HURON — Huron Regional Medical Center (HRMC) recognized its November Exceptional Employee of the Month, Kristin Pratt, FNP, with a department reception earlier this month.

Pratt, who has worked at HRMC for six years, was nominated by co-workers to receive the honor. According to the nomination, “Humble, caring and kind, Kristin is always going the extra mile for her patients, finding solutions to their problems and always willing to help and support her fellow co-workers.”

Pratt receives many positive comments from her patients, including, “She is an amazing health care provider! She’s kind, compassionate, and thorough while taking the time to make sure all of my concerns are addressed. She listens to my input and allows me to be a part of any and all decisions in my health plan.”

Another example of her compassion for improving health is the James Valley Diabetes Group. Pratt led the charge in reaching out to providers from all of the clinics in the community and didn’t give up on her vision, even when COVID derailed her plans. She and the others on the team created a Facebook group and are hosting and sharing virtual educational resources regularly. Information cards are distributed to patients facing a diabetes diagnosis so they can find a community of support on their diabetes journey.

HRMC’s Exceptional Employee of the Month award recognizes an employee who goes above and beyond to demonstrate the hospital’s values of being accessible, helpful and knowledgeable. Employees can be nominated by other co-workers or by a patient or visitor who witnesses exceptional service. A committee of employees from various hospital departments chooses the employee on a monthly basis and an Exceptional Employee of the Year is chosen at year-end from the 12 monthly honorees.

As November exceptional employee, Pratt, received a meal certificate to a local restaurant, a professional photo session and portrait, $50, a lapel pin and a special parking place for a month.

Pratt earned her associate of science in nursing degree from Dakota Wesleyan University in Mitchell, and worked as a nurse in an ortho/trauma/step-down unit at Memorial Health University Medical Center in Savannah prior to joining HRMC. After working as a registered nurse at HRMC for three years, Pratt shifted her focus from nursing care in the intensive care unit to pursuing an advanced degree.  She earned her nurse practitioner degree from South University in Savannah in 2017 and began seeing patients at HRMC Physicians Clinic in June 2018.

To help guide her daily actions, Pratt has a quote posted in her work area, ‘Always pray to have eyes that see the best in people, a heart that forgives the worst, a mind that forgets the bad, and a soul that never loses faith in God.’

“I strive to live by this saying because we never know the internal battles of others and I hope each day I can make a little bit of difference in the lives of my patients and co-workers,” says Pratt. “I try to treat my patients as family and want them to know they matter, and their concerns are heard! I have been blessed with wonderful patient relationships and cherish these connections.”

Pratt and her husband, Jordan, live in De Smet with their children: son, Granger, and daughter, Lakelyn. Her hobbies include duck hunting, fishing, hiking, camping and crafting.