Care Partners’ Judith Gillen named Oregon Hospice Dream Team Nurse of Year

Dream Team Nurse Judith Gillen is congratulated by Care Partners CEO Andy Kyler

Dream Team Nurse Judith Gillen is congratulated by Care Partners CEO Andy Kyler

Hillsboro — Judith Gillen, RN, a nurse with Care Partners Hospice was named the 2015 Oregon Hospice Dream Team Nurse of the Year by the Oregon Hospice Association at its recent Professional Practices Exchange Conference in Bend.

“I am overwhelmed. This is such a surprise and such an honor,” said Judith, who has had a long and varied nursing career that informs her daily practice in caring for diverse patients and families experiencing the crisis of advanced cancer and other serious illnesses at Care Partners.

“At Care Partners, I am just one of many professionals who deliver great care to our patients and families – and they inspire me every day to be the best I can be,” said Gillen.

Each year, the Oregon Hospice Association honors individuals who exemplify the best in quality hospice care by naming the Hospice Dream Team, which is made up of a physician, nurse, hospice aide, social worker, chaplain/spiritual care provider, volunteer and a professional staff member.

Judith works the evening shift at Care Partners, a role that allows her to be involved in admitting patients and attending to families with the most urgent needs.

“A wise manager once said, ‘Your star employees are those who invite you to sigh deeply with relief when they come to work,’ remarked Andy Kyler, CEO of Care Partners. “At Care Partners we know that Judith is capable of effectively navigating troubled waters with the most complex clinical skills to create order out of chaos and to assist patients and families make successful transitions at end of life.”

For many years, Judith practiced as a nurse mid-wife assisting patients/families to make the transition to parenthood. An Oregon native, her adventurous life led her to work in the United Kingdom, Ecuador, and diverse locales across the continental U.S. Judith utilizes her fluent Spanish language skills to serve the Latino population and to mentor staff members in the care of our Spanish speaking families. As a member of the diversity committee at Care Partners, Judith has helped our organization enhance capabilities to serve immigrant communities of all types. While no longer a midwife to those entering the world, Judith serves as a compassionate, skilled midwife to the dying.

The Oregon Hospice Association (OHA) is a statewide public benefit organization helping to ensure Oregonians have access to high quality hospice and palliative care as they near the end of life.

Care Partners has been encircling patients and their families with exceptional hospice care for over 32 years. Formerly Hospice of Washington County, Care Partners has grown to serve the tri-county Portland area as a community based not-for-profit whose mission is to provide compassionate palliative, end-of-life care with focus and distinction to support the quality of life of the patients, families and community it serves. www.carepartnersor.org

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