Press Release

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

For more information, contact:
Catherine Larsen, 209-525-3106.

Marsha Lovelace recognized for
nursing excellence

MODESTO – July 13, 2010: When she was a child Marsha Lovelace always knew she’d be a nurse when she grew up. Today, after 34 years in the profession, she remains focused, committed and fulfilled by her calling.

As the 11th Memorial Medical Center nurse to be named as a finalist in the California NurseWeek Magazine Nursing Excellence Awards, Marsha is a fantastic example of nursing excellence. She is a finalist in the category of Leading and Advancing the Profession of Nursing.

“I wouldn’t change professions for anything,” Marsha reflects. “What I enjoy most about being a nurse is knowing that I have made a difference in people’s lives.”

Marsha began her career as a nurse’s aide at West Side Hospital in Newman while she was still in high school, and later became an R.N. and earned her bachelor’s degree in nursing.

She joined Memorial in 1984 and says, “I can’t imagine working anyplace else. At Memorial we have high expectations for the care of our patients and our staff.”

During her tenure at Memorial, Marsha has worked in a variety of specialties including the surgical unit, intensive care, neuro/trauma and imaging. She also helped open the progressive care unit (currently known as the acute multi-care unit).

“Nursing is such a wonderful profession,” Marsha observes. “There are so many options for specialization that provide endless opportunities for learning throughout a nurse’s career.”

In 2000, Marsha was the first nurse to be recognized as an Outstanding Woman of Stanislaus County by the Stanislaus County Commission for Women. She was named Memorial Medical Center Caregiver of the Season in 2002 and 2006.

In her current role as regional interdisciplinary practice model coordinator, Marsha serves as a clinical resource and mentor for clinical practice and the development of the interdisciplinary practice environments at Memorial Medical Center, Memorial Hospital Los Banos and Sutter Tracy Community Hospital, supporting both clinical and medical staffs. She continues to provide direct patient care in the Angiography/Specials Lab, and she chairs Memorial’s Interdisciplinary Policies and Procedures Committee (she’s been the committee chair for more than 12 years and a member for 25 years) and serves as administrative nursing supervisor when needed.

“I have the best of both worlds,” Marsha says. “Much of what I do now is behind the scenes, yet I still get to take care of patients, too!”

Marsha and other finalists will be honored at the NurseWeek Nursing Excellence Awards gala in Los Angeles on August 20.

“Nursing is not just a job; it’s a calling,” Marsha says. “Nurses help to heal and ease pain, and we are sometimes the eyes and ears for the physician. It is an honor to be there for some of the most challenging times in people’s lives.”

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Memorial Medical Center is part of Sutter Health, a family of not-for-profit hospitals, physician organizations and other medical services that share resources and expertise to advance health care quality and access. Serving more than 100 communities in Northern California, Sutter Health is a regional leader in cardiac care, cancer treatment, orthopedics, obstetrics, and newborn intensive care, and is a pioneer in advanced patient safety technology.