Agnesian Nurses Win Nightingale Awards

Louann Biddick (pictured below), MSN, RN, and Patrice “Patty” Walgenbach (pictured above), BSN, RN, both Agnesian HealthCare nurses, were among six individuals recently presented with Nightingale Awards by the University of Wisconsin – Oshkosh College of Nursing and Board of Visitors.

The Nightingale Award Program honors registered nurses and licensed practical nurses involved in direct patient care who exemplify the highest standards of nursing practice. In 2014, 33 outstanding nurses from across Wisconsin were nominated to receive the Nightingale Award. Six were awarded the honor.

Other Agnesian HealthCare nurses were nominated, including: Kelli Anderson, ADN, RN, 5 South, St. Agnes Hospital (SAH); Patti Domask, BSN, RN, Women’s Health, Waupun Memorial Hospital (WMH); Heather Evenson, BSN, RN, 4 South, SAH; Mary Jo Kruck, BSN, RN, Fond du Lac Surgery Center, SAH; Susan Stone, ADN, RN, 5 South, SAH; and Alex Welch, BSN, RN, Medical/Surgical, Ripon Medical Center.

“Agnesian HealthCare is honored to work with outstanding nurses,” says Jill Stenson, vice president of Nursing with Agnesian HealthCare. “To have our nursing associates honored in this way reflects our continued commitment to quality care for our patients, and to our nurses – those individuals dedicated to providing the personal touch to our patients each and every day.”

Biddick has been a nurse with Agnesian HealthCare for 33 years. She currently serves as a nurse practitioner with the Agnesian Work & Wellness and Samaritan Health Clinic. Biddick is a nurse mentor and adjunct instructor at two colleges. She teaches nursing and provides guidance to nursing students to fulfill their calling into the nursing profession.

Her accomplishments include: development of the first paramedic training program in Fond du Lac County, development of the Travelers Health Clinic and advancement of the Agnesian Work & Wellness Program. She is actively involved in her community leading various educational inservice programs at the Rotary club, senior center, YMCA and young women in science camp (GEMS). She is active in mentoring new nurses through the nurse residency program and pain management program. She also volunteers her time and services with the free clinic in Beaver Dam, parish nursing and the Solution Center homeless shelter in Fond du Lac.

Walgenbach joined Waupun Memorial Hospital in 2002. She has worked primarily in the emergency department but also in med/surgical, obstetrics, infusion clinic and the intensive care unit.

One of her most outstanding gifts in nursing is her 32 years of dedicated service to the United States of America. She is responsible for initiatives in the military that include health promotion for 1,200 airmen, orientation of nursing staff, officer in charge of immunizations and most recently, chief nurse of the Air National Guard 115th Medical Group. Deployed January through April 2014, Walgenbach is responsible for transporting the most critically ill soldiers from places like Afghanistan, Germany and Africa back to the United States.

In the past 20 years, more than 100 nurses have been recognized with a Nightingale Award. Colleagues, patients and co-workers nominate these nurses for their many accomplishments in nursing excellence in clinical practice.