Blackwell Advances in Career and Education at MRHC

Jackie Blackwell, employee at MRHC

For Manilla local, Jackie Blackwell, healthcare was always the plan for her career path, but she never quite anticipated where she would be today. Jackie Blackwell, employee at MRHC

At the young age of 14, Blackwell began her career in healthcare as an environmental aide at the Manilla Manor. After she received her CNA in 2006, Blackwell worked at the Manilla Manor for one year and then started working full-time at the Manning Plaza in high school during weekends and evenings.

“I liked getting to know the residents – you become close to a lot of them. I knew I wanted to be a nurse, so it was just kind of learning the routine of healthcare and connecting with the residents,” said Blackwell, RN, BSN, CPHQ, who now serves as the Compliance/Privacy Officer and Director of Quality, Patient Advocacy & Risk Management at Manning Regional Healthcare Center (MRHC).

After receiving her RN degree from Iowa Lakes Community College, Blackwell started at St. Anthony’s on the ortho floor, meanwhile continuing to work for the Manning Plaza as needed. In 2012, she started in the Med/Surg department at MRHC and later accepted the OB Coordinator position, eventually going full-time in UR and Quality. As Blackwell experienced various roles throughout the hospital, she grew to enjoy the management side of healthcare.

“I needed my bachelor’s to keep doing clinicals and advance into a management role, so in 2018, I graduated with my bachelor’s degree from the University of Texas at Arlington. The hospital paid for that,” said Blackwell.

Blackwell has now found herself advancing in her career as well as her education once again – an accomplishment she attributes to the generosity and support of MRHC.

“Last summer, Linn [Block, MRHC CEO] asked me if I was interested in pursuing my MBA. I was, however, I planned on waiting until my kids were older. I figured I might as well do it now while my kids are young and not in many activities. Now I am in my first year at Nebraska Methodist and should graduate in December of 2023 with my MBA in healthcare. It’s an online program, and I can do my preceptors with Linn right here at MRHC. It’s been good,” shared Blackwell.

Even though Blackwell is a mom and works full-time on top of taking classes for her MBA, she says that the support she receives from MRHC makes it all possible.

“I probably wouldn’t have pursued my bachelor’s or master’s degrees if MRHC had not paid for it. That’s a lot of money upfront,” said Blackwell. She went on to add that “Linn and Michelle [Andersen, RN, BSN, MRHC Chief Nursing Officer] have been great in helping me advance in my career and helping me become a manager. Michelle mentored me a lot when I was on the floor, and Linn always asks how I’m doing in school. If I have a question, we’ll talk about it. All of the senior team really help – they take the time out of their busy days to sit with me and go through stuff so that’s helpful. I have a lot of support.”

Blackwell also credits some of her success to her co-workers as well as the positive team environment at MRHC.

“Everyone is super supportive of each other, and if we know someone has a busy schedule or a huge project that they’re working on everyone is always asking ‘what can I do, can I help you with anything?’ so there is a lot of support and checking in,” shared Blackwell. “Plus, healthcare is a challenge and changing every day. We all have to be adaptable, work together and trust that everyone is trying to do their best right now with things quickly changing, so supporting each other is huge,” she adds.

While healthcare is everchanging and evolving, one constant for MRHC in the past few years has been their leadership.

“Here at MRHC, not only do we prioritize employee satisfaction, recognition, appreciation, and retention, but we also have an ongoing commitment to training and developing our leaders,” said Linn Block, RN, BSN, MHA.

Blackwell is not only grateful to work for a healthcare organization close to home, but also one that prioritizes its patients, employees, and families as well.

“I live just eight miles away so it’s nice not having to drive and waste that time away from my kids,” said Blackwell. “[MRHC] is flexible with things like having a sick kid at home and adjusting your hours to a different day. They are a very family-oriented facility and organization, which is important.”

For a list of current openings or to apply at MRHC, go www.mrhcia.com or call (712) 655-2072 for more information.

MRHC Raises Awareness of Seasonal Affective Disorder

comforting an elderly lady

If you been feeling distressed and overwhelmed with feelings of sadness as the seasons change, it may be more than just the winter blues. Manning Regional Healthcare Center’s Senior Life Solutions team wants to raise awareness of seasonal affective disorder (SAD).

“Many of us have days that we don’t feel like ourselves and sometimes the winter months can enhance those feelings,” said Janet Brus, RN, program director for Senior Life Solutions at MRHC. “Be aware of how you are feeling. If you normally get up and perform your normal daily activities and now find yourself staying in bed longer, not getting dressed, or avoiding activities that normally bring you pleasure, you may be experiencing seasonal affective disorder.”

