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20 NURSING SPOTLIGHT 'They want you': How Dad's advice shaped this nursing leader By Mariah Taylor F rom offering unconventional schedules for nurses to filling the gap between physical needs and mental health, Cory Werts, MSN, RN, has her eyes set on what programs can make the most impact for patients and staff. Ms. Werts has worked at Mercy Health-St. Rita's Medical Center for 23 years and has served as the Mercy Health-Lima market's chief nursing officer for more than six years. She transitioned from a nurse into leadership aer a mentor encouraged her to apply for a manager role, she told Becker's. She learned that in leadership, she could care for the nurses like she had for the patients she loved. Here are some things that are top of mind for her: What she is most proud of: "We offer creative shis to nurses that fits nurses' needs. By utilizing a centralized staffing and scheduling department, nurses are able to work the shis that allow them the work-life balance they want — I have people working 3 to 3, 9 to 5 and more. e department allows us to offer unconventional schedules while also maintaining the same level of staffing and without needing to hire many new nurses." Her greatest concern: "e biggest challenge in healthcare today is treating the whole person in every setting all the time. I would say it's the mental health of our patients compounding the physical health. Our model in traditional medical care is to diagnose and treat the physical problem, but sometimes there's an underlying behavioral health and psychological issue that may or may not uncover when you're in that acute care setting. I'm not sure we've even scratched the surface of being able to offer those psychological services and our system is not is not designed that way yet — but I think eventually we will catch up." What she has her eye on: "I'm a proponent of any technology that will allow providers to spend more time with their patients. at's what they crave, and it's what creates that human connection that both provider and patient need. We've got to leverage technology to give clinicians more time to do what they love and provide the best care." e best leadership advice she received: "e best advice I ever got was from my dad back when I took my first leadership role back in 2010. He actually was a manager where he worked and I was struggling being a manager as well. I was talking to him about where I was struggling and he said, 'ey want you. ey hired you, so be yourself.'" n Protect your patients and staff. Our linen laundering process exceeds industry standards. Dead-on-Contact Wash: our advanced wash process kills 99.999% of common pathogens Bacteria Inhibitor: a softener and protective coating is applied, preventing bacteria that lands on the products from spreading Stay-Clean Packaging: all products are plastic-wrapped to ensure they are as clean when they arrive as when they left our plant Get started with the experts. imagefirst.com/beckers | 800-932-7472