ANDREA MAGANA
amagana@dglobe.com
WORTHINGTON - The Sanford Clinic Clinical Employee of the Year has been awarded to a Worthington registered nurse.
Gail Rients, an RN at Sunset Hospice Cottage, was nominated by two of her co-workers for the award, which was presented to her July 20 by her family and her clinical manager, Lora Nelson.
Rients was not expecting the large gathering that entered the small staff meeting that morning.
“I don’t know what to say. Thank you!” she told Nelson as she presented her with flowers.
Nelson then continued to explain the award and why Rients was the best fit.
“Gail is an amazing RN, (and) her passion for nursing is obvious,” she said.
The award for Sanford Clinic Clinical Employee of the Year was first presented in 2006. It is given annually to someone who shows a passion for their job, is involved in their community and has an amazing personality. Rients, Nelson said, was an exceptional candidate for the award.
“She worked many hours to make sure her patients were taken care for,” Nelson said while reading the list of compliments that Rients received from her co-workers.
Rients’ response was pure awe.
“Thank you to God, to my family and to my amazing friends at Hospice,” she said while hugging her family and friends.
When asked about how she felt, she responded with gratitude and humility.
“I never expected anything like this,” she said. “It’s quite an honor.”
Rients may have received the award for her hard work, but she gave all the credit to her co-workers.
“Hospice is a team effort. “Nothing is a one-man show,” she said.
After the announcement, family and friends celebrated with doughnuts and coffee. Rients continued to be reminded of how worthy she was of the award.
“You’re so deserving,” Barb Bakalwar, a close friend, told her.
“Many times over,” Janell Ratliff, another close friend, agreed.
Rients’ laughter and smile filled the room as she told stories about baseball, her four sons and her life as a nurse.
Whether it’s with her warm smile or clinical proficiency, Rients has saved many lives during the course of her career.
“Thank you for all you did this last year,” Amy Swanson, a fellow co-worker, told Rients.
Apart from the award, Rients will receive $500, and another $500 will be given to the charity of her choice. She will receive the monetary prize and award during Tuesday’s Sanford Health Employee of the Year ceremony.