Seasonal affective disorder, or SAD, is a form of depression typically triggered during the fall and winter months when there is less sunlight. According to the American Psychiatric Association, those with SAD experience mood changes and symptoms similar to depression. Common symptoms include low mood and energy, fatigue, sleep difficulty or excessive sleep, loss of interest, little motivation, and weight gain resulting from overeating and carb cravings.

“To help boost your mood, try participating in activities that will keep your mind active such as taking a walk, reading, and staying healthy and hydrated,” advised Brus. “It is important to be kind to yourself, as sadness touches all of our lives at some point. However, depression can cause significant problems if not addressed in a timely fashion.”

If you are struggling with depression or feel that you are showing persistent symptoms of SAD and it is affecting your daily functioning, Senior Life Solutions could help.

Senior Life Solutions is an intensive outpatient group therapy program designed to meet the unique needs of senior adults living with symptoms of age-related depression or anxiety, dealing with difficult life transitions, a recent health diagnosis, or the loss of a loved one. The program staff include a board-certified psychiatrist, licensed therapist, a director and registered nurse, and other healthcare professionals dedicated to the well-being of seniors.

The Senior Life Solutions area at MRHC was recently renovated and expanded to include a dedicated group therapy meeting room with state-of-the-art audio-visual capabilities that allow for patients to join remotely. Dedicated offices were also created for the therapist and psychiatrist to meet one-on-one with patients.

“With our new space we are able to accommodate even more sessions. We care about your health and encourage you to ask for help if you are experiencing these symptoms,” said Brus.

If you or a loved one need support or want to learn more, call Senior Life Solutions at (712) 655-8262.

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Vonnahme Thrives in a Career Close to Home at MRHC

Taya Vonnahme, Recovery Center Director at MRHC

Taya Vonnahme has always had extraordinary goals for her career in healthcare. What started out as working as an activity assistant at the Manning Plaza back in 2005, eventually led to her current role as the Director of the Recovery Center at Manning Regional Healthcare Center and several more credentials behind her name. Taya Vonnahme, Recovery Center Director at MRHC

“I knew I wanted to be in healthcare since I was young after watching the impact my family had on people in the community as healthcare providers,” shared Vonnahme, MSN, RN, ARNP, tCDAC.

After becoming a CNA and working at the Plaza throughout high school, Vonnahme received her LPN from Iowa Lakes Community College in 2009. After transitioning to MRHC full time as a discharge planning nurse in 2011, she continued to add jobs to her title until 2015 when she applied to go back to school for her RN. Once she graduated with her associate’s degree in nursing, she transitioned to a house supervisor at MRHC and eventually obtained her BSN from Walden University in 2018. Earlier this year, Vonnahme continued her education at Walden and earned her master’s degree as a Family Nurse Practitioner.

“MRHC has been an amazing support in my financial ability to go to school,” Vonnahme said. “They helped pay for part of my associate’s degree and paid for my bachelor’s and master’s degrees. Their financial assistance made for less stress in my life as a full-time student, nurse and mom, among everything else in our busy lives.”

Vonnahme continued to advance in her career at MRHC throughout her education. She transitioned from her role as a house supervisor to the Director of the Recovery Center in October of 2020 and continues to work in the ER. Vonnahme provides all the medical care for recovery center clients, including inpatient and outpatient detox, history and physicals and any other medical needs, with the anticipation that she will become their primary care provider in the future.

“I have set my goal to have my DNP (doctorate in nursing practice), so I have enrolled in a doctorate program with a commitment from MRHC to pay my tuition there as well,” said Vonnahme.

Not only is she grateful for the opportunities and financial support that MRHC has given her, Vonnahme is also thankful to work for a healthcare organization close to home.

“Anyone who knows me knows that I have always made it clear that the reason I work in Manning is being able to take care of those I know,” Vonnahme said. “This community is where I was raised and I’ve been shown how important community support is. This [career] is how I can continue to support my community.”

Vonnahme also shares that she would not be where she is today without her co-workers or the positive team environment at MRHC.

“I work closely with our frontline staff here at MRHC, and we have an amazing team helping each other out from every situation that arises each day,” said Vonnahme.

The team environment at MRHC continues to build despite the many challenges that healthcare has faced in the past 18 months. Although these uncertain times in healthcare are everchanging, the senior leadership team believes that one way they can help motivate and inspire staff is to invest in them as people and in their careers.

“MRHC is supportive of staff who have a desire to grow within the organization,” shared MRHC CEO, Linn Block, RN, BSN, MHA. “Taya’s progress is truly a testament to her drive for learning and caring for those in her community. Taya is a valued employee who is truly thriving close to home.”

For a list of current openings or to apply at MRHC, go www.mrhcia.com or call (712) 655-2072 for more information.