Nurses of Note 2024: The Occupational Health RN

PerfectServe’s Nurses of Note awards program honors those who help us define what it means to be a nurse. They’re selected from a large group of nominees and stand out for their diligence, passion, leadership, and devotion to caring for others.

For the fourth year of the program, PerfectServe is highlighting nurses who have gone a step beyond the rest in their careers. Though we believe all nurses make extraordinary contributions, these honorees stood out to us for their steadfast dedication to the field of nursing, helping to paint a picture of the difference they make for their patients and communities every single day.

In-depth profiles of select winners will be published each month for the rest of the year, so make sure to bookmark our blog to learn more about their stories!

The Occupational Health RN (West Bend, WI) – Lisa Dieckelman, RN, WCC

For Lisa Dieckelman, RN, WCC, being a nurse wasn’t exactly a lifelong dream. In fact, she was the type of kid who fainted during blood draws and hated visiting the doctor. However, life presented her with challenges that required her to seek care, and the kindness and understanding of her nurses inspired her to pursue a career in nursing.

Lisa began her career as a medical assistant for a family medicine doctor in a small Wisconsin clinic. She did everything from EKGs to blood draws, and during this time she debated whether to further her education to become a nurse. The doctor at the clinic encouraged Lisa to get her full nursing degree, and his validation set her on the path she’s still following today.

Cedar Community is a retirement home community offering independent living support, rehab, memory care, and more. As an occupational health RN at Cedar who works out of the skilled nursing facility, Lisa does something different each day. She’s been a resource for all employees since she started her current role in July 2023.  

“We have the unique ability for residents to be able to move around within our [system] and still stay within the Cedar Community,” Lisa said.

Lisa started at Cedar in 2022 as a med tech RN and is happy she began that way. At that time, many health systems were only beginning to recover from the pandemic. She was able to support not only patients, but other care team staff at Cedar as well.

“I’m happy my journey started that way because I got a good feel of what the floor is like and what our staff go through every day,” Lisa said. “[Especially] the toll it takes on your body and the mental part of it.”

Her role today combines elements of her previous roles. She supports other Cedar team members, helps organize and run clinics, works with safety committees and mentor programs, onboards new nurses and staff, and provides education to fellow employees. She doesn’t work too much at the bedside these days, but on rare occasions, she does assist with patient care.

One of her favorite parts of the role is co-instructing CNA classes. Cedar offers an in-house CNA program to train up-and-coming CNAs who will work within Cedar once they finish the program. Lisa interviews candidates and helps them through the course, supporting them as they learn and grow. 

“I love the role I’m in. I’m the kind of person who likes to do a little bit of everything,” Lisa said. “Healthcare is never really the same thing every day, but I like all the different aspects and being part of different things where I can make a difference and help out.”  

Lisa recently worked with another nurse to revamp a mentoring program that pairs seasoned care staff with new staff, ensuring new team members are supported during their transition to Cedar. Lisa also recently received her Wound Care Certification, which had been a long-time goal. Cedar didn’t have a wound-certified nurse on staff, so Lisa took the class and got her certification in just a few months. Now, she helps other staff members if they get hurt on the job and supports patients who need wound care.

Lisa has a few words of wisdom for nurses looking to work in the care home field. Though many might think they don’t have what it takes, she emphasizes that the role can be very rewarding. She encourages others to take a chance—they may be surprised by how much they can learn from patients who have lived rich, full lives and have invaluable knowledge and wisdom to share.

“When elderly people are losing their independence, they need to be taken care of,” Lisa said. “It’s essential to have competent nurses who care about this population and want to be in this field. Helping [these patients] through their most vulnerable times can be so very rewarding!” 

Lisa feels lucky to work in the community she does, citing leadership as an excellent support system for herself and other care team members at Cedar. She says her favorite part of being a nurse is being there for others, whether they’re experiencing the best or worst day of their lives. 

“I come to work happy and proud to be a nurse every day,” Lisa said. “It’s a selfless job. You get to help people, and I think it’s such a needed job. I love having answers when people have questions, and I want to always build on my knowledge and skills because of that. I want to be as valuable as I can be to help people, no matter what they need.”

Thank You

Nurses like Lisa do wonderful work caring for aging members of the population, no matter their stage in life. Lisa recognizes the importance of supporting and educating fellow care team staff. It’s clear that Lisa loves what she does and comes to work ready to be a light for others, which is what makes her a Nurse of Note this year. Lisa, thank you for everything you do!  

Q&A

To learn more about Lisa’s life as a nurse, we asked her a few additional questions:  

Why did you choose to become a nurse?  

I used to be that kid who fainted at blood draws, but I experienced some things in my life where nurses made a huge impact. Those non-judgmental nurses supported me and piqued my interest about the field and the human body. I did a medical assistant program at first, and it took some time to decide I wanted to become a nurse.  

I worked for a really awesome family practice doctor who gave me a chance. I learned so much from watching his drive and passion for caring for others. He ultimately encouraged me to finish nursing school and validated that I was good at what I was doing!

What is the biggest lesson you learned while serving as a nurse throughout the pandemic? 

The pandemic was a very odd time for all of us, and it was particularly interesting for me because I was working in mental health then. Soon after the pandemic started, I stopped working to have my first child. I felt a lot of guilt at times that I should have been helping others in the nursing workforce. I did see the true resilience that nurses have as a whole.

What’s one piece of advice you would give to your younger self about working in the healthcare industry?

I would say to take opportunities and learn everything you can from everybody you work with and every patient you come in contact with.  It’s important to take opportunities, and don’t be afraid to think outside the box. Also, don’t take things personally! 

What do you do to relax after a stressful day?  

We’re a household with two full-time working parents and three kids. I like to throw my headphones on after a long day and walk or jog for 20 to 30 minutes. Running clears my head, and with my music on and a little fresh air, I get some time to transition from nurse to mom. 

What changes would you like to see in the nursing field of the future? 

I’m lucky to work where I do because I have everything I need to succeed and a wonderful team that supports me. I think many nurses would say more staffing and higher pay, which is always nice. I think just having people recognize what you do is so important, so just having more recognition could be something that I’d like to see more in the field.

Make sure to follow our blog as we publish profiles about more of our amazing Nurses of Note honorees throughout the year!

For more about Nurses of Note 2024, check out the full list of winners.