Northeast Georgia Health System has named long-time nurse Mary Bess as its 2022 Employee of the Year.
Bess has been with NGHS for 16 years, where she started off as a patient care tech in the medical/surgical and critical care areas. She became an ICU nurse in 2008 and worked her way up to a leadership position. In 2020, she became a pulmonology nurse with Northeast Georgia Physicians Group Pulmonology.
Bess told AccessWDUN said she was in shock when she found out she had won the award.
"I just felt like I was doing what needed to be done and didn't really think anything of it," Bess said. "I'm still kind of in shock of everything."
Bess said she has always wanted to be a nurse, so it was an honor to be named NGHS' employee of the year.
"My mom actually has a home video tape from when I was like three, and I was introducing myself as a nurse," Bess said.
While she enjoys the scientific side of nursing, Bess said her passion for her career comes down to the people.
"I wanted to be that person that helps [a patient] understand what's happening, to give them a shoulder to cry on, to be able to provide the best care possible," Bess said. "And then, no matter which way the patient went, just trying to make it as pleasurable of an experience as possible but also helping them through each step."
NGHS officials also spoke highly of Bess.
“When Hall County emerged as a COVID hotspot early in the pandemic, Mary graciously volunteered to temporarily leave the pulmonology practice and come back to support our Gainesville campus’ critical care units,” said Carol Burrell, president and CEO of NGHS. “Her unique – and desperately needed – skill set was a blessing to our very sick patient population.”
Bess said she would tell other nurses to never be afraid to ask questions, but always stay willing to come up with their own answer.
