Issaquah nursing adminstrators win state and national awards

While nursing can sometimes be an underappreciated profession, the city of Issaquah recently recognized Issaquah Nursing and Rehabilitation Center Administrator Lisa Stubenrauch and Director of Nursing Jennifer Daley for their contribution to the community and their recent awards from the Washington Health Care Association.

On Monday, Issaquah Mayor Fred Butler presented certificates of appreciation to Stubenrauch for winning Skilled Nursing Executive Director of the Year and to Daley for winning Skilled Nursing Director of Nursing of the Year.

“This is a wonderful facility,” Butler said. “Some of the residents are still here even after many years, which is a testament of the commitment, good work and caring atmosphere that is the heart of Issaquah Nursing and Rehab. So it is a real honor for me to pass out two certificates of appreciation.”

Stubenrauch and Daley were nominated for the annual WHCA awards by their staff. To enter, staff members submitted applications explaining why they were qualified to receive the award. The WHCA then reviewed all the applications it received and selected winners.

“It’s unusual for two people from the same facility to win, so we were really happy,” Stubenrauch said. “It’s really an honor because [the award] is for the whole state, and it really demonstrates that our staff, families and residents really believe in the work that we do.”

Daley was very appreciative of Butler recognizing their hard work and dedication to the nursing and rehabilitation center and its residents.

“For him to acknowledge the hard work that we do is nice. I really appreciate that,” she said. “Especially for nurses, sometimes the recognition is not there for what we do every day. We don’t do it for recognition, but it feels nice when you get it.”

After Butler presented the certificates, Stubenrauch also recognized Daley for winning another nursing award from the National Association of Directors of Nursing Administration.

Daley has been named the Nurse Administrator of the Year for the Northwest region, and will be traveling to NADONA’s 30th annual conference, which runs July 14-16, in Orlando, Florida, to receive the award.

Daley will also be attending various workshops at the conference to stay up to date with the latest in the nursing industry.

“It’s important to be on the front end of everything, to not be the one that is finding out last, but to be the leader, because everything goes so much smoother when you are ahead of the game,” she said. “Everything changes. This industry is so difficult and you have to keep up and try to be on the cutting edge of everything. Lisa and I both really believe that.”

Daley was chosen as the winner of the Northwest region after 17 letters of support from residents and staff members of Issaquah Nursing and Rehabilitation were submitted to NADONA.

“A director of nursing truly is only as good as the team that she works with and I have an amazing, amazing team,” Daley said. “I just couldn’t and wouldn’t want to do it without them, they are the reason I keep coming back.”