With four years of hospice experience and eight total years in nursing, Fran Akins of Home Health Care of East Tennessee and Hospice realizes that a hospice nurse must focus on the patient’s quality of life and living life to the fullest. Fran, a twenty-month breast cancer survivor, understands the trials of catastrophic diagnosis. Having peace with life and death and knowing that hospice nurses must have a “hospice heart,” Fran is best known for her compassion, understanding and love. Her tender “hospice heart” is always appreciated by her patients and their families.
Amanda Beecher, CHPN, CNA
Hospice of Chattanooga
Amanda Beecher, Certified Hospice and Palliative Nurse Assistant, has worked for Hospice of Chattanooga for more than eight years. She’s known for her big smile, even bigger heart and her willingness to tackle any task a patient requests. Whether she is making patients feel beautiful by painting fingernails and styling hair or helping them to journal their life in the final weeks, Amanda goes above and beyond to make sure that each patient’s last days are more than they could have imagined. Known for her warmness and kindness, Amanda is described as being truly exemplary of hospice care.
Laura Lane, RN
Family Home Care and Hospice
Laura Lane, a six-year Registered Nurse specializing in hospice care, works with Family Home Care and Hospice in Cleveland, Tenn. Never failing to be a source of excellent care, education and spiritual support for patients and families, Laura’s deep faith in Christ helps her to reach out to others in a positive way, providing an exemplary level of care and compassion. Always present with the families during the passing of a patient, even if in the middle of the night, Laura is known for going the extra mile in making the journey with her patient as meaningful as possible.
Kimberly Prigmore, RN
Avalon Hospice
Kimberly Prigmore has been a part of the Avalon Hospice team for five years. Kim loves to nurture and spends much time helping her patients and families cope with each day. Always dedicated to her patients, Kim often calls or stops to visit them on her days off or over the weekend to let them know she is there for them. One family recently expressed that “Kim is an angel doing God’s work!” Known for her teamwork and compassion, Kimberly exemplifies the philosophy that being a part of each family’s pathway during this time in their lives is truly an honor and a privilege.
Sharon Scofield, RN
Case Manager, Caris Healthcare
Known for her warm smile and love for her job, Sharon Scofield of Caris Healthcare strives for excellence in every aspect of the exemplary clinical care she provides. Sharon‘s passion is demonstrated by her dedication to ensure that the passing of each of her patients is safe, expected and attended. Sharon epitomizes the virtue of grace, the Greek meaning of the name Caris, in every sense of the word. RN Case Manager for Caris Healthcare, Sharon is consistently mentioned by family members as “kind,” “attentive,” “loyal” and “a blessing.”
Debra Scott, CNA
Amedisys Hospice
Debra Scott has served the community for the past five years, offering compassionate end-of- life care to the patients of Amedisys Hospice. Known for bringing a calming presence to the bedside as she addresses the most intimate needs of her patients, Debra sets the standard of clinical excellence with an attention to detail, patient advocacy and care coordination. Often speaking at her patients’ funerals, Debra is one of the first people to be thanked by the families. She has personified the hospice spirit through walking the last journey with her patients and their families.