Peg Nyffeler has worked in the UNK's Student Health Services for 15 years and has been its Assistant Director for the past ten years. Her ideas and details have contributed mightily to dramatic changes in clinic operations over the past seven years. These important changes for better student health care include offering vaccinations, gynecological services, laboratory specimen collection, and testing and treatment for sexually transmitted diseases. An advocate for securing the addition of a nurse practitioner to the service rotation from Kearney Clinic, Peg's diligent and tireless work addressed the many accommodations needed to make those service enhancements a reality. The result was in an increase in primary care provider hours on campus from 5 to 20 hours per week. Peg was also instrumental in developing a program to provide information, vaccinations, and medicine to students who travel internationally. As part of that service, she researches information for student destinations and then creates individual care plans of recommended vaccinations and disease alerts for each student. She also created packets of commonly used medication for students to use in case of minor illnesses while traveling.
Peg also serves as an American Red Cross First Aid trainer and has taught First Aid Classes for several university departments. She is a member of the Buffalo County Red Cross Board of Directors and was its secretary last year. She has also donated her time and talents to the Kearney Public Schools the past several years as the camp nurse for the sixth grade "Outdoor Adventure" program.
Peg is cognizant of the importance of building team cooperation within the office. A very thorough trainer and teacher, she devotes herself to making each staff member feel welcome. Peg consistently offers her support to staff members through a variety of social activities and through her advice and counseling during times of health problems or personal crises.
Peg is primarily responsible for maintaining high standards of care for students who come to the clinic. In 1992, she passed the rigorous examination and practice requirements of the American Nurses Association and was awarded her certification as a College Health Nurse. Peg models high standards for quality and expects no less from co-workers. She doesn't settle for "good enough" and challenges everyone to pay attention to the details and do their best at all times. She has also developed and implemented several standardized nursing assessment forms that help all clinic nurses give consistent care.
Because of her dedication to our students, to her profession, to her colleagues, and to the wider community, the University of Nebraska at Kearney is pleased to name Peg Nyffeler its Employee of the Month for January 2001.