HOSPITAL UPDATE

POMEROY–Garfield County Hospital District is proud to announce September's Employee of the Month, Cathy Herres, RN, BS, Quality Assurance.

She was nominated by her co-workers who state, "She is a great asset to the nursing staff team." Born and raised in Pomeroy, Cathy's family has been here for three generations starting with her grandfather, Michael Herres, who settled in Garfield County to homestead the family farm that is still in operation today.

Cathy's introduction to the medical field began her junior year in high school where she volunteered as a Candy Striper and became a nurses' aide within the first two weeks of joining the program, continuing throughout her senior year.

Cathy graduated from Pomeroy High School in 1966 but had aspirations of becoming a secretary. She completed one year of secretarial school and quickly realized it was not for her and started taking nursing classes at the Catholic School, Fort (George) Wright College, in Spokane. Later she transferred to Lewis Clark State College, graduating with a nursing degree in 1970.

Cathy's first position as a registered nurse began at Sacred Heart Medical Hospital (SHMC) where she was immediately assigned to the multi-care units of Intensive Care, Cardiac Care, Post Open Heart and Renal Dialysis. She continued as an Intensive Care Nurse for the next 12 years and transitioned into specialized cardiac care field as an Assistant Nurse Manager.

Over her 35-year nursing career with Sacred Heart, she was instrumental in improving the advancements towards creating initial processes for specialized inpatient and outpatient surgical units. While in the position of PACU Nurse Manager, Cathy orchestrated, implemented and opened up the first-ever presurgical screening unit, surgical admit unit, and pediatric unit. She shares the credit for these achievements saying, "I had a fantastic staff. That is the only way I could have done that." During this time, she completed her Bachelor of Science Degree.

After retiring from SHMC in 2006, Cathy moved back to her hometown of Pomeroy and began working at the hospital in 2007 as an RN in the LTC unit for 10 years. In 2017, she retired from GCHD but because of her remarkable managerial skills and immense nursing experience, she was asked to return and take over Quality Assurance (QA).

In this role, Cathy performs a variety of state required duties and is "excellent in tracking compliance and getting emails out to who needs certified." She single-handedly transformed the QA process into the successful program it is today. Not one to shy away from a challenge, she "learned new technology to make presentations professional, along with displaying "a good attitude while performing a job that may or may not be considered an enviable duty."

With a career spanning over 50 years, Cathy plans to retire in 2021. "I love my nursing career. I think it was a fantastic career to get into and have always been very blessed." We at GCHD are grateful for the many years of dedication and the opportunity to work with such an incredibly talented and extraordinary nurse. Please join us in acknowledging Cathy for her outstanding services and commitment to our District and community.