Best in Nursing finalists 2011

BEST IN NURSING'S RUNNERS-UP

These nurses also represent the best of health care in Southeast Missouri, and were equally deserving of recognition.

__Vickie Schnurbusch__ Schnurbusch is a patient care coordinator for Southeast Hospice. She received her bachelor's degree in nursing in 1992, and is certified in hospice and palliative care (CHPN). She serves as a board member for the Missouri Hospice and Palliative Care Association.

__Melissa Knight, Saint Francis__ Knight graduated with her bachelor's degree in nursing from Southeast Missouri State University; she works in the NICU at Saint Francis Medical Center.

__LaRue McAllister__ McAllister is an RN who works in personal care services with the SEMO Alliance for Disability Independence, Inc., (SADI).

__Lisa M. Baker__ Baker is an RN, and works as a forensive interviewer with Beacon Health Center, giving a voice to abused children.

__Michelle Huggins__ Huggins is an RN who has worked with Gastroenterology Associates of Southeast Missouri since 1995.

__Denise Ernst__ Ernst works as manager of the critical care and dialysis units at Saint Francis Medical Center. She has been a nurse since 1989, graduating from Southeast Missouri State University with a bachelor's degree in nursing.

__Brenda Johnson__ Johnson works in inpatient rehabilitation at Saint Francis Medical Center. She has a master's degree and bachelor's degree in nursing.

__Karen Welker__ Welker is an RN and works in pediatrics at Saint Francis Medical Center, where she has been employed since 1977.

__Sharon Hohler__ Hohler is the operating room coordinator at Saint Francis Medical Center. She's been a registered nurse since 1973.

__Denise Sutton__ Sutton is a cardiothoracic coordinator working in cardiothoracic surgery at Saint Francis Medical Center. She obtained her bachelor's degree in nursing in 1992, and her master's in 2004.

__Perry Guard__ Guard has an associate's degree in nursing, and a bachelor's in industrial engineering. He works as an RN in the NICU at Saint Francis Medical Center.

__Mary Obergoenner__ Obergoenner is an LPN and certified anesthesia technician at Saint Francis Medical Center. She received her LPN degree in 1976, and graduated from Southeast Missouri State University in 1981 with an associate's degree in nursing.

__Christine Byrd__ Byrd is a neuroscience nurse practitioner, educator and stroke program coordinator at SoutheastHEALTH.

__Larry Vandergriff__ Vandergriff has been a nurse for 26 years, working in fields that have included oncology, critical care, and college health at SoutheastHealth.

__Bonnie Kipper__ Kipper is an RN at Southeast Hospital, where she works in obstetrics and the NICU. She's been a nurse for more than 30 years.

__Janet S. Stewart__ Stewart is a diabetes educator with Southeast Hospital's Diabetes Center. She has a master's degree in administration with a health care focus; and a bachelor's degree in nursing. Stewart is a certified diabetes educator, and a certified gerontology nurse.

__Evangeline Jones__ Jones is an RN working as a hospice nurse at SoutheastHEALTH. She received her associate's degree in nursing from Park College in Kansas City, and has been a nurse for about 20 years.

__Janet Rigdon__ Rigdon has bachelor's and master's degrees of science in nursing, as well as a master's degree in business with a health care focus. She is also a certified nursing in the operating room (CNOR). She works as administrative director of perioperative services at SoutheastHEALTH.

__Danielle Gross__ Gross is an RN in the cardop/thoriac unit at Southeast Hospital; she graduated with her bachelor's degree in nursing in 2010.

__Susan C. Stroder__ Stroder has a bachelor's degree and master's degree in nursing from the University of Missouri-Columbia. Since 1987, she has worked in obstetrics at Southeast Hospital.