Huron Regional Medical Center (HRMC) honored its October Exceptional Employee of the Month, Desirae Oxandaburu, RN, with a small department reception earlier this month.
Oxandaburu, who has worked as a nurse on the medical floor at HRMC for nearly three years, was nominated by coworkers to receive the honor. According to the nomination, “Caring and compassionate, Desirae is always willing to help and steps up with any training needed. She also has a diverse knowledge base, which her coworkers appreciate.”
Recently, a family member emailed HRMC raving about how Oxandaburu went above and beyond in a stressful situation to ensure the patient’s needs were met – even though her shift had already ended. “I cannot say enough about the care she provided, with skill, compassion and care,” the email continued. “I hope HRMC realizes the gem they have with Desirae on their team.”
HRMC’s Exceptional Employee of the Month award recognizes an employee who goes above and beyond to demonstrate the hospital’s values of being accessible, helpful and knowledgeable. Employees can be nominated by other coworkers or by a patient or visitor who witnesses exceptional service. A committee of employees from various hospital departments chooses the employee on a monthly basis and an Exceptional Employee of the Year is chosen at year-end from the 12 monthly honorees.
As October exceptional employee, Oxandaburu, received a meal certificate to a local restaurant, a professional photo session and portrait, $50, a lapel pin and a special parking place for a month.
Oxandaburu earned both an Associate’s and a Bachelor’s Degrees in Nursing from Dakota Wesleyan University. Prior to joining the HRMC team, she worked at as a CNA at Manor Care in Aberdeen, a direct support professional at Center for Independence, patient care tech at Avera Hand County Memorial Hospital and charge nurse at Sunquest Healthcare Center.
She and her husband, Travis, have one son, Jacoby Patrick. Her parents, Pam and Craig VanZee, live in Miller and she is sister to Derick and Dexter VanZee. Her in-laws are Jody and Lonnie Oxandaburu of Huron. During the summer, she enjoys spending time at the lake, traveling with her husband, who races Wissota Street Stocks, and working on the race car. Once racing season is over, Oxandaburu plays in a dart league and enjoys joining her friends for a weekly girls’ night.
“I am honored to be chosen as Exceptional Employee of the Month,” said Oxandaburu. “I enjoy bringing comfort to my patients and being a part of a great team on the med/surge floor.”
Patients or visitors can nominate an exceptional employee by calling 605-353-6539 for a nomination form or via e-mail at [email protected].
Photo Cutline: Tatiana Lopez, RN, med/surg/ICU director, Erick Larson, president and CEO Oxandaburu, Lindsey McCaskell, RN, assistant inpatient services director, and Dawn Allen, RN, vice president of patient services, pose for a photo after she was surprised with the October Exceptional Employee honor.