Good Samaritan critical care nurse wins prestigious award

Meghan Schick is a registered nurse specializing in critical care at Advocate Good Samaritan Hospital in Downers Grove. She was selected a 2024 Nurse of the Year for the hospital’s exemplary demonstration of Advocate Health Care’s core nursing values and unwavering delivery of best-in-class care.

“Advocate Health nurses are committed to delivering exceptional, evidence-based and equitable care for all,” said Jane Dus, senior vice president, chief nursing officer of Advocate Health, Midwest Region. “It is a true honor to witness the remarkable impact they make in transforming lives through innovative and compassionate care every day.”

A recent example of Schick’s dedication involved a critically ill patient with a cervical spine tumor. Despite language barriers, Schick facilitated communication with the family using translators and coordinated support from multiple teams to keep them informed and involved. She offered comfort and compassion, even staying after her shift to assist with a difficult end-of-life decision.

“I have been blessed with wonderful nursing colleagues in the critical care unit who are role models for exemplary nursing practice and an encouraging, supportive CCU leadership team,” Schick said in a news release. “It is a joy to build relationships with colleagues and assist them to grow, gain confidence and develop critical thinking foundational for safe and effective care.”

Schick also was nominated for her efforts as a leader and mentor to help other nurses in the critical care unit learn and grow.

Specializing in caring for patients after open heart surgery, Schick works with many of the new nurses to help them learn about caring for these patients.

“Meghan’s dedication to her patients and fellow teammates is inspiring,” Roseanne Niese, chief nursing officer at Advocate Good Samaritan Hospital, said in the release. “She fosters a collaborative and engaging work environment while always helping others learn and grow. Those efforts make a difference for our teammates and patients.”

More than 1,200 nominations for the award were received on behalf of nurses from a variety of specialties across the patient care continuum. These frontline nurses represent diversity in their backgrounds and experiences, including honorees with decades of experience and others new to the profession yet already making an impact on their patients, colleagues and communities.

Nominations were submitted by clinicians and teammates and reviewed by peer committees for blinded judging according to each nominee’s passion for patient care, commitment to service, solution-oriented abilities and evidence-based practice.

Advocate Health Care is part of Advocate Health, which employs more than 42,000 nurses across the nation, including 29 acute care facilities and more than 450 sites of care in the Midwest.