Baptist Health recognizes two Schrank Scholars, a first in the award's history

Registered nurses Ciara Flowers, BSN, RN and Nathan Heathcoat, BSN, RN were presented with the Schrank Scholar Award, which recognizes nurses at Baptist Medical Center Jacksonville who have shown outstanding achievement in the realm of cardiology.

For the first time in the award's three-year history, it recognized two nurses instead of one. The Schrank Scholar Award began in 2015 in recognition of Joel Schrank, MD, who practiced in Jacksonville for more than 40 years and is considered among the top cardiologist in our region, along with his colleagues at Baptist Heart Specialists.

"These two are some of the best examples of people who need recognition and support — what they've already accomplished and how quickly they learn," Dr. Schrank said. "It's a real honor for me to see them get this award."

Flowers, who has been an RN with a focus in cardiac intensive care since 2010, was selected as nurse manager for the newly developed Clinical Decision Unit at Baptist Health. She's played an integral part in developing and instituting the unit, which focuses on patients with cardiac-related diseases. She has also served as chair for the Baptist Shared Governance Committee, and was awarded the Clinical Award for Student Nurse Excellence. Highly respected by all members of the medical and clinical staff, she has built a strong, cohesive team that strives to deliver exceptional care to every patient.

Heathcoat started his career at Baptist Health in 2011 as a volunteer. He then transitioned to working as a transporter. In 2014, Heathcoat became a CNA, caring for patients in that role for approximately a year. After acquiring his bachelor's degree in nursing, Heathcoat began work as a RN at the Baptist Heart Hospital in June 2015.

This past December, Heathcoat was presented with the Daisy Award in recognition of his extraordinary care and compassion provided to patients. In January 2018, he was promoted to assistant nurse manager, and he continues to pursue his dreams of furthering his education in the medical arena.

To make the Schrank Scholar program a reality, a $250,000 endowment gift was established by a couple in the Jacksonville community. They requested to remain anonymous, but wanted to provide educational opportunities for nurses in cardiology who serve patients daily in the Baptist Heart Hospital.

Candidates presented with the Schrank Scholar Award will support the education and advancement of the Heart Hospital through a year-long comprehensive personal and professional development training initiatives within cardiology nursing. For example, in its inaugural year, funds were used to provide on-site shadowing experience for Stephanie Hembach, our first Schrank Scholar, at Aurora St. Luke's Medical Center in Milwaukee, Wis., at its state-of-the-art comprehensive structural heart program.

"This award will give our recipients the opportunity not only to interact with Dr. Schrank, but to use this funding to further education and increase their knowledge in cardiovascular medicine and nursing," said Diane Raines, DNP, RN, NEA-BC, senior vice president and chief nursing officer at Baptist Health. "I am very proud of our nurses."