HealthLinks Upstate Nov/Dec 2022

64 | www.Ups tatePhys i c i ansSC . com | www.Hea l thL i nksUps tate. com T H E P U L S E O N UPSTATE NURSES HealthLinks Upstate has partnered with KUDZU MEDICAL STAFFING to highlight some of the Upstate’s top nurses. TAMMY WARREN DENSON, BSN, RN – PELHAM MEDICAL CENTER Tammy Denson works at Pelham Medical Center as emergency center director. She earned her bachelor of science in nursing degree and has nearly completed her master of business administration. She is a past recipient of the DAISY Award, which is given for excellence in geriatric care. Denson has been a nurse for 23 years and has always enjoyed taking care of others. “I wanted to become a nurse because I love taking care of people. I love the interaction I have with patients,” she said. Outside of nursing, she belongs to the Greer Leadership Development Council. MEGAN BURDETTE, BSN, RN SPARTANBURG MEDICAL CENTER Megan Burdette works in Spartanburg Medical Center’s 28-bed inpatient neurological unit, where she oversees more than 50 associates as a nurse manager. Burdette’s mother was a nurse for 35 years, and, initially, she disliked visiting her mom’s workplace. In college, Burdette began to think about the impact her mother made on the lives of children. “Becoming a nurse has been one of the best decisions I’ve made,” she said. Between formulating goal and action plans and managing daily clinical operations, she also empowers and encourages staff to provide evidence-based, patient-centered care. During the COVID-19 pandemic, Burdette implemented staff education based on Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommendations to ensure patient and staff safety, and she collaborated with hospital administration to convert the neurological unit for COVID-19 patient care. She began her career as a night shift bedside nurse at Spartanburg Medical Center after graduating from the University of South Carolina with a bachelor of science in nursing degree in 2009. MARIE DYER, BSN, RN, ACM, CIC SPARTANBURG MEDICAL CENTER Marie Dyer works as a nurse in infection prevention, where she is responsible for the surveillance, prevention and control of the transmission of infectious diseases in patients and health care workers. She is responsible for tracking trends and maintaining accurate data on health care-acquired inflections based on state and federal guidelines. Outside of her role at Spartanburg Medical Center, Dyer is a member of Sigma Theta Tau, the Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology and the American Case Management Association. Dyer has been a nurse for 26 years – since graduating from the University of South Carolina with a bachelor of science in nursing degree. Dyer said she became a nurse to “gain knowledge and understanding to help patients” through illnesses and conditions, and to “provide care and support during difficult times.” KRYSTEL LYNN HANNON, BSN,RN RESTORATIVE & POST-ACUTE CARE Krystel Lynn Hannon is a nurse at Spartanburg Regional Home Health, where she works as a case manager. Hannon received her associate degree in nursing from Gardner-Webb University and obtained her bachelor of science in nursing from Limestone University. She has been a nurse for 11 years and has never wanted to do anything else. “My dream was to become a nurse from the time I was a little girl until I graduated nursing school. I do believe nursing was my calling. I love being a nurse and caring for others,” Hannon said. Outside of nursing, Hannon volunteers at the WinShape Foundation and Camp Tekoa. Source: Daniel Gross, media and content manager, marketing and public relations. Eight Spartanburg Regional Healthcare System nurses – Megan Burdette, Tammy Denson, Marie Dyer, Krystel Hannon, Katherine Henderson, Kelli R. Honeycutt Collier, Melinda Malone and Erin Masters – were recently named recipients of South Carolina’s 2022 Palmetto Gold Award. This distinguished award is given to clinicians who have shown a steadfast commitment to excellence in the nursing field. HealthLinks is honored to feature four recipients in this issue and four recipients in the January/February 2023 issue.

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