Manly Director of Nursing chosen as One of Iowa’s Great Nurses in 2019

Michele Lawson has been selected to be honored at the 100 Great Iowa Nurses event Sunday, May 5, at the Iowa Events Center Grand Ballroom in Des Moines.

Lawson has been Director of Nursing (DON) at Manly Specialty Care since 2007 and a nurse for more than 25 years. “She is truly available 24/7. Her nurse’s hat never comes off,” said Administrator Kimber Kleven. “She is a hands-on DON and often fills in on the floor when there is an open shift.”

“Through Michele's nursing leadership we have been able to achieve the federal government’s  coveted 5 star status, received an American Health Care Association National Quality Award at the Bronze Level and are currently working toward the Silver Level,” Kleven says.

Kleven adds that Lawson feels it was her life’s calling to be a nurse and even more so to work with the geriatric population. She also inspires those she works with.

“Michele is always there if our nurses or CNAs are needing someone to talk to or need advice on how to treat a resident,” said co-worker Monica Meyers. “I am currently taking classes for my LPN and she was the one who made me want to be a nurse.”

100 Great Iowa Nurses is a nonprofit program that honors great nurses in Iowa, and funds awards to support the education of Iowa nurses. This is the 15th year of the event. The celebration is an annual prelude to National Nurses Week, May 5-11.

The complete list of nurses being honored this year can be found at https://www.greatnurses.org/honorees-2/. Nurses selected for this honor represent many sectors of health care, working as nurses in hospitals, long-term care facilities, schools, and clinics. They come from all practice areas in nursing, including acute care, sub-acute care, post-acute care, school nursing, nurse leaders, academics, and many more.