From moments of joy to times of uncertainty, nurses are a constant source of comfort, strength and healing to patients and families across our communities.
Mary Rutan Health takes part in celebrating National Nurses Week each year by presenting special awards honoring the Nurse of the Year from both Mary Rutan Hospital and a Mary Rutan Health Clinic.
“We are proud to announce that our 2026 Mary Rutan Clinic Nurse of the Year is Ashley Davis, LPN, and our 2026 Mary Rutan Hospital Nurse of the Year is Joseph Young, RN,” hospital officials announced May 8.
Ashley Davis, LPN, the 2026 Mary Rutan Clinic Nurse of the Year, is surrounded by her fellow staff and hospital officials at her surprise ceremony. (MARY RUTAN HEALTH PHOTO)
The 2026 Mary Rutan Hospital Nurse of the Year is Joseph Young, RN. He holds his award plaque while accompanied by his peers and hospital officials. (MARY RUTAN HEALTH PHOTO)
The Nurse of the Year Award recognizes not only clinical expertise, but also leadership, teamwork and the ability to make a meaningful difference in the lives of patients, families and colleagues every single day, said Mary Sebring, VP of Patient Services.
“We are extremely proud to give this honor to both Ashley and Joe, who go above and beyond in their roles each day through their professionalism, integrity, and their dedication to excellence,” Sebring said.
Nurses of the Year are nominated by their peers. The nominations are sent to the Office of Patient Services, where the final nominee is chosen after all nominations have been submitted.
Nurses of the Year exemplify the mission and vision of Mary Rutan Health by providing progressive, quality healthcare with a personal touch.
In surprise ceremonies at their respective offices, Davis and Young received their Nurse of the Year plaques, along with flowers and other gifts of gratitude from their team members, as well as nursing and administrative staff, who congratulated and thanked the Nurses of the Year for their dedication and compassion.
Ashley Davis, LPN, is a nurse at Mary Rutan Ear, Nose & Throat. She spends much of her day providing kind and compassionate care to all who visit the clinic, and her teammates said she goes above and beyond to create a smooth, easy workflow for all who work with her.
Her peers nominated her for many different reasons, expressing, “Ashley has a strong work ethic, striking intellect, strong attention to detail and is very reliable” and, “Ashley has mastered every aspect of being an LPN, and not only that, she is one of the kindest, caring people that brings a good attitude and positivity with her to work each day.”
Joseph Young, RN, is a nurse at Mary Rutan Hospital, where he provides care to inpatients on the fourth floor. Joe is known to be a thorough, kind, and compassionate member of the Mary Rutan Health team. His teammates say he is hardworking and respectful, and this makes him a joy to work with.
One staff member that nominated Joe said, “Joe always has a positive attitude that lifts everyone around him. He consistently offers help and ensures patients are cared for. He is a go-to friendly face at Mary Rutan Hospital.”
Another team member stated, “Joe’s attitude and the way he treats people is mind blowing. He is just a really good human! I would take Joe as my nurse one thousand times over, not just because he is a great person, but also because he is great at his job!”
Both award winners’ names will be added to the Nurse of the Year Registry at Mary Rutan Health as a lasting reminder of their compassion and dedicated care.