2023 Nursing Recognition Awards

These CoxHealth nurses were recognized for going above and beyond for their community in 2023. We appreciate their hard work and dedication to our patients.

SHG Clinical Nurse Excellence Award:

Winner - Mona Van Bokhoven, Women Newborn Unit

“Mona is the nurse that everyone is able to go to for anything. What is even more important is that she doesn't just give you the answer, she teaches you how to solve the issue so you will have the knowledge to fix it the next time. She is patient and makes sure you fully understand so that you also gain confidence in yourself and your skill set. Mona is very careful to manage her time well, so she is available whenever she is needed as a resource. As a charge nurse, she tries her best to make sure the teams are balanced as best as possible. If there happens to be a higher acuity team, she is always checking on them and offering help where she can. We all appreciate Mona, not only for the person she is, but as a nurse and leader.”

CHG Clinical Nurse Excellence Award:

Winner - Judy Good, CBCH Emergency Department

“Judy is a model of clinical excellence in our department and has the highest respect of all of her colleagues. Her fund of knowledge, technical skill set, breadth of expertise, and extraordinary work ethic have earned her the admiration of all who work with her. Judy always provides leadership to our department in both formal and informal ways, making her an invaluable asset to our team. Judy's tireless efforts have been instrumental in developing and maintaining our Stroke Program at Cox Barton County Hospital. This program was highly praised by the state certifiers during the initial review, and Judy was singled out for her invaluable contributions to its development. Judy also coordinated the implementation of our Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner (SANE) program at Cox Barton County Hospital, successfully navigating all of the logistical and technological challenges of developing such a service at a rural hospital. In addition to her work at the hospital, Judy serves tirelessly as a volunteer professional for the Jasper County Fire Department, where she has been highly successful in grant writing, resulting in recognition as one of the best-equipped volunteer services in the state. In my career in emergency medicine, I have never met another nurse like Judy. Her work inspires all of our staff to strive for the level of excellence she consistently models. She is truly an extraordinary asset to our hospital and our community. She is an exceptional nurse, and this recognition is well-deserved.”

SHG Nurse Inspiration Award:

Winner - Rob Kinney, North Emergency Department

“Rob is truly one of a kind. Which is a shame because I would love to clone him and have 10 more nurses just like him! Rob has been a dedicated nurse in the North Emergency Department (ED) for several years now. He is dependable, reliable, and truly goes above and beyond for his patients and the staff. Rob is a team lead/charge Registered Nurse (RN) on the weekend option crew, and also is one of the finest preceptors you will find. He is patient, kind, intelligent, understanding, all of the attributes that make a great leader and preceptor. His compassion knows no bounds. Whether it is to ensure that a patient with communication difficulties has the appropriate care set up after discharge or comforting a family member who has lost a loved one, he is there for them in their time of need. Rob is an instructor for ENA courses and is always willing to teach at skills lab, because he is very concerned for the safety of every soul within the ED, staff and patients alike. Rob has created and instructs our containment course for the ED staff. A course which teaches us how to keep ourselves and our patients safe during restraint situations. Always going the extra mile, Rob is the 'patient' during the class to ensure staff are doing it correctly from the caregiver and patient perspective. All of the above not only demonstrate Rob is an outstanding nurse who is more than deserving of the Nurse Inspiration Award, but it shows just how truly wonderful a human being he is. We are all blessed to have him as a part of our lives and the patients he serves."

CHG Nurse Inspiration Award:

Winner - Charity Abts, CBCH Emergency Department

“In my experience working with Charity in the Emergency Department, I have found her to be an exemplary nurse, colleague, and human being. Charity has a unique gift for maintaining a positive attitude and moral excellence in her work. I have never heard her say anything negative about any patient or colleague, despite the often-challenging circumstances of emergency medicine. This is a testament to her unwavering dedication to compassionate patient care and her belief in the goodness of others. Charity's selfless service and unwavering kindness serve as a model for all who work alongside her. She has a unique ability to inspire others to be better, to do better, and to remain grounded in the mission of providing the best care for those in need. Charity's impact on our department is immeasurable. She serves as a moral compass, reminding us all of the importance of empathy, compassion, and kindness in our work. Her dedication to her patients and colleagues alike makes her an invaluable asset to our team. Her unwavering dedication to compassionate patient care and her ability to inspire others through her selfless service and kind-hearted nature make her an exceptional candidate for this honor.”

“Charity is the perfect definition of a giving and kind nurse. She comes to work with a positive attitude, treats each of her patients and coworkers with respect and demonstrates kindness that you don't see often in the world today. Charity is also constantly thinking about and giving to others. She volunteers to organize and participates in nursing fundraisers, and ensures the community giving box is stocked with items for anyone that is in need. She even does the little things like making sure every staff birthday is celebrated. And if you get the chance to work with Charity, she is one of the first to lend a helping hand if you are in need. She is truly an inspiration to others around her.”

