In celebration of National Nurses Week (May 6–12), Covenant HealthCare is recognizing outstanding nurses across the organization through its annual Nursing Excellence Awards—an honor made even more meaningful through a longstanding tradition of surprise presentations.
Each year, nurses are nominated by their peers for demonstrating exceptional compassion, leadership, and commitment to patient care. Award recipients are selected across multiple categories that reflect the diverse ways nurses contribute to patients, families, and colleagues.
Part of the tradition at Covenant HealthCare is to surprise each award recipient. Recipients have no idea they are receiving the award until they are surprised by their peers, leadership, and family.
Congratulations to the following 2026 Covenant HealthCare Nursing Excellence Award recipients:
- Mary Bader, RN – Leadership and Mentoring
- Macy DeGroff, RN – Leadership and Mentoring
- Todd Fields, RN – Caring Practice
- Angela Mackenzie, RN – Leadership and Mentoring
- Devon Myers, RN – Leadership and Mentoring
- Laura Parson, RN – Leadership and Mentoring
As the largest employer in Saginaw County, the community relies on nurses who make up more than one-third of the care team at Covenant HealthCare.
Covenant nurses work in the emergency department, physician offices, occupational health, home health, hospital units, and even in information technology—just to name a few areas. Nurses fill roles ranging from staff nurse to educator to discharge planner to CEO. No matter where they serve, all Covenant HealthCare nurses bring a passion for the profession and a strong commitment to patient safety and high-quality care.
“Nurses Week is a dedicated time to recognize our extraordinary nursing staff. Their clinical expertise, compassion, and unwavering commitment make healing possible every day," said Patrice Lanczak, Chief Nursing Officer and Vice President of Patient Services. "During this week, we recognize not only what nurses do—but who they are as people and the way they provide compassionate care for our patients.”
Guided by a commitment to provide extraordinary care for every generation, Covenant nurses serve not only as caregivers, but also as leaders, educators, and patient advocates throughout the community.
National Nurses Week begins each year on May 6 and ends on May 12, Florence Nightingale's birthday, founder of nursing as a modern profession. Throughout the week, Covenant HealthCare hosts events and recognition efforts to honor the dedication and impact of its nursing team.