Hospital Corner

POMEROY–Garfield County Hospital District is proud to announce July's Employee of the Month, Sherri Maki. She was nominated by her co-workers who say, "Sherri always goes above and beyond for her fellow co-workers." Born in the San Fransico Bay area, Sherri was raised in California living in various cities of the Golden State until the age of 16.

Her family relocated to Spangle, Wash., in 1991, to be near her extended family in the northwest area. This was a big adjustment compared to the busy city life she was used to. She recalls it was the first time noticing the immensity of the stars in the night sky, the sound of crickets and the quietness of a peaceful small town. Two years later, she obtained her GED and enrolled in Eastern Washington University (EWU) to pursue a nursing degree. During this time, Sherri's family moved to Pomeroy.

Sherri transferred to Walla Community College to continue her prerequisites and while in school, she worked as a waitress at the Pioneer Eatery for a couple of years. She acquired her CNA license and began working for Garfield County Hospital District (GCHD) where she enjoyed taking care of the residents.

She married in 2005, began raising a family and put her education on hold. She continued to work over the next several years at local establishments as a front-end manager for Sage-Brush Grill, a temporary program tech at the FSA office, and an office manager at Jim's Fertilizer.

Sherri made the crucial decision to follow her heart and begin the pursuit of a nursing degree again. "I've always wanted to be a nurse; I never gave up that dream."

Sherri recalls her apprehension to start back again. "I did it! I became a nurse, and I realize that I actually love learning," she said. Sherri reflects on her school years in her younger years compared to later in life. "I did not enjoy school when I was younger, but as an older person in college, I realized I absolutely like learning and I like teaching, I enjoy that part very much."

Sherri became employed at the hospital for a second time on June 14, 2020. This time as a registered nurse, working on the swing bed side as well as in the Emergency Department. She continued to advance in her education and obtained her Bachelor of Science in Nursing in August of 2022.

Now she teaches nursing students during their clinical rotations and precepts them in their last quarter of college, which is a critical part of the nursing students' education. "It is the last nursing requirement before they become graduate nurses, and where they learn how to be a nurse themselves with hands on experience and critically think on their own, and that's really fun," said Sherri. "For me as a nurse, I learn from each person I teach, and I enjoy that."

She is dedicated to not only bettering herself by gaining knowledge and skills, but she is also recognized by her peers as a mentor. "She takes initiative when needed and is always willing to help."

One of Sherri's duties is to be the charge nurse while in the Emergency Department, overseeing the other nursing staff. She works hard and is dedicated to the patients and is fun to work with. Sherri's passion is teaching. "What I like about that is watching brand new nurses learn. I like watching them when they start to feel confident in themselves." She likes that part and "passing the torch.

Her future goals include starting a forensic nurse examiner program at the hospital. She has taken the class to become a sexual assault nurse examiner (SANE) and is working on becoming certified which requires 300 hours. Her ambition is to achieve her Master of Science in Nursing which she is currently working on to gain even more knowledge and skills in her nursing career.

Sherri is always striving to do her best, helping her colleagues wherever she can. She truly cares about her work, teaching and helping nursing students and taking care of her patients.