Despite battling a suspected case of food poisoning, Southeast Community College Practical Nursing Instructor Ann McManaman went to work on April 20.
And it’s a good thing she did as she was surprised with a certificate presented by the Lincoln Journal Star after finishing in the top 10 in voting for the newspaper’s “Best Nurses in Nebraska” competition.
Jill Aerni, recruitment advertising supervisor at the paper, presented McManaman with her certificate before about 30 SCC nursing students, instructors, administrators, and her husband John, all of whom had gathered to surprise McManaman on the Lincoln Campus.
“Most years that we’ve done this we’ve only had practicing nurses nominated,” Aerni said. “It’s wonderful to have someone in the education field nominated.”
Fellow Practical Nursing Instructor Michelle Hynek-Thomas nominated McManaman. The nomination reads:
“Ann is an outstanding nurse and coworker. She teaches beginning level students in the practical nursing program. She is very inspiring and creative in the classroom. Students will talk about how much they learn when she is teaching them.
She brings technology and real-life experiences to the classroom to help her students learn better. She adapts her teaching to meet the needs of the various students. Ann also cares for her students on a personal level.
Many students will come to her to share their successes and to also ask for advice related to their nursing career. She also takes students to clinical sites and provides them with a wide variety of learning experiences.
She also works PRN at BryanLGH East. Ann truly exemplifies what it means to be a nurse. They are caring, compassionate and focused on providing safe care in all environments.”
McManaman has been a full-time instructor at SCC since September 2010.