Address:
Colorado Springs, Colorado
Type Of Business:
Healthcare Facility
Major Product/SVS:
Hospice Care, Home Care, Long Term Care, Assisted Living, Boarding Homes and an Inpatient Unit
Favorite Business Publication:
Hospice and Palliative Care Journals; Wounds: A Compendium of Clinical Research and Practice; AJN; Ostomy Wound Management; American Nurse; Colorado Nurse
Hobbies/Sports:
Spending Time her Family, Participating in Church Activities, Gardening, Performing Yard Work, Walking, Bicycling, Reading
Education Degrees:
Master of Science in Health Care Administration, College of St. Francis; Bachelor of Science in Allied Health, Colorado Women's College; Registered Nurse
Affiliations Awards:
Colorado Nurses Association; American Nurses Association; Hospice and Palliative Nurses Association; American Association of Wound Management; Sigma Theta Tau International Honor Society of Nursing; Former Member, Critical Care Nurses Association; Former Member, American Burn Association; Board of Directors, Colorado Nurses Foundation
Place of Birth:
Norton County
Industry:
Hospice and Palliative Nursing
Children's Names:
Kimberly, Kinda, Kirby, Korky
Date of Distinction:
11/13/2007
Work History:
Hospice Nurse, Odyssey Healthcare/Hospice; Critical Care Nurse; Emergency and Wound Care Nurse; Clinical Manager, Burn Unit; Clinical Manager, Curative Wound Care Center
Career Achievements:
Nightingale Award (2005)
What do you feel separates you from the rest of the professionals in your industry?:
Ms. Vernon's dedication and the fact that she incorporates her passion and spiritual qualities into the care she provides patients separates her from others in her field.
What has been the most outstanding thing you have done thus far in your career?:
Ms. Vernon's greatest achievement was raising her four children and three out of nine grandchildren to be the wonderful people they are today.
How would you like to be remembered by your peers?:
As a person who genuinely cares about all people, no matter what nationality, color, religion, or other social differences. Illness/aging makes no exceptions in whom it strikes! Everyone deserves to be treated equally and with compassion.
If you could solve one problem in the world today, what would it be?:
It would be to have a healthcare system available to every one with no restrictions for age, ability to pay, employed or unemployed, disabled or healthy, man, woman, nor child. The access would be there. The same extent of care would be available if each chose that care.
If you could have lunch with anyone, dead or alive, who would it be and why?:
I believe I would have enjoyed having lunch with Clara Barton or Florence Nightingale. I think I could have learned a lot from their generational insights.
Spouse's Name:
Charles (Deceased)
Highlight of career?:
The highlight of her career was being awarded the Nightingale Award in 2005.
Charity:
American Heart Association; American Cancer Society; Alzheimer’s Association; Nursing Scholarships; Faith Presbyterian Church; Stephen Ministry
Number Of Years In Profession:
37
Number Of Years In Current Position:
10
What Does He/She Attribute Success To:
She attributes her success to her ability to treat every patient as a unique individual while providing the utmost in care, love and compassion to meet their physical, spiritual, mental and social needs at the end of their life.
How Did They Get Involved In Profession:
She became involved in her career because she wanted to be a nurse since an early age, when she would read and reread all the nursing books in her local library.
Extended Bio Profile:
Ms. Vernon enjoys watching her family grow and prosper. Her parents left her a trust to be used for the educational purposes and special needs of her family. She is very active in her church and was honored to serve as a Stephen Minister for the past three years. She enjoys working with her friends in the Colorado Springs community.
Day to Day Responsibilities:
Working as a Certified Hospice and Palliative Nurse and a Certified Wound Specialist
Education Certifications:
Certified Hospice-Palliative Nurse; Certified Wound Specialist; Certified Burn Nurse Specialist; Certification in Professional Advancement; Certification in Gerontology, University of Colorado at Colorado Springs, Colorado Springs
Awards/Honors:
Nightingale Award, State of Colorado (2005); Recipient of Several Awards, Colorado Nurses Association