described as a humble person who insists she is "only doing the best job she can, which is the right thing to do." Ina meets or exceeds her yearly, state-required continuing education requirements. She also completed a 75-hour HHA update course. She attends and offers help at company picnics and office functions, including those intended to honor other field employees. Wanda says, "Ina is truly an unselfish person, often being the first to congratulate coworkers on a job well done. Because of the quiet, professional attitude Ina brings to her work, she is much respected and loved by the clients as well as her coworkers, supervisors and office staff."