Macon - Dorethea Peters, RN, C, a 12-year staff nurse in the pulmonary unit at St. Joseph's/Candler in Savannah, received the Staff Nurse of the Year award during the 96th Annual Georgia Nurse Association Convention held in Macon in October.

When she received the letter from GNA announcing her award, Peters said at first she didn't believe it. "I made my husband read it back to me," the Richmond Hill resident said. "This is such an awesome honor."

Peters, a 1991 nursing graduate of Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College in Tifton, said one of the biggest challenges facing staff nurses today is that documentation duties often get in the way of spending quality time with patients. That trend bothers her. In her work with COPD patients, many are scared they might die soon, but don't want to worry family members. They need someone to listen.

"Sometimes they just need you to hold their hand," she said.

Peters enjoys her work, and credits the team atmosphere of her floor for her success.

"I could not be where I am today without teamwork on my floor. When you have a good team to work with, everything goes a lot easier," she said. Peters is a resource coordinator for the pulmonary unit, a job, she said is a cross between a charge nurse and an assistant manager. Peters said she tries to see every patient each day during her 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. shift. She sees an average of 33 patients a day.

Peters has many roles in her job.

"I'm out on the floor helping the staff nurses if they need anything (starting IVs, helping with discharge instructions, admission assessments, etc.)," she said. "I also make rounds on all patients every day to make sure they aren't dissatisfied with the care they receive, and, if I get complaints, it's my responsibility to try to resolve any issues the patient has so that they will have a good hospital experience."

This is the second consecutive year that a nurse from St. Joseph's/Candler has received the award. Last year's winner was Jeffrey Jaudon.