Laura Pearce, a registered nurse in orthopedics at Gadsden Regional Medical Center, has been named the 2014 Patient Choice Award winner.
Pearce was selected from a field of 13 nurses, all nominated by former patients who had been admitted for care at GRMC in the past year.
“I am extremely honored to work with such a great group of caring professionals,” said Donna Nicholson, the hospital’s Chief Nursing officer. “Looking at the comments made by patients and family members, you can see that these nurses provide excellent, compassionate care to our patients at GRMC.”
Nominations were solicited based on nurses who had gone “above and beyond the call of duty” for their patients.
Nominations for Pearce called her “nice, patient, kind and compassionate.”
“She is very knowledgeable, professional and caring,” said a family member. “She even cared enough to call and check on (my mother) on her day off.”
Pearce’s department director, April McElroy, echoed the positive sentiments of the nominations.
“Laura is an excellent nurse who truly cares for her patients and strives every day to be the best that she can be,” McElroy said. “She is a wonderful mentor and leader for the staff. I am truly blessed to have her on my team.”
Pearce, who McElroy said “is constantly looking for ways to make us a better team,” was also named the hospital’s Employee of the Month in June 2013.
A Missouri native who graduated from Guntersville High School, Pearce received her nursing degree from Wallace State. She and her husband, Corey, have two sons, Chase, and Cameron. The family lives in Albertville.
For being named this year’s Patient Choice Award winner, Pearce received a plaque and a check for $500.
Others nominated for this year’s award were Brad Bryant, Barbara Colvin, Rachel Crowe, Lauren Goddard, Rick Gramling, Julie Holder, Allison Jenkins, Nicole King, Jason Rowan, Jocelyn Tanner, Cynthia Wagner and Angela Williams.