Legend shines in times of crisis

She has an amazing knack for staying calm, cool, and collected under pressure, never losing her critical thinking skills or letting the emotion of a situation get the best of her.

We’re speaking about Natalie Tucker, RN, Campbell County Health’s most recent Legend Award recipient.

For those who don't know, CCH defined a Legend as:

“Those people who have left an indelible impression on our minds because of their deeds and actions. Ongoing demonstration of hard work, compassion, and a reputation for greatness make someone a legend.”

“I come from a long line of healthcare workers with both my parent being retired nurses. Spending time around healthcare facilities from a very young age and seeing the positive impact healthcare workers have on people and communities inspired me to continue in the healthcare field,” says Natalie.

Natalie earned a Bachelor’s of Nursing from South Dakota State University and a Master’s in Nursing from the University of Wyoming. She’s been with CCH for 20 years, and has been in healthcare for 25. Natalie is an inspirational nurse who received the Wyoming Nurses Association award for Excellence in Clinical Nursing Practice in 2014.

Originally hired as a nurse in the Campbell County Memorial Hospital Emergency Department, Natalie is currently the Director of Case Management, Employee Health and Safety, Infection Prevention, Professional Development and Library, and Wellness. She also co­ teaches the leadership course Crucial Accountability to CCH leaders.

Natalie serves on numerous committees both internal and external to CCH, which allow her to shape the policies and procedures that influence customer service, patient care, and safety. She participates in accreditation readiness to be sure CCH meets or exceeds expectations in numerous areas including education, competency, infection prevention, and emergency preparedness.

Natalie's role as Director, as well as her participation on Leadership Council and as co-chair of Emergency Preparedness Committee, provides her with a top-down view of the organization, and allows her to interact with every CCH leader and their department giving her an understanding of many of their unique needs within the health system. This position affords her with a great deal of information, which when paired with her education and experience, is used to assist other leaders in finding solutions to their needs and to support the mission and vision of the organization.

As co-chair of the Emergency Preparedness Committee with many years of formal training in emergency preparedness, coupled with her in-depth knowledge of CCH and relationships with agencies in our community, Natalie is a skilled and tactical leader when we face a crisis.

Natalie’s Nomination form was submitted by Elizabeth (Lisa) Coleman, who has known Natalie for seven years; but her entire team played a role in helping Lisa complete the form.

“One of the most memorable examples of her leadership was during the ransomware attack September 2019. We all witnessed her working truly countless hours during the ransomware attack and yet she would consistently check in with her departments to make sure we were doing OK and to offer her support. That made a lasting leadership impression on us all,” says Lisa. “She inspires with her consistent demonstration of adaptation, resiliency, and professional growth.”

In the nomination form, her staff wrote:

“Natalie inspires all of us who witness her dedication to CCH. She has a positive outlook and encourages her staff to take care of themselves. We marvel at her ability to remember seemingly everything and for her vast range of knowledge about topics including nursing, infection prevention, employee health, professional development, emergency preparedness, leadership, and more. Beyond that, we are grateful that we can go to her for counsel and advice whenever we need.

Natalie is a positive role model to her staff and to leaders throughout CCH. Her co-workers witness her dedication and ability to function under stress while she helps to keep the rest of us calm. Her humor and solid recommendations often diffuse tense situations.

Natalie holds others accountable but never expects anyone to do a task she wouldn't do herself and she insists on consistency and transparency. These are some of the qualities that make her staff so well engaged and that make her a role model for staff at every level in the organization.

“I do everything I can to create a culture that brings out the best for everyone involved at every interaction,” says Natalie. “This is accomplished by providing excellent customer service, being fair and consistent, and keeping best interests in mind.”

Natalie is a problem-solver and a thinks fast on her feet. Her breadth of experience as a nurse and as a leader at CCH allows her to not only propose solutions to the challenges we face but to fine-tune those solutions to our organizational culture. Natalie is constantly proposing new ideas or ways of doing things. She encourages us to innovate and improve in every aspect of our jobs.

According to Natalie, the best thing about working for CCH is the great people.

“The patients/customers, my coworkers, and the leadership—we have a great community in every sense of the word,” she says.

Natalie says that being recognized for the job you do at the Legend Level is very special.

“It brings a sense of additional pride to the work being done at CCH. There are several exceptional people who have previously received this award, and for me to also receive the Legend Award is an honor and compliment,” she says. “The team at CCH is amazing to work with and I would not be receiving this award if I didn’t have so much support. I have learned a lot and continue to learn every day. I believe that one’s accomplishments are also a reflection of the people they work with, we all succeed together.”

Another way in which Natalie inspires others is through her dedication to her family. In her nomination form, her team said that she is strategic about planning and scheduling time off to support her children and family—and she also works to allow her staff to be there for their families.

Natalie has two college aged children, and they love spending time together as a family.

“We like to travel, go camping, attend sporting events, and just spend time with family,” she says.

Natalie, you are a role model to all at CCH and an excellent example of what we consider a Legend at CCH. Thank you for your dedication and commitment to our health system. Congratulations on your Legend Award.