SHG Nurse Leadership Award:

Winner - Brenda Robertson, Adult Psych III

“I have worked with Brenda for 18 years. She has grown with Cox starting as a Staff Nurse to now an Assistant Nurse Manager. Brenda is always looking out for her staff’s best interest. She is very knowledgeable, and is my first go to with questions. If she sees a coworker is struggling, she is quick to offer help and advice. She supports them and builds up their confidence so they can be successful. Brenda sacrifices her time to ensure staff and patients are taken care of. She frequently comes in before her shift and stays late to help. We’re not sure she ever sleeps. Balancing assistant nurse manager duties along with bedside nursing tasks, she is an amazing role model for our psych techs that are currently in nursing school. She is the first to jump in when we need help and willing to do anything we ask. It’s not uncommon to find Brenda making a personal connection with our patients, like holding their hand to help calm them down. Her compassion with staff and patients alike is one of the reasons I love working here, because I love working with her.”

CHG Nurse Leadership Award:

Winner - Wendy Huston, CMCB Maternity

“Wendy has been the manager of Maternity in Branson for many years. She frequently puts the care of our patients over meetings and her leadership duties to ensure the best possible outcomes for our unit/patients. She is a fully functioning floor nurse in times of need. She can labor a patient, do triage, take care of postpartum patients, stay with sick babies in the nursery, etc. She can do any role on our unit and that is why she is so deserving of this award. She facilitates changes and improves staff engagement by working alongside her staff and not from the confines of the four walls of her office. She is out in the trenches with us. She is visible, accessible and fosters the much needed atmosphere of care and compassion by leading by example. She is a one in a million leader and we've even recruited travel nurses because of the amazing leadership she offers to our unit. We cannot express enough how lucky we are to have her.”

SHG Rising Star Award:

Winner - Molly Mancini, 800 JNC

“Molly started her nursing career in the heights of a global pandemic. During a time of great need, GNRs pivoted to help with tasks such as admissions, discharges, etc. Molly was so adaptive and flexible, she not only did a great job with anything she was given, but was also found teaching GNRs from other areas. This was not asked of her, she just stepped up to lead where she saw a need. She has been a valued member of the Virtual Nurse Workflow Steering team and has made contributions to CoxHealth nursing in a short time.”

“I was blown away by Molly from the first time we worked together. She immediately put me at ease, which I found out is the effect she has on everyone. She radiates a genuine friendliness, sense of humor, and caring nature. Molly somehow carries all of the above while still exuding authority and gentle strength. In high-stress situations, she maintains her poise and calmly focuses on solving the problem at hand. Her technical skills and readiness to share that knowledge with those of us who are new to the field is amazing. There were days that I didn't think I would make it, but Molly made a conscious effort to include me, teach me, and remind me of why I chose to become a nurse. That meant more to me than she will ever know.”

“Molly shows an investment in our team and our patients. She has a built-in initiative, and you can tell she considers her work to be more than just a job. In the short time Molly has been here she always goes the extra mile. She is such a positive person and shows this every day. I love her smile, and the way she talks to her patients. Molly has been recognized many times by staff, patients and leaders on the floor. She has a willingness to learn and share her knowledge. Molly strives to give the best quality of care to her patients and will help others to reach the same goals. Molly is such an asset to our floor.”

CHG Rising Star Award:

Winner - Paul Shaffer, CMCB Adult Psych

“Paul has just been a nurse for two years, but he has quickly become an important and dedicated team member in the APU department. He is an excellent de-escalation resource and provides all care with respect and dignity. He works to increase continuity of care for the patients from the time they are admitted to the discharge process. Paul advocates for patients’ needs and uses all the tools in his tool box to make sure patients get the care they deserve. He is soft spoken and connects with patients on their level, but at the same time sets reasonable boundaries with patients to protect them and the staff. Paul also has a sense of humor that can brighten any team member or patient on a cloudy day. After seeing how far he has come in such a short time, I look forward to watching Paul continue to grow as a nurse and leader.”

SHG Nurse Preceptor Award:

Winner - Sonny McNeilis, Cardiopulmonary Rehab

“Sonny McNeilis has an abundance of patience with new staff, interns, or students who shadow/join our department. She does not get flustered easily and remains positive when explaining, demonstrating, and implementing training in our department. She is willing to stay late, if needed, to ensure staff members feel confident they understand new processes and procedures. Since change can be difficult, Sonny makes sure every staff concern or question is addressed before implementation. Drawing from her diverse experience in health care and her compassionate nature, she truly has the knowledge and skills to help our team grow. In addition, her welcoming demeanor makes all patients and staff feel a part of the team. We are so lucky to have Sonny!”

CHG Nurse Preceptor Award:

Winner - Kyla Blinzler, Monett Med-Surg

“The night shift can sometimes be a revolving door and Kyla is always there with a smile to greet the new incoming personnel. She has been a reliable peer mentor for the Monett Med/Surg night shift for years. Kyla knows where to go with any questions, and I really believe that professionalism, patience, kindness, understanding, and compassion define her. She delivers all of her help with a humbleness that is so welcoming. She also provides great care to all of her patients with no hesitation to advocate for patients' needs on nights. She is a great role model for our new graduates and even seasoned nurses with all that she does for Cox Monett in being a peer mentor, charge nurse, and an exceptional coworker. “