Best in Nursing 2011

You all didn't make it easy on us, did you? A few months ago, Flourish put out a call for nominations recognizing the best nurses in Southeast Missouri. Nurses hold a special place in many hearts. They work long, difficult hours. They endure. They overcome. They save lives. They get up the next morning (or the next night) and do it again. And again. And again, even when the end result is heartbreaking. They're with us during the best of times, and they're holding our hands through the worst of times. That sort of presence sparks a strong response in patients and their family members, and in other medical professionals, which was evident in the nominations we received for Flourish's Best in Nursing 2011 recognition.

Narrowing down the pool of RN and LPN nominees to feature in the magazine was a tough process. Let's face it... here at Flourish, we're suckers for a good story. And Southeast Missouri's former patients and medical professionals had story after story of nurses who have made a tremendous difference in the lives of others. We picked 20 men and women who stood out as examples of the difference a nurse can make, in the hospital room and out. But one nurse in particular was nominated multiple times, by co-workers and patients alike, for her years of caring service. Meet finalist Julie Schott.

Julie Schott (Laura Simon)

__Best in Nursing's Julie Schott__

Ask a mom like Jamie Sander about the best nurse in Southeast Missouri, and she can recount in detail the moment Julie Schott saved her life, and that of her daughter. Schott was the nurse on duty three years ago from Sander's uterus ruptured. "I remember hearing her voice telling me 'I'll take care of you and your baby... to not worry about anything,'" says Sander. "If it weren't for her excellent care and quick thinking, my daughter and I may not be here. She saw me through my recovery, and often visited my daughter while she was in the NICU for 42 days.

"I will always consider her a hero in my book," says Sander.

Ask a co-worker like Debbie Pierce about Schott, and she'll tell you about her compassion and her competence as a nurse. "(She) cares for her patients daily with a sharp vision, always paying close attention to detail. While monitoring her patient's status throughout the day, Julie can pick up on something abnormal and react promptly with confidence, while still remaining calm and reassuring her patient until the situation is resolved," Pierce said in her nomination of Schott.

Schott works obstetrics -- labor and delivery, and post-partum -- at Southeast Hospital, where's she been since 1990, when she became a registered nurse. It was really opportunity that drew Schott to the field in the first place, and the chance to care for others. "When you feel like you have actually made a difference in (a) patient's labor and delivery process, it is so rewarding," she says. "It makes you want to come to work to be a part of that wonderful experience." As one of Schott's co-workers says, "It's a birthday party every day." The camaraderie among the staff -- from fellow nurses to other departments like housekeeping, maintenance, pharmacy and anesthesia -- is also central to her love of the job."I work with the best group of people I could ask for," says Schott. "They have been there for me over the last 23 years, through thick and thin, and are my second family. I thank God for my job and the friends I have made at Southeast. We all make a wonderful team."

Schott lives near Benton, where she and husband Bobby built a home on her family farm. She enjoys playing slow pitch softball, working in flower beds, playing with my dogs, taking trips -- especially "junkin'" trips with my mom, mother-in-law and sisters-in-law.

__Q. Why OB? What's the best -- and the most challenging -- part of your work in OB?__

SCHOTT: OB holds a very special place in my heart. It is usually a very happy and rewarding time, and I am able to see miracles being born every day, and be a part of that. The mose challenging times are those heartbreaking moments when there is a fetal loss, miscarriage or other unexpected outcome. My husband and I have experienced two miscarriages, and I know the pain is deep, so on OB we all try to ease the pain as best we can and just be as supportive as we can be to the patients and families.

__Q. What's first in your mind when it comes to patient care?__

SCHOTT: The first thing in my mind is to be the patient advocate. I am there for her and to provide her with the best care that I can. I always have her best interest at heart in the care that I give her.

__Q. Any especially memorable stories from your career experiences?__

SCHOTT: I have seen five of my nieces and nephews being born, and actually assisted my sister-in-law in the delivery of my youngest nephew, Paul, since the doctor had not arrived yet. I have taken care of so many wonderful patients, and it is always special to take care of someone for consecutive pregnancies, which has happened many times. I enjoy taking care of family and friends because then I actually get to see those babies grow up.

__Q. What's one piece of advice you would give someone considering a career in nursing?__

SCHOTT: I would tell them that nursing is a wonderful career. It is very challenging, but very rewarding. There are so many opportunities in nursing and it is changing every day. I don't know what else I could have done with my life that would have blessed me like being an OB nurse has.