Mount Nittany Health nurses, healthcare professionals, and staff were recently honored at the 6th annual Kish Celebrates Community event on April 25, 2023, at Beaver Stadium.

Mount Nittany Health was presented with the Kish Humanitarian of the Year Award, recognizing the remarkable efforts and endurance shown by the nurses and healthcare professionals during the COVID-19 pandemic. Amber Shaw, BSN, RN, CCRN, Manager of Critical Care Services, accepted the award on behalf of the Mount Nittany Health nurses.

Since the first COVID-19 admission on March 31, 2020, Mount Nittany Health has cared for more than 2,000 patients with COVID-19. Throughout the pandemic, the health system administered more than 80,000 COVID-19 tests and 50,000 vaccines.

In his remarks, William P. Hayes, Chairman and CEO of Kish Bank praised the nurses and healthcare professionals who “showed up in our hospitals every day against seemingly overwhelming numbers—who donned protective gear, who worked long days, nights, and weeks, often beyond the limits of human endurance—to do all in their power to defeat this disease and support their fellow human beings.”

Whether it was setting up a dedicated inpatient unit for COVID-19 patients, offering virtual ER visits and telehealth visits, or launching drive-through testing clinics, our staff jumped into action to find solutions. Mount Nittany Health is proud of our employees and pleased that Kish Bank recognized our nurses for their incredible efforts to care for our community during the pandemic and every day.

If you are interested in honoring a nurse, consider nominating them for the DAISY (Diseases Attacking the Immune System) Award. This is an international recognition program that honors and celebrates the skillful, compassionate care nurses provide every day. If you are interested in nominating a deserving nurse or if you have any questions, please contact communications@mountnittany.org.