STLCC Honored Front line Nursing Alumni on Dec. 11

St. Louis Community College honored front line healthcare workers as part of a statewide Gratitude Event for Missouri’s Healthcare Heroes on Dec. 11, organized by the Missouri Organization for Associate Degree Nursing.

During this event, STLCC nursing faculty delivered nearly 7,000 individually wrapped treats to STLCC nursing students at nine area hospitals. The hospitals included: Barnes-Jewish, Christian, SSM DePaul-St. Louis, Mercy, Mercy Hospital South, Ranken Jordan Pediatric Bridge Hospital, St. Clare, St. Luke's and SSM Health St. Mary’s-St. Louis. All of these hospitals employ STLCC nursing graduates, and also partner with the College to provide clinical experiences to nursing students.

The goal of STLCC’s effort, and others held across the state, was to show appreciation to front line workers who are caring for individuals and families impacted by COVID-19. Michelle Petterchak, an assistant professor of nursing at STLCC, coordinated the College’s involvement. Petterchak collected donations to purchase the treats.

“Approximately 35 hospital floors received 100-150 individually wrapped treats,” said Petterchak. “The treats went to floors in the hospital that have STLCC nursing students, some of which are COVID floors, others not.”

Nursing faculty from STLCC Forest Park, Florissant Valley, Meramec and Wildwood dropped off the care packages to students throughout the day.

“STLCC has hundreds of graduates working on the front lines to fight this pandemic,” said Petterchak. “I keep in touch with many of my former students, and I know they are facing tremendous challenges because the death they are seeing is becoming a new normal. While the care packages are a small gesture, they are one way we can show our appreciation for the extraordinary sacrifices being made by our healthcare heroes.”

She went on to add, “This is not an annual event. The Missouri Organization for Associate Degree Nursing held the event this year due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Health care workers are exhausted. We want to let them know that they are appreciated."

In addition to participating in the statewide gratitude event, STLCC created a digital message board for the community to send messages of thanks to healthcare workers.